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Exploring the colloid-to-polymer transition for ultra-low crosslinked microgels from three to two dimensions

Author

Listed:
  • A. Scotti

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • S. Bochenek

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • M. Brugnoni

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • M. A. Fernandez-Rodriguez

    (ETH Zurich)

  • M. F. Schulte

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • J. E. Houston

    (Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
    European Spallation Source ERIC)

  • A. P. H. Gelissen

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • I. I. Potemkin

    (Lomonosov Moscow State University
    DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials
    National Research South Ural State University)

  • L. Isa

    (ETH Zurich)

  • W. Richtering

    (RWTH Aachen University
    JARA-SOFT)

Abstract

Microgels are solvent-swollen nano- and microparticles that show prevalent colloidal-like behavior despite their polymeric nature. Here we study ultra-low crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels (ULC), which can behave like colloids or flexible polymers depending on dimensionality, compression or other external stimuli. Small-angle neutron scattering shows that the structure of the ULC microgels in bulk aqueous solution is characterized by a density profile that decays smoothly from the center to a fuzzy surface. Their phase behavior and rheological properties are those of soft colloids. However, when these microgels are confined at an oil-water interface, their behavior resembles that of flexible macromolecules. Once monolayers of ultra-low crosslinked microgels are compressed, deposited on solid substrate and studied with atomic-force microscopy, a concentration-dependent topography is observed. Depending on the compression, these microgels can behave as flexible polymers, covering the substrate with a uniform film, or as colloidal microgels leading to a monolayer of particles.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Scotti & S. Bochenek & M. Brugnoni & M. A. Fernandez-Rodriguez & M. F. Schulte & J. E. Houston & A. P. H. Gelissen & I. I. Potemkin & L. Isa & W. Richtering, 2019. "Exploring the colloid-to-polymer transition for ultra-low crosslinked microgels from three to two dimensions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09227-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09227-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcel Rey & Jannis Kolker & James A. Richards & Isha Malhotra & Thomas S. Glen & N. Y. Denise Li & Fraser H. J. Laidlaw & Damian Renggli & Jan Vermant & Andrew B. Schofield & Syuji Fujii & Hartmut Lö, 2023. "Interactions between interfaces dictate stimuli-responsive emulsion behaviour," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Steffen Bochenek & Fabrizio Camerin & Emanuela Zaccarelli & Armando Maestro & Maximilian M. Schmidt & Walter Richtering & Andrea Scotti, 2022. "In-situ study of the impact of temperature and architecture on the interfacial structure of microgels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.

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