1
|
Yin R, Tarnsangpradit J, Gul A, Jeong J, Hu X, Zhao Y, Wu H, Li Q, Fytas G, Karim A, Bockstaller MR, Matyjaszewski K. Organic nanoparticles with tunable size and rigidity by hyperbranching and cross-linking using microemulsion ATRP. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2406337121. [PMID: 38985759 PMCID: PMC11260123 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406337121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Unlike inorganic nanoparticles, organic nanoparticles (oNPs) offer the advantage of "interior tailorability," thereby enabling the controlled variation of physicochemical characteristics and functionalities, for example, by incorporation of diverse functional small molecules. In this study, a unique inimer-based microemulsion approach is presented to realize oNPs with enhanced control of chemical and mechanical properties by deliberate variation of the degree of hyperbranching or cross-linking. The use of anionic cosurfactants led to oNPs with superior uniformity. Benefitting from the high initiator concentration from inimer and preserved chain-end functionality during atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), the capability of oNPs as a multifunctional macroinitiator for the subsequent surface-initiated ATRP was demonstrated. This facilitated the synthesis of densely tethered poly(methyl methacrylate) brush oNPs. Detailed analysis revealed that exceptionally high grafting densities (~1 nm-2) were attributable to multilayer surface grafting from oNPs due to the hyperbranched macromolecular architecture. The ability to control functional attributes along with elastic properties renders this "bottom-up" synthetic strategy of macroinitiator-type oNPs a unique platform for realizing functional materials with a broad spectrum of applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rongguan Yin
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Jirameth Tarnsangpradit
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Akhtar Gul
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX77204
| | - Jaepil Jeong
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Xiaolei Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Yuqi Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Hanshu Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Qiqi Li
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz55128, Germany
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion70013, Greece
| | - George Fytas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz55128, Germany
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion70013, Greece
| | - Alamgir Karim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX77204
| | - Michael R. Bockstaller
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Reda H, Chazirakis A, Behbahani AF, Savva N, Harmandaris V. Revealing the Role of Chain Conformations on the Origin of the Mechanical Reinforcement in Glassy Polymer Nanocomposites. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:148-155. [PMID: 37983090 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanism of mechanical reinforcement in glassy polymer nanocomposites is of paramount importance for their tailored design. Here, we present a detailed investigation, via atomistic simulation, of the coupling between density, structure, and conformations of polymer chains with respect to their role in mechanical reinforcement. Probing the properties at the molecular level reveals that the effective mass density as well as the rigidity of the matrix region changes with filler volume fraction, while that of the interphase remains constant. The origin of the mechanical reinforcement is attributed to the heterogeneous chain conformations in the vicinity of the nanoparticles, involving a 2-fold mechanism. In the low-loading regime, the reinforcement comes mainly from a thin, single-molecule, 2D-like layer of adsorbed polymer segments on the nanoparticle, whereas in the high-loading regime, the reinforcement is dominated by the coupling between train and bridge conformations; the latter involves segments connecting neighboring nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hilal Reda
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus
| | - Anthony Chazirakis
- Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion GR 71110, Greece
| | - Alireza Foroozani Behbahani
- Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion GR 71110, Greece
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Heraklion GR 71110, Greece
| | - Nikos Savva
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus
| | - Vagelis Harmandaris
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus
- Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion GR 71110, Greece
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Heraklion GR 71110, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gęca M, Wiśniewska M, Urban T, Nowicki P. Temperature Effect on Ionic Polymers Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Activated Carbons Obtained from Biomass. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 16:ma16010350. [PMID: 36614695 PMCID: PMC9822277 DOI: 10.3390/ma16010350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The main aim of this study was the determination of temperature influence on adsorption mechanisms of anionic poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and cationic polyethylenimine (PEI) on the surface of activated carbons (AC) obtained via chemical activation of nettle (NE) and sage (SA) herbs. All measurements were performed at pH 3 at three temperature values, i.e., 15, 25 and 35 °C. The adsorption/desorption of these polymers from single and mixed solution of adsorbates was also investigated. The viscosity studies were additionally performed to obtain hydrodynamic radius values characterizing polymeric macromolecules conformation in the solution. These data are very important for the explanation of changes of linear dimensions of polymer chains with the rise of temperature caused by the modification of polymer-solvent interactions. Moreover, the XPS studies for the systems showing the highest adsorbed amounts in the specific temperature conditions were carried out. These were the systems containing PEI, PAA and NE-AC activated carbon at 25 °C. In such a case, the maximum adsorption capacity towards PAA macromolecules from a single solution of adsorbate reaches the value of 198.12 mg/g. Additionally, the thermodynamic parameters including the free energies of adsorption, as well as changes in free enthalpy and entropy were calculated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlena Gęca
- Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Wiśniewska
- Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
| | - Teresa Urban
- Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Nowicki
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jhalaria M, Jimenez AM, Mathur R, Tekell MC, Huang Y, Narayanan S, Benicewicz BC, Kumar SK. Long-Term Aging in Miscible Polymer Nanocomposites. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mayank Jhalaria
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Andrew M. Jimenez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Reha Mathur
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Marshall C. Tekell
- 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
| | - Suresh Narayanan
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Brian C. Benicewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Sanat K. Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jhalaria M, Cang Y, Huang Y, Benicewicz B, Kumar SK, Fytas G. Unusual High-Frequency Mechanical Properties of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticle Melts. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:187801. [PMID: 35594089 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.187801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Brillouin light spectroscopy is used to measure the elastic moduli of spherical polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) melts as a function of chain length at fixed grafting density (0.47 chains/nm^{2}) and nanoparticle radius (8 nm). While the moduli follow a rule of mixtures (Wood's law) for long chains, they display enhanced elasticity and anomalous dissipation for graft chains <100 kDa. GNP melts with long polymers at high σ have a dry zone near the GNP core, surrounded by a region where the grafts can interpenetrate with chain fragments from adjacent GNPs. We propose that the departures from Wood's law for short chains are due to the effectively larger silica volume fraction in the region where sound propagates-this is caused by the short, interpenetrated chain fragments being pushed out of the way. We thus conclude that transport mechanisms (of gas, ions, sound, thermal phonons) in GNP melts are radically different if interpenetrated chain segments can be "pushed out of the way" or not. This provides a facile new means for manipulating the properties of these materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayank Jhalaria
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York 10027, New York, USA
| | - Yu Cang
- School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, 100 Zhangwu Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yucheng Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29201, South Carolina, USA
| | - Brian Benicewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29201, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sanat K Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York 10027, New York, USA
| | - George Fytas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lin EY, Frischknecht AL, Winey KI, Riggleman RA. Effect of surface properties and polymer chain length on polymer adsorption in solution. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:034701. [PMID: 34293881 DOI: 10.1063/5.0052121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In polymer nanoparticle composites (PNCs) with attractive interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and polymers, a bound layer of the polymer forms on the NP surface, with significant effects on the macroscopic properties of the PNCs. The adsorption and wetting behaviors of polymer solutions in the presence of a solid surface are critical to the fabrication process of PNCs. In this study, we use both classical density functional theory (cDFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study dilute and semi-dilute solutions of short polymer chains near a solid surface. Using cDFT, we calculate the equilibrium properties of polymer solutions near a flat surface while varying the solvent quality, surface-fluid interactions, and the polymer chain lengths to investigate their effects on the polymer adsorption and wetting transitions. Using MD simulations, we simulate polymer solutions near solid surfaces with three different curvatures (a flat surface and NPs with two radii) to study the static conformation of the polymer bound layer near the surface and the dynamic chain adsorption process. We find that the bulk polymer concentration at which the wetting transition in the poor solvent system occurs is not affected by the difference in surface-fluid interactions; however, a threshold value of surface-fluid interaction is needed to observe the wetting transition. We also find that with good solvent, increasing the chain length or the difference in the surface-polymer interaction relative to the surface-solvent interaction increases the surface coverage of polymer segments and independent chains for all surface curvatures. Finally, we demonstrate that the polymer segmental adsorption times are heavily influenced only by the surface-fluid interactions, although polymers desorb more quickly from highly curved surfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Y Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Amalie L Frischknecht
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
| | - Karen I Winey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Robert A Riggleman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
|
8
|
Musino D, Oberdisse J, Sztucki M, Alegria A, Genix AC. Partition of Coating Agents between Nanoparticle Interfaces and the Polymer in Nanocomposites. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c01506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dafne Musino
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Julian Oberdisse
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Michael Sztucki
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 40220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Angel Alegria
- Departamento de Fisica de Materiales (UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 5, 20018 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Anne-Caroline Genix
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shrestha UM, Han L, Saito T, Schweizer KS, Dadmun MD. Mechanism of Soft Nanoparticle Diffusion in Entangled Polymer Melts. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Umesh M. Shrestha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Lu Han
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Tomonori Saito
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Kenneth S. Schweizer
- Department of Materials Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Mark D. Dadmun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Preparation and Characterization of Alumina HDPE Composites. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13010250. [PMID: 31935982 PMCID: PMC6981892 DOI: 10.3390/ma13010250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In this study, effects of two different types of porous alumina nanoparticles have been incorporated into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to study their impact on the properties of the HDPE composite. The dispersion of fillers in the HDPE matrix was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) integrated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were applied to investigate the calorimetric behavior and thermal stability and to analyze the polymer decomposition, respectively. The dielectric properties were determined by a broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The effect of filler loading on the tensile properties and melt flow index was also examined. A homogenous distribution of the fillers was observed at low loading of alumina particles (below 5 wt. %). However, agglomerates of sub-micro size were formed extensively on samples with high loading of fillers (above 7 wt. %). A significant improvement of the thermo-oxidation stability of the composite was observed. The permittivity values of the prepared composites also increased with the addition of the fillers. The incorporation of fillers also increased the electrical conductivity values of the prepared composites at high frequencies.
Collapse
|
11
|
Zboncak M, Ondreas F, Uhlir V, Lepcio P, Michalicka J, Jancar J. Translation of segment scale stiffening into macroscale reinforcement in polymer nanocomposites. POLYM ENG SCI 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.25317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marek Zboncak
- CEITEC, Brno University of Technology Brno 61200 Czech Republic
| | | | - Vojtech Uhlir
- CEITEC, Brno University of Technology Brno 61200 Czech Republic
| | - Petr Lepcio
- CEITEC, Brno University of Technology Brno 61200 Czech Republic
| | - Jan Michalicka
- CEITEC, Brno University of Technology Brno 61200 Czech Republic
| | - Josef Jancar
- CEITEC, Brno University of Technology Brno 61200 Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Jung J, Kwon T, Oh Y, Lee YR, Sung BJ. Spatial Dependence of Non-Gaussian Diffusion of Nanoparticles in Free-Standing Thin Polymer Films. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:9250-9259. [PMID: 31589036 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b07236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The addition of nanoparticles (NPs) to a free-standing polymer film affects the properties of the film such as viscosity and glass transition temperature. Recent experiments, for example, showed that the glass transition temperature of thin polymer films was dependent on how NPs were distributed within the polymer films. However, the spatial arrangement of NPs in free-standing polymer films and its effect on the diffusion of NPs and polymers remain elusive at a molecular level. In this study, we employ generic coarse-grained models for polymers and NPs and perform extensive molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the diffusion of polymers and NPs in free-standing thin polymer films. We find that small NPs are likely to stay at the interfacial region of the polymer film, while large NPs tend to stay at the center of the film. On the other hand, as the interaction between a NP and a monomer becomes more attractive, the NP is more likely to be placed at the film center. The diffusion of monomers slows down slightly as more NPs are added to the film. Interestingly, the NP diffusion is dependent strongly on the spatial arrangement of the NPs: NPs at the interfacial region diffuse faster and undergo more non-Gaussian diffusion than NPs at the film center, which implies that the interfacial region would be more mobile and dynamically heterogeneous than the film center. We also find that the mechanism for non-Gaussian diffusion of NPs at the film center differs from that at the interfacial region and that the NP diffusion would reflect the local viscosity of the polymer films.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinkwan Jung
- Department of Chemistry , Sogang University , Seoul 04107 , Republic of Korea
| | - Taejin Kwon
- Department of Chemistry , Sogang University , Seoul 04107 , Republic of Korea
| | - Younghoon Oh
- Department of Chemistry , Sogang University , Seoul 04107 , Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ro Lee
- Department of Chemistry , Sogang University , Seoul 04107 , Republic of Korea
| | - Bong June Sung
- Department of Chemistry , Sogang University , Seoul 04107 , Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Li SJ, Qian HJ, Lu ZY. A simulation study on the glass transition behavior and relevant segmental dynamics in free-standing polymer nanocomposite films. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:4476-4485. [PMID: 31111851 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm00267g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In polymer/nanoparticle composite (PNC) thin films, polymer chains experience strong confinement effects not only at the free surface area but also from nanoparticles (NPs). In this work, the influence of NP-polymer interaction and NP distribution on the polymer segmental dynamics and the glass transition behavior of PNC free-standing films are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. We demonstrate that NPs will migrate to the film surface area and form an NP-concentrated layer when NP-polymer interactions are weak, while NPs are well dispersed in the bulk region when NP-polymer interactions are strong. In both cases, we find increases in the glass transition temperature Tg compared with the pure film without NPs, although with a different degree. The weakly interacting system has the same Tg as the pure bulk system without NPs. The NP layer formed at the surface area reduces both the mobility of the surface polymer beads and the mobility gradient in the film normal direction (MGFND), therefore resulting in an increase in the Tg which highlights the vital role of the mobile surface layer. In contrast, the NPs in the bulk region enlarge the MGFND. NPs have opposite influences on the polymer bead dynamic anisotropy when they interact weakly or strongly with polymers, weakened for the former and enhanced for the latter. These findings offer a clear picture of the segmental dynamics and glass transition behavior in free-standing PNC films with different NP-polymer interaction strengths. We hope these results will be helpful for the property design of related materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Jia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gabrys PA, Zornberg LZ, Macfarlane RJ. Programmable Atom Equivalents: Atomic Crystallization as a Framework for Synthesizing Nanoparticle Superlattices. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1805424. [PMID: 30970182 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201805424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Decades of research efforts into atomic crystallization phenomenon have led to a comprehensive understanding of the pathways through which atoms form different crystal structures. With the onset of nanotechnology, methods that use colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) as nanoscale "artificial atoms" to generate hierarchically ordered materials are being developed as an alternative strategy for materials synthesis. However, the assembly mechanisms of NP-based crystals are not always as well-understood as their atomic counterparts. The creation of a tunable nanoscale synthon whose assembly can be explained using the context of extensively examined atomic crystallization will therefore provide significant advancement in nanomaterials synthesis. DNA-grafted NPs have emerged as a strong candidate for such a "programmable atom equivalent" (PAE), because the predictable nature of DNA base-pairing allows for complex yet easily controlled assembly. This Review highlights the characteristics of these PAEs that enable controlled assembly behaviors analogous to atomic phenomena, which allows for rational material design well beyond what can be achieved with other crystallization techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Gabrys
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Leonardo Z Zornberg
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Robert J Macfarlane
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Genix AC, Bocharova V, Carroll B, Lehmann M, Saito T, Krueger S, He L, Dieudonné-George P, Sokolov AP, Oberdisse J. Understanding the Static Interfacial Polymer Layer by Exploring the Dispersion States of Nanocomposites. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:17863-17872. [PMID: 31009193 PMCID: PMC6998785 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b04553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic and static properties of the interfacial region between polymer and nanoparticles have wide-ranging consequences on performances of nanomaterials. The thickness and density of the static layer are particularly difficult to assess experimentally due to superimposing nanoparticle interactions. Here, we tune the dispersion of silica nanoparticles in nanocomposites by preadsorption of polymer layers in the precursor solutions, and by varying the molecular weight of the matrix chains. Nanocomposite structures ranging from ideal dispersion to repulsive order or various degrees of aggregation are generated and observed by small-angle scattering. Preadsorbed chains are found to promote ideal dispersion, before desorption in the late stages of nanocomposite formation. The microstructure of the interfacial polymer layer is characterized by detailed modeling of X-ray and neutron scattering. Only in ideally well-dispersed systems a static interfacial layer of reduced polymer density over a thickness of ca. 2 nm is evidenced based on the analysis with a form-free density profile optimized using numerical simulations. This interfacial gradient layer is found to be independent of the thickness of the initially adsorbed polymer, but appears to be generated by out-of-equilibrium packing and folding of the preadsorbed layer. The impact of annealing is investigated to study the approach of equilibrium, showing that initially ideally well-dispersed systems adopt a repulsive hard-sphere structure, while the static interfacial layer disappears. This study thus promotes the fundamental understanding of the interplay between effects which are decisive for macroscopic material properties: polymer-mediated interparticle interactions, and particle interfacial effects on the surrounding polymer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Caroline Genix
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Vera Bocharova
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Michelle Lehmann
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Tomonori Saito
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Susan Krueger
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Lilin He
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | | | - Alexei P. Sokolov
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Julian Oberdisse
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Alonso-Redondo E, Belliard L, Rolle K, Graczykowski B, Tremel W, Djafari-Rouhani B, Fytas G. Robustness of elastic properties in polymer nanocomposite films examined over the full volume fraction range. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16986. [PMID: 30451903 PMCID: PMC6242885 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35335-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymers with nanoparticle inclusions are attractive materials because physical properties can be tuned by varying size and volume fraction range. However, elastic behavior can degrade at higher inclusion fractions when particle-particle contacts become important, and sophisticated measurement techniques are required to study this crossover. Here, we report on the mechanical properties of materials with BaTiO3 nanoparticles (diameters < 10 nm) in a polymer (poly(methyl methacrylate)) matrix, deposited as films in different thickness ranges. Two well-known techniques, time and frequency domain Brillouin light scattering, were employed to probe the composition dependence of their elastic modulus. The time domain experiment revealed the biphasic state of the system at the highest particle volume fraction, whereas frequency domain Brillouin scattering provided comprehensive information on ancillary variables such as refractive index and directionality. Both techniques prove complementary, and can in particular be used to probe the susceptibility of elastic properties in polymer nanocomposites to aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Alonso-Redondo
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - L Belliard
- Institut des NanoSciences de Paris, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Universités Paris 06, UMR 7588, Paris, F-75005, France
| | - K Rolle
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - B Graczykowski
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - W Tremel
- Johannes Gutenberg University, Institute for Anorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099, Mainz, Germany
| | - B Djafari-Rouhani
- Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie (IEMN), UMR-CNRS 8520,UFR de Physique, Université de Lille 1, 59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - G Fytas
