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Nanofishing of a Single Polymer Chain: Temperature‐Induced Coil–Globule Transition of Poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) Chain in Water
Author(s) -
Liang Xiaobin,
Nakajima Ken
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201700394
Subject(s) - poly(n isopropylacrylamide) , aqueous solution , polymer , plateau (mathematics) , lower critical solution temperature , polymer chemistry , chain (unit) , chemistry , phase transition , materials science , thermodynamics , composite material , physics , copolymer , astronomy , mathematical analysis , mathematics
The nanofishing of a telechelic thiol‐terminated poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) single polymer chain from an Au (111) substrate in aqueous solution is investigated by atomic force microscopy. The obtained force–extension curves show two typical profiles: one is in good agreement with a so‐called worm‐like chain model, whereas the other is characterized by a Rayleigh–Plateau constant force. The appearance of the force plateau region is in agreement with the theoretical predictions of a pearl‐necklace model. For the first time, the temperature‐dependent interfacial free energy is obtained between PNIPAM and water, and it is found that it is the cause of the lower‐critical‐solution‐temperature‐type phase transition seen in PNIPAM/water system.