Macromolecules, Vol.48, No.16, 5807-5815, 2015
Bulk Phase Phase and Surface Dynamics of PEG Microgel Particles
The adsorption of ethylene glycol (EG) based microgel particles at silicon surfaces was studied. Monodisperse p-MeO(2)MA-co-OEGMA microgel particles were synthesized by precipitation polymerization. Translational and inner dynamics of p-ME3O5 and p-ME3O26 microgels in bulk were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and neutron spin echo spectroscopy in transmission geometry (NSE). Here, cooperative diffusion and Zimm type dynamics were observed. The inner dynamics of these microgel particles in adsorbed state was explored by neutron spin echo spectroscopy under grazing incidence (GINSES). The reported GINSES experiments demonstrate the feasibility of these surface sensitive measurements. It indicates a slowing down of the inner dynamics in the vicinity of the substrate. At increasing distance from the substrate, the relaxation is comparable to the bulk.