1
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Vo T. Theory and simulation of ligand functionalized nanoparticles - a pedagogical overview. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3554-3576. [PMID: 38646950 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00177j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Synthesizing reconfigurable nanoscale synthons with predictive control over shape, size, and interparticle interactions is a holy grail of bottom-up self-assembly. Grand challenges in their rational design, however, lie in both the large space of experimental synthetic parameters and proper understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing their formation. As such, computational and theoretical tools for predicting and modeling building block interactions have grown to become integral in modern day self-assembly research. In this review, we provide an in-depth discussion of the current state-of-the-art strategies available for modeling ligand functionalized nanoparticles. We focus on the critical role of how ligand interactions and surface distributions impact the emergent, pre-programmed behaviors between neighboring particles. To help build insights into the underlying physics, we first define an "ideal" limit - the short ligand, "hard" sphere approximation - and discuss all experimental handles through the lens of perturbations about this reference point. Finally, we identify theories that are capable of bridging interparticle interactions to nanoscale self-assembly and conclude by discussing exciting new directions for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Vo
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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2
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Li W, Sun K, Yang L, Mao X, Deng S, Jiang H, Gu P, Cao B, Li W, Yi M, Bain CD, Deng R, Zhu J. In Situ Self-Assembly of Nanoscale Particles into Macroscale Ordered Monolayers with Enhanced Memory Performance. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2207468. [PMID: 36564364 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In situ fabrication of macroscale ordered monolayers of nanoparticles (NPs) on targeted substrates is highly desirable for precision electronic and optical devices, while it remains a great challenge. In this study, a solution is provided to address this challenge by developing a colloidal ink formulation and employing the direct-ink-writing (DIW) technique, where on-demand delivery of ink at a targeted location and directional evaporation with controllable rate are leveraged to precisely guide the deposition of polystyrene-grafted gold NPs (Au@PS NPs) into a macroscale monolayer with an ordered Au NP array embedded in a PS thin film. A 2D steady-state diffusion-controlled evaporation model, which explains the parameter dependence of the experimental results and gives semiquantitative agreement with the experimental evaporation kinetics is proposed. The ordered monolayer is used as both nanocrystal floating gates and the tunneling layer for nonvolatile memory devices. It shows significantly enhanced performance compared with a disordered NP film prepared by spin coating. This approach allows for fine control of NP self-assembly to print macroscaleordered monolayers directly onto substrates, which has great promise for application in broad fields, including microelectronic and photoelectronic devices, sensors, and functional coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Ke Sun
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lisong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Stockholm Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Xi Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Pan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bowen Cao
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wen Li
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mingdong Yi
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Colin D Bain
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Stockholm Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Renhua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jintao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
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3
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Conrad JC, Robertson ML. Shaping the Structure and Response of Surface-Grafted Polymer Brushes via the Molecular Weight Distribution. JACS AU 2023; 3:333-343. [PMID: 36873679 PMCID: PMC9975839 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Breadth in the molecular weight distribution is an inherent feature of synthetic polymer systems. While in the past this was typically considered as an unavoidable consequence of polymer synthesis, multiple recent studies have shown that tailoring the molecular weight distribution can alter the properties of polymer brushes grafted to surfaces. In this Perspective, we describe recent advances in synthetic methods to control the molecular weight distribution of surface-grafted polymers and highlight studies that reveal how shaping this distribution can generate novel or enhanced functionality in these materials.
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4
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Sharma S, Selvan M, Naskar S, Mondal S, Adhya P, Mukhopadhyay T, Mondal T. Printable Graphene-Sustainable Elastomer-Based Cross Talk Free Sensor for Point of Care Diagnostics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:57265-57280. [PMID: 36519850 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Developing sensors for monitoring physiological parameters such as temperature and strain for point of care (POC) diagnostics is critical for better care of the patients. Various commercial sensors are available to get the job done; however, challenges like the structural rigidity of such sensors confine their usage. As an alternative, flexible sensors have been looked upon recently. In most cases, flexible sensors cannot discriminate the signals from different stimuli. While there have been reports on the printable sensors providing cross-talk-free solutions, research related to developing sensors from a sustainable source providing discriminability between signals is not well-explored. Herein, we report the development of a stencil printable composition made of graphene and epoxidized natural rubber. The stencil printability index was vetted using rheological studies. Post usage, the developed sensor was dissolved in an organic solvent at room temperature. This, along with the choice of a sustainable elastomer, warrants the minimization of electronic waste and carbon footprint. The developed material demonstrated good conformability with the skin and could perceive and decouple the signals from temperature and strain without inducing any crosstalks. Using a representative volume element model, a comparison between experimental findings and computation studies was made. The developed sensors demonstrated gauge factors of -506 and 407 in the bending strain regimes of 0-0.04% and 0.04%-0.09%, respectively, while the temperature sensitivity was noted to be -0.96%/°C. The printed sensors demonstrated a multifunctional sensing behavior for monitoring various active physiological parameters ranging from temperature, strain, pulse, and breathing to auditory responses. Using a Bluetooth module, various parameters like temperature and strain could be monitored seamlessly in a smart-phone. The current development would be crucial to open new avenues to fabricate crosstalk-free sensors from sustainable sources for POC diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simran Sharma
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur721302, India
| | - Muthamil Selvan
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur721302, India
| | - Susmita Naskar
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, SouthamptonSO171BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Soumyadeep Mondal
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, SouthamptonSO171BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Pragyadipta Adhya
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur721302, India
| | - Tanmoy Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur208016, India
| | - Titash Mondal
- Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur721302, India
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5
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Wu W, Singh M, Zhai Y, Masud A, Tonny W, Yuan C, Yin R, Al-Enizi AM, Bockstaller MR, Matyjaszewski K, Douglas JF, Karim A. Facile Entropy-Driven Segregation of Imprinted Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Brush Blends by Solvent Vapor Annealing Soft Lithography. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:45765-45774. [PMID: 36174114 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs) have attracted extensive research interest due to their potential for enhancing mechanical and electrical properties of both bulk polymer composite materials, as well as thin polymer films incorporating these nanoparticles (NPs). In previous studies, we have shown that an entropic driving force serves to organize low-molecular-mass PGNPs in imprinted blend films of PGNPs with low-molecular-mass homopolymers. In this work, we developed a novel solvent vapor annealing soft lithography (SVA-SL) method to overcome the technical difficulties in processing the high-molecular-mass PGNP blends due to the intrinsically sluggish melt annealing kinetics found in the phase separation of these blend PGNP materials. In particular, we utilized SVA-SL to create nanopatterns in blends of PGNPs having relatively high-molecular-mass-grafted layers but with cores of NPs having greatly different sizes. The minimization of the entropic free energy in the present system corresponded to larger PGNPs partitioning almost exclusively into the "mesa" regions of the imprinted PGNP blend films, as quantified by the estimation of the partition coefficient, Kp. The use of the SVA-SL processing method is important because it allows facile imprint patterning of PGNP materials and large-scale organization of the PGNPs even when the grafted chain lengths are long enough for the chains to be highly entangled, allowing enhanced thermo-mechanical property enhancements of the resulting films and a corresponding extended range of potential nanotech applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
| | - Maninderjeet Singh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
| | - Yue Zhai
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Ali Masud
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
| | - Wafa Tonny
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
| | - Chuqing Yuan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
| | - Rongguan Yin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Abdullah M Al-Enizi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael R Bockstaller
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Jack F Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
| | - Alamgir Karim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas77204, United States
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6
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Power AJ, Papananou H, Rissanou AN, Labardi M, Chrissopoulou K, Harmandaris V, Anastasiadis SH. Dynamics of Polymer Chains in Poly(ethylene oxide)/Silica Nanocomposites via a Combined Computational and Experimental Approach. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:7745-7760. [PMID: 36136347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The dynamics of polymer chains in poly(ethylene oxide)/silica (PEO/SiO2) nanoparticle nanohybrids have been investigated via a combined computational and experimental approach involving atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) measurements. The complementarity of the approaches allows us to study systems with different polymer molecular weights, nanoparticle radii, and compositions across a broad range of temperatures. We study the effects of spatial confinement, which is induced by the nanoparticles, and chain adsorption on the polymer's structure and dynamics. The investigation of the static properties of the nanocomposites via detailed atomistic simulations revealed a heterogeneous polymer density layer at the vicinity of the PEO/SiO2 interface that exhibited an intense maximum close to the inorganic surface, whereas the bulk density was reached for distances ∼1-1.2 nm away from the nanoparticle. For small volume fractions of nanoparticles, the polymer dynamics, probed by the atomistic simulations of low-molecular-weight chains at high temperatures, are consistent with the presence of a thin adsorbed layer that exhibits slow dynamics, with the dynamics far away from the nanoparticle being similar to those in the bulk. However, for high volume fractions of nanoparticles (strong confinement), the dynamics of all polymer chains were predicted slower than that in the bulk. On the other hand, similar dynamics were found experimentally for both the local β-process and the segmental dynamics for high-molecular-weight systems measured at temperatures below the melting temperature of the polymer, which were probed by DRS. These differences can be attributed to various parameters, including systems of different molecular weights and nanoparticle states of dispersion, the different temperature range studied by the different methods, the potential presence of a reduced-mobility PEO/SiO2 interfacial layer that does not contribute to the dielectric spectrum, and the presence of amorphous-crystalline interfaces in the experimental samples that may lead to a different dynamical behaviors of the PEO chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Power
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Greece.,Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece
| | - Hellen Papananou
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece.,Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion 71003, Greece
| | - Anastassia N Rissanou
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Greece.,Computation-Based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus
| | - Massimiliano Labardi
- CNR-IPCF, c/o Physics Department, University of Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Kiriaki Chrissopoulou
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece
| | - Vagelis Harmandaris
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Greece.,Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece.,Computation-Based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus
| | - Spiros H Anastasiadis
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece.,Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion 71003, Greece
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7
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Chan SY, Jhalaria M, Huang Y, Li R, Benicewicz BC, Durning CJ, Vo T, Kumar SK. Local Structure of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Melts. ACS NANO 2022; 16:10404-10411. [PMID: 35816726 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) membranes show unexpected gas transport enhancements relative to the neat polymer, with a maximum as a function of graft molecular weight (MWg ≈ 100 kDa) for sufficiently high grafting densities. The structural origins of this behavior are unclear. Simulations suggest that polymer segments are stretched near the nanoparticle (NP) surface and form a dry layer, while more distal chain fragments are in their undeformed Gaussian states and interpenetrate with segments from neighboring NPs. This theoretical basis is derived by considering the behavior of two adjacent NPs; how this behavior is modified by multi-NP effects relevant to gas separation membranes is unexplored. Here, we measure and interpret SAXS data for poly(methyl acrylate)-grafted silica NPs and find that for very low MWgs, contact between GNPs obeys the two-NP theory─namely that the NPs act like hard spheres, with radii that are linear combinations of the NP core sizes and the dry zone dimensions; thus, the interpenetration zones relax into the interstitial spaces. For chains with MWg > 100 kDa, the interpenetration zones are in the contact regions between two NPs. These results suggest that for MWgs below the transition, gas primarily moves through a series of dry zones with favorable transport, with the interpenetration zone with less favorable transport properties in parallel. For higher MWgs, the dry and interpenetration zones are in series, resulting in a decrease in transport enhancement. The MWg at the transport maximum then corresponds to the chain length with the largest, unfavorable stretching free energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Y Chan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Mayank Jhalaria
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Yucheng Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Ruipeng Li
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Brian C Benicewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Christopher J Durning
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Thi Vo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Sanat K Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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8
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Hao QH, Cheng J, Yang F, Tan HG. Self-assembled morphologies of polyelectrolyte-grafted nanoparticles directed by oppositely charged polymer matrices. RSC Adv 2022; 12:19726-19735. [PMID: 35865210 PMCID: PMC9260519 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra00867j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembled structure of polymer grafted nanoparticles is an interesting and growing subject in the field of hybrid electronics and high energy density materials. In light of this, the self-assembled morphologies of polyelectrolyte (PE) sparsely grafted nanoparticles tuned by oppositely charged matrix chains are studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Our focus is to elucidate the effect of matrix chain polymerization on modulating the stretching properties of tethered PE layers, on the self-assembled structuring of nanoparticles. Through varying the matrix chain length and stiffness as well as electrostatic interaction strength, rich phase behaviors of PE coated nanoparticles are predicted, including spherical micelle-like structures being preferred with short matrix chains and percolating network morphologies favored with long matrix chains, which is more pronounced with an enhanced matrix chain rigidness. To pinpoint the mechanisms of self-assembled structure formation, the thickness of grafted layers, the gyration radius of tethered chains, and pair correlation functions between nanoparticles are analyzed carefully. Additionally, electrostatic correlations, manifested as the bridging via matrix chains, are examined by identifying three states of matrix PE chains. Our simulation results may be useful for designing smart polymer nanocomposites based on PE coated nanoparticles. Self-assembled structure of polymer grafted nanoparticles is an interesting and growing subject in the field of hybrid electronics and high energy density materials.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hai Hao
- College of Science, Civil Aviation University of China Tianjin 300300 China
| | - Jie Cheng
- College of Science, Civil Aviation University of China Tianjin 300300 China
| | - Fan Yang
- College of Science, Civil Aviation University of China Tianjin 300300 China
| | - Hong-Ge Tan
- College of Science, Civil Aviation University of China Tianjin 300300 China
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9
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Li D, Zhang K. Free energy cost to assemble superlattices of polymer-grafted nanoparticles. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:640-647. [PMID: 34931648 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01491a] [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
Mesoparticles consisting of a hard core and a soft corona like polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs) can assemble into various superlattice structures, in which each mesoparticle assumes the shape of the corresponding Wigner-Seitz (or Voronoi) cell. Conventional wisdom often perceives the stability of these superlattices in a mean-field view of surface area minimization or corona entropy maximization, which lacks molecular interpretation. We develop a simulation method to calculate the free energy cost to deform spherical PGNPs into Wigner-Seitz polyhedra, which are then relaxed in a certain crystalline superlattice. With this method, we successfully quantify the free energy differences between model BCC, FCC and A15 systems of PGNPs and identify BCC as the most stable structure in most cases. Analysis of polymer configurations in the corona, whose boundary is blurred by chain interpenetration, shows that the radial distribution of grafted chains and the corresponding entropy are almost identical between BCC and FCC, suggesting that the higher stability of the BCC structure cannot be explained by the mean-field description of the corona shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingning Li
- Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215300, China.
| | - Kai Zhang
- Division of Natural and Applied Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215300, China.
- Data Science Research Center (DSRC), Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215300, China
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10
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Mukherjee S, Streit JK, Gann E, Saurabh K, Sunday DF, Krishnamurthy A, Ganapathysubramanian B, Richter LJ, Vaia RA, DeLongchamp DM. Polarized X-ray scattering measures molecular orientation in polymer-grafted nanoparticles. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4896. [PMID: 34385430 PMCID: PMC8361200 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25176-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymer chains are attached to nanoparticle surfaces for many purposes, including altering solubility, influencing aggregation, dispersion, and even tailoring immune responses in drug delivery. The most unique structural motif of polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNs) is the high-density region in the corona where polymer chains are stretched under significant confinement, but orientation of these chains has never been measured because conventional nanoscale-resolved measurements lack sensitivity to polymer orientation in amorphous regions. Here, we directly measure local chain orientation in polystyrene grafted gold nanoparticles using polarized resonant soft X-ray scattering (P-RSoXS). Using a computational scattering pattern simulation approach, we measure the thickness of the anisotropic region of the corona and extent of chain orientation within it. These results demonstrate the power of P-RSoXS to discover and quantify orientational aspects of structure in amorphous soft materials and provide a framework for applying this emerging technique to more complex, chemically heterogeneous systems in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhrangsu Mukherjee
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jason K Streit
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
- UES, Inc., Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Eliot Gann
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Kumar Saurabh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Daniel F Sunday
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Lee J Richter
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Richard A Vaia
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
| | - Dean M DeLongchamp
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
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11
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Burgos-Mármol JJ, Patti A. Molecular Dynamics of Janus Nanodimers Dispersed in Lamellar Phases of a Block Copolymer. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:1524. [PMID: 34065148 PMCID: PMC8126030 DOI: 10.3390/polym13091524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigate structural and dynamical properties of Janus nanodimers (NDs) dispersed in lamellar phases of a diblock copolymer. By performing molecular dynamics simulations, we show that an accurate tuning of the interactions between NDs and copolymer blocks can lead to a close control of NDs' space distribution and orientation. In particular, NDs are preferentially found within the lamellae if enthalpy-driven forces offset their entropic counterpart. By contrast, when enthalpy-driven forces are not significant, the distribution of NDs, preferentially observed within the inter-lamellar spacing, is mostly driven by excluded-volume effects. Not only does the degree of affinity between host and guest species drive the NDs' distribution in the polymer matrix, but it also determines their space orientation. In turn, these key structural properties influence the long-time dynamics and the ability of NDs to diffuse through the polymer matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Javier Burgos-Mármol
- Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK;
| | - Alessandro Patti
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, The Mill. Sackville Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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12
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Static and Dynamic Behavior of Polymer/Graphite Oxide Nanocomposites before and after Thermal Reduction. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13071008. [PMID: 33805915 PMCID: PMC8036730 DOI: 10.3390/polym13071008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanocomposites of hyperbranched polymers with graphitic materials are investigated with respect to their structure and thermal properties as well as the dynamics of the polymer probing the effect of the different intercalated or exfoliated structure. Three generations of hyperbranched polyester polyols are mixed with graphite oxide (GO) and the favorable interactions between the polymers and the solid surfaces lead to intercalated structure. The thermal transitions of the confined chains are suppressed, whereas their dynamics show similarities and differences with the dynamics of the neat polymers. The three relaxation processes observed for the neat polymers are observed in the nanohybrids as well, but with different temperature dependencies. Thermal reduction of the graphite oxide in the presence of the polymer to produce reduced graphite oxide (rGO) reveals an increase in the reduction temperature, which is accompanied by decreased thermal stability of the polymer. The de-oxygenation of the graphite oxide leads to the destruction of the intercalated structure and to the dispersion of the rGO layers within the polymeric matrix because of the modification of the interactions between the polymer chains and the surfaces. A significant increase in the conductivity of the resulting nanocomposites, in comparison to both the polymers and the intercalated nanohybrids, indicates the formation of a percolated rGO network.
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Dhara M, Rudra S, Mukherjee N, Jana T. Hollow polymer nanocapsules with a ferrocenyl copolymer shell. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py00590a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Hollow polymer nanocapsules consisting of ferrocenyl shell have been developed by crosslinking the polymer chains grafted over silica nanoparticles synthesized via one pot surface-initiated RAFT polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Dhara
- School of Chemistry
- University of Hyderabad
- Hyderabad 500046
- India
| | - Somdatta Rudra
- School of Chemistry
- University of Hyderabad
- Hyderabad 500046
- India
| | | | - Tushar Jana
- School of Chemistry
- University of Hyderabad
- Hyderabad 500046
- India
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