title: Multipod-like silica/polystyrene clusters.
abstract: Multipod-like clusters composed of a silica core and PS satellites are prepared according to a seeded-growth emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of size-monodisperse silica particles previously surface-modified with methacryloxymethyltriethoxysilane. Tuning the diameter and concentration of the silica seeds affords homogeneous batches of tetrapods, hexapods, octopods, nonapods and dodecapods with morphology yields as high as 80%. Three-dimensional reconstructions by cryo-electron tomography are presented on large fields for the first time to show the high symmetry and regularity of the clusters demonstrating the good control of the synthesis process. These synthesis experiments are visited again digitally, in order to successfully refine an original simulation model and better understand the correlation between the history of the cluster growth and the final composition of the cluster mixture. Finally, using the model as a predictive tool and varying the extra experimental conditions, e.g. the composition of the surfactant mixture and the styrene concentration, result in trapping other cluster morphologies, such as tripods.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UPR 9048, F-33600 Pessac, France. etienne.duguet@u-bordeaux.fr and Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, CBMN, UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Désert
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UPR 9048, F-33600 Pessac, France. etienne.duguet@u-bordeaux.fr.
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morele
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, CBMN, UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Taveau
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, CBMN, UMR 5248, F-33600 Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, Univ. Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5265, Laboratoire de Chimie, Catalyse, Polymères et Procédés (C2P2), LCPP Group, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lansalot
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, Univ. Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5265, Laboratoire de Chimie, Catalyse, Polymères et Procédés (C2P2), LCPP Group, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourgeat-Lami
authors.affiliation: LIONS, NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thill
authors.affiliation: LIONS, NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Spalla
authors.affiliation: LIONS, NIMBE, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, CRPP, UPR 8641, F-33600 Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravaine
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, ICMCB, UPR 9048, F-33600 Pessac, France. etienne.duguet@u-bordeaux.fr.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duguet