Crystallization of PNIPAM-hydrogel nanospheres inferred by static light scattering

Abstract

In this paper we present a kinetic study on crystallization of a colloidal dispersion formed by thermosensitive Poly-N- Isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) nanospheres. The liquid-crystal transition is induced by decreasing the temperature of the dispersion and the crystallization process is monitored by measuring the evolution of the static structure factor of the dispersion by means of light scattering techniques. The measured static structure factor confirms the formation of a mesoscopic crystal array at the final equilibrium state, which is preceded by two stages: nucleation and crystal growth.