Internal Microstructure Dictates Interactions of Polymer-grafted Nanoparticles in Solution.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the effects of polymer brush architecture on particle interactions in solution is requisite to enable the development of functional materials based on self-assembled polymer-grafted nanoparticles (GNPs). Static and dynamic light scattering of polystyrene-grafted silica particle solutions in toluene reveals that the pair interaction potential, inferred from the second virial coefficient, A ₂, is strongly affected by the grafting density, σ, and degree of polymerization, N, of tethered chains. In the limit of intermediate σ (∼0.3 to 0.6 nm^-2) and high N, A ₂ is positive and increases with N. This confirms the good solvent conditions and can be qualitatively rationalized on the basis of a pair interaction potent

SUBMITTER: Gury L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8361431 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature