Fine-tuning the architecture of microgels by varying the initiator addition time
(2025) In Soft Matter 21(8). p.1571-1582- Abstract
Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) microgels are versatile colloidal-scale polymer networks that exhibit unique responsiveness to external stimuli, such as temperature. While the synthesis of PNIPAM microgels is well-documented, there is limited exploration of how their structural properties can be modified by subtle changes in the polymerization process. In this work, we carefully investigate how varying the time of addition of a common initiator, such as potassium persulfate, during the polymerization process allows a precise control over microgel architecture. Our findings, based on a combination of numerical simulations, scattering, and rheology experiments, reveal that delayed initiator addition results in a more heterogeneous... (More)
Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) microgels are versatile colloidal-scale polymer networks that exhibit unique responsiveness to external stimuli, such as temperature. While the synthesis of PNIPAM microgels is well-documented, there is limited exploration of how their structural properties can be modified by subtle changes in the polymerization process. In this work, we carefully investigate how varying the time of addition of a common initiator, such as potassium persulfate, during the polymerization process allows a precise control over microgel architecture. Our findings, based on a combination of numerical simulations, scattering, and rheology experiments, reveal that delayed initiator addition results in a more heterogeneous network, characterized by a less extended corona. In contrast, more homogeneous microgels are obtained by adding the initiator all at the start of the synthesis. In this way, the internal mass distribution of the particles can be tuned, highlighting the importance of synthesis timing for optimizing microgel conformation and functionality in tailored applications.
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- author
- Buratti, Elena
; Camerin, Fabrizio
LU
; Nigro, Valentina ; Franco, Silvia ; Ruiz-Franco, José ; Porcar, Lionel ; Angelini, Roberta ; Ruzicka, Barbara ; Gerelli, Yuri and Zaccarelli, Emanuela
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01-27
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Soft Matter
- volume
- 21
- issue
- 8
- pages
- 12 pages
- publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39895423
- scopus:85216857673
- ISSN
- 1744-683X
- DOI
- 10.1039/d4sm01200c
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
- id
- 68c90ff5-4bb0-4c35-bb9b-ae1de6eb3e10
- date added to LUP
- 2025-04-10 14:21:48
- date last changed
- 2025-07-03 21:15:16
@article{68c90ff5-4bb0-4c35-bb9b-ae1de6eb3e10, abstract = {{<p>Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) microgels are versatile colloidal-scale polymer networks that exhibit unique responsiveness to external stimuli, such as temperature. While the synthesis of PNIPAM microgels is well-documented, there is limited exploration of how their structural properties can be modified by subtle changes in the polymerization process. In this work, we carefully investigate how varying the time of addition of a common initiator, such as potassium persulfate, during the polymerization process allows a precise control over microgel architecture. Our findings, based on a combination of numerical simulations, scattering, and rheology experiments, reveal that delayed initiator addition results in a more heterogeneous network, characterized by a less extended corona. In contrast, more homogeneous microgels are obtained by adding the initiator all at the start of the synthesis. In this way, the internal mass distribution of the particles can be tuned, highlighting the importance of synthesis timing for optimizing microgel conformation and functionality in tailored applications.</p>}}, author = {{Buratti, Elena and Camerin, Fabrizio and Nigro, Valentina and Franco, Silvia and Ruiz-Franco, José and Porcar, Lionel and Angelini, Roberta and Ruzicka, Barbara and Gerelli, Yuri and Zaccarelli, Emanuela}}, issn = {{1744-683X}}, language = {{eng}}, month = {{01}}, number = {{8}}, pages = {{1571--1582}}, publisher = {{Royal Society of Chemistry}}, series = {{Soft Matter}}, title = {{Fine-tuning the architecture of microgels by varying the initiator addition time}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4sm01200c}}, doi = {{10.1039/d4sm01200c}}, volume = {{21}}, year = {{2025}}, }