Abstract

A better understanding of the structure of polymers at solid interfaces is crucial for designing various polymer nano-composite materials from structural materials to nanomaterials for use in industry. To this end, the first step is to obtain information on how synthetic polymer chains adsorb onto a solid surface. We closely followed the trajectory of a single polymer chain on the surface as a function of temperature using atomic force microscopy. Combining the results with a full-atomistic molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the chain became more rigid on the way to reaching a pseudo-equilibrium state, accompanied by a change in its local conformation from mainly loops to trains. This information will be useful for regulating the physical properties of polymers at the interface.

Details

Title
Direct observation of morphological transition for an adsorbed single polymer chain
Author
Oda Yukari 1 ; Kawaguchi Daisuke 1 ; Morimitsu Yuma 2 ; Yamamoto Satoru 3 ; Tanaka, Keiji 4 

 Kyushu University, Department of Applied Chemistry, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849); Kyushu University, Center for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849) 
 Kyushu University, Department of Applied Chemistry, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849) 
 Kyushu University, Center for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849) 
 Kyushu University, Department of Applied Chemistry, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849); Kyushu University, Center for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849); International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (GRID:grid.177174.3) (ISNI:0000 0001 2242 4849) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2473275896
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.