Figure 1

TEM images of $f_{\mathrm{PS}}=0.50$ PS-P2VP diblock nanocomposite containing (PS)-functionalized Au particles with particle volume fraction (a) $=0.10$ and (b) $=0.35$. Total particle size including the PS shell is 2.6 times that of the Au cores seen as black dots in the TEM images. HPF simulation results (right column) show monomer volume fractions representing PS (light), P2VP (dark), particles (black). Simulation parameters: $f_{\mathrm{PS}}=0.5$, Flory parameter ($\chi$) for PS-P2VP diblock $\chi =0.16$, $\lambda =0.16$, and particle area fraction (c) $=0.04$ and (d) $=0.18$. The particle configurations shown are representative of those obtained based on several independent runs for a given nanoparticle density. Note: The black circles in the SCFT simulations denote nanoparticle regions where $\rho /{\rho }_0\le 0.5$ and therefore represent not only the Au nanoparticle cores but also a significant portion of the surrounding PS shell.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

TEM images of $f_{\mathrm{PS}}=0.23$ PS-P2VP diblock nanocomposite containing (PS)-functionalized Au particles with particle volume fractions (a) $=0.05$ and (b) $=0.2$. HPF simulation results shown in the right-hand column. Simulation parameters: $f_{\mathrm{PS}}=0.3$, $\chi =0.18$, $\lambda =0.16$, particle area fraction (c) $=0.03$ and (d) $=0.12$.Reuse & Permissions