title: Simple method for the stretching and alignment of single adsorbed synthetic polycations.
abstract: Spin-coating of isolated positively charged macromolecules onto mica in the presence of octylamine was found to be a simple and general method of stretching and aligning the macromolecular chains. The contour length and molar mass for the stretched macromolecules can be directly measured by atomic force microscopy, which makes this method a very useful analytical tool. Moreover, the molecular height is increased by co-deposition with octylamine, which drastically improves the molecular resolution and allows even ultrathin polycations to be visualized. The reason for the key role of the octylamine is found in the formation of an ultrathin liquidlike alkylamine film, which reduces the surface energy of mica and weakens the interactions between the surface and the charged macromolecules.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bocharova
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiriy
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stoffelbach
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jérôme
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Detrembleur
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000588:Amines; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000588:Amines; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; C008699:octylamine; C011934:mica