Hierarchical nanoparticle topography in amphiphilic copolymer films controlled by thermodynamics and dynamics.

ABSTRACT: This study systematically investigates how polymer composition changes nanoparticle (NP) grafting and diffusion in solvated random copolymer thin films. By thermal annealing from 135 to 200 °C, thin films with a range of hydrophobicity are generated by varying acrylic acid content from 2% (SAA2) to 29% (SAA29). Poly(styrene-random-tert butyl acrylate) films, 100 nm thick, that are partially converted to poly(styrene-random-acrylic acid), SAA, reversibly swell in ethanol solutions containing amine-functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles with a diameter of 45 nm. The thermodynamics and kinetics of NP grafting are directly controlled by the AA content in the SAA films. At low AA content, namely SAA4, NP attachment saturates at a monolayer, consistent with a low solubility of NPs in SAA4 due to a we

SUBMITTER: Caporizzo MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4839976 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature