Ultrathin Disks

Atomic force microscopy image of ultrathin (~8 nm) disks composed of cross-linker-free poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) microgel particles adsorbed on glass slides in pH 3.0 buffer

Zhiyong Meng
Department of Chemical Engineering
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Howard Yen
L. Andrew Lyon
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia

The ultra-thin disks can be made by attachment of poly(N-isopropylaacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) microgel particles with a diameter of approximately 2 microns on a borosilicate glass slide. The height of the disks is only 8 nanometer, which is far smaller than the original diameter of microgel particles (2 microns).

The reason for the formation of ultrathin disks on glass slide is that the cross-linker-free copolymeric microgel particles are extremely soft so they can deformed to a large extent even in wet state.

Usage Information

Reporters may freely use this image as long as they include the following credit: "Image courtesy of Zhiyong Meng/Yale University and L. Andrew Lyon/Georgia Institute of Technology".

For further information, contact:
Jason Bardi
(301) 209-3091