Abstract
We demonstrate a facile yet efficient strategy to fabricate responsive photonic hydrogels by incorporating magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticles into the hydrogel materials. In this approach, poly(acrylamide)-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PAM-PHEMA) photonic hydrogels incorporated with linearly ordered Fe3O4 nanocrystal arrays were successfully synthesized via one-step polymerization process under an external magnetic field. The resulting hydrogel materials can be endowed with pH and ion sensing functionalities by hydrolyzing PHEMA into PAA units in sodium carbonate aqueous solutions. The whole fabrication process of the photonic hydrogels would take only ∼2.5h, including dispersing Fe3O4 NPs in monomer solution for ∼10min, photo-polymerization for ∼20min, hydrolyzation of PHEMA for ∼2h. Importantly, photonic hydrogels containing fixed number of carboxyl groups can be fabricated by controlling the content of PHEMA. The photonic hydrogels demonstrate better reproducibility and keep the same pH and ionic strength sensing abilities, which is beneficial for batch preparation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
