Synthesis and characterization of photoresponsive POSS-based polymers and their switchable water and oil wettability on cotton fabric

Abstract

Fast photoresponsive polymers containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and fluorinated azobenzene groups were successfully prepared via radical polymerization and characterized by NMR, FTIR, XRD, GPC, TGA, etc. The photoresponsive properties of the polymers were investigated through ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra. The trans–cis photoisomerization of the polymers in solution conformed to a first-order reaction kinetics equation. Superhydrophobicity and high oleophobicity of the cotton fabric coated with the polymer was observed when the POSS mole ratio was 3.0%. More importantly, the surface wettability of both water and oil on the coated fabrics could be intelligently controlled by applying UV irradiation in a short time.