Abstract
Two-dimensional optical diffraction in polymer/electrolyte composite microparticles has revealed interesting structural/morphological dynamics that occur on a time scale of several minutes. In addition to its utility as a qualitative probe of material homogeneity and phase-separation behavior in composite systems, PEG/NaCl particles probed by optical diffraction exhibit particle size oscillation (up to 100 nanometers peak-to-peak). The specific behavior observed depends on the concentration and nature of the electrolyte in the PEG host particle. These results demonstrate the feasibility of 2-D angular scattering in polymer composite particles as a means for probing structural phase transitions in ultrasmall (10-500 femtoliters) confined volumes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 181-185 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Chemical Physics Letters |
Volume | 316 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 14 2000 |
Funding
The US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Divisions of Chemical Sciences and Materials Sciences) sponsored this research, under contract DEAC05-96OR22464 with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. J.V.F acknowledges support from the ORNL Postdoctoral Research Associates Program administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities.