Solvent and Ion-Mediated Behavior of a Thermoresponsive Brush: Specific Ion Effects in Methanol-Water Electrolytes.

ABSTRACT: In this study, specific ion effects are explored in methanol-water mixtures, which play a critical role in a diverse range of applications, including protein solubilization and supercapacitors. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and neutron reflectometry are employed to investigate the solvent- and ion-mediated behavior of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brush, a well-known thermoresponsive polymer. In the absence of ions and at low methanol mole fractions (x_M), PNIPAM displays lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type behavior, with the thermotransition temperature decreasing as x_M increased. Upon further increasing x_M, a cononsolvency region is identified at approximately x_M = 0.15, beyond which re-entrant swelling is observed in conjuncti

SUBMITTER: Robertson H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12360131 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature