TY - JOUR A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Hardy, L. A1 - Fritz, Andreas A1 - Stevenson, I. A1 - Boiteux, G. A1 - Seytre, G. T1 - Dielectric relaxation behaviour of poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6 dicarboxylate) (PEN) N2 - Dielectric spectroscopy has been used to study poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6 dicarboxylate) (PEN) samples of different morphologies obtained by thermally treating bi-axially stretched PEN films. Neat and thermally treated samples of PEN films have been characterised by differential scanning calorimetry in order to measure the glass transition and melting temperatures as well as the degrees of crystallinity. Dielectric analysis has allowed the observation of the evolution of molecular relaxation phenomena with morphology changes and has revealed three relaxation processes: ?-, ?*- and ?-relaxation (increasing temperature). The ?-relaxation is associated with local motions of ester and the ?*-relaxation with partially cooperative motions of naphthalene groups. The latter has been shown to be related to the morphology of the materials under study. The ?-relaxation associated to the glass transition of PEN corresponds to cooperative motions induced by conformational rearrangements of the main chain and depends also on the morphology of the PEN films. Dielectric relaxation behaviours were compared using the activation energies calculated from Arrhenius equation formalism for the two sub-glass processes. Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann fits were performed on the ?-relaxation. Our important contribution for the bi-axially stretched PEN films study is related to the assignment of the ?*-relaxation that can be attributed to naphthalene aggregates. PY - 2002 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3093(02)01104-3 SN - 0022-3093 VL - 305 SP - 174 EP - 182 PB - North-Holland Publ. Co. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-1570 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gawek, Marcel A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Hülagü, Deniz A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Molecular Mobility of Thin Films and the Adsorbed Layer of Poly(2-vinylpyridine) N2 - The molecular dynamics of thin films and the adsorbed layer of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) were investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Thin films of P2VP were prepared on silicon substrates and characterized to understand the influence of film thickness on the thermal glass transition temperature (Tg) and molecular mobility. The ellipsometric study revealed a decrease in Tg with decreasing film thickness, attributed to the enhanced mobility at the polymer/air interface. The adsorbed layer, prepared via the solvent leaching approach, exhibited a higher Tg compared to the bulk, indicating reduced molecular mobility due to strong polymer substrate interactions. The dielectric measurements were carried out in two different electrode configurations, crossed electrode capacitors (CEC) and nanostructured electrodes (NSE), where the latter allows for a free surface layer at the polymer/air interface. The relaxation rates of the α-relaxation measured in the CEC geometry collapse into one chart independent from the film thickness. For the thin films measured in the NSE arrangement the relaxation rates slow down with decreasing film thickness which was discussed as related to a stronger interaction of the P2VP segments with the native SiO2 at the surface of the silicon substrate compared to aluminum. It is worth to note that the effect of the enhanced mobility at the polymer/air interface is not observed in the dielectric measurements. BDS measurements in NSE geometry identified an additional relaxation process (α*-relaxation) in thin films, which was more pronounced in the adsorbed layer. This process is hypothesized to be related to molecular fluctuations within the adsorbed layer including the adsorption/desorption dynamics of segments or to a Slow Arrhenius Process (SAP) related to the equilibration dynamics deep in the glassy state. KW - Thin polymer films PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-637181 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5sm00539f SN - 1744-6848 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-63718 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Goering, Harald A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Fritz, Andreas A1 - Rübner, J. T1 - Structure Analysis of Polymeric Nanomaterials by Relaxation Spectroscopy T2 - Polydays 2002 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 2002-09-30 PY - 2002 SP - 1(?) AN - OPUS4-2044 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Goering, Harald A1 - Fritz, Andreas A1 - Brzezinka, Klaus-Werner A1 - Turky, Gamal A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Dielectric Study of Molecular Mobility in Poly(propylene-graft-maleic anhydride)/Clay Nanocomposites N2 - Polymer/clay nanocomposite materials based on poly(propylene-graft-maleic anhydride) (PPgMAH) and two different organophilic modified clays were investigated by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). In contrast to ungrafted polypropylene (PP), PPgMAH shows a dielectrically active