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Polymers
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Stimuli Responsive Polymers II
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Stimuli Responsive Polymers II

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 26431

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Charles-André Fustin

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Guest Editor
Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Division of Bio and Soft Matter (BSMA), Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur 1, bte L4.01.01, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Interests: macro- and supramolecular chemistry; stimuli responsive polymers; self-assembly; polymer gels and networks, interlocked architectures; molecular machines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Further to the success of the Special Issue of Polymers “Stimuli Responsive Polymers”, we are delighted to open a new Special Issue entitled “Stimuli Responsive Polymers II”.

Stimuli-responsive, or “smart”, polymeric systems have drawn increasing interest in recent years due to their considerable potential for widely varied applications. (Co)polymers have been developed that respond to a very broad range of external stimuli, such as pH, temperature, light, redox, salt, CO2, electric or magnetic fields, mechanical stimulation, etc. The recent progress in controlled polymerization techniques has greatly facilitated the synthesis of well-defined polymers with tailored functionality. Among those, polymers bearing different types of responsive groups, the so-called multi-responsive polymers, have been developed. These systems exhibit complex responsive behaviors and are particularly promising.

This Special Issue of Polymers will cover a broad range of research activities, such as synthesis, physico-chemical properties, and applications, as well as a broad range of polymeric systems such as solutions, films, brushes, self-assembling systems, gels, supramolecular polymers, etc. In addition, review papers featuring progresses in a particular area are welcomed. This Special Issue aims to collect recent findings and comprehensive reviews from experts in this very active field of research, and will be hopefully a useful source of information for researchers.

Prof. Charles-André Fustin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thermo-responsive
  • light-responsive
  • mechano-responsive
  • redox-responsive
  • pH-responsive
  • field-responsive
  • synthesis
  • physical properties
  • solution
  • gel and network

