Thermoresponsive Shape-Memory Aerogels from Thiol–Ene Networks

Abstract

Thermoresponsive shape-memory polymer aerogels have been produced from thiol–ene networks of 1,6-hexanedithiol, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate), and triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione. The thiol–ene networks form organogels with either acetonitrile or acetone as the solvent, which can be subsequently removed using supercritical CO2 extraction. The resulting aerogels have nearly quantitative shape fixing and shape recovery with a glass transition temperature ranging from 42 to 64 °C, which serves as the thermal transition trigger for the shape-memory effect. The aerogels have a porosity of 72% to 81% but surface areas of only 5–10 m2/g.