relaxation process which can be assigned to localized fluctuations of the polar maleic anhydride groups. Its relaxation rate exhibits an unusual temperature dependence, which could be attributed to a redistribution of water molecules in the polymeric matrix. This is confirmed by a combination of Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric experiments (TGA) with real-time dielectric measurements under controlled atmospheres. In the nanocomposites this relaxation process is shifted to higher frequencies up to 3 orders of magnitude compared to the unfilled polymer. This indicates a significantly enhanced molecular mobility in the interfacial regions. In the nanocomposite materials a separate high-temperature process due to Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) polarization was observed. The time constant of this MWS process can be correlated with characteristic length scales in nanocomposites and therefore provides additional information on dispersion and delamination/exfoliation of clay platelets in these materials. These properties also influence the diffusivity of the water molecules as revealed by real-time dielectric investigations. KW - Polymer clay nanocomposites KW - Molecular mobility KW - Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy PY - 2005 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/ma048315c SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 38 IS - 7 SP - 2764 EP - 2774 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-7281 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Said Shabaan Omara, Shereen A1 - Rehim, M.H.A. A1 - Ghoneim, A. A1 - Madkour, Sherif Aly Hassan Aly A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Turky, G. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Structure-property relationships of hyperbranched polymer/kaolinite nanocomposites N2 - Two methods were employed to prepare hyperbranched polyamine ester (HPAE)/kaolinite (Ka) nanocomposites resulting in different morphologies. In the case of the in situ polymerization, diethanolamine is inserted as monomer between the Ka layers and polymerized with methyl acrylate to prepare HPAE/Ka–DEA nanocomposites. For the ex situ method, Ka is modified with dodecylamine and solution-blended with HPAE. The former method leads to an intercalated morphology where the latter approach results in an exfoliated structure, as proofed by SAXS and TEM. A complementary combination of methods like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric relaxation (BDS), and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS) was used to investigate both kinds of nanocomposites in detail. Above Tg, the dielectric spectra are dominated by the conductivity contribution while the segmental dynamics is retrieved by SHS. A comparison of the temperature dependencies reveals a decoupling of segmental dynamics and conductivity, which becomes weaker with decreasing fragility. PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b01693 SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 48 IS - 18 SP - 6562 EP - 6573 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-34424 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Omara, Shereen Shabaan A1 - Turky, G. A1 - Ghoneim, A. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Abdel Rehim, M. H. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)/kaolinite nanocomposites: Structure and charge carrier dynamics N2 - An ex-situ approach was applied to prepare nanocomposites from hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) and modified kaolinite (Ka-DCA). The structure of the polymer and the corresponding nanocomposites was investigated by FTIR, DSC, SAXS and TEM. SAXS might suggest a partly exfoliated structure of the nanocomposites, which was supported by TEM. The molecular dynamics was studied by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). The dielectric spectra are dominated by a conductivity contribution at higher temperatures for all samples investigated. The obtained results further indicated that DC conductivity is increased by 4 orders of magnitude with increasing concentration of Ka-DCA nanofiller. Further, a significant separation between the conductivity relaxation time and that of segmental dynamics was observed. The decoupling phenomenon and the conductivity mechanism were discussed in detail. This study provides insights about the influence of the nanofiller on the structure and the conductivity contribution of nanocomposites of hyperbranched polymers including the decoupling phenomenon and fragility. KW - Hyperbranched polymers KW - Nanocomposites KW - Conductivity PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2017.06.017 SN - 0032-3861 VL - 121 SP - 64 EP - 74 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-40648 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Purohit, Purv A1 - Huacuja Sánchez, Jesús A1 - Wang, D.-Y. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Heinrich, G. