title: In situ observation of single polymers adsorbed onto mica surfaces in water.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higashitani