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Ragulskaya A, Starostin V, Begam N, Girelli A, Rahmann H, Reiser M, Westermeier F, Sprung M, Zhang F, Gutt C, Schreiber F. Reverse-engineering method for XPCS studies of non-equilibrium dynamics. IUCRJ 2022; 9:439-448. [PMID: 35844477 PMCID: PMC9252156 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252522004560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is a powerful tool in the investigation of dynamics covering a broad time and length scale. It has been widely used to probe dynamics for systems in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium states; in particular, for systems undergoing a phase transition where the structural growth kinetics and the microscopic dynamics are strongly intertwined. The resulting time-dependent dynamic behavior can be described using the two-time correlation function (TTC), which, however, often contains more interesting features than the component along the diagonal, and cannot be easily interpreted via the classical simulation methods. Here, a reverse engineering (RE) approach is proposed based on particle-based heuristic simulations. This approach is applied to an XPCS measurement on a protein solution undergoing a liquid-liquid phase separation. It is demonstrated that the rich features of experimental TTCs can be well connected with the key control parameters including size distribution, concentration, viscosity and mobility of domains. The dynamic information obtained from this RE analysis goes beyond the existing theory. The RE approach established in this work is applicable for other processes such as film growth, coarsening or evolving systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Ragulskaya
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vladimir Starostin
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nafisa Begam
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anita Girelli
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hendrik Rahmann
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Emmy-Noether-Campus, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57076 Siegen, Germany
| | - Mario Reiser
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Emmy-Noether-Campus, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57076 Siegen, Germany
- European X-ray free-electron laser GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Fabian Westermeier
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Sprung
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fajun Zhang
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Gutt
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Emmy-Noether-Campus, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57076 Siegen, Germany
| | - Frank Schreiber
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Spatially-Resolved Network Dynamics of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Gels Measured with Dynamic Small Angle Light Scattering. Gels 2022; 8:gels8070394. [PMID: 35877479 PMCID: PMC9316599 DOI: 10.3390/gels8070394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels are cross-linked polymer networks swollen in water. The large solvent content enables hydrogels to have unique physical properties and allows them to be used in diverse applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and absorbents. Gel properties are linked to internal dynamics. While bulk gel dynamics have been studied extensively, how gel networks respond locally to deformation has yet to be understood. Here, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gels have been stretched to study the effects of deformation on gel dynamics parallel and perpendicular to the stretching direction using dynamic small angle light scattering (DSALS). The implementation of DSALS is described and compared to traditional DLS for PVA gels with different crosslink densities, ranging from 0.75–2%. Despite the orders of magnitude difference in the scattering vector, q, range of the techniques, the dynamics match, and the apparent elastic diffusion coefficient, DA increases linearly with the crosslink density for unstretched gels at a constant 2 wt% concentration. We observe that the elastic motion depends on the direction of stretch, decreasing perpendicular to stretching and increasing at parallel direction. Using DSALS can therefore be an effective tool to evaluate local hydrogel response to deformation.
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Cheng CH, Kamitani K, Masuda S, Uno K, Dechnarong N, Hoshino T, Kojio K, Takahara A. Dynamics of matrix-free nanocomposites consisting of block copolymer-grafted silica nanoparticles under elongation evaluated through X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. POLYMER 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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From Femtoseconds to Hours—Measuring Dynamics over 18 Orders of Magnitude with Coherent X-rays. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11136179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) enables the study of sample dynamics between micrometer and atomic length scales. As a coherent scattering technique, it benefits from the increased brilliance of the next-generation synchrotron radiation and Free-Electron Laser (FEL) sources. In this article, we will introduce the XPCS concepts and review the latest developments of XPCS with special attention on the extension of accessible time scales to sub-μs and the application of XPCS at FELs. Furthermore, we will discuss future opportunities of XPCS and the related technique X-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy (XSVS) at new X-ray sources. Due to its particular signal-to-noise ratio, the time scales accessible by XPCS scale with the square of the coherent flux, allowing to dramatically extend its applications. This will soon enable studies over more than 18 orders of magnitude in time by XPCS and XSVS.
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Presto D, Meyerhofer J, Kippenbrock G, Narayanan S, Ilavsky J, Moctezuma S, Sutton M, Foster MD. Influence of Silane Coupling Agents on Filler Network Structure and Stress-Induced Particle Rearrangement in Elastomer Nanocomposites. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:47891-47901. [PMID: 32933248 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c12106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Filled rubber materials are key in many technologies having a broad impact on the economy and sustainability, the most obvious being tire technology. Adding filler dramatically improves the strength of rubber by reinforcement and tailoring the type of filler, and the chemistry of the interface between the filler and rubber matrix is important for optimizing performance metrics such as fuel efficiency. In a highly loaded, silica-filled, cross-linked model rubber closely mimicking commercial materials, both the filler network structure and the dynamics of the silica filler particles change when the silica surface is modified with silane coupling agents. Reduction in size scales characteristic of the structure is quantified using ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements and the particle dynamics probed with X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). While the structure averaged over the scattering volume changes little with aging after step strain, the dynamics slow appreciably in a manner that varies with the treatment of the silica filler. The evolution of filler particle dynamics depends on the chemical functionality at the silica surface, and observing these differences suggests a way of thinking about the origins of hysteresis in nanoparticle-reinforced rubbers. These microscopic filler dynamics are correlated with the macroscopic stress relaxation of the filled materials. The combination of static and dynamic X-ray scattering techniques with rheological measurements is a powerful approach for elucidating the microscopic mechanisms of rubber reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon Presto
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - John Meyerhofer
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Grant Kippenbrock
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
| | - Suresh Narayanan
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Jan Ilavsky
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Sergio Moctezuma
- Dynasol Elastómeros, S.A. de C.V. - Dynasol Group, Altamira, Tamaulipas, C.P. 89602, Mexico
| | - Mark Sutton
- Physics Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T8, Canada
| | - Mark D Foster
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325-3909, United States
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