Study on surface structure and composition of the smaller size organic nanotube and its supermolecule thin films using AFM/force curve method

The surface microstructures of three kinds of polymer thin films (ladderlike polypropyl-silsesquioxane, organic nanotube and its supermolecule) are studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at room temperature in air. The new information then is used for investigation of the microstructure of the polymer from the statistics data of distribution of the adhesion force on the thin films. The statistics of adhesion force distribution agree well with the morphology of AFM. There is good agreement between the experimental results, the configuration models from molecular mechanics calculation and the designed molecular models. We have successfully prepared the organic nanotube and its supermolecular thin film. The liquid crystal molecule has been inserted into the nanotube to form a supermolecule. The statistics results of distribution of the adhesion force would provide interesting data for correctly defining the microstructure of the polymer thin films. We demonstrate that AFM together with molecular mechanics calculation and statistics of the adhesion force distribution would be a good method for studying the microstructure and properties of new functional materials. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.