Emerging Techniques in Polymer Microscopy

One feature that continues to drive much of the innovation described in this chapter is the 

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The spatial distribution of the dye within the polymer provides information required to model the dyeing process. Confocal Raman microscopy (using an oil immersion objective) has emerged as a powerful technique to obtain accurate profiles of the dye distribution as a function of depth [148]. The technique is specifically suited to this apphcation because of the high Raman activity of azo-dyes used in the dyeing process and thus enables the dye to be detected at low concentrations. Depth profiling of polymers dyed from a supercritical solution have also been achieved with the use of photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy [149]. 

Finally, application of other methods of analysis can be recommended. Many of the previous electrochemical studies devoted to conducting polymers were carried out in combination with radiotracer technique, AC electrogravimetry, quartz-crystal microbalance, surface plasmon resonance, and even ellipsometry, and atomic-force microscopy. In this context application of emerging experimental techniques such as local EIS and nonlinear impedance analysis may also be recommended. 

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