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Structure - property relationships of nanocomposites based on polypropylene and layered double hydroxides N2 - Nanocomposites based on polypropylene (PP) and organically modified ZnAl layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-LDH) were prepared by melt blending and investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS), and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). An average number of stack size of LDH layers is calculated by analyzing the SAXS data which is close to that of pure organically modified ZnAl-LDH. Scanning microfocus SAXS investigations show that the ZnAl-LDH is homogeneously distributed in the PP matrix as stacks of 4–5 layers with an intercalated morphology. DSC and WAXS results show that the degree of crystallinity decreases linearly with the increasing content of LDH. The extrapolation of this dependence to zero estimates a limiting concentration of ca. 40% LDH where the crystallization of PP is completely suppressed by the nanofiller. The dielectric spectra of the nanocomposites show several relaxation processes which are discussed in detail. The intensity of the dynamic glass transition (β-relaxation) increases with the concentration of LDH. This is attributed to the increasing concentration of the exchanged anion dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) which is adsorbed at the LDH layers. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the β-relaxation provides information about the structure and the molecular dynamics in the interfacial region between the LDH layers and the polypropylene matrix which is otherwise dielectrically invisible (low dipole moment). As a main result, it is found that the glass transition temperature in this interfacial region is by 30 K lower than that of pure polypropylene. This is accompanied by a drastic change of the fragility parameter deduced from the relaxation map. KW - Nanocomposites KW - Layered double hydroxide KW - Dielectric spectroscopy KW - X-ray scattering KW - Polypropylene PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/ma200323k SN - 0024-9297 SN - 1520-5835 VL - 44 IS - 11 SP - 4342 EP - 4354 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-23921 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Purohit, Purv A1 - Wang, D.-Y. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Heinrich, G. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Arrangement of layered double hydroxide in a polyethylene matrix studied by a combination of complementary methods N2 - Organically modified ZnAl Layered Double Hydroxides (ZnAl-LDH) was synthesized and melt blended with polyethylene to obtain nanocomposites. The resulting morphology was investigated by a combination of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Small and Wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). The arrangement (intercalation) of polyethylene chains between LDH stacks was investigated employing SAXS. The homogeneity of the nanocomposites and average number of stack size (4–6 layers) were determined using scanning microfocus SAXS (BESSY II). DSC and WAXS results show that the degree of crystallinity decreases linearly with the increasing content of LDH. The extrapolation of this dependence to zero estimates a limiting concentration of ca. 45% LDH where the crystallization of PE is completely suppressed by the nanofiller. The dielectric spectra of the nanocomposites show several relaxation processes which are discussed in detail. The intensity of the dynamic glass transition (β-relaxation) increases with the concentration of LDH. This is attributed to the increasing concentration of the exchanged anion sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) which is adsorbed at the LDH layers. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the β-relaxation provides information about the structure and the molecular dynamics in the interfacial region between the LDH layers and the polyethylene matrix which is otherwise dielectrically invisible (low dipole moment). KW - Dielectric spectroscopy KW - Polyethylene nanocomposites KW - Layered double hydroxides PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2012.03.041 SN - 0032-3861 SN - 1873-2291 VL - 53 IS - 11 SP - 2245 EP - 2254 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-25810 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krause, Christina A1 - Yin, Huajie A1 - Cerclier, C. A1 - Morineau, D. A1 - Wurm, Andreas A1 - Schick, C. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Molecular dynamics of a discotic liquid crystal investigated by a combination of dielectric relaxation and specific heat spectroscopy N2 - The molecular dynamics of the discotic liquid crystal pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetracarboxylic tetra(2-ethylhexyl)ester is studied by dielectric relaxation and specific heat spectroscopy. Dielectric spectroscopy shows 3 processes: a β-relaxation at low temperatures and an α-relaxation in the temperature range of the mesophases followed by conductivity. The dielectric α-relaxation is assigned to a restricted glassy dynamics in the plastic crystal as well as in the liquid crystalline phase. The obtained different Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann laws (different Vogel temperatures and fragility) are related to the different restrictions of the dipolar fluctuations in the corresponding phases. By means of specific heat spectroscopy glassy dynamics is also detected in the plastic crystalline phase but with quite a different temperature dependence of the relaxation times. This is discussed considering the different probes involved and how they are influenced by the structure. In the frame of the fluctuation approach a correlation length of glassy dynamics is calculated to 0.78 nm which corresponds to the core–core distance estimated by X-ray scattering. PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c2sm25610j SN - 1744-683X VL - 8 IS - 43 SP - 11115 EP - 11122 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-26826 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leng, Jing A1 - Purohit, Purv A1 - Kang, N. A1 - Wang, D.