%0 Journal Article
%A Scotti, A.
%A Bochenek, S.
%A Brugnoni, M.
%A Fernandez-Rodriguez, M. A.
%A Schulte, M. F.
%A Houston, J. E.
%A Gelissen, A. P. H.
%A Potemkin, I. I.
%A Isa, L.
%A Richtering, W.
%T Exploring the colloid-to-polymer transition for ultra-low crosslinked microgels from three to two dimensions
%J Nature Communications
%V 10
%N 1
%@ 2041-1723
%C [London]
%I Nature Publishing Group UK
%M FZJ-2019-02318
%P 1418
%D 2019
%X 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.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%$ pmid:30926786
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000462721900017
%R 10.1038/s41467-019-09227-5
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/861897