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Genix AC, Bocharova V, Kisliuk A, Carroll B, Zhao S, Oberdisse J, Sokolov AP. Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Glassy Nanocomposites by Tuning Polymer Molecular Weight. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:33601-33610. [PMID: 30203957 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b13109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The addition of nanoparticles to a polymer matrix is a well-known process to improve the mechanical properties of polymers. Many studies of mechanical reinforcement in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) focus on rubbery matrices; however, much less effort concentrates on the factors controlling the mechanical performance of the technologically important glassy PNCs. This paper presents a study of the effect of the polymer molecular weight (MW) on the overall mechanical properties of glassy PNCs with attractive interaction by using Brillouin light scattering. We found that the mechanical moduli (bulk and shear) have a nonmonotonic dependence on MW that cannot be predicted by simple rule of mixtures. The moduli increase with increasing MW up to 100 kg/mol followed by a drop at higher MW. We demonstrate that the change in the mechanical properties of PNCs can be associated with the properties of the interfacial polymer layer. The latter depend on the interfacial chain packing and stretching, as well as polymer bridging, which vary differently with the MW of the polymer. These competing contributions lead to the observed nonmonotonic variations of the glassy PNC moduli with MW. Our work provides a simple, cost-effective, and efficient way to control the mechanical properties of glassy PNCs by tuning the polymer chain length. Our finding can be beneficial for the rational design of PNCs with desired mechanical performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Caroline Genix
- Chemical Sciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37831 , United States
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS , F-34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Vera Bocharova
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS , F-34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Alexander Kisliuk
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS , F-34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS , F-34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Sheng Zhao
- Department of Chemistry , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee 37996 , United States
| | - Julian Oberdisse
- Chemical Sciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37831 , United States
| | - Alexei P Sokolov
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), Université de Montpellier, CNRS , F-34095 Montpellier , France
- Department of Chemistry , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee 37996 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lepcio P, Ondreas F, Zarybnicka K, Zboncak M, Caha O, Jancar J. Bulk polymer nanocomposites with preparation protocol governed nanostructure: the origin and properties of aggregates and polymer bound clusters. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:2094-2103. [PMID: 29487934 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00150b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) hold great promise as future lightweight functional materials processable by additive manufacturing technologies. However, their rapid deployment is hindered by their performance depending strongly on the nanoparticle (NP) spatial organization. Therefore, the ability to control nanoparticle dispersion in the process of PNC preparation is a crucial prerequisite for utilizing their potential in functional composites. We report on the bulk processing technique of tailored NP spatial organization in a model glass forming polymer matrix controlled by structural and kinetic variables of the preparation protocol. Namely, we studied the impact of solvent on the NP arrangement, which was already known as a tuning parameter of the solid-state structure. We emphasized the qualitative differences between "poorly dispersed" NP arrays, which, by combination of rheological assessment and structural analysis (TEM, USAXS), we identified as chain bound clusters and aggregates of either thermodynamic or kinetical origin. They are characterized by substantially distinct formation kinetics and mismatched properties compared to each other and individually dispersed NPs. We quantitatively linked all the currently observed types of NP dispersion with their rheological properties during the solution blending step and the amount of polymer adsorption and depletion attraction. We propose the ratio of NP-polymer and NP-solvent enthalpy of adsorption as a parameter capable of the quantitative prediction of NP arrangement in systems similar to our current model PNC. Finally, we bring forth the comparison of glass transition temperatures to further demonstrate the importance of NP spatial organization in PNCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Lepcio
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 656/123, Brno 61200, Czech Republic.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sharma S, Pujari P. Role of free volume characteristics of polymer matrix in bulk physical properties of polymer nanocomposites: A review of positron annihilation lifetime studies. Prog Polym Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
20
|
Schechtel E, Yan Y, Xu X, Cang Y, Tremel W, Wang Z, Li B, Fytas G. Elastic Modulus and Thermal Conductivity of Thiolene/TiO 2 Nanocomposites. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2017; 121:25568-25575. [PMID: 29755637 PMCID: PMC5941249 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b08425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Metal oxide based polymer nanocomposites find diverse applications as functional materials, and in particular thiol-ene/TiO2 nanocomposites are promising candidates for dental restorative materials. The important mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites, however, are still not well understood. In this study, the elastic modulus and thermal conductivity of thiol-ene/TiO2 nanocomposite thin films with varying weight fractions of TiO2 nanoparticles are investigated by using Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy and 3ω measurements, respectively. As the TiO2 weight fraction increases from 0 to 90%, the effective elastic longitudinal modulus of the films increases from 6.2 to 37.5 GPa, and the effective thermal conductivity from 0.04 to 0.76 W/m K. The former increase could be attributed to the covalent cross-linking of the nanocomposite constituents. The latter one could be ascribed to the addition of high thermal conductivity TiO2 nanoparticles and the formation of possible conductive channels at high TiO2 weight fractions. The linear dependence of the thermal conductivity on the sound velocity, reported for amorphous polymers, is not observed in the present nanocomposite system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Schechtel
- Johannes
Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Yaping Yan
- Center
for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics and Engineering
and Institute of Advanced Study, Tongji
University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiangfan Xu
- Center
for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics and Engineering
and Institute of Advanced Study, Tongji
University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yu Cang
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Tremel
- Johannes
Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Zuyuan Wang
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Baowen Li
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Colorado, Boulder 80309, United States
| | - George Fytas
- Max
Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Im H, Oh Y, Cho HW, Kim J, Paeng K, Sung BJ. The spatial arrangement of a single nanoparticle in a thin polymer film and its effect on the nanoparticle diffusion. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:5897-5904. [PMID: 28766660 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01115f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The spatial arrangement of nanoparticles (NPs) within thin polymer films may influence their properties such as the glass transition temperature. Questions regarding what may affect the spatial arrangement of NPs, however, still remain unanswered at a molecular level. In this work, we perform molecular dynamics simulations for a free-standing thin polymer film with a single NP. We find from simulations that depending on the NP size and the inter-particle interaction between the NP and polymers, one may control the spatial arrangement of the NP. When the interaction between the NP and polymers is sufficiently attractive (repulsive), the NP is likely to be placed at the center (at the surface) of the thin film in equilibrium. Interestingly, for a moderate interaction between the NP and polymers, the first-order transition occurs in the spatial arrangement of the NP as one increases the NP size: a small NP prefers the surface of the polymer film whereas a large NP prefers the center. Such a first-order transition is corroborated by calculating the free energy of the NP as a function of the position and can be understood in terms of a sixth-order Landau free energy. More interestingly, the diffusion of the NP also changes drastically due to the first-order transition in the spatial arrangement. The NP diffusion is enhanced drastically (more than expected in bulk polymer melts) as the NP is shifted to the polymer film surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hesang Im
- Department of Chemistry and Research Institute for Basic Science, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cheng S, Carroll B, Bocharova V, Carrillo JM, Sumpter BG, Sokolov AP. Focus: Structure and dynamics of the interfacial layer in polymer nanocomposites with attractive interactions. J Chem Phys 2017; 146:203201. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4978504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shiwang Cheng
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Vera Bocharova
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
| | - Jan-Michael Carrillo
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
- Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
| | - Bobby G. Sumpter
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
- Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
| | - Alexei P. Sokolov
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Cheng S, Carroll B, Lu W, Fan F, Carrillo JMY, Martin H, Holt AP, Kang NG, Bocharova V, Mays JW, Sumpter BG, Dadmun M, Sokolov AP. Interfacial Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites: Role of Chain Rigidity and Dynamic Heterogeneity Length Scale. Macromolecules 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b02816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shiwang Cheng
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Bobby Carroll
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Wei Lu
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Fei Fan
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jan-Michael Y. Carrillo
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Halie Martin
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Adam P. Holt
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Nam-Goo Kang
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Vera Bocharova
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jimmy W. Mays
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Bobby G. Sumpter
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Mark Dadmun
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Alexei P. Sokolov
- Chemical
Sciences Division, ‡Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and §Computational
Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics
and Astronomy and ⊥Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lessan F, Karimi M. Selective water-permeable channels induced by polystyrene brushes within hairy nanocellulose/cellulose acetate membrane. POLYM ADVAN TECHNOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/pat.4012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Lessan
- Department of Textile Engineering; Amirkabir University of Technology; Hafez Avenue 15914 Tehran Iran
| | - M. Karimi
- Department of Textile Engineering; Amirkabir University of Technology; Hafez Avenue 15914 Tehran Iran
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Janes DW, Bilchak C, Durning CJ. Decoupling energetic modifications to diffusion from free volume in polymer/nanoparticle composites. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:677-685. [PMID: 28009881 DOI: 10.1039/c6sm02172g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion coefficients of small molecules in a model composite of spherical nanoparticles and polymer with attractive interfacial interactions are reduced from that in the pure polymer, to a degree far below the level expected from geometric tortuosity arguments. We determine whether such dramatic reductions are due to modifications to the matrix polymer free volume near the nanoparticle surface, or alternatively are due to energetic attractions between the diffusants and nanoparticle surface. We performed ethyl acetate sorption experiments within the vicinity of the polymer glass transition (Tg ≤ T ≤ Tg + 25 K) for a model polymer/nanoparticle composite, silica-filled poly(methyl acrylate). By application of the Vrentas-Duda free volume theory of diffusion we have decoupled the energetic effects from those related to free-volume and segmental dynamics. While the latter is unaffected by addition of nanoparticles, the energy needed for the ethyl acetate diffusant to overcome neighboring attractive forces doubles after adding 40 vol% nanoparticles with a diameter of 14 nm. This is qualitatively consistent with hydrogen bonding interactions between the silica surface and ethyl acetate slowing its rate of diffusion. On the other hand for benzene, which does not hydrogen bond to the silica surface, diffusion coefficients that can be explained by tortuosity effects were obtained. This work provides quantitative evidence that the diffusant-filler energetic interactions and geometric blocking effects can be fully responsible for the substantially reduced diffusivity commonly observed in polymer/nanoparticle composite systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Connor Bilchak
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kim S, Hyun K, Struth B, Ahn KH, Clasen C. Structural Development of Nanoparticle Dispersion during Drying in Polymer Nanocomposite Films. Macromolecules 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sunhyung Kim
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Kyu Hyun
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Pusan National University, Jangjeon-Dong 30, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Kyung Hyun Ahn
- School
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea
| | - Christian Clasen
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Holt AP, Bocharova V, Cheng S, Kisliuk AM, White BT, Saito T, Uhrig D, Mahalik JP, Kumar R, Imel AE, Etampawala T, Martin H, Sikes N, Sumpter BG, Dadmun MD, Sokolov AP. Controlling Interfacial Dynamics: Covalent Bonding versus Physical Adsorption in Polymer Nanocomposites. ACS NANO 2016; 10:6843-52. [PMID: 27337392 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b02501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
It is generally believed that the strength of the polymer-nanoparticle interaction controls the modification of near-interface segmental mobility in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). However, little is known about the effect of covalent bonding on the segmental dynamics and glass transition of matrix-free polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNs), especially when compared to PNCs. In this article, we directly compare the static and dynamic properties of poly(2-vinylpyridine)/silica-based nanocomposites with polymer chains either physically adsorbed (PNCs) or covalently bonded (PGNs) to identical silica nanoparticles (RNP = 12.5 nm) for three different molecular weight (MW) systems. Interestingly, when the MW of the matrix is as low as 6 kg/mol (RNP/Rg = 5.4) or as high as 140 kg/mol (RNP/Rg= 1.13), both small-angle X-ray scattering and broadband dielectric spectroscopy show similar static and dynamic properties for PNCs and PGNs. However, for the intermediate MW of 18 kg/mol (RNP/Rg = 3.16), the difference between physical adsorption and covalent bonding can be clearly identified in the static and dynamic properties of the interfacial layer. We ascribe the differences in the interfacial properties of PNCs and PGNs to changes in chain stretching, as quantified by self-consistent field theory calculations. These results demonstrate that the dynamic suppression at the interface is affected by the chain stretching; that is, it depends on the anisotropy of the segmental conformations, more so than the strength of the interaction, which suggests that the interfacial dynamics can be effectively tuned by the degree of stretching-a parameter accessible from the MW or grafting density.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicole Sikes
- Department of Chemistry, Columbus State University , Columbus, Georgia 33232, United States
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cheng S, Bocharova V, Belianinov A, Xiong S, Kisliuk A, Somnath S, Holt AP, Ovchinnikova OS, Jesse S, Martin H, Etampawala T, Dadmun M, Sokolov AP. Unraveling the Mechanism of Nanoscale Mechanical Reinforcement in Glassy Polymer Nanocomposites. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:3630-3637. [PMID: 27203453 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b00766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) above the glass transition temperature, Tg, has been extensively studied. However, not much is known about the origin of this effect below Tg. In this Letter, we unravel the mechanism of PNC reinforcement within the glassy state by directly probing nanoscale mechanical properties with atomic force microscopy and macroscopic properties with Brillouin light scattering. Our results unambiguously show that the "glassy" Young's modulus in the interfacial polymer layer of PNCs is two-times higher than in the bulk polymer, which results in significant reinforcement below Tg. We ascribe this phenomenon to a high stretching of the chains within the interfacial layer. Since the interfacial chain packing is essentially temperature independent, these findings provide a new insight into the mechanical reinforcement of PNCs also above Tg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shaomin Xiong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Baeza GP, Dessi C, Costanzo S, Zhao D, Gong S, Alegria A, Colby RH, Rubinstein M, Vlassopoulos D, Kumar SK. Network dynamics in nanofilled polymers. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11368. [PMID: 27109062 PMCID: PMC4848491 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well accepted that adding nanoparticles (NPs) to polymer melts can result in significant property improvements. Here we focus on the causes of mechanical reinforcement and present rheological measurements on favourably interacting mixtures of spherical silica NPs and poly(2-vinylpyridine), complemented by several dynamic and structural probes. While the system dynamics are polymer-like with increased friction for low silica loadings, they turn network-like when the mean face-to-face separation between NPs becomes smaller than the entanglement tube diameter. Gel-like dynamics with a Williams-Landel-Ferry temperature dependence then result. This dependence turns particle dominated, that is, Arrhenius-like, when the silica loading increases to ∼31 vol%, namely, when the average nearest distance between NP faces becomes comparable to the polymer's Kuhn length. Our results demonstrate that the flow properties of nanocomposites are complex and can be tuned via changes in filler loading, that is, the character of polymer bridges which 'tie' NPs together into a network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilhem P. Baeza
- Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece
| | - Claudia Dessi
- Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece
| | - Salvatore Costanzo
- Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece
| | - Dan Zhao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Shushan Gong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Angel Alegria
- Departamento de Física de Materiales y Centro de Física de Materiales CSIC-UPV/EHU, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, San Sebastian E-20018, Spain
| | - Ralph H. Colby
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Michael Rubinstein
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, USA
| | - Dimitris Vlassopoulos
- Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece
| | - Sanat K. Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Hashemi A, Jouault N, Williams GA, Zhao D, Cheng KJ, Kysar JW, Guan Z, Kumar SK. Enhanced Glassy State Mechanical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites via Supramolecular Interactions. NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:5465-5471. [PMID: 26192340 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
It is now well accepted that the addition of nanoparticles (NPs) can strongly affect the thermomechanical properties of the polymers into which they are incorporated. In the solid (glassy) state, previous work has implied that optimal mechanical properties are achieved when the NPs are well dispersed in the matrix and when there is strong interfacial binding between the grafted NPs and the polymer matrix. Here we provide strong evidence supporting the importance of intermolecular interactions through the use of NPs grafted with polymers that can hydrogen bond with the matrix, yielding to significant improvements in the measured mechanical properties. Our finding thus supports the previously implied central role of strong interfacial binding in optimizing the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Hashemi
- †Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Nicolas Jouault
- †Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
- ‡Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire PHENIX, Case 51, 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Gregory A Williams
- §Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Dan Zhao
- †Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Kevin J Cheng
- §Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Jeffrey W Kysar
- ∥Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Zhibin Guan
- §Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Sanat K Kumar
- †Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Aluculesei A, Pipertzis A, Piunova VA, Miyake GM, Floudas G, Fytas G, Grubbs RH. Thermomechanical Behavior and Local Dynamics of Dendronized Block Copolymers and Constituent Homopolymers. Macromolecules 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.5b00779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Aluculesei
- Department
of Materials Science, FORTH-IESL, P.O. Box 1527, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
| | - A. Pipertzis
- Department
of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - V. A. Piunova
- Arnold
and Mabel Beckmam Laboratories for Chemical Synthesis, Division of
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - G. M. Miyake
- Arnold
and Mabel Beckmam Laboratories for Chemical Synthesis, Division of
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - G. Floudas
- Department
of Physics, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - G. Fytas
- Department
of Materials Science, FORTH-IESL, P.O. Box 1527, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
- Max Planck Institute
for Polymer Research, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - R. H. Grubbs
- Arnold
and Mabel Beckmam Laboratories for Chemical Synthesis, Division of
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| |
Collapse
|