Flexible particle array structures by controlling polymer graft architecture.
Surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization is used to synthesize particle brushes with controlled fraction of extended and relaxed conformations of surface-grafted chains. In the semidilute brush limit, the grafting of polymeric ligands is shown to facilitate the formation of ordered yet plastic-compliant particle array structures in which chain entanglements give rise to fracture through a polymer-like crazing process that dramatically increases the toughness and flexibility of the particle assembly.
Choi
Jihoon
J
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Dong
Hongchen
H
Matyjaszewski
Krzysztof
K
Bockstaller
Michael R
MR
D008024:Ligands; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D008024:Ligands; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide