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Well defined hybrid PNIPAM core-shell microgels: size variation of the silica nanoparticle core

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Abstract

Thermoresponsive core-shell hybrid microgels with different core sizes were prepared by radical precipitation polymerization of the monomer N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in the presence of functionalized silica cores. The size of the cores was varied in a range of 70–170 nm in diameter. Characterization of the hybrid microgels was done by means of imaging techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, scattering techniques were used to study the swelling behavior and network structure of the responsive polymer shells. While dynamic light scattering (DLS) was employed to investigate the overall particle dimensions, SANS allowed to determine the correlation length ξ of the polymer network. Additionally, SANS also provides the average core size and the polydispersity of the cores in-situ using the method of contrast variation.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through the priority program SPP 1259 and within the framework of the SFB840 (TP A4). M.K. is grateful to the Alexander von Humboldt foundation for a Feodor Lynen research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry & Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Rd, 3010, Victoria, Australia

    Matthias Karg

  2. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Glienicker Strasse 100, 14109, Berlin, Germany

    Stefan Wellert & Sylvain Prevost

  3. Institut Laue-Langevin, 6, rue Jules Horowitz, 38042, Grenoble, France

    Ralf Schweins & Charles Dewhurst

  4. Departamento de Quimica Fisica, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain

    Luis M. Liz-Marzán

  5. Physikalische und Biophysikalische Chemie, Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany

    Thomas Hellweg

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  1. Matthias Karg
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  3. Sylvain Prevost
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Correspondence to Thomas Hellweg.

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Karg, M., Wellert, S., Prevost, S. et al. Well defined hybrid PNIPAM core-shell microgels: size variation of the silica nanoparticle core. Colloid Polym Sci 289, 699–709 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-010-2327-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-010-2327-2

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