| 1. |
- Adam, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Quartz crystal microbalance with coupled Spectroscopic Ellipsometry-study of temperature-responsive polymer brush systems
- 2017
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In: Applied Surface Science. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0169-4332 .- 1873-5584. ; 421, s. 843-851
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a combined setup of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring together with spectroscopic ellipsometry, the thermo-responsive behavior of two different brush systems (poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and poly(2-oxazoline)s) was investigated and compared to the behavior of the free polymer in solution. Poly(2-oxazoline)s with three different hydrophilicities were prepared by changing the content of a hydrophilic comonomer. While both polymer types exhibit a sharp, discontinuous thermal transition in solution, in the brush state the transition gets broader in the case of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) and is transformed into a continuous transition for poly(2-oxazoline)s. The position of the transition in solution is influenced by the degree of hydrophilicity of the poly(2-oxazoline). The difference in areal mass detected by quartz crystal microbalance and by spectroscopic ellipsometry, has been attributed to the chain segment density profile of the polymer brushes. Applying this density profile information, for poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) two different swelling stages could be identified, while for poly(2-oxazoline) the transition between a parabolic and more step-wise profile is found continuous. The different swelling characteristics were attributed to the different miscibility behavior types, with the brush state acting similar to a crosslinked system. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Koenig, Meike, et al.
(author)
-
Salt Sensitivity of the Thermoresponsive Behavior of PNIPAAm Brushes
- 2018
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In: Langmuir. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 34:7, s. 2448-2454
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report investigations on the salt sensitivity of the thermoresponsive behavior of PNIPAAm brushes applying the quartz crystal microbalance coupled with spectroscopic ellipsometry technique. This approach enables a detailed study of the optical and mechanical behavior of the polymer coatings. Additional conclusions can be drawn from the difference between both techniques due to a difference in the contrast mechanism of both methods. A linear shift of the phase transition temperature to lower temperatures with the addition of sodium chloride was found, similar to the behavior of free polymer chains in solution. The thermal hysteresis was found to be decreased by the addition of sodium chloride to the solution, hinting to the interaction of the ions with the amide groups of the polymer, whereby the formation of hydrogen bonds is hindered. The results of this study are of relevance to the application of PNIPAAm brushes in biological fluids and demonstrate the additional potential of the ion sensitivity besides the better known thermosensitivity.
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