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Mao Y, Liang X, Zhao J, Jiang L, Liang Q, Ngai T, Gong X, Wu M. 3D monitoring of the microphase separations inside the intraocular lens. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:178-188. [PMID: 38307480 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Glistenings often occur after implanting the intraocular lens (IOL) due to the formation of numerous microvacuoles (MVs) and may lead to deterioration of vision quality. Previous studies showed the formation of MVs was associated with the hydrophobicity of IOL materials. Yet, the mechanism remains an open question due to the complexity of IOL polymer networks. In this study, two commercialized IOLs with similar hydrophobicity are found distinct in the formation of MVs. The 3D growth kinetics of MVs during cooling processes are captured for the first time by digital holographic microscopy (DHM) and the components of MVs are measured by DHM and Raman spectroscopy. The results reveal that the growth of MVs stems from the microphase separation of water and surrounding IOL polymers. A polymer swelling model is thus proposed to describe the microphase separation process which is found dependent on the elasticity of IOL polymer networks. The total volume of MVs is determined by the IOL hydrophobicity, while the elastic force of IOL polymer networks determines the number density and size of MVs. This study demonstrates an approach for characterizing the phase separation of crosslinked polymeric materials in biosystems and sheds lights on the refinement of IOL materials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Glistenings due to the formation of numerous microvacuoles (MVs) in intraocular lens (IOL) can occur after IOL implantation, which may induce poor quality of vision. However, the underlying mechanism of MVs formation is still an open question. This study establishes an in-situ 3D imaging platform to monitor growth kinetics of the MVs in IOLs, which allows to uncover the mechanism of glistenings formation resulting from the microphase separation. The findings imply the material hydrophobicity influences the total volume of MVs, while the local elasticity of IOL polymer networks determines the number density and the size of MVs. This study offers a new approach for characterizing phase separation in crosslinking biosystems and sheds lights on the refinement of IOL materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Junpeng Zhao
- Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Lingxiang Jiang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Qingyou Liang
- Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Analytical and Testing Center, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - To Ngai
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, PR China
| | - Xiangjun Gong
- Faculty of Material Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, PR China.
| | - Mingxing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.
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2
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Albonetti C, Izzo L, Vigliotta G, Saponetti MS, Liscio F, Bobba F. Morphology and Mechanics of Star Copolymer Ultrathin Films Probed by Atomic Force Microscopy in the Air and in Liquid. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:592. [PMID: 38591448 PMCID: PMC10856403 DOI: 10.3390/ma17030592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Star copolymer films were produced by using spin-coating, drop-casting, and casting deposition techniques, thus obtaining ultrathin and thick films, respectively. The morphology is generally flat, but it becomes substrate-dependent for ultrathin films where the planarization effect of films is not efficient. The indentation hardness of films was investigated by Force Volume Maps in both the air and liquid. In the air, ultrathin films are in the substrate-dominated zone and, thus, the elastic modulus E is overestimated, while E reaches its bulk value for drop-casted ultrathin and thick films. In liquid (water), E follows an exponential decay for all films with a minimum soaked time t0 of 0.37 and 2.65 h for ultrathin and drop-casted ultrathin and thick films, respectively. After this time, E saturates to a value on average 92% smaller than that measured in the air due to film swelling. Such results support the role of film morphology in the antimicrobial activity envisaged in the literature, suggesting also an additional role of film hardness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Albonetti
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (CNR-ISMN), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Superconduttori, Materiali Innovativi e Dispositivi (CNR-SPIN), Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Lorella Izzo
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi Dell’insubria, Via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia “A. Zambelli”, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Vigliotta
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Biologia “A. Zambelli”, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy;
| | - Matilde Sublimi Saponetti
- Dipartimento di Fisica “E.R. Caianiello”, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy; (M.S.S.); (F.B.)
| | - Fabiola Liscio
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Bobba
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Superconduttori, Materiali Innovativi e Dispositivi (CNR-SPIN), Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica “E.R. Caianiello”, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy; (M.S.S.); (F.B.)
