The swelling behaviour of thermoresponsive hydrogel/silica nanoparticle composites

CR van den Brom, I Anac, RF Roskamp, M Retsch, U Jonas, B Menges, Jon Preece

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A new responsive nanocomposite material consisting of a poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel and "super-crosslinking'' silica nanoparticles was prepared by mixing both components in solution, spincoating a thin film, and photocrosslinking by UV irradiation. Detailed analysis of the thermal response of these water-swollen films by means of surface plasmon resonance and optical waveguide spectroscopy revealed that the composite is very stable and has excellent responsive properties; it is of high optical homogeneity; admixture of the nanoparticles (up to 50%-wt) does not affect the critical volume collapse temperature; and swell-collapse cycles are highly reproducible and display only limited hysteresis. Thus, the composite is promising as a scaffold for further functionalisation and incorporation in sensors or actuators.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4827-4839
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry
Volume20
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010

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