Reprint of: self-assembly of nanoparticles employing polymerization-induced phase separation

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Roberto J J WilliamsAgustina B Leonardi

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) may be homogeneously dispersed in the precursors of a polymer (reactive solvent) by an adequate selection of their stabilizing ligands. However, the dispersion can become metastable or unstable in the course of polymerization. If this happens, NP-rich domains can be segregated by a process called polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS). This occurs mainly due to the decrease in the entropic contribution of the reactive solvent to the free energy of mixing (increase in its average size) and, for a reactive solvent generating a cross-linked polymer, the additional contribution of the elastic energy in the post-gel stage. The extent of PIPS will depend on the competition between phase separation and polymerization rates. It can be completely avoided, limited to a local scale or conveyed to generate different types of NPs' aggregates such as crystalline platelets, self-assembled structures with a hierarchical order and partitioning at the interface, and bidimensional patterns of NPs at the film surface. The use of a third component in the initial formulation such as a linear polymer or a block copolymer, provides the possibility of generating an internal template for the preferential location and self-ass...Continue Reading

References

Jun 30, 2001·Science·R B ThompsonA C Balazs
May 14, 2009·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Jesse GreenerEugenia Kumacheva
Sep 18, 2009·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Ignacio E dell'ErbaRoberto J J Williams
Nov 19, 2011·Science·Damien MontarnalLudwik Leibler

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