Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy on Poly(acrylic acid) by AFM

Abstract

The mechanical properties of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were investigated on the molecular scale by using AFM. PAA was adsorbed onto a glass substrate and then picked up at one point of the chain with the AFM tip and stretched. The deformation of single PAA chains under tension was measured and modeled by a modified freely-joint-chain model. The length distribution of loops and tails of adsorbed PAA on the glass substrate was also studied by analyzing the extension of the filaments.