Polymeric Liquid Layer Densified by Surface Acoustic Wave

With the application of surface acoustic wave (SAW) of 39.5 MHz to a model polymer liquid film, polyisobutylene, deposited on the solid substrates, the liquid film is densified, proved by the decrease of film thickness and the increase of refractive index, measured by ellipsometry. Rotational motion of fluorescent probes doped inside the liquid film, measured by polarization-resolved single molecule fluorescence microscopy, is retarded and the dynamical heterogeneity is reduced. It is demonstrated that the application of SAW of high frequency makes the thin polymeric liquid film densified and more dynamically homogeneous.