Pressure-Dependence Of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Mesoglobule Formation In Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Above their cloud point, aqueous solutions of the thermoresponsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) form large mesoglobules. We have carried out very small-angle neutron scattering (VSANS with q = 0.21-2.3 × 10-3 Å-1) and Raman spectroscopy experiments on a 3 wt % PNIPAM solution in D2O at atmospheric and elevated pressures (up to 113 MPa). Raman spectroscopy reveals that, at high pressure, the polymer is less dehydrated upon crossing the cloud point. VSANS shows that the mesoglobules are significantly larger and contain more D2O than at atmospheric pressure. We conclude that the size of the mesoglobules and thus their growth process are closely related to the hydration state of PNIPAM.

Publication Date

11-21-2017

Publication Title

ACS Macro Letters

Volume

6

Issue

11

Number of Pages

1180-1185

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.7b00563

Socpus ID

85034778019 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85034778019

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