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Mirzaei H, McClelland J, Sharma D, Arjmand M, Zarifi MH. A Microwave Voyage into Swelling Phenomenon: Investigation of Polydimethylsiloxane and VOCs Interaction. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:38008-38017. [PMID: 37523672 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c05318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
When exposed to specific gases, polymers undergo swelling, leading to physiochemical changes that can significantly affect their performance. Monitoring this swelling phenomenon requires innovative approaches. This study focuses on investigating the real-time resonant microwave behavior of two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures (solid and porous) in interaction with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and acetone, which are primary swelling agents. A microwave measurement method is proposed using an 8.63 GHz planar split ring resonator (SRR). The device's resonant frequency downshifts to 7.75 and 8.42 GHz when solid and porous PDMS blocks are placed on the split ring gap. Interaction of the solid PDMS and porous PDMS with target gases caused a change in PDMS structure resulting in alterations in the dielectric properties of the PDMS/gas system, as evidenced by the resonator's transmission amplitude and resonant frequency shifts. The magnitude of these shifts depends on the type and concentration of the solvent gas. The PDMS-integrated SRR exhibits a sensitivity of 25.3 MHz/1 ppt THF and 7 MHz/1 ppt acetone. Additionally, the solid block demonstrates response times of 6800 and 4200 s for swelling and deswelling, respectively, when in exposure to 25 ppt concentrations of THF and acetone. Overall, this study underscores the substantial potential of microwave resonators as versatile tools for investigating the physical changes in polymers during their interaction with gases, contributing to the understanding of polymer-gas interactions and opening avenues for further research and diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Mirzaei
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Jack McClelland
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Devansh Sharma
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Mohammad Arjmand
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Mohammad H Zarifi
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, Canada V1V 1V7
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4
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Castel A, Gutfreund P, Cabane B, Rharbi Y. Stability of Fluid Ultrathin Polymer Films in Contact with Solvent-Loaded Gels for Cultural Heritage. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:12607-12619. [PMID: 33044083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The removal of ultrathin amorphous polymer films in contact with an aqueous gelled solution containing small amounts of good solvent is addressed by means of specular and off-specular neutron reflectometry. The distribution of heavy water and benzyl alcohol is revealed inside Laropal A81, often employed as a protective varnish layer for Culture Heritage in the restoration of easel paintings. The swelling kinetics, interface roughness, and film morphologies were recorded as a function of temperature and increasing benzyl alcohol concentration in the dispersion of Pemulen TR-2, a hydrophobically modified acrylic acid copolymer. The addition of small amounts of good solvent results in the appearance of water-filled cavities inside the varnish, which grow with time. It is shown that while increasing the solvent concentration greatly enhances the hole growth kinetics, an increase in temperature above the glass transition temperature does not have such a big effect on the kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Castel
- Large Scale Structures Group, Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble 38000, France
- Laboratoire de Rhéologie et Procédés, Grenoble 38000, France
| | - Philipp Gutfreund
- Large Scale Structures Group, Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble 38000, France
| | | | - Yahya Rharbi
- Laboratoire de Rhéologie et Procédés, Grenoble 38000, France
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5
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Castel A, Gutfreund P, Cabane B, Rharbi Y. Swelling, dewetting and breakup in thin polymer films for cultural heritage. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:1485-1497. [PMID: 31930258 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01976f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The removal of ultrathin amorphous polymer films in contact with nonsolvent/solvent binary mixtures is addressed by means of neutron reflectometry and atomic force microscopy. The high resolution of neutron scattering makes it possible to resolve the distribution profiles of heavy water and benzyl alcohol inside Laropal®A81, often employed as a protective varnish layer for Culture Heritage in restoration of easel paintings. The swelling kinetics and distribution profiles were recorded as a function of time and increasing benzyl alcohol concentration in water. The varnish film swells by penetration of the good solvent. At higher concentrations water-filled cavities appear inside the varnish and grow with time. Contrary to homogeneous dissolution dewetting is observed at late stages of exposure to the liquid which leads to the Breakup of the film. The high resolution measurements are compared to bulk behaviour characterized by the ternary phase diagram and the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters are calculated and used to predict the swelling and solvent partition in the films. Distinct differences of the thin film to bulk behaviour are found. The expectations made previously for the behaviour of solvent/non-solvent mixtures on the removal of thin layers in the restoration of easel paintings should be revised in view of surface interactions.
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6
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Liu Y, Sakurai K. Thickness Changes in Temperature-Responsive Poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) Ultrathin Films under Ambient Conditions. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:12194-12203. [PMID: 31460334 PMCID: PMC6681975 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b01350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we report detailed experimental observations of unusual changes in the thickness of solid poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) ultrathin films, which are well known to have temperature-responsive hydrophilic-hydrophobic switching properties. To date, a number of studies have been carried out on the bulk and the brush forms of PNIPAM in contact with liquid water, as well as in highly humid environments, and, recently, these ultrathin films have been preliminarily shown to exhibit temperature responses even under low-humidity, ambient conditions. In this work, the thicknesses of ultrathin PNIPAM films in a temperature/moisture-controlled sample stage were monitored continuously using multichannel X-ray reflectometry. At room temperature, the sample thickness showed an unexpected increase after thermal treatment at 70 °C for 3 h. In the temperature cycle between 15 and 60 °C, heating and cooling resulted in some clear differences. During cooling, initially, the thickness was almost constant but began to increase when the temperature exceeded 33 °C, which corresponds to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). This observation indicates that the PNIPAM ultrathin film is sensitive to the small amounts of water contained in the air, even under ambient, low-humidity conditions. On the other hand, during heating run from 15 to 60 °C, the humidity dependence was monotonic, and no specific changes in the PNIPAM films were observed at around the LCST. By studying the humidity dependence, we found that the hydrophilic and hydrophobic states of the PNIPAM ultrathin film exhibit different temperature dependence behaviors. In addition, we found that swelling takes place even under low-moisture conditions. To understand the difference in the thickness changes observed on cooling and heating further, some models considering the effect of the boundary conditions in the polymer ultrathin film system were considered. In the case of the ultrathin film, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic switching property occurred only in the surface layer, which dominated the absorption of water molecules from air. In contrast, the interface layer was time-stable and provided an escape route for water molecules during heating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Liu
- University
of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan
- National
Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakurai
- University
of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan
- National
Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1, Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
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7
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Sarkar B, Satapathy DK, Jaiswal M. Nanostructuring mechanical cracks in a flexible conducting polymer thin film for ultra-sensitive vapor sensing. NANOSCALE 2018; 11:200-210. [PMID: 30525143 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr07230b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The swelling of electrically conducting polymer films upon absorption of vapors like alcohol or moisture is widely known. However, this swelling leads to feeble changes in charge transport characteristics. We demonstrate a colossal enhancement (from ∼6% to 108%) in the vapor-induced resistance change for a representative system, poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). This is achieved when the films are nanostructured by strain-induced quasi-periodic parallel cracks, which is then followed by crack engineering. The cracks are nanostructured such that the charge carrier percolation pathways are nearly turned off in the absence of alcohol vapor or at low humidity. These percolation pathways are restored upon alcohol vapor or humidity exposure. When used as an alcohol sensor, this system shows ultra-high sensitivity of 106 for methanol vapors, when compared to ethanol vapors (2 × 102). When used as a humidity sensor in the range 60-100% RH, a resistance ratio of 1.5 × 102 is realized. The different extent of response to alcohol vapors and humidity is attributed to the dominance of the surface ionic conduction process in the former. These sensing characteristics are achieved with short response and recovery time (<5 s). The developed sensing platform outperforms commercial portable breath analyzers. While cracks have been utilized for developing ingenious strain sensors in the literature, here we demonstrate an approach based on the same that substantially amplifies vapor response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biporjoy Sarkar
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India.
