Nanoparticles can have a profound effect on a polymer's glass transition temperature (Tg). Many layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies contain nanoparticles for added functionality, but the resulting effect of nanoparticles on an LbL film's properties is not known. Previously, we have shown that a nanoparticle-free LbL film containing strong polyelectrolytes, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PDAC/PSS), exhibited a thermal transition somewhat akin to a glass transition using quartz crystal microblance with dissipation (QCM-D) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). In the work presented here, layers of negatively charged nanoparticles of either spherical or platelet morphology have been inserted at varying locations throughout PDAC/PSS LbL films assembled.                                                  QCM-D and MDSC were used to determine the effect that these nanoparticles have on the previously measured thermal transitions as a function of placement within the film and particle shape.

Effect of nanoparticles on the thermal transitions of hydrated layer-by-layer assemblies

247th National Meeting (2014)

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