
Understanding the mechanisms behind such changes will be important when trying to achieve reversible polymer structures in the presence of applied voltage. Changes in the lower-critical solution temperature (LCST) aggregation behavior of pNIPAM and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate), an electrochemically active block-copolymer, in the presence of applied voltage are observed.

Therefore, it indicates how the density of spikes corresponding to the particle size and also the size distribution function. In this work, we have carried out investigations using the SLS approach. The polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) served as a test polymer for this technique, as pNIPAM's response to temperature is well-studied. Both the techniques of static light scattering (SLS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) are proven for their versatility in different areas. Simultaneously, current data were produced, which could be compared with particle size data, to understand the relationship between current and particle behavior. Changes in polymer particle size were monitored using DLS in the presence of constant voltage. To obtain these results, a potentiostat was connected to a modified cuvette in order to apply voltage to a solution.
#Dynamic light scattering particle size movie#
For example, consider this movie of 2 m diameter particles in pure water. This leads to a random motion of the molecules called Brownian motion. The changes in aggregation behavior observed in these experiments were only possible through the combined application of voltage and temperature control. Understanding Dynamic Light Scattering When in solution, macromolecules are buffeted by the solvent molecules. Here, a technique using applied voltage coupled with DLS and a temperature ramp to observe changes in aggregation and particle size in thermoresponsive polymers with and without electroactive monomers is presented. The ability to perform such measurements would be useful in the development of electroactive, stimuli-responsive polymers for applications such as sensing, soft robotics, and energy storage. Modern instrumentation permits measurement of particle size as a function of time and/or temperature, but currently there is no simple method for performing DLS particle size distribution measurements in the presence of applied voltage. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a common method for characterizing the size distribution of polymers, proteins, and other nano- and microparticles.
