Worm-Like-Chain Model of Forced Desorption of a Polymer Adsorbed on an Attractive Wall

Abstract

Forced desorption of a semiflexible polymer chain on a solid substrate is theoretically investigated. The pulling force versus displacement is studied for different adsorption energy and persistence length P. It is found that the relationships between pulling force and cantilever displacement show a series of characteristic force spikes at different persistence length P. These force spikes becomes more pronounced but the average magnitude of this force decrease as P grows. Our results are of relevance to forced desorption of DNA on an attractive wall in single-molecule pulling experiments.