title: Ion-specific and reversible wetting of imidazolium-based minigels.
abstract: Cross-linked imidazolium-based [poly(ViEtIm +Br -)] microparticles were synthesized, and their wetting properties were studied by optical microscopy, after addition of aqueous solutions of sodium halides. Particle wetting showed ion specificity due to counterion binding, described by Desnoyer's model. The interaction between anions and the microparticles allowed exchanging halogenides between them in a reversible way. A salt-independent characteristic wetting time was found as well as a decreasing power law with salt concentration, for the network diffusion coefficient. It modified the polymer network elasticity as ion concentration increased, making the network softer.
authors.affiliation: Group of Complex Fluids Physics, Department of Applied Physics, University of Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Iván J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rubio-Retama
authors.forename: Benjamín
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sierra-Martín
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javier de las Nieves
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mecerreyes
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Cabarcos
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Barbero
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D004548:Elasticity; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D005782:Gels; D007093:Imidazoles; D011108:Polymers