Depolarized dynamic light scattering study of hybrid silicon oil nanodroplets dispersion

We have synthesized hybrid anisotropic nanoparticles through two consecutive polymerizations of silicon oil emulsion of 3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (TPM). Polarized and depolarized light scattering studies have revealed that these particles are optically anisotropic. We report here for the first time, the measurement of translational (DT) and rotational (DR) diffusion coefficients of these particles by performing polarized and depolarized dynamic light scattering studies on dilute suspensions. The average particle size determined from translational and rotational diffusion coefficients are found to be the same. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal that the particles are non-spherical; hence the geometrical anisotropy is responsible for the depolarized light scattering.