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 5422 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Dielectric Polarization Rate Difference of Filler and Matrix on the Electrorheological Responses of Poly(ionic liquid)/Polyaniline Composite Particles
by Chen Zheng, Qi Lei, Jia Zhao, Xiaopeng Zhao and Jianbo Yin
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 703; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12030703 - 22 Mar 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2789
Abstract
By using different conductivity of polyaniline as filler, a kind of poly(ionic liquid)/polyaniline composite particles was synthesized to investigate the influence of dielectric polarization rate difference between filler and matrix on the electrorheological response and flow stability of composite-based electrorheological fluids under simultaneous [...] Read more.
By using different conductivity of polyaniline as filler, a kind of poly(ionic liquid)/polyaniline composite particles was synthesized to investigate the influence of dielectric polarization rate difference between filler and matrix on the electrorheological response and flow stability of composite-based electrorheological fluids under simultaneous effect of shear and electric fields. The composite particles were prepared by a post ion-exchange procedure and then treated by ammonia or hydrazine to obtain different conductivity of polyaniline. Their electrorheological response was measured by dispersing these composite particles in insulating carrier liquid under electric fields. It showed that the composite particles treated by ammonia had the strongest electrorheological response and most stable flow behavior in a broad shear rate region from 0.5 s−1 to 1000 s−1. By using dielectric spectroscopy, it found that the enhanced electrorheological response with stable flow depended on the matching degree of the dielectric polarization rates between poly(ionic liquid) matrix and polyaniline filler. The closer their polarization rates are, the more stable the flow curves are. These results are helpful to design optimal composite-based electrorheological materials with enhanced and stable ER performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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13 pages, 2031 KiB  
Article
Well-Defined Dual Light- and Thermo-Responsive Rod-Coil Block Copolymers Containing an Azobenzene, MEO2MA and OEGMA
by Changjun Park, Jaewon Heo, Jinhee Lee, Taehyoung Kim and Sang Youl Kim
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 284; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12020284 - 01 Feb 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2803
Abstract
Here we report the dual light- and thermo-responsive behavior of well-defined rod-coil block copolymers composed of an azobenzene unit, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA). Azobenzene-containing rigid rod blocks prepared by chain growth condensation polymerization of the azobenzene containing [...] Read more.
Here we report the dual light- and thermo-responsive behavior of well-defined rod-coil block copolymers composed of an azobenzene unit, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA). Azobenzene-containing rigid rod blocks prepared by chain growth condensation polymerization of the azobenzene containing monomer were used as a macroinitiator of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) after attaching an α-bromoisobutyryl group as an end group. Synthesis of well-defined rod-coil block copolymers with different coil block lengths was achieved by copolymerization of MEO2MA and OEGMA monomers. The synthesized polymers exhibited amphiphilic properties and polymeric micelles were formed in aqueous solution. The light-responsive behaviors of azobenzene moieties, photoisomerization by irradiation of light, and thermo-responsive behaviors of P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA) coil blocks, aggregation by increment of temperature over lower critical solution temperature, were investigated. A dual stimuli-responsive behavior of the rod-coil block copolymers was observed when exposed to light and heat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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15 pages, 2662 KiB  
Article
Switchable Wettability of Poly(NIPAAm-co-HEMA-co-NMA) Coated PET Fabric for Moisture Management
by Shamik Chaudhuri and Chang-Mou Wu
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 100; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010100 - 04 Jan 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4417
Abstract
In this study, we synthesized a random poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-co-(N-methylolacrylamide)] [poly(NIPAAm-co-HEMA-co-NMA)] copolymer through free-radical polymerization. The NIPAAm, HEMA and NMA moieties were framed to provide thermoresponsiveness, water absorption and retention control, and chemical [...] Read more.
In this study, we synthesized a random poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-co-(N-methylolacrylamide)] [poly(NIPAAm-co-HEMA-co-NMA)] copolymer through free-radical polymerization. The NIPAAm, HEMA and NMA moieties were framed to provide thermoresponsiveness, water absorption and retention control, and chemical cross-linking to achieve stability in aqueous medium, respectively. The copolymer showed a significant change in optical transmittance with a variation in temperature due to the change in volume (i.e., hydrophilic/hydrophobic) between 25 °C and 40 °C, attributed to the lower critical solution temperature property of the NIPAAm moiety. The copolymers were wire-bar-coated onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric. Variation in the water contact angle affirmed the switchable wettability due to the change in temperature. We tested the coated fabrics for moisture absorption and release at different temperatures. The results at 20 °C and 37 °C indicated that the P2 copolymer had the highest moisture absorption and release capability. Therefore, the copolymers with tailored properties can be used as smart textiles for activity specific clothing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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9 pages, 1830 KiB  
Article
Selective and Colorimetric Detection of p-Nitrophenol Based on Inverse Opal Polymeric Photonic Crystals
by Lu Li, Tiantian Meng, Wanbin Zhang, Ying Su, Juan Wei, Xinwei Shi and Guanghua Zhang
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 83; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010083 - 03 Jan 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3033
Abstract
The detection of p-nitrophenol (PNP) is of great significance for assessment of environment pollution and potential health risks. In this study, based on inverse opal polymeric photonic crystals (IOPPCs), a selective and visual sensor for high-performance PNP detection is developed. Due to their [...] Read more.
The detection of p-nitrophenol (PNP) is of great significance for assessment of environment pollution and potential health risks. In this study, based on inverse opal polymeric photonic crystals (IOPPCs), a selective and visual sensor for high-performance PNP detection is developed. Due to their unique optical properties, IOPPCs report events by change of color, which can easily be observed by the naked eye. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was selected as the functional monomer with which to fabricate the IOPPCs. By precisely adjusting the molar ratio between the functional monomer and the crosslinker, the sensors were only able to be sensitive to a specific solution, thus realizing the visual, selective, and semi-quantitative detection of PNP. When the sensors were immersed in different concentrations of PNP solution, their Bragg diffraction wavelengths showed different redshifts. The color of the IOPPCs changed from green to red as the peak shift of Bragg diffraction occurred. In addition, the IOPPCs displayed good interference immunity and reusability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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17 pages, 3468 KiB  
Article
Plasma Treatment of Polymer Powder as an Effective Tool to Functionalize Polymers: Case Study Application on an Amphiphilic Polyurethane
by Rossella Laurano, Monica Boffito, Alessandro Torchio, Claudio Cassino, Valeria Chiono and Gianluca Ciardelli
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 2109; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11122109 - 16 Dec 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4246
Abstract
Plasma treatment is a widely applied, easy, fast, and highly reproducible surface modification technique. In this work powder plasma treatment was exploited to expose carboxylic groups along the backbone of a water soluble polymer. Specifically, a custom-made amphiphilic poly(ether urethane) containing Poloxamer® [...] Read more.
Plasma treatment is a widely applied, easy, fast, and highly reproducible surface modification technique. In this work powder plasma treatment was exploited to expose carboxylic groups along the backbone of a water soluble polymer. Specifically, a custom-made amphiphilic poly(ether urethane) containing Poloxamer® 407 blocks (Mw = 54,000 Da) was first synthesized and its powders were plasma treated in the presence of Acrylic Acid vapor. To maximize –COOH group exposure while preventing polymer degradation, different Ar gas flow rates (i.e., 10, 30, and 50 sccm) were investigated. Upon gas flow increase, significant polymer degradation was observed, with a 35% molecular weight reduction at 50 sccm Ar flow rate. On the other hand, the highest number of exposed carboxylic groups (5.3 × 1018 ± 5.5 × 1017 units/gpolymer) was obtained by setting gas flow at 10 sccm. Hence, a gas flow of 10 sccm turned out to be the best set-up to maximize –COOH exposure while preventing degradation phenomena. Additionally, upon plasma treatment, no detrimental effects were observed in the thermoresponsiveness of polymer aqueous solutions, which was ensured by Poloxamer® 407 blocks. Therefore, the newly developed technology here applied on an amphiphilic poly(ether urethane) could pave the way to the tailored design of a plethora of different multifunctional hydrogels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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14 pages, 3014 KiB  
Article
Thermo/pH Responsive Star and Linear Copolymers Containing a Cholic Acid-Derived Monomer, N-Isopropylacrylamide and Acrylic Acid: Synthesis and Solution Properties
by Ana Castro-Hernández and Norma Aidé Cortez-Lemus
Polymers 2019, 11(11), 1859; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11111859 - 11 Nov 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2927
Abstract
In this work three CTAs trithiocarbonate-type were synthesized—bifunctional (with PEG), trifunctional (with glycerol), and tetrafunctional (PERT)—and used in the controlled polymerization of 2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl cholate (CAE) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting macroCTAs containing a cholic acid-derived polymer were chain extended [...] Read more.
