Phase Transition Kinetics of Doubly Thermoresponsive Poly(sulfobetaine)-Based Diblock Copolymer Thin Films

Lucas P. Kreuzer, Tobias Widmann, Lorenz Bießmann, Nuri Hohn Johannes, Pantle Raphael Markl, Jean Francois Moulin, Viet Hildebrand, Andre Laschewsky, Christine M. Papadakis, Peter Müller-Buschbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

The swelling and phase transition behavior upon increasing temperature of a doubly thermoresponsive diblock copolymer thin film in steps above the characteristic cloud points (CPs) of the blocks is studied. An upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-type zwitterionic poly-(sulfobetaine), poly(N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-methacrylamidopropyl)-ammoniopropane sulfonate) (PSPP, CPUCST = 31.5 °C), is combined with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type nonionic poly(N-isopropyl-/ methacrylamide) (PNIPMAM, CPLCST = 49.5 °C) block. Using time-of-flight neutron reflectivity (ToF-NR), we observe the swelling in D2O vapor at a constant temperature of 20 °C, followed by two subsequent temperature jumps, from 20 to 40 °C (above CPUCST) and from 40 to 60 °C (above CPLCST). The observed response of the diblock copolymer films deviates from the aqueous solution behavior, which is mainly attributed to the increased polymer concentration. Temperature-induced changes in the thin-film nanostructure are investigated with ToF grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS). Alterations in the chain conformation and hydrogen bonding are probed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ionic SO3 groups (in the PSPP block) and the nonionic hydrophilic amide groups (in both blocks) are found to affect the mechanisms of D2O uptake and release significantly.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2841-2855
Number of pages15
JournalMacromolecules
Volume53
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Apr 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Phase Transition Kinetics of Doubly Thermoresponsive Poly(sulfobetaine)-Based Diblock Copolymer Thin Films'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this