Temperature controlled water/oil wettability of a surface fabricated by a block copolymer: application as a dual water/oil on-off switch.
A temperature controlled dual water/oil on-off switch is achieved by using a PMMA-b-PNIPAAm block-copolymer coated mesh, determined by the conformational change of the PNIPAAm chain around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and also the cooperation between PNIPAAm and PMMA. Water can permeate through the BCP-coated mesh, and oil cannot below the LCST, whereas oil can and water cannot above the LCST.
Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial, Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China.
Baolong
B
Xue
Longcheng
L
Gao
Yongping
Y
Hou
Zhiwen
Z
Liu
Lei
L
Jiang
D015394:Molecular Structure; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D017155:Wettability
D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water