The Zetasizer Nano ZS is being used at Queen’s University, Canada to characterise novel core-shell materials in pure water.
A team at Queen’s University in Canada is looking at the synthesis of polymer colloids using a range of dispersed free-radical polymerisation techniques.
The group has recently published a paper in which they use the Zetasizer Nano ZS to characterise novel core-shell materials in pure water.
In this publication, Dr. Niels M.B. Smeets’ previous work on the rational design of hyperbranched synthetic polymers from Catalytic Chain Transfer Polymerisation (CCTP) was extended to provide a core-shell copolymer consisting of a synthetic core decorated with a polysaccharide shell, allowing for easy dispersion in water.
Resulting data from the Zetasizer Nano ZS was used to support the anticipated core-shell structure. Because these core-shell particles are discrete and covalently linked, there is no need for micellisation to create a stable colloidal system in water.
“A particularly unique application of the Zetasizer Nano ZS is that we can measure the average particle size and zeta potential of some of our samples using undiluted suspensions,” said Dr. Smeets.
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