Nanoparticles are frequently modified with polymer layers to control their physical and chemical properties, but little is understood about the morphology and dynamics of these polymer layers. An investigation by Kelly Zhang in Bob Hamers’ group of a polymer-modified nanoparticle using multiple NMR techniques including 1H NMR, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), and T2 relaxometry provided detailed characterization of the dynamics of the nanoparticle−polymer interface.[1] A model system of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) covalently link to 5 nm diameter diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) was used. The covalent character of the functionalization was identified, and two regimes of dynamic behavior were observed and quantified.
References:
[1] Zhang, Yongqian, et al. “Dynamics and Morphology of Nanoparticle-Linked Polymers Elucidated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.” Analytical chemistry 89.22 (2017): 12399-12407. 120, 715-723 (2016).