Optical super-resolution microscopy in polymer science

Abstract

The advent of optical super-resolution microscopy (OSRM) over two decades ago has transformed light-mediated interrogation of systems down to the nanoscale. This innovative set of approaches to optics breaks the so-called diffraction limit of light (~200 nm), allowing for the first time to use optics in the far field to visualize behavior on nanoscopic length scales. While these visualization tools have rapidly found widespread use in biology and related fields, their implementation in materials and, more specifically, in polymer science has been far slower. To overcome possible barriers and highlight possible future directions, we present in this paper an introduction to OSRM for polymer scientists, beginning with an overview of relevant techniques and existing optical probes. We then show and examine the first examples of OSRM adaptation across major areas of polymer science, including: polymerization and structural characterization, self-assembly and solution behavior, bulk structure and behavior, crystallization, gel structure and behavior, phase transitions, and biofunctionality. We hope and anticipate that the discussions provided in this review will draw the attention of the polymer community to the capacities of these hitherto underexplored optical visualization techniques to further transform polymer science.