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Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes
Published on: December 24, 2014
Direct observation of polyelectrolyte brushes under wet and dry conditions by atmospheric scanning electron
Takeshi Higuchi1, Yuji Konyuba2, Hidetoshi Nishiyama2
1Takahara Soft Interfaces Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering (IMCE), Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Abstract:
Polyelectrolyte brushes are polyelectrolyte polymers with one end fixed to a substrate. In this study, direct nano-scale visualization of polyelectrolyte brushes was carried out under 'aqueous conditions' by atmospheric scanning electron microscopy. The thickness of the polyelectrolyte brush layer was measured under both dry and aqueous conditions, experimentally confirming the swollen state of the brushes. These experimental findings qualitatively agreed with the results from previous neutron reflectivity experiments using similar polyelectrolyte brushes. Such direct visualization of polymer brushes in real space opens up a new route for better understanding their surface properties, such as friction, adhesion and wettability.
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