Distinctive phase separation dynamics of polymer blends: roles of Janus nanoparticles. Issue 5 (18th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Qing; Wang, Liquan; Lin, Jiaping; Zhang, Liangshun
• Is Part Of: Physical chemistry chemical physics. Volume 21:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 2651
• Page End: 2658
• Publication Date: 2019-01-18
• Subjects: Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.3
• DOI: 10.1039/c8cp06431h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9076

Abstract

Abstract : The present work demonstrates that Janus nanoparticles uniquely promote the phase separation of polymer blends at the early stage of spinodal decomposition, but impede it at the late stage. Abstract : Janus nanoparticles (JPs), which are anisotropic nanoparticles with at least two opposite surface regions, have been demonstrated as highly efficient compatibilizers for polymer blends. However, there are still a number of open questions concerning the mechanism behind the influence of JPs on the phase separation dynamics of polymer blends. Herein, we report a counter-intuitive feature of JPs concerning their roles during spinodal decomposition (SD); that is, they promote the decomposition of unlike polymers in the early stage of SD but retard it during the late stage. This is in remarkable contrast to traditional compatibilizers such as block copolymers and homogenous nanoparticles, which impede phase separation during both stages. We further demonstrate that the unique promoting effect of JPs at early times is due to the formation of microphase-separated homopolymer-rich regions in the vicinity of opposite JP surface regions. Our findings are expected to have important implications for the phase separation behavior of JP-compatibilized polymer blends, whose morphologies and performance could be controlled by tuning the interactions between the constituent polymers and JP-based compatibilizers.