In situ observation of single polymers adsorbed onto mica surfaces in water.
The morphology of a cationic polymer of high molecular weight, poly[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl(trimethyl)ammoniumchloride], adsorbed on to a mica surface in water was observed in situ using the tapping mode of an atomic force microscope with a high-resolution probe. It was found that the morphology of adsorbed polymers changes with time to be lumplike, floclike, and then fibril-like and that it takes surprisingly a long time for the polymers to relax completely in water, even though they are highly charged. Detailed structures of extended polymers are also discussed.
Arita
Tetsuya
T
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8510, Japan.
Kanda
Youichi
Y
Higashitani
Ko
K