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Single molecule force spectroscopy of smart poly(ferrocenylsilane) macromolecules: towards highly controlled redox-driven single chain motors

From National Research Council Canada

DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2005.12.091
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FormatText, Article
Subjectatomic force microscopy; electrochemistry; stimuli-responsive polymer
Abstract
We investigated various stimuli-responsive poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS) polymers as model systems for the realization of molecular motors powered by a redox process. Covalently end-grafted PFS on gold, as well as PFS homopolymers and block copolymers in ultrathin films, were studied by AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). Surface confined PFS macromolecules were chemically oxidized by addition of tetracyanoethylene or were completely and reversibly oxidized (and reduced) in situ by applying an electrochemical potential. Chemical oxidation was successful only for the block copolymers. The entropic elasticity of neutral PFS chains (Kuhn length IK∼0.40 nm) was found to be larger than that of oxidized PFS chains (IK∼0.65 nm) in the lower force regime. The elasticities could be reversibly controlled in situ by adjusting the applied potential in electrochemical SMFS experiments. For a single PFS macromolecule (DP=80) operating cycle, a work output and an efficiency of 3.4×10⁻¹⁹ J and ∼5%, respectively, were estimated based on the single chain experimental data.
Publication date
PublisherElsevier
In
  • Polymer 47, no. 7: 2483–2492.
LanguageEnglish
NRC publication
This is a non-NRC publication

"Non-NRC publications" are publications authored by NRC employees prior to their employment by NRC.

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Record created2019-04-15
Record modified2020-04-22
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