-Y. A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Structure-property relationships of nanocomposites based on polylactide and MgAl layered double hydroxides N2 - Nanocomposites based on poly(ʟ-lactide) (PLA) and organically modified MgAl Layered Double Hydroxides (MgAl-LDH) were prepared by melt blending and investigated by a combination of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS, WAXS), and dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). Scanning microfocus SAXS investigations show that the MgAl-LDH is homogeneously distributed in the matrix as stacks of 6 layers and/or partly exfoliated layers. DSC and WAXS show that the degree of crystallinity decreases linearly with the content of LDH. The extrapolation of the dependencies (DSC and WAXS) to zero estimates a limiting concentration of LDH CCri of ca. 21 wt% where the crystallization of PLA is completely suppressed by the nanofiller. The dielectric behavior of neat PLA show two relaxation regions, a β-relaxation at low temperatures related to localized fluctuations and the α-relaxation at higher temperatures due to the dynamic glass transition. The dielectric spectra of the nanocomposites show several additional relaxation processes compared to neat PLA which are discussed in detail. For the nanocomposites around 260 K (ƒ = 1 kHz) an additional process is observed which intensity increases with increasing concentration of LDH. This process is mainly attributed to the exchanged dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) molecules which are adsorbed at the LDH layers and form a mixed phase with the polymer close to the layers and stacks. An analysis of this process provides information about the molecular dynamics in the interfacial region between the LDH layers and the PLA matrix which reveal glassy dynamics in this region. In the temperature range around 310 K (ƒ = 1 kHz) a further process is observed. Its relaxation rate has an unusual saddle-like temperature dependence. It was assigned to rotational fluctuations of water molecules in a nanoporous environment provided by the LDH filler. Above the glass transition temperature a further process is observed at temperatures above. It is related to Maxwell/Wagner/Sillars polarization due to the blocking of charges at the nanofiller. KW - Polymer based nanocomposites KW - Polylactide KW - Layered double hydroxides KW - Dielectric spectroscopy PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.05.008 SN - 0014-3057 SN - 1873-1945 VL - 68 SP - 338 EP - 354 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-33257 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Leng, Jing A1 - Kang, Nianjun A1 - Wang, De-Yi A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Structure–Property Relationships of Nanocomposites Based on Polylactide and Layered Double Hydroxides – Comparison of MgAl and NiAl LDH as Nanofiller N2 - Nanocomposites based on poly(L-lactide) (PLA) and organically modified Ni/Al layered double hydroxides (NiAl/LDHs) are prepared by melt blending and investigated by a combination of size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray scattering, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. A detailed comparison to the behavior of the corresponding MgAl/LDH–PLA nanocomposites is made. SAXS investigations show that the morphology of the NiAl/LDH–PLA nanocomposites is more intercalated compared to the MgAl/LDH based PLA nanocomposite, which is more exfoliated. The DSC investigation gives a different dependence of the degree of crystallization on the concentration of LDH for NiAl/LDH–PLA than for MgAl/LDH–PLA nanocomposite system. These differences are discussed taking the differences of the morphologies of both systems into account. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy reveals information about the molecular dynamics where essential differences are observed for all relaxation processes taking place in both systems which were related to the different morphologies. KW - Nanocomposites KW - Polylactide PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201700232 SN - 1022-1352 SN - 1521-3935 VL - 218 IS - 20 SP - Article 1700232, 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley-VCH Verlag AN - OPUS4-42597 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Qu, Xintong A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Competition of nanoparticle-induced mobilization and immobilization effects on segmental dynamics of an epoxy-based nanocomposite N2 - The complex effects of nanoparticles on a thermosetting material based on an anhydride cured DGEBA/Boehmite nanocomposite with different particle concentrations is considered. A combination of X-ray scattering, calorimetry, including fast scanning calorimetry as well as temperature modulated calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy, was employed to study the structure, the vitrification kinetics and the molecular dynamics of the nanocomposites. For the first time in the literature for an epoxy-based composite a detailed analysis of the X-ray data was carried out. Moreover, the unfilled polymer was found to be intrinsically heterogeneous, showing regions with different crosslinking density, indicated by two separate dynamic glass transitions. The glass transition temperature decreases with increasing nanoparticle concentration, resulting from a change in the crosslinking density. Moreover, on the one hand, for nanocomposites the incorporation of nanofiller increased the number of mobile segments for low nanoparticle concentrations, due to the altered crosslinking density. On the other hand, for higher loading degrees the number of mobile segments decreased, resulting from the formation of an immobilized interphase (RAF). The simultaneous mobilization and immobilization of the segmental dynamics cannot be separated unambiguously. Taking the sample with highest number of mobile segments as reference state it was possible to estimate the amount of RAF. KW - Nanocomposite PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d0sm00744g SN - 1744-683X VL - 16 IS - 23 SP - 5406 EP - 5421 PB - Royal Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-50883 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yildirim, Arda A1 - Krause, Christina A1 - Zorn, R. A1 - Lohstroh, W. A1 - Schneider, G. J. A1 - Zamponi, M. A1 - Holerer, O. A1 - Frick, B. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Complex molecular dynamics of a symmetric model discotic liquid crystal revealed by broadband dielectric, thermal and neutron spectroscopy N2 - The molecular dynamics of the triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystal HAT6 is investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy, advanced dynamical calorimetry and neutron scattering. Differential scanning calorimetry in combination with X-ray scattering reveals that HAT6 has a plastic crystalline phase at low temperatures, a hexagonally ordered liquid crystalline phase at higher temperatures and undergoes a clearing transition at even higher temperatures. The dielectric spectra show several relaxation processes: a localized gamma-relaxation a lower temperature and a so called alpha-2-relaxation at higher temperatures. The relaxation rates of the alpha-2-relaxation have a complex temperature dependence and bear similarities to a dynamic glass transition. The relaxation rates estimated by hyper DSC, Fast Scanning calorimetry and AC Chip calorimetry have a different temperature dependence than the dielectric alpha-2-relaxation and follows the VFT-behavior characteristic for glassy dynamics. Therefore, this process is called alpha-1-relaxation. Its relaxation rates show a similarity with that of polyethylene. For this reason, the alpha-1-relaxation is assigned to the dynamic glass transition of the alkyl chains in the intercolumnar space. Moreover, this process is not observed by dielectric spectroscopy which supports its assignment. The alpha-2-relaxation was assigned to small scale translatorial and/or small angle fluctuations of the cores. The neutron scattering data reveal two relaxation processes. The process observed at shorter relaxation times is assigned to the methyl group rotation. The second relaxation process at longer time scales agree in the temperature dependence of its relaxation rates with that of the dielectric gamma-relaxation. KW - Discotic Liquid Crystals PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sm02487e VL - 16 IS - 8 SP - 2005 EP - 2016 PB - Royal Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-50466 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Madkour, Sherif A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Heidari, Mojdeh A1 - von Klitzing, Regine A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Evidence of a three-layered structure in ultra-thin PVME and PVME/PS blend films by nano-sized relaxation spectroscopy N2 - Despite the many controversial discussions about the nanometric confinement effect and the predictions of the three-layer model, much remain not understood and/or experimentally unproven. Here, a combination of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS), Specific Heat Spectroscopy (SHS), and ellipsometry was utilized to investigate the glassy dynamics of ultra-thin films of Poly (vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and PVME/Polystyrene (PS) 50:50 wt-% miscible blend (thicknesses: 8nm - 200nm). For BDS measurements, a recently developed nano-structured sample arrangement; where ultra-thin films are spin-coated on an ultra-flat highly conductive silicon wafer and sandwiched between a wafer with nanostructured silica nano-spacers, was used. For PVME films, two processes were observed and interpreted to be the α-processes of a bulk-like layer and an absorbed layer to the substrate. BDS and SHS showed that glassy dynamics are bulk-like. However, for films lower than 15nm, BDS showed weakly slowed dynamics. For PVME/PS blend, by a self-assembling process, a nanometer-thin surface layer with a higher molecular mobility is formed at the polymer/air interface. By measuring the dynamic Tg in dependence on the film thickness, both BDS and SHS, showed that the Tg of the whole film was strongly influenced by that nanometer thick surface layer, with a lower Tg. T2 - 80. Jahrestagung der DPG und DPG-Frühjahrstagung CY - Regensburg DA - 06.03.2016 KW - Ultra-thin films PY - 2016 AN - OPUS4-35540 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Polymer based nanocomposites - Interplay between interfacial and bulk effects T2 - Workshop about Nanocomposites, Technical University of Athens CY - Athens, Greece DA - 2015-06-16 PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-34315 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Influence of a nanoscale confinement on the dynamics of a discotic liquid crystal T2 - Neutron Scattering on Nano-Structured Soft Matter: Synthetic- and Bio.Materials CY - Tutzing, Germany DA - 2015-10-05 PY - 2015 AN - OPUS4-34569 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Madkour, Sherif Aly Hassan Aly A1 - Yin, Huajie A1 - Füllbrandt, Marieke A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Calorimetric evidence for a mobile surface layer in ultrathin polymeric films: poly(2-vinyl pyridine) N2 - Specific heat spectroscopy was used to study the dynamic glass transition of ultrathin poly(2-vinyl pyridine) films (thicknesses: 405–10 nm). The amplitude and the phase angle of the differential voltage were obtained as a measure of the complex heat capacity. In a traditional data analysis, the dynamic glass transition temperature Tg is estimated from the phase angle. These data showed no thickness dependency on Tg down to 22 nm (error of the measurement of ±3 K). A derivative-based method was established, evidencing a decrease in Tg with decreasing thickness up to 7 K, which can be explained by a surface layer. For ultrathin films, data showed broadening at the lower temperature side of the spectra, supporting the existence of a surface layer. Finally, temperature dependence of the heat capacity in the glassy and liquid states changes with film thickness, which can be considered as a confinement effect. PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c5sm01558h SN - 1744-683X VL - 11 IS - 40 SP - 7942 EP - 7952 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-34605 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Yin, Huajie A1 - Madkour, Sherif Aly Hassan Aly A1 - Schönhals, Andreas ED - Kremer, F. T1 - Glass transition of ultra-thin polymer films: A combination of relaxation spectroscopy with surface analytics N2 - The glass transition behavior of ultra-thin supported polymer films is discussed controversially in the literature for around 20 years. Substantial efforts have been archived to understand it. In this contribution, a combination of methods sensitive to bulk properties of a system, like dielectric or specific heat spectroscopy with surface analytics, for instance, atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to study the glass transition of ultra-thin supported films. All investigations were carried out on identically prepared and treated samples. Different systems with different complexities going from more or less flexible homopolymers over rigid main chain macromolecules to polymer blends have been studied. For the investigated flexible macromolecules, the dynamic glass transition temperature estimated within the frame of the linear response approach is independent of the film thickness down to several nanometers and identical to the bulk value. For polystyrene it was found the thermal glass transition temperatures can depend on the film thickness. This different behavior is not well understood till now and needs further experimental clarification. For the investigated main chain polymers polycarbonate and polysulfone. Dynamic and thermal glass transition temperature estimated from the dielectric measurements increases with decreasing film thickness. This is discussed in the frame of a strong interaction of the polymer segments with the surface of the substrate. In general for homopolymers, the interaction energy of the polymer segments with the substrate surface cannot be considered as the only parameter, which is responsible for the change in the thermal glass transition with the film thickness. For the investigated miscible blend system of polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) at a composition of 50/50 wt-% a decrease of the dynamic glass transition temperature with decreasing film thickness is found. This is explained by the formation of a poly(vinyl methyl ether)-rich surface layer with a higher molecular mobility. KW - Broadband dielectric spectroscopy KW - Specific heat spectroscopy KW - Photoelectron spectroscopy KW - Contact angle measurements KW - Polystyrene KW - Poly(vinyl methyl ether) KW - Poly(2-vinylpyridine) KW - Polycarbonate KW - Polysulfone KW - Polystyrene/ Poly(vinyl methyl ether) blend PY - 2014 SN - 978-3-319-06099-6 SN - 978-3-319-06100-9 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06100-9_2 SN - 2190-930X SN - 2190-9318 SP - 17 EP - 59 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-31078 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Structure and Dynamics of Calamitic and Discotic Liquid Crystals in the Bulk and in Nanoconfinement T2 - 13. Lähnwitzseminar on Calorimetry CY - Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany DA - 2014-06-15 PY - 2014 AN - OPUS4-31080 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Relaxation Phenomena and Cooperative Length Scale at Dynamic Glass Transition in Glass Forming Liquids T2 - Condensed Matter in Paris 2014 CY - Paris, France DA - 2014-08-24 PY - 2014 AN - OPUS4-31081 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Quasi- and Inelastic Neutron Scattering to Investigate the Molecular Dynamics of Discotic Liquid Christals in the Bulk and in the Nanoconfined State T2 - QENS2014/WINS2014 CY - Autrans, France DA - 2014-05-11 PY - 2014 AN - OPUS4-31016 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fahmy, Alaa A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Reaction of CO2 gas with (radicals in) plasma-polymerized acrylic acid (and formation of COOH-rich polymer layers) N2 - In contrast to most of the existing literature on plasma polymerization of acrylic acid (AA), not only the chemical structure and film thickness of the deposits were studied, but also a new way to obtain COOH-rich surfaces. This is an important aspect when applying the obtained coatings for biomedical and electronics applications. Therefore, acrylic acid/CO2 polymer films with a thickness of ca. 150 nm were deposited in the pulsed plasma regime onto polyethylene and aluminium as organic and inorganic substrates. Their structure–property relationships were studied in dependence on the mixture ratio of acrylic acid monomer and CO2 gas. The influence of the CO2 gas on the regularity and functionality of plasma deposited poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was studied in detail using bulk-sensitive (dielectric spectroscopy and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy) as well as surface-sensitive methods such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For a clear identification of the functionality of the deposited films, the COOH groups were estimated after derivatization with trifluoroethanol by XPS measurement as well as by the quantitative analysis of the FTIR data. Results show, in presence of a small amount of CO2 gas within the acrylic acid plasma, a structure of poly(acrylic acid) with high concentration of COOH groups was obtained. However, the excess of CO2 gas in the plasma chamber leads to fragmentation of the monomer or/and degradation of the layer which is already deposited. A polymer network is obtained with an increasing abundance of branched groups for AA/CO2 with increasing CO2 gas in the mixture. KW - Poly(acrylic acid) KW - Plasma polymerization KW - COOH rich surfaces PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.201500128 SN - 1612-8850 VL - 13 IS - 5 SP - 499 EP - 508 PB - Wiley-VCH Verlag CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-36058 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Influence of a nanoscale confinement on the dynamics of discotic liquid crystals investigated by inelastic neutron scattering and relaxation spectroscopy N2 - Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are self-assembled materials where self-assembly is driven by non-covalent intermolecular interactions. The corresponding molecules consist of a flat and rigid aromatic core substituted by flexible aliphatic side chains. While the former is responsible for the π-stacking, the latter gives rise to an increased solubility, processability, and rich thermotropic behavior. The disc-shaped molecules form columns that further assemble into two-dimensional arrays with a hexagonal mesophase. The alkyl chains fill the intracolumnar space giving rise to a nanophase separated state. Two different homologous systems based on triphenylene derivatives were investigated as model systems for DCLs where the length of the aliphatic side chains is widely varied. Measurements were carried out in the bulk state and confined to the nanometre wide channels of anodic aluminum membranes (Pore diameter 20 nm, 40nm, 80 nm and 180 nm) by means of inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering. These investigations were accompanied by calorimetry and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. From the neutron scattering experiments the vibrational density of states (Boson Peak) from neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy, the molecular dynamics on a time scale of ca. 1 ns (elastic scans from neutron backscattering spectrometers) as well as quasielastic neutron scattering by a combination of time-of-flight spectroscopy and backscattering were considered. Structural information is retrieved by X-ray diffraction carried out on a synchrotron. The dynamics of these unique soft matter materials are discussed in detail considering their structure (length of the aliphatic side chain), the effect of self-confinement (of the aliphatic chains in the intracolumnar space) and of outer confinement (influence of the pore size). Comparison is further made to pyrene based system. T2 - 18. International Seminar on Neutron Scattering Investigations in Condensed Matter CY - Poznan, Poland DA - 12.05.2016 KW - Discotic liquid crystals KW - Nanoconfinement KW - Neutron scattering PY - 2016 AN - OPUS4-36059 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -