University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Polymer dynamics and fluctuations probed with fluorescence methods

Kumar, Subhalakshmi

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Subhalakshmi_Kumar.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/73049

Description

Title
Polymer dynamics and fluctuations probed with fluorescence methods
Author(s)
Kumar, Subhalakshmi
Issue Date
2015-01-21
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Granick, Steve
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Granick, Steve
Committee Member(s)
  • Schweizer, Kenneth S.
  • Braun, Paul V.
  • Sing, Charles E.
Department of Study
Materials Science & Engineerng
Discipline
Materials Science & Engr
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2015-01-21T19:58:52Z
Keyword(s)
  • Polymer dynamics
  • Polymer structure
  • Polymer fluctuations
  • Particle polymer mixture
  • Single particle dynamics
  • Single chain dynamics
  • Fluorescence methods
  • Surface forces Apparatus
  • Polymer at interfaces
  • Polymer confinement
  • Microscoopy
  • Spectroscopy
  • Polymer Physics
  • Random walk
  • Single molecule
  • Soft materials
  • Materials Science and Engineering
Abstract
The arc of the thesis is direct measurement of polymer chain properties with potent fluorescence methods imported from other interdisciplinary sciences and applied successfully to polymer physics problems for the first time. The focus is an important theme in equilibrium polymer physics - chain structure and dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces and confined geometries, respectively. The role of polymer dynamics and fluctuations on the topological confinement formed by entanglement strands in a polymer solution, as experienced by a particle of comparable size is also investigated. These questions are fundamental in many scientific and technical applications, including adhesion, interdiffusion, friction, the mechanical behavior of composite and nanocomposite materials, and functional properties of other kinds. The experimental investigations involve development of novel fluorescence techniques of spectroscopy, microscopy and image analysis with single molecule sensitivity and/or single particle accuracy. Use of these techniques allow access to phenomena occurring at a wide range of length scales and time scales, characteristic of problems in macromolecular physics. Single particle tracking experiments also show advantages of unearthing distribution of individual particle dynamics within an ensemble.
Graduation Semester
2014-12
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/73049
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2014 Subhalakshmi Kumar

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