We achieved ultralow fouling on target surfaces by controlled polymerization of carboxybetaine under ambient conditions. The polymerization process for grafting polymer films onto the surfaces was carried out in air and did not require any deoxygenation step or specialized equipment. This method allows one to conveniently introduce a nonfouling polymer network onto large substrates.
Keywords: activator regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET); atomic transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); carboxybetaine; ultralow fouling; zwitterionic materials.