1. Optical Tracer Self Diffusion Studies of Polyelectrolytes at Low Salt
Paul S. Russo – Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge
As part of our investigation into the dynamics of polyelectrolytes, a new route to the required fluorescent polystyrene sulfonate test polymer has been developed.
The first step is the preparation of
fluorescently tagged monomer.

2. In the next step, the fluorescently tagged monomer and styrene sulfonate monomers copolymerize via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).
This approach results in larger quantities of labeled polystyrene sulfonate than our previous method* while retaining low polydispersity.
Beyond our own project, many other uses of clean, paucidisperse, fluorescently tagged polystyrene sulfonate samples can be imagined.
* Macromolecules 2004, 37 (12),