Key role of entropy in nanoparticle dispersion: polystyrene-nanoparticle/ linear-polystyrene nanocomposites as a model system.

Dilution of contact, hard sphere-like, nanoparticle-nanoparticle interactions upon mixing plays a key role in explaining nanoparticle dispersion in athermal all-polymer nanocomposites, as illustrated for polystyrene-nanoparticle/linear-polystyrene blends as a model system.