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8
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Sarkar B, Jaiswal M, Satapathy DK. Swelling kinetics and electrical charge transport in PEDOT:PSS thin films exposed to water vapor. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:225101. [PMID: 29658886 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aabe51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report the swelling kinetics and evolution of the electrical charge transport in poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) thin films subjected to water vapor. Polymer films swell by the diffusion of water vapor and are found to undergo structural relaxations. Upon exposure to water vapor, primarily the hygroscopic PSS shell, which surrounds the conducting PEDOT-rich cores, takes up water vapor and subsequently swells. We found that the degree of swelling largely depends on the PEDOT to PSS ratio. Swelling driven microscopic rearrangement of the conducting PEDOT-rich cores in the PSS matrix strongly influences the electrical charge transport of the polymer film. Swelling induced increase as well as decrease of electrical resistance are observed in polymer films having different PEDOT to PSS ratio. This anomalous charge transport behavior in PEDOT:PSS films is reconciled by taking into account the contrasting swelling behavior of the PSS and the conducting PEDOT-rich cores leading to spatial segregation of PSS in films with PSS as a minority phase and by a net increase in mean separation between conducting PEDOT-rich cores for films having abundance of PSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biporjoy Sarkar
- Department of Physics, Graphene and 2D Systems Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India. Department of Physics, Soft Materials Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
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9
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Olson CM, Massari AM. Influence of Solvent Swelling on Ultrafast Structural Dynamics in Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Films by Two-Dimensional IR Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem A 2018; 122:1592-1599. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b12128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Courtney M. Olson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Aaron M. Massari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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10
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Conformation mediated preferential swelling of amphiphilic block copolymer ultrathin films. JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10965-017-1384-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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11
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Liu Y, Sakurai K. Thermoresponsive Behavior of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Solid Ultrathin Film under Ordinary Atmospheric Conditions. CHEM LETT 2017. [DOI: 10.1246/cl.161135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Liu
- University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006
| | - Kenji Sakurai
- University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006
- National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047
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12
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Samanta T, Sinha S, Mukherjee M. Effect of added salt on swelling dynamics of ultrathin films of strong polyelectrolytes. POLYMER 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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13
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Philipp M, Körstgens V, Magerl D, Heller C, Yao Y, Wang W, Santoro G, Roth SV, Müller-Buschbaum P. Sorption of Water and Initial Stages of Swelling of Thin PNIPAM Films Using in Situ GISAXS Microfluidics. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:9619-9627. [PMID: 26280809 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b01978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The sorption of low-molecular penetrants by thin polymer films, as well as structural changes provoked therein, is of high relevance for many fields of application. Complex permeation, diffusion, swelling, and dissolution processes are often induced within films by solvents or gases. Here, we use a novel in situ microfluidics-grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) setup to examine changes in film thickness and in the surface structure of a thin polymer film that sorbs a good solvent. Thus, this technique is highly complementary to the established techniques on the field of diffusion in polymers. The initial stages of water uptake and swelling are resolved for a 50 nm thin, hydrophilic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) film, before its dissolution sets in. The initial stages of swelling are tentatively described by anomalous swelling induced by a time- and space-dependent diffusion coefficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Philipp
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Volker Körstgens
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - David Magerl
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Christoph Heller
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Yuan Yao
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Weijia Wang
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Gonzalo Santoro
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) , Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan V Roth
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) , Notkestrasse 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Müller-Buschbaum
- Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle Materialien, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München , James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
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14
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Dinachali SS, Bai W, Tu KH, Choi HK, Zhang J, Kreider ME, Cheng LC, Ross CA. Thermo-Solvent Annealing of Polystyrene-Polydimethylsiloxane Block Copolymer Thin Films. ACS Macro Lett 2015; 4:500-504. [PMID: 35596284 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A combined thermal and solvent vapor annealing process for block copolymer self-assembly is demonstrated. Films of cylinder-forming poly(styrene-b-dimethylsiloxane) (SD45, 45.5 kg/mol, fPDMS = 31%) were preheated for 2 min above the glass transition temperature of both blocks, followed by immediate introduction into a chamber containing room temperature saturated vapors of toluene and n-heptane. After quenching in air, microdomains had better order than those obtained from thermal or solvent annealing alone. The short time during which the film is both heated and exposed to solvent vapor played an important role in determining the final morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saman Safari Dinachali
- Division
of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Republic of Singapore
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering
Drive 1, Singapore 117576, Republic of Singapore
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15
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Park WI, Kim JM, Jeong JW, Jung YS. Deep-nanoscale pattern engineering by immersion-induced self-assembly. ACS NANO 2014; 8:10009-18. [PMID: 25302533 DOI: 10.1021/nn504995c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) is expected to complement conventional optical lithography due to its excellent pattern resolution and cost-effectiveness. Recent studies have shown that BCPs with a large Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ) are critical for a reduction of the thermodynamic defect density as well as an increase in pattern density. However, due to their slower self-assembly kinetics, high-χ BCPs typically necessitate solvent vapor annealing, which requires complex facilities and procedures compared to simple thermal annealing. Here, we introduce an immersion-triggered directed self-assembly (iDSA) process and demonstrate the combined advantages of excellent simplicity, productivity, large-area capability, and tunability. We show that the vapor-free, simple immersion of high-χ BCPs in a composition-optimized mixture of nonswelling and swelling solvents can induce the ultrafast (≤ 5 min) formation of nanoscale patterns with a pattern size ranging from 8-18 nm. Moreover, iDSA enables the reversible formation of seven different nanostructures from one sphere-forming BCP, demonstrating the outstanding controllability of this self-assembly route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woon Ik Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) , 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea
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16
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Samanta T, Mukherjee M, Lausi A. Swelling dynamics and swelling induced structural changes of polyelectrolyte ultrathin films. POLYMER 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.06.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Study of density-dependent swelling of ultrathin water soluble polymer films. JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10965-013-0343-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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18
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Gotrik KW, Ross CA. Solvothermal annealing of block copolymer thin films. NANO LETTERS 2013; 13:5117-22. [PMID: 24083573 DOI: 10.1021/nl4021683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A two-stage annealing process for block copolymer films was introduced consisting of a solvent vapor exposure followed by a thermal cycle. By heating the film but not the chamber, changes in the ambient vapor pressure of the solvent were avoided. Films of block copolymers and homopolymers showed transient nonmonotonic swelling behavior immediately after solvent exposure that was dependent on how the thin film was cast before the anneal. Thermal cycling of the solvent-swelled block copolymer films during the solvent vapor anneal (SVA) caused the films to deswell in 1-10 s and produced well-ordered microdomains in templated 45.5 and 51.5 kg/mol polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane films annealed in toluene and n-heptane vapors for total process times of 30 s to 5 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W Gotrik
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Ogieglo W, Wormeester H, Wessling M, Benes NE. Probing the Surface Swelling in Ultra-Thin Supported Polystyrene Films During Case II Diffusion of n-Hexane. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201300371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Ogieglo
- Membrane Science and Technology, Mesa Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
| | - Herbert Wormeester
- Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, Mesa Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
| | - Matthias Wessling
- RWTH Aachen University, Chemical Process Engineering; Turmstrasse 46 52064 Aachen Germany
| | - Nieck E. Benes
- Inorganic Membranes, Mesa Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
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Mukherjee M, Souheib Chebil M, Delorme N, Gibaud A. Power law in swelling of ultra-thin polymer films. POLYMER 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2013.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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21
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Simple technique for the simultaneous determination of solvent diffusion coefficient in polymer by Quantum Resistive Sensors and FT-IR spectroscopy. POLYM ADVAN TECHNOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/pat.3109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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22
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Mondal MH, Mukherjee M. Effect of thermal modification on swelling dynamics of ultrathin polymer films. POLYMER 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2012.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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24
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Samanta T, Mukherjee M. Swelling Dynamics of Ultrathin Films of Strong Polyelectrolytes. Macromolecules 2011. [DOI: 10.1021/ma200240t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tanusree Samanta
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064, India
| | - M. Mukherjee
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064, India
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25
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Mondal MH, Mukherjee M. Study of structural evolution during controlled degradation of ultrathin polymer films. POLYMER 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2010.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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26
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Mukherjee S, Mondal MH, Mukherjee M, Doyle BP, Nannarone S. Onset Kinetics of Thermal Degradation of Ultrathin Polyacrylamide Films. Macromolecules 2009. [DOI: 10.1021/ma901294t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Mukherjee
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-64, India
| | - Mojammel H. Mondal
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-64, India
| | - M. Mukherjee
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-64, India
| | - B. P. Doyle
- Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, INFM-CNR, S.S. 14, km 163.5, Area Science Park, 34012 Basovizza (TS), Italy
| | - S. Nannarone
- Laboratorio Nazionale TASC, INFM-CNR, S.S. 14, km 163.5, Area Science Park, 34012 Basovizza (TS), Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e dell'Ambiente, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Vignolese 905, 41100 Modena, Italy
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Zhang QG, Liu QL, Zhu AM, Xiong Y, Ren L. Pervaporation performance of quaternized poly(vinyl alcohol) and its crosslinked membranes for the dehydration of ethanol. J Memb Sci 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2009.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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28
