Single molecules of polymers: AFM imaging under liquid medium

POLY 462

Yuri Roiter, yroiter@clarkson.edu and Sergiy Minko, sminko@clarkson.edu. Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam, NY 13699
We report imaging of synthetic polymer single molecules under aqueous media using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is the only existing method for the detailed 3D visualization of real adsorbed polymer chains. We discuss applications of AFM for in situ visualization of the conformation details of molecules and the location of the molecule placement on the surface, direct measurement of the molecular characteristics of real adsorbed polymer molecules, and study of their motion dynamics on the surface. The discussed examples include 0.4 nm thick poly(2-vinylpyridine) chains in adsorbed state at mica-liquid interface and varying parameters: scanning force, pH, and ionic strength.
 

Imaging Techniques for the Characterization of Polymers and Polymer-Derived Materials
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Sci-Mix

Division of Polymer Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007