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Direct Measurement of the Critical Pore Size in a Model Membrane

Mark Ilton, Christian DiMaria, and Kari Dalnoki-Veress
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 257801 – Published 16 December 2016
Physics logo See Focus story: Membrane Holes Can Shrink, Grow, or Stay Put

Abstract

We study pore nucleation in a model membrane system, a freestanding polymer film. Nucleated pores smaller than a critical size close, while pores larger than the critical size grow. Holes of varying size were purposefully prepared in liquid polymer films, and their evolution in time was monitored using optical and atomic force microscopy to extract a critical radius. The critical radius scales linearly with film thickness for a homopolymer film. The results agree with a simple model which takes into account the energy cost due to surface area at the edge of the pore. The energy cost at the edge of the pore is experimentally varied by using a lamellar-forming diblock copolymer membrane. The underlying molecular architecture causes increased frustration at the pore edge resulting in an enhanced cost of pore formation.

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  • Received 17 November 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.257801

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsInterdisciplinary PhysicsPhysics of Living Systems

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Membrane Holes Can Shrink, Grow, or Stay Put

Published 16 December 2016

Pores in a polymer film do not change size over time if they have just the right diameter, according to experiments.

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Authors & Affiliations

Mark Ilton1, Christian DiMaria1, and Kari Dalnoki-Veress1,2,*

  • 1Department of Physics & Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
  • 2Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Théorique, UMR CNRS Gulliver 7083, ESPCI ParisTech, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France

  • *dalnoki@mcmaster.ca

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 25 — 16 December 2016

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