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Related Concept Videos

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

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For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
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Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

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Unlike small molecules with definite molecular weights, polymers are a mixture of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, each with a unique molecular weight.  So, the molecular weight of a polymer is expressed as an average value based on the average size of the polymer chains. The two most common forms of averages used for polymers are the number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight.
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
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Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

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Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
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Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
2.8K
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers01:00

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers

3.0K
Polymers that are made up of identical monomer units are called homopolymers. Only one repeating unit is involved in the construction of the homopolymer structure. For example, as depicted in Figure 1, polypropylene is a homopolymer constituted of propylene monomers. Here, the only repeating unit in the polymer chain is propylene.
3.0K
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

2.4K
Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Visualizing the Heterogeneity in Homogeneous Supramolecular Polymers.

Emmanouil Archontakis1, Shikha Dhiman2, Miao Zhang1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

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Summary

Researchers visualized disordered domains in supramolecular polymers using NR-sPAINT microscopy. This reveals nanoscale heterogeneity crucial for understanding dynamic polymer properties and function.

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Area of Science:

  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Polymer Science
  • Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

  • Supramolecular polymers offer unique dynamic properties.
  • Monomer exchange mechanisms are linked to disordered domains, but direct detection is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly visualize and characterize local disordered domains in supramolecular polymer backbones.
  • To investigate the spatial distribution and polarity of these domains using advanced microscopy.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Nile Red-based spectrally resolved point accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (NR-sPAINT), a super-resolution microscopy technique.
  • Studied trisamide-based supramolecular polymers, including benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) and its inverted variant (iBTA).

Main Results:

  • Achieved direct visualization of local disordered domains with ~20 nm spatial precision.
  • Mapped the spatial distribution and polarity of disordered domains along polymer chains.
  • Quantitative analysis revealed differences in domain distribution between BTA and iBTA polymers.
  • Statistical analysis indicated significant intra- and interpolymer heterogeneity in monomer packing.

Conclusions:

  • Demonstrates the capability of NR-sPAINT for nanoscale imaging of soft materials.
  • Highlights the importance of nanoscale structural heterogeneity in supramolecular polymers.
  • Provides insights into the structure-property relationships governing dynamic polymer behavior.