Nanoscale TEM Imaging of Hydrogel Network Architecture

Autor: Ryuji Kiyama, Masahiro Yoshida, Takayuki Nonoyama, Tomáš Sedlačík, Hiroshi Jinnai, Takayuki Kurokawa, Tasuku Nakajima, Jian Ping Gong
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Advanced Materials. 35:2208902
ISSN: 1521-4095
0935-9648
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208902
Popis: In this work, the authors succeed in direct visualization of the network structure of synthetic hydrogels with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by developing a novel staining and network fixation method. Such a direct visualization is not carried out because sample preparation and obtaining sufficient contrast are challenging for these soft materials. TEM images reveal robust heterogeneous network architectures at mesh size scale and defects at micro-scale. TEM images also reveal the presence of abundant dangling chains on the surface of the hydrogel network. The real space structural information provides a comprehensive perspective that links bulk properties with a nanoscale network structure, including fracture, adhesion, sliding friction, and lubrication. The presented method has the potential to advance the field.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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