Abstract
Abstract The volume phase transition in gels induced by visible light and its related properties are presented, the mechanism of which is based on local heating of a polymer network by illumination of light. The gels consist of a covalently cross-linked copolymer network of thermosensitive N-isopropylacrylamide and a chromophore. Without light illumination, the gel volume changes sharply, but continuously at approximately 34°C when the temperature is varied. At a fixed temperature of an appropriate value, a discontinuous volume transition is observed when the light intensity is gradually changed. The phase transitions can be understood in terms of the temperature increment at the immediate vicinity of polymer chains due to the local heating via light absorption and subsequent thermal dissipation of light by the chromophore. The results can be qualitatively described by the Flory-Huggins mean-field equation of state of gels. In order to make clear the mechanism of the light-induced phase transition in the ...
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.