Polymeric Nanoparticles Stabilized by Surfactants: Kinetic Studies

A kinetic study was carried out to monitor the time-dependent formation of surfactant-stabilized polymeric nanoparticles prepared by controlled phase separation. The nanoparticles were made of poly(methylmethacrylate) or polystyrene and several ionic and nonionic surfactants. The dispersion was prepared by fast mixing a solution of the polymers in organic solvents with a solution of a surfactant in water. We observed the formation of well-defined nanoparticles measured by time-resolved small-angle x-ray scattering (TR-SAXS). Our results suggest that the kinetics for the formation of nanoparticles comprising ionic surfactants is much faster (in the range of milliseconds) than that for nanoparticles comprising nonionic surfactants (on the time scales of several seconds). We were able to observe the transformation of particle surface from transient structure to hard sphere one in real time. Some systems manifest a plethora of structural changes that demands further experimental research.     

Polymer Chain Conformation on Deuterated Polystyrene Nanoparticles Investigated by SANS

We previously reported that grafted polystyrene (PS) chains on silica nanoparticles at a low grafting density show similar conformations to free PS chains in the same solvent, THF (diameter ?50 nm, Colloid.poly.Sci. (2013), 291, 9, 2087–2099). As an extension of our previous study we choose an organic nanoparticle (deuterated polystyrene, dPS) instead of inorganic nanoparticle to see the impact of the substrate material on chain conformation. Additionally, a wider range of molecular weights were prepared to investigate the conformation feature of grafted PS chains more in detail. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments were performed to characterize PS grafted dPS particles in good solvent condition, with deuterated toluene and deuterated THF as solvent. To get insight into the conformation of the grafted PS layer we apply a scaling law describing the dimension of free PS polymer in good solvent condition to the obtained thickness of the grafted PS layer. We find an overall agreement with the scaling law where the thickness of the grafted PS layer is slightly larger than 2R_g of the free polymer chains in the respective solvent giving hint for semi dilute polymer brush (SDPB) situation.     

高氯酸盐与十六烷基三甲基溴化铵作用的光散射

利用光散射光谱法研究了高氯酸根和阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)的作用。 在酸性条件下,高氯酸根和CTAB通过静电作用形成离子缔合物,导致体系光散射强度增强。 环境水样中的常见阴离子如Cl^-、Br^-、ClO₃^-、NO₃^-和PO₄^3-等与CTAB单独作用时其光散射强度很弱,而当它们与高氯酸根同时存在时,由于协同作用使体系散射强度发生改变。 以Cl^-为例,借助动态光散射测定,初步探讨了体系协同作用的机理。     

Broadband and Highly Directional Visible Light Scattering by Laser-Splashed Lossless TiO2 Nanoparticles

All-dielectric nanoparticles, as the counterpart of metallic nanostructures have recently attracted significant interest in manipulating light-matter interaction at a nanoscale. Directional scattering, as an important property of nanoparticles, has been investigated in traditional high refractive index materials, such as silicon, germanium and gallium arsenide in a narrow band range. Here in this paper, we demonstrate that a broadband forward scattering across the entire visible range can be achieved by the low loss TiO₂ nanoparticles with moderate refractive index. This mainly stems from the optical interferences between the broadband electric dipole and the magnetic dipole modes. The forward/backward scattering ratio reaches maximum value at the wavelengths satisfying the first Kerker’s condition. Experimentally, the femtosecond pulsed laser was employed to splash different-sized nanoparticles from a thin TiO₂ film deposited on the glass substrate. Single particle scattering measurement in both the forward and backward direction was performed by a homemade confocal microscopic system, demonstrating the broadband forward scattering feature. Our research holds great promise for many applications such as light harvesting, photodetection and on-chip photonic devices and so on.     

Structural Characterization of Biomaterials by Means of Small Angle X-rays and Neutron Scattering (SAXS and SANS), and Light Scattering Experiments

Scattering techniques represent non-invasive experimental approaches and powerful tools for the investigation of structure and conformation of biomaterial systems in a wide range of distances, ranging from the nanometric to micrometric scale. More specifically, small-angle X-rays and neutron scattering and light scattering techniques represent well-established experimental techniques for the investigation of the structural properties of biomaterials and, through the use of suitable models, they allow to study and mimic various biological systems under physiologically relevant conditions. They provide the ensemble averaged (and then statistically relevant) information under in situ and operando conditions, and represent useful tools complementary to the various traditional imaging techniques that, on the contrary, reveal more local structural information. Together with the classical structure characterization approaches, we introduce the basic concepts that make it possible to examine inter-particles interactions, and to study the growth processes and conformational changes in nanostructures, which have become increasingly relevant for an accurate understanding and prediction of various mechanisms in the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology. The upgrade of the various scattering techniques, such as the contrast variation or time resolved experiments, offers unique opportunities to study the nano- and mesoscopic structure and their evolution with time in a way not accessible by other techniques. For this reason, highly performant instruments are installed at most of the facility research centers worldwide. These new insights allow to largely ameliorate the control of (chemico-physical and biologic) processes of complex (bio-)materials at the molecular length scales, and open a full potential for the development and engineering of a variety of nano-scale biomaterials for advanced applications.     

Enhancement of the Surface Activity for Some Monomeric and Polymeric Thiol Surfactants Using Silver Nanoparticles

In the present work, the self-assembling of some synthesized thiol surfactants namely (6-(3-amino phenoxy) hexane-1-thiol, 8-(3-amino phenoxy) octane-1-thiol, 10-(3-amino phenoxy) decane-1-thiol, 12-(3-amino phenoxy) dodecane-1-thiol, and their polymers on silver nanoparticles was investigated. The self-assembling of these surfactants on silver nanoparticles was characterized using different techniques such as ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), electrone diffraction (ED), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of the self-assembling of these surfactants on the stabilization of the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied using TEM images. The growth of the silver nanoparticles was investigated with respect to the increase of alkyl chain in the synthesized thiol surfactants. The effect of silver nanoparticles on the surface, interfacial tension, and the emulsion stability of these surfactants with paraffin oil was studied. The results show that the silver nanoparticles have the ability to effect on the behavior of these surfactants in solution and improve their surface activity.     

Influence of Light Scattering by Residual Alumina Nanoparticles on the Analysis of Surfactants Adsorption Using Spectroscopy

The adsorption of a surfactant mixture, based on an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) and a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100, or TX100), on alumina nanoparticles was determined by solution depletion method combined with spectrometric measurement. It is shown that the light scattering, originated from the residual adsorbent alumina particles in the supernatant after centrifugation separation, interferes with the measurements of absorbance of the surfactant molecules, and therefore constitutes an error source for determination of the surfactant concentration in the supernatant by spectrometric means. The intensity of this light scattering, namely the influence of the residual alumina nanoparticles upon the surfactant adsorption, was related to the surfactant adsorption and its equilibrium concentration and varied among a batch. In this paper we report a Kalman filter method in order to eliminate the variational scattering background caused by non-separated residual alumina nanoparticles in each supernatant. This method is of interest as it is simple, easy to carry out and of high precision.     

Structure of Hydrogen and Hydrophobically Bonded Amphiphilic Copolymer with Poly(methacrylic acid) Complexes as Revealed by Small Angle Neutron Scattering

We study by SANS the structure of intermolecular complexes formed through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) and a neutral copolymer surfactant (PEO-PPO-PEO). The contrast variation method enables us to probe the structure factor of each polymer in the complex and their cross structure factor. The number of copolymer chains, which results from the cooperative action of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions increases as the charge of the polyacid decreases. The aggregation preserves the micellar core-corona organization of the copolymer and shrinks the polyacid chains which adopt a similar compact structure. Finally, the structure of the aggregates is compared to that of PEO-PMA homopolymer complex observed by SANS.     

