2012/09/27 by J. Clara-Rahola, Joaquim Clara-Rahola, Clara-Rahola, J. +6
Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions #Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials #FOS: Physical sciences #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1209.6108
13 pages, 8 figures
arxiv created 2012/09/27 · openalex publication_date 2012/09/27 · arxiv updated 2012/09/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Core-shell Au@pNIPAM nanocomposites are assembled through a simple and inexpensive approach where drops of bulk nanoparticle solution are left to dry on ITO surfaces at fixed and finely tuned temperatures. Interparticle distances are determined by the length of the thermoresponsive PNiPAM shell which acts as mechanical spacer. Structural characterization is performed through microscope imaging techniques and we quantify the pair and orientational correlation functions characteristic to each array at each deposition temperature. The elasticity of the polymer shell at each temperature is considered as microgels are softer at temperatures below PNiPAM's LCST. In a second step, previously prepared Au@PNiPAM arrays are exposed to atmospheric plasma. Plasma reacts and degrades the PNiPAM shell, being non-invasive to Au cores which remain at their original array positions.