• Fytas, George
• Retsch, Markus
• Graczykowski, Bartłomiej
• Wang, Zuyuan
• Hummel, Patrick
• Rosenfeldt, Sabine
• Reig, David Saleta

Abstract

<p>Metal-polymer nanocomposites are hybrid materials combining the superior plasmonic, electrical, and thermal properties of metals with the good elasticity and manufacturability of polymers. This renders metal-polymer nanocomposites promising candidates for conductive filler and coating applications, where mechanical properties are optothermally coupled. Here, we study the interplay of nanostructure, thermoplasmonics, and elastic mechanical properties of silver-polystyrene nanocomposites (AgPS) by transmission electron microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering, Brillouin light scattering (BLS), and other supplemental techniques. We utilize the well-known particle-brush architecture to ensure a homogeneous and isotropic nanoparticle distribution throughout the hybrid material. The effective longitudinal modulus of the as-prepared samples is found to decrease from 5.7 to 4.8 GPa with increasing Ag content from 0 to 4.4 vol.%. Temperature-dependent BLS measurements reveal the unique contribution of local thermoplasmonic heating that depends on the Ag nanoparticle composition. This thermoplasmonic effect results in a lower apparent glass transition temperature (Tg) and a stronger laser power dependence of the speed of sound. Exceeding moderate thermal annealing temperatures (>150âC) leads to a strong structural rearrangement within the homogeneous nanocomposite material with a peculiar clustering-redispersion effect, which also translates into altered mechanical properties. The annealing-induced Ag nanoparticle aggregation results in an even stronger thermoplasmonic effect. We validate our experimental findings with complementary thermographic measurements and finite-element modeling. Overall, this work demonstrates the combined effects of composition and (reversible) aggregation on the mechanical and thermoplasmonic properties of metal-polymer nanocomposites. It not only deepens our understanding of the interaction between light, temperature, and mechanical properties in metal-polymer nanocomposites but also provides a guide for customizing AgPS nanocomposites for potential applications.</p>

Topics

• nanoparticle
• nanocomposite
• impedance spectroscopy
• polymer
• silver
• glass
• glass
• transmission electron microscopy
• thermogravimetry
• glass transition temperature
• elasticity
• annealing
• isotropic
• clustering
• X-ray scattering
• light scattering