Anomalous translational diffusion: A new constraint for models of molecular motion near the glass transition temperature

TitleAnomalous translational diffusion: A new constraint for models of molecular motion near the glass transition temperature
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2000
AuthorsWang, C. Y., and M. D. Ediger
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry BJ. Phys. Chem. B
Volume104
Pagination1724-1728
Date PublishedMar
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number1089-5647
Accession NumberWOS:000085642000008
KeywordsDIFFUSION, DYNAMIC HETEROGENEITIES, ENERGY LANDSCAPE MODEL, FORMING LIQUIDS, MULTIDIMENSIONAL NMR, O-TERPHENYL, PROBE MOLECULES, ROTATIONAL, STRUCTURAL RELAXATION, SUPERCOOLED ORTHO-TERPHENYL, T-G
Abstract

A photobleaching technique has been used to measure the translational motion of tetracene in polystyrene near T-g The intermediate scattering function S(q,t) was observed to become increasingly non-exponential with decreasing temperature. Thus a clear transition from Fickian diffusion to non-Fickian translational motion has been observed. These results support the view that dynamics are spatially heterogeneous in glass-forming materials. A model of translational motion on heterogeneous lattices indicates that the size of the heterogeneous regions is roughly 20 Angstrom. Thus the data presented here place a new constraint on models of molecular motion near T-g.

Alternate JournalJ. Phys. Chem. B