Rapid Actuation of Thermo-Responsive Polymer Networks: Investigation of the Transition Kinetics.

ABSTRACT: The swelling and collapsing of thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based polymer (pNIPAAm) networks are investigated in order to reveal the dependency on their kinetics and maximum possible actuation speed. The pNIPAAm-based network was attached as thin hydrogel film to lithographically prepared gold nanoparticle arrays to exploit their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) for rapid local heating. The same substrate also served for LSPR-based monitoring of the reversible collapsing and swelling of the pNIPAAm network through its pronounced refractive index changes. The obtained data reveal signatures of multiple phases during the volume transition, which are driven by the diffusion of water molecules into and out of the network structure and by polymer chain re-arran

SUBMITTER: Auer SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9059119 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature