A SANS investigation of silk-stabilized aqueous poly(3-hexylthiophene): phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester nanoparticle dispersions

Rajkamal Balu; Tuan Sang Tran; Jitendra P. Mata; Liliana de Campo; Naba K. Dutta; Namita Roy Choudhury

Next Nanotechnology (Jan 2024)

A SANS investigation of silk-stabilized aqueous poly(3-hexylthiophene): phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester nanoparticle dispersions

Rajkamal Balu,
Tuan Sang Tran,
Jitendra P. Mata,
Liliana de Campo,
Naba K. Dutta,
Namita Roy Choudhury

Affiliations

Rajkamal Balu: Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Tuan Sang Tran: Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Jitendra P. Mata: Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Liliana de Campo: Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
Naba K. Dutta: Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Corresponding authors.
Namita Roy Choudhury: Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5
p. 100066

Abstract

Read online

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) protein comprising both hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain segments offer great potential for interfacial interaction and stabilization of organic nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous medium. In this work, aqueous dispersion of poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) NPs of 1:1 weight ratio were prepared using RSF as surfactant for the first time via the mini-emulsion method. The size, morphology, internal structure, interface and hierarchical organization of RSF-stabilized P3HT:PCBM NPs was investigated using UV–visible spectroscopy, contrast-variation small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS) and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (CV-USANS). The P3HT:PCBM NPs were established to be stabilized in the matrix of RSF colloidal microparticles in water. Unlike the commonly used surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate which produces core–shell (PCBM–P3HT) NPs, the RSF molecules generated P3HT:PCBM NPs with internal structure that resemble phase-separated solvent-cast films. The as-prepared dispersion has good film-forming ability and has been demonstrated for fabrication of composite films comprising graphene oxide.

Published in Next Nanotechnology

ISSN: 2949-8295 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/next-nanotechnology

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords