Single-molecule fluorescencespectroscopy was employed to reveal 3D details of the mechanisms underpinningion transport in a polyelectrolyte thin film possessing polymer-brush nanoscaleorder. The ability to resolve fluorescence emission over three discretepolarization angles revealed that these ordered materials impart 3D orientationto charged, diffusing molecules. In addition, it was possible to track dipoleangle progressions over time. The experiments were supported bysimulations.  The results reveal global orientationparameters for molecular transport, and identify a unique transport mechanism:translational diffusion with restricted rotation.  In general, realization of this experimentalmethod for translational diffusion in systems exhibiting basic orientationshould lend itself to evaluation of transport in a variety of important,ordered, functional materials.

Transient 3D transport in ordered polyelectrolyte membranes

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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