Stable DOPG/Glycyrrhizin Vesicles with a Wide Range of Mixing Ratios: Structure and Stability as Seen by Scattering Experiments and Cryo-TEM

Phosphatidylglycerols represent a large share of the lipids in the plasmamembrane of procaryotes. Therefore, this study investigates the role of charged lipids in the plasma membrane with respect to the interaction of the antiviral saponin glycyrrhizin with such membranes. Glycyrrhizin is a natural triterpenic-based surfactant found in licorice. Vesicles made of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1’-glycerol) (DOPG)/glycyrrhizin are characterized by small-angle scattering with neutrons and X-rays (SANS and SAXS). Small-angle scattering data are first evaluated by the model-independent modified Kratky–Porod method and afterwards fitted by a model describing the shape of small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) with an internal head-tail contrast. Complete miscibility of DOPG and glycyrrhizin was revealed even at a ratio of lipid:saponin of 1:1. Additional information about the chain-chain correlation distance of the lipid/saponin mixtures in the SUV structures is obtained from wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS).     

Surfactant-Free Multiple Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Combining Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Nanoparticles

A series of W/O/W or O/W/O emulsion stabilized solely by two different types of solid nanoparticles were prepared by a two-step method. We explored the option of particular emulsifiers for the multiple Pickering emulsions, and a variety of nanoparticles (silica, iron oxide, and clay) only differing in their wettability was used. The primary W/O emulsion was obtained by the hydrophobic nanoparticles, and then the hydrophilic nanoparticles were used as emulsifier in the secondary emulsification to prepare the W/O/W emulsion. In a similar way, the primary O/W emulsion of the O/W/O emulsion was stabilized by the hydrophilic nanoparticles, while the secondary emulsification to prepare the O/W/O emulsion was effected with the hydrophobic nanoparticles. The resultant multiple Pickering emulsion was stable to coalescence for more than 3 months, except the W/O/W emulsions of which the secondary emulsion stabilized by clay nanoparticles became a simple O/W emulsion in a day after preparation. Moreover, the temperature and pH sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) (P(NIPAm-co-MAA)) microgels were introduced as an emulsifier for the secondary emulsification to obtain the stimulus-responsive multiple W/O/W emulsion. Such microgel-stabilized multiple emulsions could realize the efficient controlled release of water-soluble dye, Rhodamine B (RB) on demand in a multiple-emulsion delivery system.      

Brij类表面活性剂与Laponite纳米颗粒的相互作用及其稳定乳液的研究

通过表面张力、Zeta电位和流变学参数的测定, 研究了聚氧乙烯烷基醚类非离子型表面活性剂(Brij 30和Brij 35)在合成锂皂石(Laponite)纳米颗粒表面的吸附及对Laponite水分散体系中颗粒间相互作用和体系粘度的影响. 结果表明, 这类表面活性剂能显著地吸附在Laponite颗粒表面上, 且吸附量随其分子中POE链长短而不同. 这种吸附没有改变Laponite粒子的带电性质, 但一定程度地降低了Laponite颗粒Zeta电位; 吸附也会减弱颗粒间的相互作用, 降低体系的粘度. 实验以Laponite和Brij为乳化剂, 制备了O/W型乳状液. 乳液稳定性变化和乳液粒径分布结果表明, 体系中Brij的浓度较低时, 乳液的性质主要是由Laponite颗粒决定的; 而Brij浓度较高时, 则主要取决于Brij表面活性剂. 高速剪切含Brij的Laponite水分散体系, 剪切后表面张力随时间的变化表明, 剪切作用会使得吸附在Laponite颗粒表面的Brij分子不同程度地解吸下来. 这也意味着乳液制备时, 高速剪切作用也会造成Brij分子自Laponite颗粒表面的脱附, 这可能是非离子表面活性剂与阳离子表面活性剂对负电固体颗粒稳定乳液影响不同的原因.     

Light,Small Angle Neutron and X-Ray Scattering from Gels

This paper gives two examples of experiments that demonstrate the power of small angle scattering techniques in the study of swollen polymer networks. First, it is shown how the partly ergodic character of these systems is directly detected by neutron spin echo experiments. The observed total field correlation function of the intensity scattered from a neutral gel allows the ergodic contribution to be directly distinguished from the non ergodic part, at values of transfer wave vector q that lie well beyond the range of dynamic light scattering. The results can be compared with those obtained at much lower q from visible light scattering. Second, a recent application of small angle X-ray (SAXS) and neutron (SANS) scattering is described for a polyelectrolyte molecule, DNA, in semi-dilute solutions under near-physiological conditions. For these observations, the divalent ion normally present, calcium, is replaced by an equivalent ion, strontium. The comparison between SANS and SAXS yields a quantitative picture of the cloud of divalent counter-ions around the central DNA core. At physiological conditions, the cloud is thinner than that predicted on the basis of the Debye screening length but thicker than if the counter-ions were condensed on the DNA chain.     

