Examining the structural and mechanical implications of surfactants on neutral polymer brushes through neutron reflectometry

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dc.contributor.authorGresham, IJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWillott, JDen_AU
dc.contributor.authorde Vos, WMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorJohnson, ECen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHumphreys, BAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMurdoch, TJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWanless, EJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWebber, GBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorNelson, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPrescott, SWen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-11T01:29:17Zen_AU
dc.date.available2024-01-11T01:29:17Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2018-11-19en_AU
dc.date.statistics2023-07-05en_AU
dc.description.abstractLayers of densely-tethered polymers (polymer brushes) are of interest due to their potential applications as nano-actuators, biocompatible coatings, and switchable lubricating or antifouling surfaces. These applicable properties are dependant on the structure of the polymer interface, so it is important that the structural effects of common compounds and relevant environmental variables be understood. Neutron Reflectometry (NR) is the only technique capable of providing detailed structural resolution of solvated multi-component polymer brush systems due to its penetrating power and the possibility of isotopic substitution. Here we present a Neutron Reflectometry study on the effects of surface-active molecules (surfactants) on two neutral polymer brushes, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), focusing on small, single tail surfactants. PEO is a widely used biocompatible polymer with a range of medical and commercial applications, whilst PNIPAM is a well known thermoresponsive polymer, undergoing a swollen to collapsed transition over its critical solution temperature (CST) of 32˚C. We show that these two polymers exhibit similar yet distinct interactions with surfactants, with the observed differences having implications for the mechanism of brush-surfactant interaction. The presence of surfactants was found to raise the CST of PNIPAM; we show that this effect is dependent strongly on surfactant identity and concentration. As part of this work we have developed new modelling techniques for the analysis of NR data from polymer brush interfaces. These advancements will be explained in the context of the data at hand, and their applicability to other soft diffuse interfaces will be briefly discussed. © The Authors.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationGresham, I., Willott, J., de Vos, W., Johnson, E., Humphreys, B., Murdoch, T., Wanless, E., Webber, G., Nelson, A., & Prescott, S. (2018). Examining the structural and mechanical implications of surfactants on neutral polymer brushes through neutron reflectometry. Presentation to the ANBUG-AINSE Neutron Scattering Symposium, AANSS 2018, AINSE Conference Centre New Illawarra Road Lucas Heights NSW 2234, Australia, Monday 19 November 2018 - Wednesday 21 November 2018, (pp. 22). Retrieved from https://events01.synchrotron.org.au/event/84/book-of-abstracts.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate2018-11-21en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameANBUG-AINSE Neutron Scattering Symposium, AANSS 2018en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceLucas Heights, New South Walesen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate2018-11-19en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination22en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15310en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE)en_AU
dc.relation.urihttps://events01.synchrotron.org.au/event/84/book-of-abstracts.pdfen_AU
dc.subjectPolymersen_AU
dc.subjectNeutronsen_AU
dc.subjectDataen_AU
dc.subjectSurfacesen_AU
dc.subjectCoatingsen_AU
dc.subjectInterfacesen_AU
dc.subjectNeutron reflectorsen_AU
dc.titleExamining the structural and mechanical implications of surfactants on neutral polymer brushes through neutron reflectometryen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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