Atomic-Scale Imaging of Polymers and Precision Molecular Weight Analysis
Polymer design requires fine control over syntheses and a thorough understanding of their macromolecular structure. Herein, near-atomic level imaging of polymers is achieved, enabling the precise determination of one of the most important macromolecular characteristics: molecular weight. By judiciously designing and synthesizing different linear metal(loid)-rich homopolymers, subnanoscale polymer imaging is achieved through annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM), owing to the incorporation of high <i>Z</i> atoms in the side chain of the monomeric units. The molecular weight of these polymers can be precisely determined by detecting and counting their metal(loid) atoms upon ADF-STEM imaging, at sample concentrations as low as 10 μg·mL<sup>-1</sup>. Notably, a commonly used C, H, and O-containing polymer (<i>i.e.</i>, poly(methyl acrylate)) that was thus far inaccessible at the atomic scale is derivatized to allow for subnano-level imaging, thus expanding the scope of our approach toward the atomic-level visualization of commodity polymers.
Authors
- Christopher Barner‐Kowollik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-0570)
- Joseph P. Patterson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1975-1854)
- Ana M. Sánchez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8230-6059)
- Paul Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9760-899X)
- Alexandros Magiakos
- Arkadios Marathianos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7347-5491)
- Evelina Liarou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4491-5897)
- Yisong Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7638-6785)
- Athina Anastasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6615-1026)
- Jochen A. Kammerer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7335-3497)
- Richard M. Whitfield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4787-2060)
Institutions
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- University of Warwick (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of the American Chemical Society
- Published
- 2024-12-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c13812
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.36
Funders
- Lubrizol
- Leverhulme Trust
- Royal Society
- European Commission
- Queensland University of Technology
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Australian Research Council
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions