Our group has several projects underway that use AFM and STM to provide information about the surface properties of new materials. One project is being carried out in collaboration with with scientists at Mitsibishi Polyester Films L.L.C. We have been looking at fundamental stages of polyester crystalllization during the manufacturing process by preparing samples on a pilot line at their plant in Greer, SC. Since we know the complete history of each sample that we image with AFM, we can correlate what has happened to the sample during production (i.e. what surfaces it has made contact with and what tensions it has been subjected to) with when surface crystallinity is evident in the sample. We will be continuing this work and extending the studies into surface modified films.
Another area of investigation pertains to immobilizing nanoparticles on conducting polymers. Utilizing thiols with diacetylene tails we can modify the surface of PEDOT films. The addition of gold nanoparticles with the same thiol coating can create an adhered layer of nanoparticles. Photolysis of the resulting materials can then cross-link the diacetylene moieties thus locking the nanoparticles in place. Our initial studies have been promising, but further work is being done to evaluate the best method for immobilizing the nanoparticles in a systematically designed pattern.