In situ characterization of crystallization and melting of soft, thermoresponsive microgels by small-angle X-ray scattering.

ABSTRACT: Depending on the volume fraction and interparticle interactions, colloidal suspensions can form different phases, ranging from fluids, crystals, and glasses to gels. For soft microgels that are made from thermoresponsive polymers, the volume fraction can be tuned by temperature, making them excellent systems to experimentally study phase transitions in dense colloidal suspensions. However, investigations of phase transitions at high particle concentration and across the volume phase transition temperature in particular, are challenging due to the deformability and possibility for interpenetration between microgels. Here, we investigate the dense phases of composite core-shell microgels that have a small gold core and a thermoresponsive microgel shell. Employing Ultra Small-Angle X-ray Scat

SUBMITTER: Lapkin D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8864529 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature