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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Charging and stability of anionic latex particles in the presence of linear poly(ethylene imine)
István Szilágyi1, Dana Rosická, José Hierrezuelo
1Department of Inorganic, Analytical, and Applied Chemistry, University of Geneva, Sciences II, 30, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Charging properties and colloidal stability of negatively charged polystyrene latex particles were investigated in the presence of linear poly(ethylene imine) (LPEI) of different molecular masses by electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Electrophoretic mobility measurements illustrate that LPEI strongly adsorbs on these particles leading to charge neutralization at isoelectric point (IEP) and charge reversal. Time-resolved DLS experiments indicate that the aggregation of the latex particles is rapid near the IEP and slows down away from this point. Surprisingly, the colloidal stability does not depend on the molecular mass, which indicates that the adsorbed LPEI layer is rather homogeneous.
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