|
1
|
Buonaiuto L, Reuvekamp S, Shakhayeva B, Liu E, Neuhaus F, Braunschweig B, de Beer S, Mugele F. Thermally Activated Swelling and Wetting Transition of Frozen Polymer Brushes:a New Concept for Surface Functionalization. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2025:e2502173. [PMID: 40226910 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202502173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2025] [Revised: 03/21/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025]
Abstract
Functional polymer brush coatings have great potential for various industrial applications thanks to their ability to adapt to environmental stimuli, providing tunable surface properties. While existing approaches rely on polymer-solvent interactions and their response to external stimuli, changes in the intrinsic physical properties of the polymer also play a critical role in modulating brush behavior. In this context, the melting transition of a semicrystalline oleophilic poly-octadecylmethacrylate (P18MA) brush coating is shown to drive a swelling and wetting transition upon exposure to various liquid alkanes. The top surface of this polymer displays a somewhat higher melting temperature than the bulk, enabling separate control of the bulk-driven swelling and surface-driven wetting transitions. Laser-induced heating enables reversible on-demand activation of both transitions with micrometer lateral resolution. These findings suggest a new concept of polymer brush-based functional surfaces that allow for controlled fluid transport via separately switchable surface barriers and bulk transport layers based on a suitable choice of polymer-polymer and polymer-solvent interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Buonaiuto
- Physics of Complex Fluids, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO box 217, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Sander Reuvekamp
- Physics of Complex Fluids, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO box 217, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecules & Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO box 217, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Billura Shakhayeva
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 28/30, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Enqing Liu
- Physics of Complex Fluids, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO box 217, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Franziska Neuhaus
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 28/30, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Björn Braunschweig
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Center for Soft Nanoscience, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 28/30, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Sissi de Beer
- Department of Molecules & Materials, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO box 217, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Frieder Mugele
- Physics of Complex Fluids, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, PO box 217, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Yin R, Zhao Y, Jeong J, Tarnsangpradit J, Liu T, An SY, Zhai Y, Hu X, Bockstaller MR, Matyjaszewski K. Composition-Orientation Induced Mechanical Synergy in Nanoparticle Brushes with Grafted Gradient Copolymers. Macromolecules 2023; 56:9626-9635. [PMID: 38105929 PMCID: PMC10720466 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Gradient poly(methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate) copolymers, P(MMA/BA), with various compositional ratios, were grafted from surface-modified silica nanoparticles (SiO2-g-PMMA-grad-PBA) via complete conversion surface-initiated activator regenerated by electron transfer (SI-ARGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Miniemulsion as the reaction medium effectively confined the interparticle brush coupling within micellar compartments, preventing macroscopic gelation and enabling complete conversion. Isolation of dispersed and gelled fractions revealed dispersed particle brushes to feature a higher Young's modulus, toughness, and ultimate strain compared with those of the "gel" counterparts. Upon purification, brush nanoparticles from the dispersed phase formed uniform microstructures. Uniaxial tension testing revealed a "mechanical synergy" for copolymers with MMA/BA = 3:2 molar ratio to concurrently exhibit higher toughness and stiffness. When compared with linear analogues of similar composition, the brush nanoparticles with gradient copolymers had better mechanical properties, attributed to the synergistic effects of the combination of composition and propagation orientation, highlighting the significance of architectural design for tethered brush layers of such hybrid materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rongguan Yin
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Yuqi Zhao
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Jaepil Jeong
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Jirameth Tarnsangpradit
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Tong Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - So Young An
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Yue Zhai
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Xiaolei Hu
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Michael R. Bockstaller
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie
Mellon University, 5000
Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- Department
of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| |
Collapse
|