Abstract
The visualization of polymer structures at the molecular level is one of the most important issues in polymer science; however, even using scanning probe microscopy techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), it is still challenging to observe soft polymer materials at the molecular level. In this review, we show that using two-dimensional (2D) samples suitable for AFM observation, especially Langmuir–Blodgett films, and by optimizing the scan conditions, it is possible to obtain molecular images of various polymer structures by tapping-mode AFM. The molecular-level observations included isolated polymer chains and their movements on substrates, 2D folded-chain crystals and their melting behavior, crystallization behavior of single isolated chains, supramolecular multistranded stereocomplexes and chain packing in monolayers. The molecular-level information obtained by this type of direct observation is expected to greatly improve our understanding of physical properties of polymers.
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Acknowledgements
We thank our co-workers for their excellent contributions reported in this review. In particular, Emeritus Professors Naoya Ogata and Takeji Hashimoto and Professor Eiji Yashima are highly appreciated. Financial support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency and MEXT/JSPS KAKENHI Grand Numbers 20106009, 21350059, 23655208, 24655091, 24350113, 25107706 and 26620092 is greatly appreciated.
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Kumaki, J. Observation of polymer chain structures in two-dimensional films by atomic force microscopy. Polym J 48, 3–14 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/pj.2015.67
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pj.2015.67
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