Controlling microgel deformation via deposition method and surface functionalization of solid supports

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol. 23, pp. 4927–4934

Abstract

Soft matter at solid-liquid interfaces plays an important role in multiple scientific disciplines as well as in various technological fields. For microgels, representing highly interesting soft matter systems, we demonstrate that the preparation method, i.e. the way how the microgel is applied to the specific surface, plays a key role. Focusing on the three most common sample preparation methods (spin-coating, drop-casting and adsorption from solution), we performed a comparative study of the deformation behavior of microgels at the solid-liquid interface on three different surfaces with varying hydrophilicities. For in situ visualization of the deformation of pNIPMAM microgels, we conducted highly sensitive 3D super resolution fluorescence microscopy methods. We furthermore performed complementary molecular dynamics simulations to determine the driving force responsible for the deformation depending on the surface and the deposition method. The combination of experiments and simulations revealed that the simulated equilibrium structure obtained after simulation of the completely dry microgel after deposition is retained after rehydration and subsequent fluorescent imaging.

Authors 7

1. Laura Hoppe Alvarez Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   D-52056 Aachen

   Germany

   Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany

2. Andrey A. Rudov Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Lomonosov Moscow State University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials

   Lomonosov Moscow State University

   Moscow 119991

   Physics Department

   Russian Federation

   Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation

3. Rustam A. Gumerov Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Lomonosov Moscow State University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials

   Lomonosov Moscow State University

   Moscow 119991

   Physics Department

   Russian Federation

   Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation

4. Pia Lenßen Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   D-52056 Aachen

   Germany

   Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany

5. Ulrich Simon Aachen Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   D-52056 Aachen

   Germany

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1 a, D-52056 Aachen, Germany

6. Igor I. Potemkin Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   South Ural State University · Lomonosov Moscow State University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials

   Lomonosov Moscow State University

   Moscow 119991

   Physics Department

   Russian Federation

   National Research South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russian Federation

   Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-2, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation

7. Dominik Wöll corresponding Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   D-52056 Aachen

   Germany

   Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, D-52056 Aachen, Germany