Poly(ether imide) (PEI) was chloromethylated by a simple one-step method under mild conditions to provide surface benzyl chloride groups as the active initiators for the surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Functional hydrophilic polymer brushes of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate and sodium 4-styrenesulfonate, as well as their block copolymer brushes, were synthesized via surface-initiated ATRP from the chloromethylated PEI membrane surfaces. The surface-modified membranes were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using the bovine serum albumin solution adsorption test, the grafted PEI membranes showed great antifouling properties compared to the pristine PEI surface. Thus, the chloromethylated PEI membranes with the active ATRP initiators opens up opportunities for the functionalization of membranes via surface molecular design.
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