Anisotropic elasticity of quasi-one-component polymer nanocomposites

ACS Nano. 2011 Jul 26;5(7):5746-54. doi: 10.1021/nn201431w. Epub 2011 Jun 27.

Abstract

The in-plane and out-of-plane elastic properties of thin films of "quasi-one-component" particle-brush-based nanocomposites are compared to those of "classical" binary particle-polymer nanocomposite systems with near identical overall composition using Brillouin light scattering. Whereas phonon propagation is found to be independent of the propagation direction for the binary particle/polymer blend systems, a pronounced splitting of the phonon propagation velocity along the in-plane and out-of-plane film direction is observed for particle-brush systems. The anisotropic elastic properties of quasi-one-component particle-brush systems are interpreted as a consequence of substrate-induced order formation into layer-type structures and the associated breaking of the symmetry of the film. The results highlight new opportunities to engineer quasi-one-component nanocomposites with advanced control of structural and physical property characteristics based on the assembly of particle-brush materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.