Multimode nanoscope iiia

Atomic Force Microscopy was performed on a Digital Instruments Multimode Nanoscope IIIa, and a Digital Instruments Dimension 3100 Nanoscope IIIa. Phase and height images of solution‐cast films were recorded in the tapping mode regime in air at room temperature using silicon cantilever tips (PPP‐NCHR). Images were processed using Gwyddion software (version 2.43), and the root mean square roughness was extracted from 1 × 1 μm height images.

AFM measurements is carried out in tapping mode in free air at room temperature (25 °C) with a Multimode NanoScope IIIa (Digital Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA, USA). Typically, 4 µL of particles’ dispersion in water is deposited on fresh mica cleaved by pressing an adhesive tape against the top mica surface and peeling off the tape. The sample on the mica surface is dried under nitrogen flow for a few minutes before imaging.

A Digital Instruments Multimode Nanoscope IIIa, operating in the tapping mode regime, was used to record phase and height images of solution‐cast films at room temperature with silicon cantilever tips (PPP‐NCHR, NanoSensors^tm, 204–497 kHz, 10–130 N/m). Images were processed using Gwyddion software (version 2.43). Polymer film hydrophobicity was determined by water contact angle analysis. A 4 μl water droplet was deposited on the polymer surface, images were taken at 5 s after droplet deposition and contact angles were measured with contact angle system OCA and SCA 202 v4.1.13 build 1020 software (Dataphysics Intruments, Germany). Two droplets per sample were deposited over 3 replicates.