Conformation of intramolecularly cross-linked polymer nanoparticles on solid substrates. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The conformation of cross-linked, monomolecular, polystyrene nanoparticles on a solid substrate is considered as a function of cross-linking degree and substrate surface free energy. It is found that an extreme amount of cross-linking is necessary for the ca. 5-10 nm diameter nanoparticles to retain their original spherical shape, regardless of surface free energy. A lesser amount of cross-linking produces a nanoparticle that collapses to a pancake-like conformation on a high-energy substrate yet remains spherical on a low-energy surface. A simple model is developed to reveal the relationship between nanoparticle modulus and surface free energy to define the nanoparticle conformation.

published proceedings

  • Nano Lett

author list (cited authors)

  • Dukette, T. E., Mackay, M. E., Van Horn, B., Wooley, K. L., Drockenmuller, E., Malkoch, M., & Hawker, C. J.

citation count

  • 30

complete list of authors

  • Dukette, Tiffany E||Mackay, Michael E||Van Horn, Brooke||Wooley, Karen L||Drockenmuller, Eric||Malkoch, Michael||Hawker, Craig J

publication date

  • September 2005