Nanoscale phase behavior of mixed polymer ligands on a gold nanoparticle surface

Seyong Kim, Tae Hwan Kim, June Huh, Joona Bang, Soo Hyung Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The phase behavior of mixed polymer ligands anchored on Au nanoparticle surfaces was investigated using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). An equimolar mixture of deuterated polystyrene (dPS) and normal poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was attached to Au nanoparticles, and the polymer-grafted nanoparticles were characterized in an isotopic toluene mixture, a good solvent for both homopolymers. Poly(deuterated styrene-ran-methyl methacrylate) (P(dS-r-MMA)) attached to the Au nanoparticles was also characterized as a control case. The results suggest that as the molecular weight increases, the two species of polymers become phase-separated on the nanoparticle surface, resulting in the formation of Janus-type nanoparticles. Monte Carlo simulations for the model polymer-grafted particle system suggest that the effective attraction between the polymers and the particle leads to dense wetting layers of solvophilic polymer blends in the vicinity of the solvophobic particle surface, which plays a decisive role in the formation of the phase-separated morphology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)417-421
Number of pages5
JournalACS Macro Letters
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Apr 21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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