Nanoparticle interactions with swollen polymer networks

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Hydrogels are soft polymer networks that take on striking amounts of water, making them highly porous to moleculessimilarly to liquid waterbut with solid-like mechanical properties. They are used in a vast and ever increasing range of domestic and industrial applications, including food, cosmetics, medicine, agriculture, and enhanced oil recovery. While hydrogel properties are often tailored to specific applications via polymer chemistry, another approach is to modify the microstructure using nanoparticles, thus forming “hydrogel-nanocomposites”. The motivation may be to reduce costs, particularly for large-scale industrial applications, or to achieve very specific properties for niche applications. However, nanoparticle doping brings with it a plethora of new practical and fundamental scientific challenges. These arise from the complicated and poorly understood manner in which nanoparticles interact with crosslinked polymer networks. The proposed research seeks to address several fundamental scientific challengesusing theoretical, computational, and experimental methodologiesthat also address important industrial and societal questions arising from nanoparticle use in hydrogel technologies. The research will be structured in synthesis, characterization and performance themes by integrating (i) experimental model systems, (ii) novel applications of elactroacoustic, dielectric and rheological spectroscopy, (iii) particle-scale simulations, and (iv) continuum-scale theory. The program will support Canada's advanced materials, bio-technology, and agriculture sectors, provide scientific input on nanoparticle release and safety, and train young engineers for industrial and academic leadership.