Real-Time Visualization of Single Polymer Conformational Change in the Bulk State during Mechanical Deformation
Although polymers are most often used within bulk materials, investigating their conformations and dynamics has long been a challenging endeavor in this configuration, particularly under external forces. Addressing this, we utilize single-molecule localization microscopy as a powerful imaging tool to visualize bottlebrush poly(n-butyl acrylate) chains in the bulk state under spherical indentation, quantitatively describing changes in behavior of single polymer chains. We compare these experiments to displacement fields determined analytically and confirmed through finite element analysis. This study pioneers visualizing polymer conformational changes in their native environment in situ, offering transformative insights into polymer behavior and dynamics.
Authors
- Subhadeep Pal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0532-9791)
- Kenneth R. Shull (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8027-900X)
- Sinan Keten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2203-1425)
- Jie Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9772-765X)
- Muzhou Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7054-3022)
- Ruiqi Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9387-8020)
- Wei Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-7124)
- Qifeng Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6010-2178)
- Christopher P. Rademacher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3039-8692)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2025-04-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.134.148101
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Polymer crystallization and properties
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.03
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University