Direct visualization of the real time swelling and collapse of a poly(methacrylic acid) brush using atomic force microscopy

Parnell, Andrew J.; Martin, Simon J.; Jones, Richard; Vasilev, Cvetelin; Crook, Colin J.; Ryan, Anthony J.

doi:10.1039/b812872c

Cited by 42 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Depending on the desired accuracy, a suitable technique can be chosen to track the in situ changing of the thin film structure. A diverse range of techniques is available for characterizing thin films in solvents, including spectroscopic ellipsometry, infrared/Raman spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, white light interferometry, x‐ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dealing with inaccuracies in the analysis on solvent‐induced swelling of transparent thin films using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in the visible wavelength range

Tempelman

Kappert

Raaijmakers

et al. 2016

Surface & Interface Analysis

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The accuracy of spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of transparent polymer films in the visible wavelength range is greatly reduced in the presence of a liquid ambient. The relatively high refractive index of a liquid ambient strongly amplifies the effects of experimental non-idealities, such as window birefringence and an unknowingly inaccurate description of the optical properties of the ambient. In particular for thin films (approximately <100 nm), the implications of even small non-idealities are substantial, and large deviations in the thickness and refractive index are found. The concurrent low root mean square error (MSE) values show that a good MSE does not show that the optical model is correct; it just shows a good agreement between the experimental and fitted data. This implies that quantitative in situ ellipsometry studies for thin films are intricate, and derived properties like sorption behaviour should be treated with caution. Here, we show that quantitative in situ ellipsometry swelling measurements in solvents require a very accurate solvent dispersion relation, a high-quality temperature control, especially to prevent temperature differences between the cell, its content and exterior ambient, and accurate quantification of window effects, in particular for polymer films with thicknesses of approximately below 100 nm, depending on the optical contrast of the polymer-solvent system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dealing with inaccuracies in the analysis on solvent‐induced swelling of transparent thin films using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in the visible wavelength range

Tempelman

Kappert

Raaijmakers

et al. 2016

Surface & Interface Analysis

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“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Polymer brushes refer to an assembly of polymer chains which are tethered at one end to a surface or interface. [3] Theoretical studies using self-consistent-field calculations, scaling arguments, and computer simulations have indicated that tethered block copolymer brushes exhibit complex behaviors that depend on many factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microphase‐Separated Brushes on Square Platelets in PS‐b‐PEO Thin Films

Han

2009

Macromol. Rapid Commun.

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In polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) thin films, microphase-separated brushes on the square platelets can be obtained via fast solvent evaporation by controlling the tethering density (0.08 < σ < 0.11). The tethering density of the brushes is proportional to the thickness of the PEO crystal and increases with increasing initial solution heating temperature (T(i) ). When T(i) < T(m) , where T(m) is the melting point of PEO, brushes with microphase-separated structures are observed. The formation of microphase-separated brushes depends on two factors: the strong incompatibility between PS and noncrystalline PEO chains (attached to the crystalline PEO) and the weak interaction between PS-PS brushes.

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“…The actuating timescales of responsive polymer brushes have implications for applications in particular for the area of microfluidics, where channels or pores could be restricted/actuated by the fast switching of responsive brushes to enable sorting of molecules. [52]. Reproduced by permission of the Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

Section: Osmotic Brushmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Polyampholyte brushes, that is brushes with both polyacid and polybase groups appearing upon the same chain, have shown a larger pH response than homopolymer polybase brushes by responding at both extremes of the pH scale instead of just one [51]. Parnell et al [52] measured the real-time swelling and collapse of a poly(methacrylic acid) weak polyacid brush using atomic force microscopy. Polymer brush material was removed from the silicon surface using a scratch from a scalpel blade, taking care not to damage the substrate.…”

Section: Osmotic Brushmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Soluble Responsive Polymer Brushes

Weir

Parnell

2011

Polymers

Self Cite

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Abstract:Responsive polymer brushes possess many interesting properties that enable them to control a range of important interfacial behaviours, including adhesion, wettability, surface adsorption, friction, flow and motility. The ability to design a macromolecular response to a wide variety of external stimuli makes polymer brushes an exciting class of functional materials, and has been made possible by advances in modern controlled polymerization techniques. In this review we discuss the physics of polymer brush response along with a summary of the techniques used in their synthesis. We then review the various stimuli that can be used to switch brush conformation; temperature, solvent quality, pH and ionic strength as well as the relatively new area of electric field actuation We discuss examples of devices that utilise brush conformational change, before highlighting other potential applications of responsive brushes in real world devices.

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Direct visualization of the real time swelling and collapse of a poly(methacrylic acid) brush using atomic force microscopy

Cited by 42 publications

References 21 publications

Dealing with inaccuracies in the analysis on solvent‐induced swelling of transparent thin films using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in the visible wavelength range

Dealing with inaccuracies in the analysis on solvent‐induced swelling of transparent thin films using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in the visible wavelength range

Microphase‐Separated Brushes on Square Platelets in PS‐b‐PEO Thin Films

Water Soluble Responsive Polymer Brushes

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