Morphology Selection of Nanoparticle Dispersions by Polymer Media
arXiv:cond-mat/0202026 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.238301
Abstract
Designable media can control properties of nanocomposite materials by spatially organizing nanoparticles. Here we theoretically study particle organization by ultrathin polymer films of grafted chains (``brushes''). Polymer-soluble nanoparticles smaller than a brush-determined threshold disperse in the film to a depth scaling inversely with particle volume. In the polymer-insoluble case, aggregation is directed: provided particles are non-wetting at the film surface, the brush stabilizes the dispersion and selects its final morphology of giant elongated aggregates with a brush-selected width.
8 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett