Uncovering polymer’s unique spindle structure

A new study from Daeseok Kim and Teresa Lopez-Leon of Gulliver lab, in collaboration with Helen Ansell, Randall Kamien, and Eleni Katifori of the University of Pennsylvania, describes how polymer spheres can transform into twisted spindles thanks to insights from 16th century navigation tools. A combination of experimental and theoretical efforts shows how loxodromes, or rhumb lines, can form from polymer spheres, resulting in complex patterns that are ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 157801


Scanning electron microscope images showing polymers in a spherical configuration (left); when a new solvent is added, the spheres twist and change into elongated twisted spindles (right). At the top of the spindles (bottom) are one micron spirals. (Image: Daeseok Kim)


Top



See also...

Dynamic Heterogeneity of Short Semi-crystalline Polymer Chains during Recrystallization

The instant crystallization of semi-crystalline polymers have become possible following the recent advances in Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) and (…) 

> More...

Hydrodynamic superradiance in wave-mediated cooperative tunneling

Superradiance occurs in quantum optics when the emission rate of photons from multiple atoms is enhanced by inter-atom interactions. When the (…) 

> More...