Issue 6, 2013

Critical solution behavior of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) in ionic liquid–water mixtures

Abstract

The wide diversity of room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) presents opportunities for studying, and controlling, polymer phase behavior. We have examined the phase behavior of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) in imidazolium ILs and their mixtures with water. We find there is a strong influence of the IL anion; specifically, the tetrafluoroborate anion yields a complex phase diagram with both LCST and UCST-type regimes. PNIPAM is generally miscible at intermediate IL–water compositions, although this range depends on the polymer molecular weight. Solvatochromatic characterization of both neat and mixed solvents reveals a key role for the interplay between PNIPAM-IL hydrogen-bonding and ion-pairing within the IL. These results demonstrate that appropriate selection of ILs should allow for increased control over polymer phase behavior.

Graphical abstract: Critical solution behavior of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) in ionic liquid–water mixtures

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
25 Nov 2012
Accepted
23 Dec 2012
First published
03 Jan 2013

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 1806-1809

Critical solution behavior of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) in ionic liquidwater mixtures

P. K. Nayak, A. P. Hathorne and H. Bermudez, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 1806 DOI: 10.1039/C2CP44205A

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