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    Enhanced swelling using photothermal responsive surface-immobilized microgels

    Year: 2021

    Journal: J. Appl. Polym. Sci., Volume 138, OCT 10

    Authors: Ou, Charly; Wang, Chang-Sheng; Giasson, Suzanne

    Organizations: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

    Keywords: coatings; composites; gels; stimuli‐ responsive polymers; swelling

    Unprecedented quantitative assessment of the swelling behavior of surface-immobilized photothermal responsive microgels (PTRM) is reported. The PTRM were prepared by incorporating plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in thermo-responsive cationic microgels based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (BM). The stimuli-responsive behavior of the microgels was investigated in aqueous suspensions using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and on surfaces using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) as well as with the Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA). Both the BM and PTRM in aqueous suspensions underwent a similar temperature-induced volume phase transition at around 35 degrees C. The complexation of AuNPs with the BM led to a decrease in the surface charge allowing to increase the surface grafting density. This favored a unidirectional upward swelling of the surface immobilized PTRM. The study reports significant photo-triggered swelling responses on surface with decreases in film thickness up to 82%.
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