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Fine-tuning the architecture of microgels by varying the initiator addition time

Buratti, Elena ; Camerin, Fabrizio LU orcid ; Nigro, Valentina ; Franco, Silvia ; Ruiz-Franco, José ; Porcar, Lionel ; Angelini, Roberta ; Ruzicka, Barbara ; Gerelli, Yuri and Zaccarelli, Emanuela (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
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organization
publishing date
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}},
}