title: Thermoresponsive core-shell microgels with silica nanoparticle cores: size, structure, and volume phase transition of the polymer shell.
abstract: Core-shell microgels made of the thermoresponsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and silica nanoparticles as inorganic cores were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). In order to study the response of the particles upon changes of temperature, experiments were done in a temperature interval close to the volume phase transition temperature of the PNIPAM shell. While DLS probes the hydrodynamic dimensions of the particles, determining their centre of mass diffusion, SANS provides the correlation length xi of the PNIPAM network. Additionally, the composite particles were characterised by electron microscopy as well as atomic force microscopy to reveal the core-shell structure and at the same time the approximate dimensions and the shape of the microgels.
authors.affiliation: Universität Bayreuth, Physikalische Chemie I, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karg
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wellert
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pastoriza-Santos
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapp
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liz-Marzán
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hellweg
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D005782:Gels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D005782:Gels; D011108:Polymers; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide