Nanoscale Motion of Soft Nanoparticles in Unentangled and Entangled Polymer Matrices

We have studied the motion of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms immersed in PEG matrices of different molecular weight. Employing neutron spin echo spectroscopy in combination with pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR we found the following. (i) For entangled matrices the center of mass mean square displacement (MSD) of the PEG-POSS particles is subdiffusive following a t0.56 power law. (ii) The diffusion coefficient as well as the crossover to Fickian diffusion is independent of the matrix molecular weight and takes place as soon as the center of mass has moved a distance corresponding to the particle radius—this holds also for unentangled hosts. (iii) For the entangled matrices Rubinstein’s scaling theory is validated; however, the numbers indicate that beyond Rouse friction the entanglement constraints appear to strongly increase the effective friction even on the nanoparticle length scale imposing a caveat on the interpretation of microrheological experiments. (iv) The oligomer decorated PEG-POSS particles exhibit the dynamics of a Gaussian star with an internal viscosity that rises with an increase of the host molecular weight