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Robertson H, Gresham IJ, Nelson ARJ, Prescott SW, Webber GB, Wanless EJ. Illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces: Recent advances and future directions in reflectometry techniques. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 331:103238. [PMID: 38917595 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Diffuse soft matter interfaces take many forms, from end-tethered polymer brushes or adsorbed surfactants to self-assembled layers of lipids. These interfaces play crucial roles across a multitude of fields, including materials science, biophysics, and nanotechnology. Understanding the nanostructure and properties of these interfaces is fundamental for optimising their performance and designing novel functional materials. In recent years, reflectometry techniques, in particular neutron reflectometry, have emerged as powerful tools for elucidating the intricate nanostructure of soft matter interfaces with remarkable precision and depth. This review provides an overview of selected recent developments in reflectometry and their applications for illuminating the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces. We explore various principles and methods of neutron and X-ray reflectometry, as well as ellipsometry, and discuss advances in their experimental setups and data analysis approaches. Improvements to experimental neutron reflectometry methods have enabled greater time resolution in kinetic measurements and elucidation of diffuse structure under shear or confinement, while innovation in analysis protocols has significantly reduced data processing times, facilitated co-refinement of reflectometry data from multiple instruments and provided greater-than-ever confidence in proposed structural models. Furthermore, we highlight some significant research findings enabled by these techniques, revealing the organisation, dynamics, and interfacial phenomena at the nanoscale. We also discuss future directions and potential advancements in reflectometry techniques. By shedding light on the nanostructure of diffuse interfaces, reflectometry techniques enable the rational design and tailoring of interfaces with enhanced properties and functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Robertson
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Soft Matter at Interfaces, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt D-64289, Germany
| | - Isaac J Gresham
- School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Andrew R J Nelson
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, ANSTO, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Stuart W Prescott
- School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Grant B Webber
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Erica J Wanless
- College of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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2
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Reviakine I. Quartz crystal microbalance in soft and biological interfaces. Biointerphases 2024; 19:010801. [PMID: 38416603 DOI: 10.1116/6.0003312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Applications of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation to studying soft and biological interfaces are reviewed. The focus is primarily on data analysis through viscoelastic modeling and a model-free approach focusing on the acoustic ratio. Current challenges and future research and development directions are discussed.
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3
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Effect of Cucurbit[7]uril on Adsorption of Aniline Derivatives at Quartz. COATINGS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings12081100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The adsorption behavior of small molecules at solid–liquid interfaces have become an important research topic in recent years. For example, small molecules of aniline pollutants will adsorb on solid surfaces with a massive discharge of industrial wastewater and are difficult to separate. Therefore, their adsorption and desorption on solid surfaces have become an important scientific problem. In this study, the interactions of cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) and benzidine (AN) are studied using 1H NMR, UV-Vis spectrometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results show that Q[7] forms an inclusion complex with MDA and AN. According to the results of Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D), MDA adsorbs onto a quartz surface and forms a viscous adsorption layer on it. The AN adsorbs on the quartz surface and forms a rigid adsorption film on it. Q[7] can reduce the adsorption of MDA on the quartz surface and increases the adsorption of AN on it. Through the dynamic adsorption experiments, we find that Q[7] has a desorption effect on MDA molecules adsorbed on the quartz surface. An Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is used to measure the morphological changes in the adsorption film before and after Q[7] makes contact with the quartz surface, and it proves that Q[7] has a desorption effect on MDA molecules adsorbed on the surface.
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4
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Yamaoka K, Yamada NL, Hori K, Fujii Y, Torikai N. Interfacial Selective Study on the Gelation Behavior of Aqueous Methylcellulose Solution via a Quartz Crystal Microbalance. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:4494-4502. [PMID: 35377665 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
It is important to understand the interfacial structure and physical properties of a polymer material to improve its function. In this study, we used a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and neutron reflectivity (NR) measurements to evaluate the viscoelasticity and structure of an aqueous methylcellulose solution near the gold interface. The apparent shear modulus, which was calculated from the complex frequency, was used to assess gelation behavior. The apparent shear modulus determined via the QCM suggested high-frequency rheological properties that reflected the relaxation of skeletal stretching and rotational motion of polymer segments, as well as cooperative motion of the various functional groups. The gelation temperature was found to be lowered at the interface in comparison with that of the bulk. It is suggested that the QCM can evaluate the shear modulus accompanying the gelation near the interface. The interfacial segregation on the gold substrate caused by the surface free energy and long-range van der Waals interaction was observed from NR measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Yamaoka
- Department of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Norifumi L Yamada
- Institute for Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, 203-1 Shirakata, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
| | - Koichiro Hori
- Neutron Science Laboratory, Institute for Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, 203-1 Shirakata, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Fujii
- Department of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Naoya Torikai
- Department of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
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5
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Gagnon YJ, Burton JC, Roth CB. Physically intuitive continuum mechanics model for quartz crystal microbalance: Viscoelasticity of rubbery polymers at
MHz
frequencies. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20210763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Connie B. Roth
- Department of Physics Emory University Atlanta Georgia USA
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6
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Gopalakrishna S, Langhoff A, Brenner G, Johannsmann D. Soft Viscoelastic Particles in Contact with a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM): A Frequency-Domain Lattice Boltzmann Simulation. Anal Chem 2021; 93:10229-10235. [PMID: 34270892 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Shifts of frequency and bandwidth of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in contact with a structured, viscoelastic sample have been computed with a linearized version of the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The algorithm operates in the frequency domain and covers viscoelasticity. The different domains are characterized by different values of the complex viscosity, η, equivalent to different values of the shear modulus, G. Stiff particles are given large |ηSph|, where |ηSph| must be less than ∼100 ηbulk with ηbulk the viscosity of the ambient liquid. Critical to the computational efficiency is a match of the LBM populations at the upper boundary of the simulation box to an analytical solution of the Stokes equation in the bulk above the box. The application example is a test of the ΔΓ/(-Δf)-extrapolation scheme, where Δf and ΔΓ are the shifts in resonance frequency and half bandwidth, respectively. For adsorbed particles, plots of ΔΓ/(-Δf) versus - Δf/n (with n the overtone order) show almost straight lines. The extrapolation of these lines to zero yields a frequency shift, which, after conversion to a thickness with the Sauerbrey equation, closely agrees with the height of the particles. Plots of Δf/n and ΔΓ/n versus n look similar to the corresponding plots obtained for viscoelastic films, where the parameters, which would usually be extracted from those plots (apparent mass and apparent compliance), depend on the geometry and the sample's viscoelasticity in a nontrivial way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Gopalakrishna
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
| | - Arne Langhoff
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
| | - Gunther Brenner
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, Clausthal University of Technology, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
| | - Diethelm Johannsmann
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
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7
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Hristov DR, Lopez H, Ortin Y, O'Sullivan K, Dawson KA, Brougham DF. Impact of dynamic sub-populations within grafted chains on the protein binding and colloidal stability of PEGylated nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:5344-5355. [PMID: 33660726 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08294e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene glycol grafting has played a central role in preparing the surfaces of nano-probes for biological interaction, to extend blood circulation times and to modulate protein recognition and cellular uptake. However, the role of PEG graft dynamics and conformation in determining surface recognition processes is poorly understood primarily due to the absence of a microscopic picture of the surface presentation of the polymer. Here a detailed NMR analysis reveals three types of dynamic ethylene glycol units on PEG-grafted SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) of the type commonly evaluated as long-circulating theranostic nano-probes; a narrow fraction with fast dynamics associated with the chain ends; a broadened fraction spectrally overlapped with the former arising from those parts of the chain experiencing some dynamic restriction; and a fraction too broad to be observed in the spectrum arising from units closer to the surface/graft which undergo slow motion on the NMR timescale. We demonstrate that ethylene glycol units transition between fractions as a function of temperature, core size, PEG chain length and surface coverage and demonstrate how this distribution affects colloidal stability and protein uptake. The implications of the findings for biological application of grafted nanoparticles are discussed in the context of accepted models for surface ligand conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delyan R Hristov
- Centre for BioNano Interactions, School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Hender Lopez
- School of Physics & Optometric & Clinical Sciences, Technological University Dublin, City Campus, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Republic of Ireland
| | - Yannick Ortin
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
| | - Kate O'Sullivan
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
| | - Kenneth A Dawson
- Centre for BioNano Interactions, School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Dermot F Brougham
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
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8
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Pidhatika B, Nalam PC. Investigation of design parameters in generating antifouling and lubricating surfaces using hydrophilic polymer brushes. J Appl Polym Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/app.47659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bidhari Pidhatika
- Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology, Department of MaterialsETH Zürich Vladimir‐Prelog‐Weg 1‐5/10, 8093, Zurich Switzerland
| | - Prathima C. Nalam
- Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology, Department of MaterialsETH Zürich Vladimir‐Prelog‐Weg 1‐5/10, 8093, Zurich Switzerland
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9
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Michalek L, Mundsinger K, Barner-Kowollik C, Barner L. The long and the short of polymer grafting. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c8py01470a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polymer chains are grafted depending on their size onto solid interfaces, leading to a distortion of the surface grafted size distribution. We herein predict and quanitify this distortion effect, which has critical consequences for functional polymer interface design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Michalek
- School of Chemistry
- Physics and Mechanical Engineering
- Institute for Future Environments
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- QLD 4000
| | - Kai Mundsinger
- School of Chemistry
- Physics and Mechanical Engineering
- Institute for Future Environments
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- QLD 4000
| | - Christopher Barner-Kowollik
- School of Chemistry
- Physics and Mechanical Engineering
- Institute for Future Environments
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- QLD 4000
| | - Leonie Barner
- School of Chemistry
- Physics and Mechanical Engineering
- Institute for Future Environments
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- QLD 4000
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10
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Michalek L, Barner L, Barner-Kowollik C. Polymer on Top: Current Limits and Future Perspectives of Quantitatively Evaluating Surface Grafting. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1706321. [PMID: 29512237 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Well-defined polymer strands covalently tethered onto solid substrates determine the properties of the resulting functional interface. Herein, the current approaches to determine quantitative grafting densities are assessed. Based on a brief introduction into the key theories describing polymer brush regimes, a user's guide is provided to estimating maximum chain coverage and-importantly-examine the most frequently employed approaches for determining grafting densities, i.e., dry thickness measurements, gravimetric assessment, and swelling experiments. An estimation of the reliability of these determination methods is provided via carefully evaluating their assumptions and assessing the stability of the underpinning equations. A practical access guide for comparatively and quantitatively evaluating the reliability of a given approach is thus provided, enabling the field to critically judge experimentally determined grafting densities and to avoid the reporting of grafting densities that fall outside the physically realistic parameter space. The assessment is concluded with a perspective on the development of advanced approaches for determination of grafting density, in particular, on single-chain methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Michalek
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Leonie Barner
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Institute for Biological Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christopher Barner-Kowollik
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Macromolecular Architectures, Institut für Technische Chemie und Polymerchemie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engesserstr. 18, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
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11
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Sadman K, Wiener CG, Weiss RA, White CC, Shull KR, Vogt BD. Quantitative Rheometry of Thin Soft Materials Using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation. Anal Chem 2018; 90:4079-4088. [PMID: 29473414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In the inertial limit, the resonance frequency of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is related to the coupled mass on the quartz sensor through the Sauerbrey expression that relates the mass to the change in resonance frequency. However, when the thickness of the film is sufficiently large, the relationship becomes more complicated and both the frequency and damping of the crystal resonance must be considered. In this regime, a rheological model of the material must be used to accurately extract the adhered film's thickness, shear modulus, and viscoelastic phase angle from the data. In the present work we examine the suitability of two viscoelastic models, a simple Voigt model ( Physica Scripta 1999, 59, 391-396) and a more realistic power-law model ( Langmuir 2015, 31, 4008-4017), to extract the rheological properties of a thermoresponsive hydrogel film. By changing temperature and initial dry film thickness of the gel, the operation of QCM was traversed from the Sauerbrey limit, where viscous losses do not impact the frequency, through the regime where the QCM response is sensitive to viscoelastic properties. The density-shear modulus and the viscoelastic phase angle from the two models are in good agreement when the shear wavelength ratio, d/λ n, is in the range of 0.05-0.20, where d is the film thickness and λ n is the wavelength of the mechanical shear wave at the nth harmonic. We further provide a framework for estimating the physical properties of soft materials in the megahertz regime by using the physical behavior of polyelectrolyte complexes. This provides the user with an approximate range of allowable film thicknesses for accurate viscoelastic analysis with either model, thus enabling better use of the QCM-D in soft materials research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazi Sadman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering , Northwestern University , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Clinton G Wiener
- Department of Polymer Engineering , University of Akron , Akron , Ohio 44325 , United States
| | - R A Weiss
- Department of Polymer Engineering , University of Akron , Akron , Ohio 44325 , United States
| | - Christopher C White
- Building and Fire Research Division , National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg , Maryland 20899 , United States
| | - Kenneth R Shull
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering , Northwestern University , Evanston , Illinois 60208 , United States
| | - Bryan D Vogt
- Department of Polymer Engineering , University of Akron , Akron , Ohio 44325 , United States
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12
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Tanoue H, Inutsuka M, Yamada NL, Ito K, Yokoyama H. Kinetics of Dynamic Polymer Brush Formation. Macromolecules 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Tanoue
- Graduate
School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
| | - Manabu Inutsuka
- Graduate
School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
| | - Norifumi L. Yamada
- High Energy Accelerator
Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 319-1108, Japan
| | - Kohzo Ito
- Graduate
School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
| | - Hideaki Yokoyama
- Graduate
School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
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