Synthesis, characterization, and controlled aggregation of biotemplated polystyrene nanodisks

Samuel Tekobo, Andrew G. Richter, Sergey A. Dergunov, Sai Venkatesh Pingali, Volker S. Urban, Bing Yan, Eugene Pinkhassik

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cross-linked polystyrene nanodisks were prepared by controlled polymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene in the interior of bicelles, discoidal lipid aggregates. Aggregation behavior of polymer nanodisks was studied in water, organic solvents, and solid phase. Nanodisks form stable dispersions in aqueous solutions of surfactants, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Varying SDS/nanodisk ratio allowed us to control the size of nanodisk aggregates. Nanodisks are readily solubilized in nonpolar organic solvents, such as toluene and carbon tetrachloride, to yield stable monodisperse suspensions. These findings open opportunities for creating nanodisk-based nanocomposite materials. Stable nanodisk suspension in toluene enabled small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. SANS data confirmed the nanodisk diameter and allowed accurate measurement of nanodisk thickness (19.5 ± 1.0 Å). In solid phase, nanodisks aggregate in sub-micron platelets.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6427-6437
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Nanoparticle Research
Volume13
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011

Funding

Acknowledgment This work was supported by the National Science Foundation grants (CHE-0349315 and CHE-1012951), National Institutes of Health grant (1R01HL079147-01), FedEx Institute of Technology Innovation Award, CIBA foundation, and by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. S.T. is the recipient of the First Generation Ph.D. fellowship. V.S.U. acknowledges support by the U.S. D.O.E. Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division under Field Work Proposal ERKCC02, Polymer-Based Multicomponent Materials. SANS experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Center for Structural Molecular Biology (CSMB) were supported by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, using facilities supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, managed by UT-Battelle, LLC under contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22725.

FundersFunder number
CIBA foundation
FedEx Institute of Technology
UT-Battelle, LLC
National Science FoundationCHE-0349315, CHE-1012951
National Institutes of Health1R01HL079147-01
U.S. Department of Energy
Basic Energy Sciences
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities
Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering

    Keywords

    • Aggregation
    • Carbon-based materials
    • Directed assembly
    • Nanocomposite materials
    • Nanoparticles
    • Templated materials

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