Polystyrene nanoparticles with tunable interfaces and softness

D. W. Holley, M. Ruppel, J. W. Mays, V. S. Urban, D. Baskaran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polystyrene nanoparticles, cross-linked with divinylbenzene (PS-(DVB) x) and having radii, Rp ≤ 10 nm, have been synthesized using batch and semi-batch radical microemulsion polymerizations. The nanoparticles were characterized thoroughly using 1H NMR, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and various small-angle scattering techniques (light, X-rays, and neutrons). Control over network and interface morphologies of the PS-(DVB)x nanoparticles is readily achieved by varying the concentration of divinylbenzene and the polymerization technique (batch vs. semi-batch). Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) allowed us to identify three distinct nanoparticle morphologies: (i) fuzzy soft gels with flexible chain-segments tethered/looped at the interface of a homogeneous core, (ii) smooth soft gels without a fuzzy interfacial layer, and (iii) dendritic glassy gels exhibiting an inhomogeneous core with an ill-defined interface. Atomic force microscopy imaging supports the morphologies and the softness of the nanoparticles as indicated by SANS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)58-65
Number of pages8
JournalPolymer
Volume55
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 14 2014

Funding

This research was supported by the US Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, MSE Division ( DE-AC05-00OR22725 ), and in part performed at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, sponsored at ORNL by DOE/BES .

Keywords

  • Nanoparticles
  • Neutron scattering
  • Polystyrene

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