Fig. 6. Representations of the hypothesised aggregation routes of Ni@SiNPs following P1-Imi15-SCPN addition. (a) Following adsorption of SCPNs to the particle it was hypothesised that aggregation of partially wrapped particles driven by the reduction in ZP upon polymer binding could occur. Structural metamorphosis of polymer chains that bind to different particles and that bind to multiple particles could then trap the aggregates within a covalently interconnected polymer film which would require chemical cleavage of covalent bonds to break apart the wrapped agglomeration. (b) Individual particles are completely wrapped following the binding of further SCPNs, triggering the concentration-driven structural metamorphosis. Aggregation of wrapped particles is driven by the reduction in ZP upon wrapping; however, disruption of aggregates can be triggered by the pH change associated with (c) imidazole addition to regain a monomodal dispersion of individually wrapped particles.
