Langmuir, Vol.32, No.37, 9437-9444, 2016
Tracking the Evolution of Polymer Interface Films during the Process of Thermal Annealing at the Domain and Single Molecular Levels using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
Structural evolution of polymer (NTZ12) interface films during the process of annealing is revealed at the domain and single molecular levels using the statistical data measured from scanning tunneling microscopy images and through theoretical calculations. First, common features of the interface films are examined: Then, mean values of surface-occupied ratio, size and density of the domain are used to reveal-the intrinsic derivation of the respective stages. Formation of new domains, is triggered at 70 degrees C, but domain ripening is not activated. At 110 degrees C, the speed of formation of new domains is almost balanced by the consumption due to the ripening process. However, formation of new domains is reduced heavily at 150 degrees C but restarted at 190 degrees C. At the single molecular level, the ratio-of the average length of linear to curved backbones is increased during annealing, whereas the ratios of the total length and the total number of linear tot curved skeletons reaches a peak value at 150 degrees C. The two major conformations of curved backbones for all samples are 120 degrees and 180 degrees bending, but the ripening at 150 degrees C reduces 180 folding dramatically. Molecular dynamic simulations disclose the fast relaxing process of curved skeletons at high temperature.