Effect of Rod Length on the Morphology of Block Copolymer/Magnetic Nanorod Composites

Enhanced Ordering of Block Copolymer Thin Films upon Addition of Magnetic Nanoparticles

The influence of magnetite nanoparticles coated with poly(acrylic acid) (Fe₃O₄@PAA NPs) on the organization of block copolymer thin films via a self-assembly process was investigated. Polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine) films were obtained by the dip-coating method and thoroughly examined by X-ray reflectivity, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and grazing incidence small-angle scattering. Magnetic properties of the films were probed via superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. It was demonstrated that due to the hydrogen bonding between P4VP and PAA, the Fe₃O₄@PAA NPs segregate selectively inside P4VP domains, enhancing the microphase separation process. This in turn, together with employing carefully optimized dip-coating parameters, results in the formation of hybrid thin films with highly ordered nanostructures. The addition of Fe₃O₄@PAA nanoparticles does not change the average interdomain spacing in the film lateral nanostructure. Moreover, it was shown that the nanoparticles can easily be removed to obtain well-ordered nanoporous templates.

Synthesis of Podlike Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanochains for Use as Enzyme Support and Nanostirrer in Biocatalysis

Magnetic mesoporous materials have attracted great interest due to their combined property of magnetic nanomaterials and mesoporous materials as well as their potential applications in catalysis, bioenrichment, drug delivery, nanoreactors, etc. In this study, one-dimensional (1D) podlike magnetic mesoporous silica nanochains with tunable hollow space (Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@void@mSiO₂ nanochain named as podlike 1D magnetic mesoporous silica (PL-MMS) nanochain) are rationally synthesized for the first time through a controlled magnetic-induced interface coassembly approach. The obtained PL-MMS possesses a tunable diameter (300-500 nm), large and perpendicular mesopores (8.2 nm) in the outer shell, a silica-protected magnetic-responsive core, and a high surface area (325 m²/g). Benefiting from the large voids and unique mesopores, these mesoporous nanochains exhibit superior performance in enzyme (lipase with a size of 4.0 nm) immobilization with a high loading capacity of 223 μg/mg, and the immobilized lipase demonstrates enhanced catalytic activity in different pH values and temperatures as well as excellent tolerance of organic solvent.

Dynamic scaling of ferromagnetic micro-rod clusters under a weak magnetic field

A controlled configurational change of micro-clusters in suspensions is essential for many smart material applications. In this paper, the dynamic process of ferromagnetic microrod clusters (FMRCs) under an external magnetic field was studied as a function of the cluster size N and the applied field B. The FMRCs rearranged from a side-by-side raft-like structure to an end-to-end chain-like structure, originating from coupled motions through the field-driven alignment of both ferromagnetic microrods and FMRCs. A theoretical model based on an extension of a zig-zag chain was developed, and both the cluster length and orientation could be characterized by a retardation time constant τ, with a relationship τ ∼ N²/B, which agrees well with the experimental results, τ ∼ N^2.2±0.2/B^0.8±0.1. Such a model can be used to predict other cluster dynamics or the magneto-elastic behavior of other soft matters consisting of FMRCs.

Multi-stage freezing of HEUR polymer networks with magnetite nanoparticles

We observe a change in the segmental dynamics of hydrogels based on hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethanes (HEUR) when hydrophobic magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are embedded in the hydrogels. The dynamics of the nanocomposite hydrogels is investigated using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy. The magnetic nanoparticles within the hydrophobic domains of the HEUR polymer network increase the size of these domains and their distance. The size increase leads to a dilution of the polymers close to the hydrophobic domain, allowing higher mobility of the smallest polymer blobs close to the "center". This is reflected in the decrease of the activation energy of the β-process detected in the DRS data. The increase in distance leads to an increase of the size of the largest hydrophilic polymer blobs. Therefore, the segmental dynamics of the largest blobs is slowed down. At short time scales, i.e. 10(-9) s < τ < 10(-3) s, the suppression of the segmental dynamics is reflected in the α-relaxation processes detected in the DRS data and in the decrease of the relaxation rate Γ of the segmental motion in the NSE data with increasing concentration of magnetic nanoparticles. The stepwise (multi-stage) freezing of the small blobs is only visible for the pure hydrogel at low temperatures. On the other hand, the glass transition temperature (Tg) decreases upon increasing the MNP loading, indicating an acceleration of the segmental dynamics at long time scales (τ∼ 100 s). Therefore, it would be possible to tune the Tg of the hydrogels by varying the MNP concentration. The contribution of the static inhomogeneities to the total scattering function Sst(q) is extracted from the NSE data, revealing a more ordered gel structure than the one giving rise to the total scattering function S(q), with a relaxed correlation length ξNSE = (43 ± 5) Å which is larger than the fluctuating correlation length from a static investigation ξSANS = (17.2 ± 0.3) Å.

Dispersion and alignment of nanorods in cylindrical block copolymer thin films

Although significant progress has been made in controlling the dispersion of spherical nanoparticles in block copolymer thin films, our ability to disperse and control the assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles into well-defined structures is lacking in comparison. Here we use a combination of experiments and field theoretic simulations to examine the assembly of gold nanorods (AuNRs) in a block copolymer. Experimentally, poly(2-vinylpyridine)-grafted AuNRs (P2VP-AuNRs) are incorporated into poly(styrene)-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) thin films with a vertical cylinder morphology. At sufficiently low concentrations, the AuNRs disperse in the block copolymer thin film. For these dispersed AuNR systems, atomic force microscopy combined with sequential ultraviolet ozone etching indicates that the P2VP-AuNRs segregate to the base of the P2VP cylinders. Furthermore, top-down transmission electron microscopy imaging shows that the P2VP-AuNRs mainly lie parallel to the substrate. Our field theoretic simulations indicate that the NRs are strongly attracted to the cylinder base where they can relieve the local stretching of the minority block of the copolymer. These simulations also indicate conditions that will drive AuNRs to adopt a vertical orientation, namely by increasing nanorod length and/or reducing the wetting of the short block towards the substrate.

Arrangement of Maghemite Nanoparticles via Wet Chemical Self-Assembly in PS-b-PNIPAM Diblock Copolymer Films

The structure and magnetic behavior of hybrid films composed of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) and an asymmetric diblock copolymer (DBC) polystyrene61-block-polyN-isopropylacrylamide115 are investigated. The NPs are coated with PS chains, which allow for a selective incorporation inside the PS domains at different NP concentrations. Upon incorporation of low amounts of NPs into the DBC thin films, the initial parallel (to film surface) cylinder morphology changes to a well ordered, perpendicularly oriented one. The characteristic domain distance of the DBC is increased due to the swelling of the PS domains with NPs. At higher NP concentrations, the excess NPs which can no longer be embedded in the PS domains, are accumulated at the film surface, and NP aggregates form. Irrespective of NP concentration, a superparamagnetic behavior of the metal oxide-DBC hybrid films is found. Such superparamagnetic properties make the established hybrid films interesting for high density magnetic storage media and thermoresponsive magnetic sensors.

Visible light curing of Epon SU-8 based superparamagnetic polymer composites with random and ordered particle configurations

The performance of superparamagnetic polymer composite microdevices is highly dependent on the magnetic particle content. While high loading levels are desired for many applications, the UV absorption of these nanoparticles limits the overall thickness of the fabricated microstructures and subsequently their capability of magnetic interaction. The combination of a visible-light-sensitive photoinitiator and particle self-organization is proposed to extend the exposure depth limitation in Epon SU-8 based superparamagnetic polymer composites. While superparamagnetic iron oxide particles strongly absorb i-line radiation required to cross-link the Epon SU-8 polymer matrix, we propose the utilization of H-Nu 470 photoinitiator to expand the photosensitivity of the composite toward the visible spectrum, where the dispersed nanoparticles are more transparent. The novel photoinitiator preserves the composite's superparamagnetic properties as well as a homogeneous particle distribution. As a result, particle load or resist thickness can be more than doubled while maintaining exposure time. The self-organization of ordered magnetic structures allows for an additional increase in exposure depth of up to 40%, resulting in a 2.5-fold saturation magnetization.

Self-assembly of diblock copolymer-maghemite nanoparticle hybrid thin films

The arrangement of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) in poly(styrene-d8-block-n-butyl methacrylate) P(Sd-b-BMA) diblock copolymer (DBC) films via a self-assembly process was investigated toward the fabrication of highly ordered maghemite-polymer hybrid thin films. The resulting thin films exhibited a perforated lamella with an enrichment layer containing NPs as investigated with X-ray reflectometry, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and time-of-flight grazing incidence small angle neutron scattering as a function of the NP concentrations. The NPs were selectively deposited in the PSd domains of the DBC during the microphase separation process. At low NP concentrations, the incorporation of the NPs within the DBC thin films resulted in an enhanced microphase separation process and formation of highly oriented and ordered nanostructured hybrid films. At higher NP concentrations, the aggregation of the NPs was dominating and large sized metal oxide clusters were observed. The superparamagnetic properties of the metal oxide-polymer hybrid films at various NP concentrations were probed by a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer, which shows that the hybrid films are highly attractive for optical devices, magnetic sensors, and magnetic recording devices.

Nano- and microstructures of magnetic field-guided maghemite nanoparticles in diblock copolymer films

The control over the alignment of nanoparticles within a block copolymer matrix was investigated for different external magnetic fields with respect to producing well-aligned, highly oriented metal-oxide-polymer nanopatterns. Hybrid films were prepared by solution casting under a range of external magnetic fields. The nano- and microstructure of maghemite nanoparticles within poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer films as a function of the nanoparticle concentration was studied using optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. Because of a polystyrene (PS) coating, the nanoparticles are incorporated in the PS domains of the diblock copolymer morphology. At higher nanoparticle concentrations, nanoparticle aggregates perturb the block copolymer structure and accumulate at the films surface into wire-shaped stripes. These wire-shaped nanoparticle aggregates form mainly because of the competition between nanoparticle-polymer friction and magnetic dipolar interaction. The magnetic behavior of the hybrid films was probed at different temperatures for two orthogonal directions (with the line-shaped particle aggregates parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field). The hybrid film systems show superparamagnetic behavior and remarkable shape anisotropy that render them interesting for magnetic applications.

Influence of magnetic nanoparticle size on the particle dispersion and phase separation in an ABA triblock copolymer

Oleic acid modified iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) with different sizes were synthesized and mixed with styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS) with a lamellar structure. The octadecene segments on the oleic acid molecules have chemical affinity with the polybutadiene (PB) blocks, which makes IONs tend to be selectively confined in the microphase-separated PB domains. However, the dispersion state strongly depends on the ratio of the particle diameter (d) to the lamellar thickness (l) of the PB domains, which further changes the phase separation of SBS. When d/l ∼0.5, most of IONs are concentrated in the middle of the PB layers at low particle loading. Upon increasing the particle loading, part of IONs contact each other to form long strings due to their strong magnetic interactions. Away from the strings, IONs are either selectively dispersed in the middle and at the interfaces of the PB domains, or randomly distributed at some regions in which the phase separation of SBS is suppressed. The phase separation of SBS transforms from the lamellar structure to a cylinder structure when the IONs loading is higher than 16.7 wt %. As d is comparable to l, IONs aggregate to form clusters of 100 to 300 nm in size, but within the clusters IONs are still selectively dispersed in the PB domains instead of forming macroscopic phase separation. It is interpreted in terms of the relatively small conformational entropy of the middle blocks of SBS; thus, incorporation of nanoparticles does not lead to much loss of conformational entropy. Although incorporation of IONs with d/l ∼1 significantly increases the interfacial curvature and roughness, it has less influence on the phase separation structure of SBS due to the inhomogeneous dispersion. When d is larger than l, IONs are macroscopically separated from the SBS matrix to form clusters of hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers. More interestingly, the phase separation of SBS transforms from the lamellar structure to a two-phase co-continuous structure, probably due to the rearrangement of SBS molecules to cover the clusters with PB segments and the strong magnetic interaction exerting additional force on the SBS matrix during the evaporation of the solvent and the subsequent thermal annealing process.