Real-Time Visualization of Single Polymer Conformational Change in the Bulk State during Mechanical Deformation

Although polymers are most often used within bulk materials, investigating their conformations and dynamics has long been a challenging endeavor in this configuration, particularly under external forces. Addressing this, we utilize single-molecule localization microscopy as a powerful imaging tool to visualize bottlebrush poly(n-butyl acrylate) chains in the bulk state under spherical indentation, quantitatively describing changes in behavior of single polymer chains. We compare these experiments to displacement fields determined analytically and confirmed through finite element analysis. This study pioneers visualizing polymer conformational changes in their native environment in situ, offering transformative insights into polymer behavior and dynamics.