Applicability of Vapor-Deposited Thermoresponsive Hydrogel Thin Films in Ultrafast Humidity Sensors/Actuators.

ABSTRACT: Thermoresponsive polymers reversibly react to changes in temperature and water content of their environment (i.e., relative humidity, RH). In the present contribution, the thermoresponsiveness of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) thin films cross-linked by di(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether deposited by initiated chemical vapor deposition are investigated to assess their applicability to sensor and actuator setups. A lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is observed at around 16 °C in aqueous environment, associated with a dramatic change in film thickness (e.g., 200% increase at low temperatures) and refractive index, while only thermal expansion of the polymeric system is found, when ramping the temperature in dry atmosphere. In humid environment, we observed a significant response occurring

SUBMITTER: Muralter F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7076731 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature