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Enhanced swelling using photothermal responsive surface‐immobilized microgels
Author(s) -
Ou Charly,
Wang ChangSheng,
Giasson Suzanne
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.50973
Subject(s) - quartz crystal microbalance , swelling , materials science , photothermal therapy , photothermal effect , dynamic light scattering , chemical engineering , poly(n isopropylacrylamide) , surface plasmon resonance , colloidal gold , surface charge , aqueous solution , colloid , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , adsorption , chemistry , composite material , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , engineering
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°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%.