Crystal structure of highly concentrated, ionic microgel suspensions studied by neutron scattering

Gasser, Urs; Sierra-Martin, B.; Fernandez-Nieves, A.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.79.051403

Back

Journal article

Crystal structure of highly concentrated, ionic microgel suspensions studied by neutron scattering

Gasser, Urs Laboratory for Neutron Scattering, ETH Zurich - Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland - Adolphe Merkle Institut, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Sierra-Martin, B. School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Fernandez-Nieves, A. School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

12.05.2009

Published in:

Physical Review. - 2009, vol. 79, no. 5, p. 051403

English We present a neutron-scattering investigation of the crystal structure formed by pH-sensitive poly(2-vinylpyridine) microgel particles with 5 wt % of cross-linker. We focus on highly swollen particles and explore concentrations ranging from below close packing to well above close packing, where the particles are forced to shrink and/or interpenetrate. The crystal structure is found to be random hexagonal close packed, similar to the structure typically found in hard-sphere systems.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

AMI - Soft Nanoscience

Language