Humidity-responsive phase transition and on-demand UV-curing in a hygroscopic polysiloxane–surfactant nanohybrid film

Abstract

We developed a surfactant-directed dynamic hybrid film system containing a cationic hygroscopic polysiloxane whose mesostructure is rapidly altered between lamellar and hexagonal phases by the change in surrounding humidity. Immobilization of one phase is successfully achieved by UV-curing through a photoinitiated thiol–ene reaction. This strategy enables the instant activation of a curable LLC mesostructure on-demand by humidification from a dormant state in a dry atmosphere.