Electro-interconverted thermogelling and thermothinning polymer solutions

Abstract

Integrating distinct environmental responsive behaviors into polymer fluids is an enormous challenge. Herein we report an intelligent electrothermal rheological fluid exhibiting two remarkably different temperature responsive rheological behaviors, thermothinning versus thermogelling, which are controlled by voltage. By virtue of a cyclodextrin-based host–guest interaction, traditional responseless amphiphilic polymer solutions without LCST features can be endowed with fascinating thermoreversible gelation abilities. By further introducing a competitive guest, the transduction of two independent signals (temperature and electrochemical stimuli) was achieved and the dynamic rheological properties can be varied over three orders of magnitude. This work should merit the design of cascade or logical gate materials using supramolecular interactions.