Polymer electrostatics: detection and speciation of trapped electric charges by electric probe and analytical electron microscopy |
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| Authors: | Fernando Galembeck Carlos Alberto Paula Leite Maria do Carmo VM da Silva Amauri José Keslarek Carlos Alberto Rodrigues Costa Érico Teixeira-Neto Márcia Maria Rippel Melissa Braga |
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| Institution: | Institute de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, PO Box 6154, Campinas SP, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | This work reviews new probe and electron microscopy approaches for the detection of charged domains in insulating polymers, as well as for the identification of the charge-bearing species: scanning electric potential microscopy (SEPM), electric force microscopy (EFM) and energy-loss spectroscopy imaging in the transmission electron microscope (ESI-TEM). The SEPM and EFM micrographs show patterned domains bearing excess electric charges and extending for tens of nanometers, in polymer latex particles and films. The charged species are identified by ESI-TEM as emulsion polymerization initiator and surfactant residues, as well as the associated counter-ions. Charged domains are also observed in common thermoplastic polymers, producing unexpectedly large electric potential gradients. |
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