Raspberry Structures In Microgel-Silica Nanoparticle Composite Systems

Composite materials consisting of responsive microgels together with additional nanoparticles might provide new and "smart" functionality, e.g. uptake and release of nanoparticles, or special mechanical or rheological properties of a solution. Here, composites consisting of PNIPAM microgels and silica nanoparticles have been investigated by CryoTEM and neutron scattering techniques. The formation of "raspberry" like core-shell structures with a silica nanoparticle layer around the microgel core has been observed.