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Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Hydrophobic Salt-modified Nafion for Enzyme Immobilization and Stabilization
Published on: July 11, 2012
Nafion in Dilute Solvent Systems: Dispersion or Solution?
Cynthia Welch1, Andrea Labouriau2, Rex Hjelm3
1Polymers and Coatings Group, ‡Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, ‡Sensors and Electrochemical Devices Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States.
Abstract:
The morphology of Nafion (EW = 1000, Na+ form) in dilute solvents is investigated using small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and 19F NMR. SANS modeling indicates three types of particle morphology: (i) a well-defined cylindrical dispersion in glycerol and in ethylene glycol with different degrees of solvent penetration; (ii) a less-defined, highly solvated large particle (>200 nm) in water/isopropanol mixtures; and (iii) a random-coil conformation (true solution behavior) in N-methylpyrrolidone. These distinct morphological characteristics of Nafion are consistent with the main and side chain mobilities measured by 19F NMR.
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