原子力显微镜与动态光散射研究疏水缔合聚丙烯酰胺微观结构

驱油用疏水缔合聚丙烯酰胺(HAP)性能优劣由其微观结构决定,优选研究HAP微观结构的方法,方便现场准确筛选功能良好的驱油聚合物。本文通过原子力显微镜(AFM)和扫描电镜(SEM)观察了不同浓度HAP溶液的微观结构,动态光散射(DLS)与AFM分析了粒径分布。结果表明,随着聚合物浓度的增加,DLS测得粒径增大,粒径分布由单峰变为双峰;SEM观察到由无空间网络结构,到相对松散、易被盐破坏空间网络结构,再到不易被盐破坏的完整、致密的网络结构;AFM可以同时得到一定空间结构以及与DLS相符的粒径大小,三种方法综合比较发现,结合三种不同的表征手段能够较好的、较全面的表示HAP在溶液中的微观结构。     

ChemInform Abstract: Structural Characterization of C60 and C70 Fullerenes by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of CuS Nanoparticles Stabilized by Sodium Polyphosphate

We have synthesized nanosized colloidal CuS particles which exhibit quantum size effects. Using an indirect synthesis of CuS from CdS nanoparticles of known average size, we have determined the dependence of the width of the forbidden band (the gap) of the CuS nanoparticles on their size. We have studied the effect of the CuS colloid synthesis conditions on their spectral characteristics.     

金纳米粒子的非线性共振散射及光强度函数研究

液相金纳米粒子在320nm、470nm、580nm720nm处产生四个共振散射峰。它是一种非线性光学介质,当入射光的频率v不同时可获得金纳米粒子的2v倍频、v/2分频、v/3分频、2v/3 分频、3v／2分频散射峰。探讨了影响液相金纳米粒子散射光信号强度I（λ）的主要因素即散射光能量分布、粒径d、△λ（λem-λex)和散射光辐射度Rλex。给出了共振散射光强度与△λ之间的高斯分布函数。建立了一个合理的金纳米粒子的共振散射光强度函数。     

Mechanism of Producing Metallic Nanoparticles,with an Emphasis on Silver and Gold Nanoparticles,Using Bottom-Up Methods

Bottom-up nanoparticle (NP) formation is assumed to begin with the reduction of the precursor metallic ions to form zero-valent atoms. Studies in which this assumption was made are reviewed. The standard reduction potential for the formation of aqueous metallic atoms—E⁰(Mⁿ⁺_aq/M⁰_aq)—is significantly lower than the usual standard reduction potential for reducing metallic ions Mⁿ⁺ in aqueous solution to a metal in solid state. E⁰(Mⁿ⁺_aq/M⁰_solid). E⁰(Mⁿ⁺_aq/M⁰_aq) values are negative for many typical metals, including Ag and Au, for which E⁰(Mⁿ⁺_aq/M⁰_solid) is positive. Therefore, many common moderate reduction agents that do not have significantly high negative reduction standard potentials (e.g., hydrogen, carbon monoxide, citrate, hydroxylamine, formaldehyde, ascorbate, squartic acid, and BH₄⁻), and cannot reduce the metallic cations to zero-valent atoms, indicating that the mechanism of NP production should be reconsidered. Both AgNP and AuNP formations were found to be multi-step processes that begin with the formation of clusters constructed from a skeleton of M⁺-M⁺ (M = Ag or Au) bonds that is followed by the reduction of a cation M⁺ in the cluster to M⁰, to form M_n⁰ via the formation of NPs. The plausibility of M⁺-M⁺ formation is reviewed. Studies that suggest a revised mechanism for the formation of AgNPs and AuNPs are also reviewed.     

