title: Ionic liquid modulation of swelling and LCST behavior of N-isopropylacrylamide polymer gels.
abstract: The physicochemical properties of free-standing cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAM) gels, generated in the presence of the Ionic liquids (ILs), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium [C2mIm](+) salts of ethylsulfate [EtSO4](-), dicyanamide [DCA](-), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [NTf2](-), and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium dicyanamide ([P(6,6,6,14)][DCA]) are described. The Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) of the resulting ionogel was found to vary between 24-31 °C. The behaviour of swelling is found to be as high as 31.55% (±0.47, n = 3) from the initial dehydrated state, while 28.04% (±0.42, n = 3) shrinking from the hydrated swollen state is observed. For ionogels based on the [DCA](-) anion an unexpected complete loss of the shrinking behaviour occurs, attributed to water interactions with the nitrile group of the [DCA](-) anion. Scanning Electron Microscopy also reveals distinct morphological changes, for example [C2mIm][EtSO4] displays a highly porous, nodule type morphology, efficiently pre-disposed for water uptake.
authors.affiliation: INSIGHT Centre for Data Analytics, National Centre for Sensor Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. Dermot.diamond@dcu.ie.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zíołkowski
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Florea
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diamond