Internal nanoscale structure of smart co-polymer microgels studied by optical nanoscopy and neutron scattering

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Thomas Hellweg; Professor Dr. Thomas Huser
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 560074072

In colloid and polymer science superresolution microscopy techniques are still not fully exploited, at least compared to lifescience. The proposed project aims at improving this situation especially in the domain of smart colloidal micro- and nanogels. Hence, in this project we plan to resolve complex microgel architectures as co-polymer networks (statistical, core-shell, core-multi shell, hollow sphere, etc.) on the nanoscale by super-resolution optical microscopy, in particular single molecule localization microscopy (dSTORM) and high-speed super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (SR-SIM). The results will be benchmarked against small angle neutron scattering (SANS) using contrast variation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants