Abstract
Plant cells are elaborate three-dimensional polymer nano-constructs with complex chemistry. The bulk response of plants to light, in the far-field, is ultimately encoded by optical scattering from these nano-constructs. Their chemical and physical properties may be acquired through their interaction with a modulated nano-tip using scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy. Here, using this technique, we present 20 nm spatial resolution mechanical, spectral and optical mappings of plant cell walls. We first address the problem of plant polymers tracking through pretreatment and processing. Specifically, cellulose and lignin footprints are traced within a set of delignified specimen, establishing the factors hindering complete removal of lignin, an important industrial polymer. Furthermore, we determine the frequency dependent dielectric function {epsilon }(omega)={(n+ik)}^{2} of plant material in the range 28 ≤ ω ≤ 58 THz, and show how the environmental chemical variation is imprinted in the nanoscale variability of n and k. This nanometrology is a promise for further progress in the development of plant-based (meta-)materials.
Highlights
Plant cells are elaborate three-dimensional polymer nano-constructs with complex chemistry
In s-scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM), in contrast to diffraction-limited techniques, the spatial resolution is no longer limited by the excitation wavelength of the incident light
Imaging plant materials using tip-scattered near-field microscopy has been only recently reported in a study of pit membrane composition of Populus Nigra wood[47]
Summary
Plant cells are elaborate three-dimensional polymer nano-constructs with complex chemistry. Their chemical and physical properties may be acquired through their interaction with a modulated nano-tip using scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy Using this technique, we present 20 nm spatial resolution mechanical, spectral and optical mappings of plant cell walls. Necessary to observe, understand, and control these changes, and to question: “How do the chemical variations impact the physical properties (mechanical, hygroscopic, thermal and, as discussed here, optical) at the nanoscale?” and “How are these changes distributed within the heterogeneity of PCWs?” or “How can the altered physical properties impact the wood industry?” These questions are still largely open despite the recent progress in spectroscopically probing the materials at length scales akin to the molecular distributions[13]. The acquisition of the nanospectroscopic data and the nanoscale optical dielectric function of in situ PCWs remains in demand
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