In this work three CTAs trithiocarbonate-type were synthesized—bifunctional (with PEG), trifunctional (with glycerol), and tetrafunctional (PERT)—and used in the controlled polymerization of 2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl cholate (CAE) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting macroCTAs containing a cholic acid-derived polymer were chain extended with N-isopropylacrylamide with or without acrylic acid. The thermosensitive and/or pH properties of these copolymers were studied in PBS solutions. The copolymers synthesized without poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) were unstable above the transition temperature. Similar behavior was observed for the copolymer solutions containing PAAc (2% in feed) at lower values of pH showing a faster precipitation above the LCST. On the contrary, copolymer solutions containing PAAc showed great stability at higher pH values for a longer time period at 37 °C. Interestingly, the Dh of the aggregates ranged from 18 to 30 nm in all copolymers (with or without PAAc) below the transition temperature, although the topology and the block sequence in the chain were significantly different. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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12 pages, 6182 KiB  
Article
Influence of Cyclodextrins on Thermosensitive and Fluorescent Properties of Pyrenyl-Containing PDMAA
by Qiujing Dong, Changrui Sun, Fangyuan Chen, Zheng Yang, Ruiqian Li, Chang Wang and Chunhua Luo
Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1569; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11101569 - 26 Sep 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2163
Abstract
A series of pyrenyl-containing PDMAA copolymers were prepared by free radical copolymerization of dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) with pyrenebutanoyloxy ethyl methacrylate (PyBEMA). The structure of as-prepared copolymers was characterized by UV, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The effect of cyclodextrins (α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD) [...] Read more.
A series of pyrenyl-containing PDMAA copolymers were prepared by free radical copolymerization of dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) with pyrenebutanoyloxy ethyl methacrylate (PyBEMA). The structure of as-prepared copolymers was characterized by UV, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The effect of cyclodextrins (α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD) on the thermosensitivity and fluorescence of the copolymers in aqueous solutions were investigated. It was found that the as-prepared copolymers exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type thermosensitivity. Cloud point (Tcp) decreases with the increasing molar content of PyBEMA unit in the copolymers. Tcp of the copolymers increases after the CD is added from half molar to equivalent amount relative to pyrenyl moiety, and that further adding twice equivalent CD results in a slight decrease in Tcp. The copolymers exhibit a pyrene emission located at 377 nm and a broad excimer emission centered at 470 nm. The copolymers in water present a stronger excimer emission (Intensity IE) relative to monomer emission (Intensity IM) than that in ethanol. The IE/IM values decrease after the addition of equivalent α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD into the copolymers in aqueous solution, respectively. The IE/IM values abruptly increase as the copolymers’ concentration is over 0.2 mg/L whether in ethanol solution or aqueous solution with or without CD, from which can probably be inferred that intra-polymeric pyrene aggregates dominate for solution concentration below 0.2 mg/L and inter-polymeric pyrene aggregates dominate over 0.2 mg/L. Furthermore, the formation of the CD pseudopolyrotaxanes makes it possible to form pyrene aggregates. For high concentration of 5 g/L, the copolymers and their inclusion complexes completely exhibit an excimer emission. The IE values abruptly increased as the temperature went up to Tcp, which indicates that the IE values can be used to research phase separation of polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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18 pages, 3325 KiB  
Article
Modeling the Optimal Conditions for Improved Efficacy and Crosslink Depth of Photo-Initiated Polymerization
by Jui-Teng Lin, Hsia-Wei Liu, Kuo-Ti Chen and Da-Chuan Cheng
Polymers 2019, 11(2), 217; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11020217 - 27 Jan 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3349
Abstract
Optimal conditions for maximum efficacy of photoinitiated polymerization are theoretically presented. Analytic formulas are shown for the crosslink time, crosslink depth, and efficacy function. The roles of photoinitiator (PI) concentration, diffusion depth, and light intensity on the polymerization spatial and temporal profiles are [...] Read more.
Optimal conditions for maximum efficacy of photoinitiated polymerization are theoretically presented. Analytic formulas are shown for the crosslink time, crosslink depth, and efficacy function. The roles of photoinitiator (PI) concentration, diffusion depth, and light intensity on the polymerization spatial and temporal profiles are presented for both uniform and non-uniform cases. For the type I mechanism, higher intensity may accelerate the polymer action process, but it suffers a lower steady-state efficacy. This may be overcome by a controlled re-supply of PI concentration during the light exposure. In challenging the conventional Beer–Lambert law (BLL), a generalized, time-dependent BLL (a Lin-law) is derived. This study, for the first time, presents analytic formulas for curing depth and crosslink time without the assumption of thin-film or spatial average. Various optimal conditions are developed for maximum efficacy based on a numerically-fit A-factor. Experimental data are analyzed for the role of PI concentration and light intensity on the gelation (crosslink) time and efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stimuli Responsive Polymers II)
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