Abstract
Topological differences in a model series of wormlike micelles (WLMs) with varying degrees of branching are investigated via neutron spin echo (NSE) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Branching was previously verified via microscopy, scattering methods, and rheology. NSE measurements reveal that on the shortest length scales, where WLMs are topologically similar, the dynamic behavior is independent of branching level. However, branching leads to deviations from wormlike chain behavior on length scales relevant to branching. These differences continue into the DLS regime, where two relaxation modes are observed. While measuring micellar branching is challenging, our measurements of segmental dynamics provide a direct dynamic measurement of WLM branching and demonstrate promise for future identification of topological changes in self-assembled materials.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 614-618 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | ACS Macro Letters |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 19 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors acknowledge the support of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Institut Laue-Langevin for providing the scattering facilities used in this work. Access to the Neutron Spin Echo Spectrometer was provided by the Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering, a partnership between NIST and the NSF under Agreement No. DMR-1508249. This manuscript was prepared under cooperative agreement 70NANB12H239 and 70NANB15H260 from NIST. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of NIST or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The authors thank Antonio Faraone and Michi Nagao for assistance with NSE experiments.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Chemical Society.