Effect of metal clusters on the swelling of gold-fluorocarbon-polymer composite films

TL;DR

This study explores how gold clusters within fluorocarbon-polymer films influence swelling behavior when exposed to acetone, revealing enhanced mixing due to metal clusters and proposing a modified Flory-Huggins model.

Contribution

It introduces a modified Flory-Huggins model to explain swelling in metal-doped fluorocarbon-polymer films, highlighting the role of gold clusters in improving solvent-polymer interactions.

Findings

Gold clusters enhance acetone diffusion in the polymer.

Modified Flory-Huggins model explains swelling behavior.

Gold doping improves polymer-solvent mixing.

Abstract

We have investigated the phenomenon of swelling due to acetone diffusion in fluorocarbon polymer films doped with different gold concentrations below the percolation threshold. The presence of the gold clusters in the polymer is shown to improve the mixing between the fluorocarbon polymer and the acetone, which is not a good solvent for this kind of polymers. In order to explain the experimental results the stoichiometry and the morphology of the polymer--metal system have been studied and a modified version of the Flory--Huggins model has been developed.