Force spectroscopy of polymers: Beyond single chain mechanics

Single molecule force spectroscopy allows the investigation of intramolecular or intermolecular interactions of polymers on a single molecule level at the solid/liquid interface, thus potentially opening a new horizon for single molecule mechanochemistry. In this article, we highlight the nascent, but rapidly developing field of single molecule force spectroscopy, and focus our discussion on the recent progress in single molecule force spectroscopy on polymers.