Journal Article

FZJ-2018-05117

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Hollow microgels squeezed in overcrowded environments

Scotti, A. (Corresponding author) ; Brugnoni, M.Extern* ; Rudov, A. A. ; Houston, J.FZJ* ; Potemkin, I. I. ; Richtering, W. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2018
American Institute of Physics Melville, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/19647  doi:10.1063/1.5026100

Abstract: We study how a cavity changes the response of hollow microgels with respect to regular ones in overcrowded environments. The structural changes of hollow poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels embedded within a matrix of regular ones are probed by small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation. The form factors of the microgels at increasing compressions are directly measured. The decrease of the cavity size with increasing concentration shows that the hollow microgels have an alternative way with respect to regular cross-linked ones to respond to the squeezing due to their neighbors. The structural changes under compression are supported by the radial density profiles obtained with computer simulations. The presence of the cavity offers to the polymer network the possibility to expand toward the center of the microgels in response to the overcrowded environment. Furthermore, upon increasing compression, a two step transition occurs: First the microgels are compressed but the internal structure is unchanged; then, further compression causes the fuzzy shell to collapse completely and reduce the size of the cavity. Computer simulations also allow studying higher compression degrees than in the experiments leading to the microgel’s faceting

Keyword(s): Polymers, Soft Nano Particles and Proteins (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)
2. Neutronenstreuung (Neutronenstreuung ; JCNS-1)
3. JARA - HPC (JARA-HPC)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G15 - FRM II / MLZ (POF3-6G15) (POF3-6G15)
2. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (POF3-623) (POF3-623)
3. Amphoteric Microgels for Uptake and Release of Polyelectrolytes (jhpc41_20160501) (jhpc41_20160501)

Experiment(s):

1. KWS-2: Small angle scattering diffractometer (NL3ao)

Appears in the scientific report 2018

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Database coverage:
; ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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