Diverse effect of PEO–PPO–PEO and PPO–PEO–PPO triblock copolymers on temperature responsive behavior of luminescent hard–soft colloids

The present work introduces the interaction of hard and soft colloids in aqueous solutions at various temperatures and concentrations, as well as at critical conditions of temperature induced phase separation. Hard and soft colloids are represented by luminescent silica nanoparticles and aggregates of PEO–PPO–PEO and PPO–PEO–PPO triblock copolymers correspondingly. The formation of the mixed aggregates between hard and soft colloids in equilibrium conditions has been revealed by dynamic light scattering measurements. The distribution of silica nanoparticles between aqueous and surfactant rich phases after phase separation highlights the effect of pH, architecture and concentration of triblock copolymers on the mixed hard–soft colloids aggregation at cloud point conditions. The peculiar aggregation and phase behavior of PPO–PEO–PPO pluronics should be assumed as the main reason of the enhanced mixed aggregation with SNs at increased temperatures and concentrated conditions.

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► Interactions between hard and soft colloids in critical and equilibrium conditions.
► R- and P-type pluronics and SNs as soft and hard colloids.
► Temperature induced formation of mixed SNs-pluronics aggregates.
► The role of pluronics architecture in temperature induced mixed aggregation with hard colloids.