Binary polymer brushes grafted to Si wafers were prepared from hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer components. which allow switching the surface properties (as revealed by contact angles) by exposure to varying solvents. The hydrophilic component was poly-2-vinylpyridine: the hydrophobic component was a copolymer of styrene and 2-(4-vinylphenyl)indene containing the photodimerizable phenylindene chromophore. The brushes were prepared via thermal and via photochemical grafting-to methods, which led to distinct layer thickness. Structural patterns differing in surface properties were produced and fixed via crosslinking the hydrophobic component by 2pi + 2pi photodimerization of phenylindene moieties. The patterns were visually observable. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.