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Ahn SI, Kim JH, Kim JH, Jung JC, Chang T, Ree M, Zin WC. Polarity effect near the surface and interface of thin supported polymer films: X-ray reflectivity study. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2009; 25:5667-5673. [PMID: 19275197 DOI: 10.1021/la804260t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Four homopolymer films (poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP), polystyrene (PS), and poly(alpha-methyl styrene) (PAMS)) with different interactions with native Si oxide on Si wafers and three random copolymer films (PS-ran-PMMA) with different mole fractions were investigated with the X-ray reflectivity (XRR) method. The electron density profile of each film was obtained by fitting the results of the XRR measurements. A new data correction technique that uses the vertical real beam profile and a fitting method that uses the distorted wave Born approximation were combined to overcome the sensitivity limitations of XRR analysis. The results show that the chemical structures of polymer pendant groups and the interactions between the polymer films and the native Si oxide layer are strongly correlated with the density profiles of the films near the surfaces and interfaces. Two general types of electron density profiles were found that are characterized by the polarity of the pendant group of the polymer. The reproducibility and credibility of the fitting technique were also thoroughly tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Il Ahn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang-city, Korea
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Mondal MH, Mukherjee M. Effect of Annealing Induced Polymer Substrate Attachment on Swelling Dynamics of Ultrathin Polymer Films. Macromolecules 2008. [DOI: 10.1021/ma801622h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mojammel H. Mondal
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-64, India
| | - M. Mukherjee
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-64, India
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Galvani F, Ruvolo‐Filho A, Pessan LA. Influence of Molecular Structure and Packing on Sorption and Transport Properties of Dichloromethane in Polyetherimides. J MACROMOL SCI B 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/00222340701457188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Galvani
- a Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering , São Carlos, Brazil
| | - A. Ruvolo‐Filho
- a Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering , São Carlos, Brazil
- b Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Chemistry Department , São Carlos, Brazil
| | - L. A. Pessan
- a Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering , São Carlos, Brazil
- c Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Materials Engineering Department , São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Mukherjee M, Singh A, Daillant J, Menelle A, Cousin F. Effect of Solvent−Polymer Interaction in Swelling Dynamics of Ultrathin Polyacrylamide Films: A Neutron and X-ray Reflectivity Study. Macromolecules 2007. [DOI: 10.1021/ma061745d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Mukherjee
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700064, India, LIONS, Service de Chimie Moléculaire, bât. 125, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France, and Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Amarjeet Singh
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700064, India, LIONS, Service de Chimie Moléculaire, bât. 125, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France, and Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - J. Daillant
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700064, India, LIONS, Service de Chimie Moléculaire, bât. 125, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France, and Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Alain Menelle
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700064, India, LIONS, Service de Chimie Moléculaire, bât. 125, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France, and Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - F. Cousin
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700064, India, LIONS, Service de Chimie Moléculaire, bât. 125, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France, and Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
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Ahn SI, Kim JH, Zin WC. Effect of water-contact on the roughness of patterned photoresist investigated by AFM analysis. J Appl Polym Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1002/app.25718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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33
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Bosch P, Fernández A, Salvador EF, Corrales T, Catalina F, Peinado C. Polyurethane-acrylate based films as humidity sensors. POLYMER 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2005.10.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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34
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Singh A, Mukherjee M. Effect of Polymer−Particle Interaction in Swelling Dynamics of Ultrathin Nanocomposite Films. Macromolecules 2005. [DOI: 10.1021/ma050836s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amarjeet Singh
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064, India
| | - M. Mukherjee
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064, India
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Vogt BD, Soles CL, Lee HJ, Lin EK, Wu WL. Moisture absorption into ultrathin hydrophilic polymer films on different substrate surfaces. POLYMER 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2004.11.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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36
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Singh A, Mukherjee M. Discrete film thickness in polyacrylamide-CdS nanocomposite ultrathin films. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2004; 70:051608. [PMID: 15600629 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.70.051608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2004] [Revised: 07/06/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A nanocomposite of polyacrylamide, a water soluble polymer, and nanocrystalline CdS has been prepared using a chemical route. Transmission electron microscope observation shows that the particles are attached via the polymer coils. The reduction of viscosity for the composite, despite the increase in concentration, indicates a reduction of interchain entanglement between the composite coils. Ultrathin films were prepared from the nanocomposite and pure polyacrylamide using spin coating on a Si(100) substrate in the speed range of 500 to 5000 rpm. X-ray reflectivity studies of the pure polymer and composite films were carried out in vacuum. The thickness of the composite films varies nonmonotonically with spinning speed and is found to lie in discrete "bands" of thickness separated by "forbidden regions." The power law behavior of the thickness with the spinning speed was also found to be different for the composite films in comparison to the polymer ones. A model has been proposed in terms of discrete numbers of layers composed of CdS-attached polymer coils to explain the phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amarjeet Singh
- Surface Physics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700064, India
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37
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Fast transient fluorescence method for measuring swelling and drying activation energies of a polystyrene gel. POLYMER 2004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2004.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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