Dynamics of polystyrene/polystyrene-capped gold nanoparticle mixtures

Studies of the chain dynamics and of the glass transition, T$_{g}$, of low molecular weight, unentangled, bulk mixtures of polystyrene (PS) with polystyrene-capped gold (AuPS$_{10})$ nanoparticles were performed using dielectric spectroscopy, capacitive scanning dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry. Mixtures containing up to 5 weight percent of nanoparticles were examined; the nanoparticles were well distributed throughout all samples. A significant reduction of T$_{g}$ was observed with the addition of the AuPS$_{10}$ nanoparticles. The dielectric spectroscopy measurements reveal significantly decreases in $\alpha $ relaxation times in these nanocomposites compared to pure PS.