Small-Angle Neutron Scattering on a Core-Shell Colloidal System: A Contrast Variation Study

Malin Zackrisson Oskolkova, Anna Stradner, Peter Schurtenberger, Johan Bergenholtz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements are reported on a sterically stabilized, coreshell
colloidal system using contrast variation. Aqueous dispersions of polystyrene particles bearing grafted
poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been studied over a large range of particle concentrations and two different
solvent conditions for the PEG polymer. SANS data are analyzed quantitatively by modeling the particles
as core-shell colloids. In a good solvent and under particle contrast conditions, an effective hard-sphere
interaction captures excluded-volume interactions up to high concentrations. Contrast variation, through
isotopic substitution of both the core and solvent, expedite a detailed study of the PEG layer, both in the
dilute limit and as a function of the particle concentration. Upon diminishing the solvent quality, subtle
changes in the PEG layer translate into attractions among particles of moderate magnitude
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10835-10845
JournalLangmuir
Volume21
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Physical Chemistry

Free keywords

  • Small-angle neutron scattering
  • core-shell particles
  • contrast-variation
  • PEG layer
  • grafted

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