聚离子液体固载金纳米粒子的制备及其催化性能

合成了氨基功能化乙烯基咪唑离子液体(AIL),利用氨基固定金纳米粒子以及双键的聚合作用,获得了聚离子液体固载金纳米粒子的催化剂(GNPs-P-AIL).采用红外光谱、紫外-可见光谱和透射电子显微镜等方法对GNPs-P-AIL进行了表征.结果表明,AIL在固定金纳米粒子并聚合后仍然保持着离子液体的基本结构,金纳米粒子分布均匀,粒径为6～8 nm.GNPs-P-AIL催化剂对苯乙烯环氧化具有较好的催化活性,以双氧水为氧化剂,在60℃下反应6 h时,苯乙烯的转化率和环氧苯乙烷的选择性分别可达81.5%和88.3%.     

马来松香酸和纳米氧化铝颗粒协同稳定具有pH响应性的Pickering 乳液

使用有机颗粒稳定Pickering乳液受到越来越多的关注, 润湿性可调的有机颗粒且结合纳米无机颗粒协同稳定不同类型的Pickering乳液却鲜有报道. 系统研究了基于具有多羧酸基团的松香基衍生物马来松香(MPA)与纳米Al₂O₃颗粒在不同pH条件下形成的乳液类型及相关机理. 研究发现, 在单一MPA颗粒体系条件下, pH可以诱导乳液的类型由W/O Pickering乳液到O/W Pickering乳液, 到最后O/W乳液的转变, MPA的亲水性随着pH升高而增强是该乳液转变的原因. 当纳米Al₂O₃颗粒加入到MPA中后, 吸附在MPA颗粒上的亲水性Al₂O₃导致MPA颗粒亲水性增加, 从而可以使W/O Pickering乳液转变为O/W Pickering乳液(pH=1). 当pH=6时, MPA分子与纳米Al₂O₃颗粒同时具有较强的亲水性且分别无法形成稳定的乳液, 但两者的混合体系可以形成稳定的W/O Pickering乳液, 这是因为MPA分子与纳米Al₂O₃颗粒可以在水溶液中形成疏水性较强的络合物. 另外, 研究了MPA浓度及油相体积分数对乳液外观及粒径的影响, 发现随着MPA浓度增加Pickering乳液的粒径逐渐减小, 增加油相的体积分数会引起粒径的增大. 最后, 利用Zeta电势、颗粒在油水界面吸附率、接触角及表/界面张力研究了稳定Pickering乳液的稳定机理, 在油水界面上吸附的类似盔甲状颗粒层及颗粒层之间形成的网状结构是乳液液滴保持稳定的原因. 为Pickering乳液的绿色化制备提供了一种新的途径, 将在化妆品、医药及新材料等领域得到重要应用.     

SiO2/TiO2 Hollow Nanoparticles Decorated with Ag Nanoparticles: Enhanced Visible Light Absorption and Improved Light Scattering in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Hollow SiO₂/TiO₂ nanoparticles decorated with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) of controlled size (Ag@HNPs) were fabricated in order to enhance visible‐light absorption and improve light scattering in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). They exhibited localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and the LSPR effects were significantly influenced by the size of the Ag NPs. The absorption peak of the LSPR band dramatically increased with increasing Ag NP size. The LSPR of the large Ag NPs mainly increased the light absorption at short wavelengths, whereas the scattering from the SiO₂/TiO₂ HNPs improved the light absorption at long wavelengths. This enabled the working electrode to use the full solar spectrum. Furthermore, the SiO₂ layer thickness was adjusted to maximize the LSPR from the Ag NPs and avoid corrosion of the Ag NPs by the electrolyte. Importantly, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) increased from 7.1 % with purely TiO₂‐based DSSCs to 8.1 % with HNP‐based DSSCs, which is an approximately 12 % enhancement and can be attributed to greater light scattering. Furthermore, the PCEs of Ag@HNP‐based DSSCs were 11 % higher (8.1 vs. 9.0 %) than the bare‐HNP‐based DSSCs, which can be attributed to LSPR. Together, the PCE of Ag@HNP‐based DSSCs improved by a total of 27 %, from 7.1 to 9.0 %, due to these two effects. This comparative research will offer guidance in the design of multifunctional nanomaterials and the optimization of solar‐cell performance.