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Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene chains on the surface of silica nanoparticles: comparison of SANS, SAXS, and DLS results

Polystyrene chains on silica nanoparticle

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Abstract

An extensive characterization of well-defined polystyrene (PS)-grafted silica nanoparticles is reported. Bare SiO2 particles (diameter 50 nm) were functionalized with a suitable initiator for the surface-initiated anionic polymerization of styrene. Both grafted and free PS chains were characterized and compared by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). PS-grafted particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The thickness of the grafted PS chains was obtained by SANS and DLS and scaled with \(M_{\mathrm {w}}^{0.6}\) displaying similar behavior with free PS chains in the same solvent used, tetrahydrofuran (THF). Grafting densities obtained from SANS data and TGA were found to be small, and the thickness of the grafted PS chains determined by SANS was found to be similar to \(2R_{\mathrm {g}}\) of free PS chains in THF. Both results are consistent with a “coil-like” conformation of the grafted PS chains.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG SPP-1369) for financial support of this work. Marion Trautmann and Matthias Wittemann are acknowledged for SEC measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Hochschulstrasse 6, 64289, Darmstadt, Germany

    Chang J. Kim, Tinka Spehr & Bernd Stühn

  2. Ernst-Berl-Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstrasse 22, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Katrin Sondergeld, Markus Mazurowski, Markus Gallei & Matthias Rehahn

  3. Jülich Centre for Neutron Science, Lichtenbergstrasse 1, 85747, Garching, Germany

    Henrich Frielinghaus

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  1. Chang J. Kim
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Correspondence to Chang J. Kim or Matthias Rehahn.

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Kim, C.J., Sondergeld, K., Mazurowski, M. et al. Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene chains on the surface of silica nanoparticles: comparison of SANS, SAXS, and DLS results. Colloid Polym Sci 291, 2087–2099 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-013-2923-z

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