Struttura della materia

How do thermoresponsive ionic microgels interact with oppositely charged objects?

by Domenico Truzzolillo (CNRS & Universite Montpellier)

Europe/Rome
Aula 8 (Dipartimento di Fisica - Ed. E. Fermi)

Aula 8

Dipartimento di Fisica - Ed. E. Fermi

Description
Understanding the mechanism driving polyelectrolyte-colloid complexation and nanoparticle adsorption onto oppositely charged surfaces still represents a fundamental problem in soft matter. Thermoresponsive charged microgels, characterized by a thermodynamic volume phase transition (VPT) give the opportunity to tailor polyelectrolyte or nanoparticles adsorption simply by changing temperature. I have investigated the complexation of ionic PNiPAM microgels and oppositely charged polymers and nanoparticles by different techniques. I will show that microgels VPT triggers a large polyion adsorption and determines the onset of a reentrant condensation and I will discuss perspectives of this study.