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Nanoscopic Visualization of Cross‐Linking Density in Polymer Networks with Diarylethene Photoswitches
Author(s) -
Siemes Eric,
Nevskyi Oleksii,
Sysoiev Dmytro,
Turnhoff Sarah K.,
Oppermann Alex,
Huhn Thomas,
Richtering Walter,
Wöll Dominik
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201807741
Subject(s) - photoswitch , diarylethene , nanoscopic scale , polymer , materials science , photochromism , fluorescence , nanotechnology , soft matter , azobenzene , chemistry , photochemistry , optics , organic chemistry , physics , colloid , composite material
The in situ nanoscopic imaging of soft matter polymer structures is of importance to gain knowledge of the relationship between structure, properties, and functionality on the nanoscopic scale. Cross‐linking of polymer chains effects the viscoelastic properties of gels. The correlation of mechanical properties with the distribution and amount of cross‐linkers is relevant for applications and for a detailed understanding of polymers on the molecular scale. We introduce a super‐resolution fluorescence‐microscopy‐based method for visualizing and quantifying cross‐linker points in polymer systems. A novel diarylethene‐based photoswitch with a highly fluorescent closed and a non‐fluorescent open form is used as a photoswitchable cross‐linker in a polymer network. As an example for its capability to nanoscopically visualize cross‐linking, we investigate pNIPAM microgels as a system known with variations in internal cross‐linking density.