论文标题
温度和结构对微凝胶界面结构的影响的原位研究
In-situ study of the impact of temperature and architecture on the interfacial structure of microgels
论文作者
论文摘要
微凝胶在界面上的结构表征是了解其2D期行为又是其作为稳定剂的作用,使乳液能够按需破坏。但是,这种表征通常受到可用的实验技术的限制,该技术不允许在接口上进行直接研究。为了克服这一困难,我们在这里采用中子反射仪,这使我们能够探测空气水界面上微凝胶原位的结构和响应能力。我们研究了两种具有不同交联密度的微凝胶,因此在其体积相变温度的低于和高于其体积相变温度的情况下具有不同的柔软度和变形性,将实验与计算机合成的微凝胶中的计算机模拟相结合。我们发现温度仅影响水中的微凝胶的一部分,而微凝胶柔软度的最强效果在它们突出进入空气的能力中被观察到。特别是,标准的微凝胶具有几个度的明显接触角,而超低的交联微凝胶形成零接触角的平坦聚合层。总的来说,这项研究提供了深入的微观描述,描述了不同的微凝胶体系结构如何影响其在接口上的布置,并将成为更好地理解其相行为和组装的基础。该手稿已被接受在自然通信中出版(开放访问)。包括补充信息在内的手稿的最终版本将来将提供。
The structural characterization of microgels at interfaces is fundamental to understand both their 2D phase behavior and their role as stabilizers that enable emulsions to be broken on demand. However, this characterization is usually limited by available experimental techniques, which do not allow a direct investigation at interfaces. To overcome this difficulty, here we employ neutron reflectometry, which allows us to probe the structure and responsiveness of the microgels in-situ at the air-water interface. We investigate two types of microgels with different cross-link density, thus having different softness and deformability, both below and above their volume phase transition temperature, combining experiments with computer simulations of realistic in silico synthesized microgels. We find that temperature only affects the portion of microgels in water, while the strongest effect of the microgels softness is observed in their ability to protrude into the air. In particular, standard microgels have an apparent contact angle of few degrees, while ultra-low cross-linked microgels form a flat polymeric layer with zero contact angle. Altogether, this study provides an in-depth microscopic description of how different microgel architectures affect their arrangements at interfaces, and will be the foundation for a better understanding of their phase behavior and assembly. This manuscript has been accepted for publication in Nature Communications (open access). The final version of the manuscript including the Supplementary Information will be available in the future.