Lower critical solution temperature behavior of linear polymers in ionic liquids and the corresponding volume phase transition of polymer gels.
Poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) and its copolymers exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase separation in common hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs) such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfone)imide ([C(2)mim][NTf2]). The turbidity measurements for PBzMA/IL mixed systems reveal that the LCST-type phase separation temperatures change significantly with the changes in the chemical structures of polymers and ILs. Moreover, cross-linked PBzMA gels show reversible and discontinuous volume phase transition in [C(2)mim][NTf2] with the changes in temperature.
Ueki
Takeshi
T
Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan.
Watanabe
Masayoshi
M