title: Conformation of intramolecularly cross-linked polymer nanoparticles on solid substrates.
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.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Dukette
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Horn
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wooley
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drockenmuller
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malkoch
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hawker