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In-situ study of the impact of temperature and architecture on the interfacial structure of microgels

Author

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  • Steffen Bochenek

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Fabrizio Camerin

    (CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome
    Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Emanuela Zaccarelli

    (CNR-ISC, Sapienza University of Rome
    Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Armando Maestro

    (Institut Laue-Langevin ILL DS/LSS
    Centro de Fısica de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) - Materials Physics Center MPC
    IKERBASQUE-Basque Foundation for Science)

  • Maximilian M. Schmidt

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Walter Richtering

    (RWTH Aachen University)

  • Andrea Scotti

    (RWTH Aachen University)

Abstract

The structural characterization of microgels at interfaces is fundamental to understand both their 2D phase behavior and their role as stabilizers that enable emulsions to be broken on demand. However, this characterization is usually limited by available experimental techniques, which do not allow a direct investigation at interfaces. To overcome this difficulty, here we employ neutron reflectometry, which allows us to probe the structure and responsiveness of the microgels in-situ at the air-water interface. We investigate two types of microgels with different cross-link density, thus having different softness and deformability, both below and above their volume phase transition temperature, by combining experiments with computer simulations of in silico synthesized microgels. We find that temperature only affects the portion of microgels in water, while the strongest effect of the microgels softness is observed in their ability to protrude into the air. In particular, standard microgels have an apparent contact angle of few degrees, while ultra-low cross-linked microgels form a flat polymeric layer with zero contact angle. Altogether, this study provides an in-depth microscopic description of how different microgel architectures affect their arrangements at interfaces, and will be the foundation for a better understanding of their phase behavior and assembly.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31209-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31209-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fabio Grillo & Miguel Angel Fernandez-Rodriguez & Maria-Nefeli Antonopoulou & Dominic Gerber & Lucio Isa, 2020. "Self-templating assembly of soft microparticles into complex tessellations," Nature, Nature, vol. 582(7811), pages 219-224, June.
    2. 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.
    3. Frank Scheffold, 2020. "Pathways and challenges towards a complete characterization of microgels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
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    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.

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