Abstract
The phase separation behavior and fluorescence properties of linear PNIPAM with chalcone side groups (PNIPAM-C) in water-cononsolvent systems were studied as a function of solvent composition (x) and temperature. It was found that PNIPAM-C exhibited a single lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water–methanol, water–acetone, and water–tetrahydrofuran; the addition of organic solvents initially decreased the phase separation temperature and a further addition increased it rapidly. The minimum LCST was −8 °C for the mole fraction of methanol x methanol ≈ 0.31, 17 °C for x acetone ≈ 0.14, and −2 °C for x tetrahydrofuran ≈ 0.13. However, in water–ethanol solution, a simultaneous LCST and upper critical solution temperature (UCST) existed for lower and higher ethanol concentrations, respectively, and the phase separation temperature decreased drastically with increasing ethanol concentrations. Furthermore, the solvent composition-sensitive and temperature-sensitive fluorescence properties of PNIPAM-C were investigated. The results showed that the fluorescence emission wavelength (λmax) underwent a blue shift and the intensity increased with the addition of a small amount of organic solvent. With further addition of organic solvent, λmax and intensity were almost not changed. However, when the content of organic solvent exceeded a critical value, such as x methanol > 0.17, λmax blueshifted and the intensity increased with the increase of organic solvent. At low content of organic solvent, λmax decreased greatly and the intensity increased rapidly as the temperature was raised from 20 °C to 50 °C because phase separation occurred when the temperature was elevated.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Heskins M, Guillet JE (1968) J Macromol Sci Chem A2:1441–1445
Chung JE, Yokoyama M, Yamato M, Aoyagi T, Sakurai Y, Okano T (1999) J Control Release 62:115–127
Oupicky D, Reschel T, Konak C, Oupicka L (2003) Macromolecules 36:6863–6872
Okano T, Yamada N, Okuhara M, Sakai H, Sakurai Y (1995) Biomaterials 16:297–303
Schild HG, Tirrel DA (1990) J Phys Chem 94:4352–4356
Ilmain F, Tanaka T, Kokufuta E (1991) Nature 349:400–401
Yagi Y, Inomata H, Saito S (1992) Macromolecules 25:2997–2998
Gil ES, Hudson SM (2004) Prog Polym Sci 29:1173–1222
Dhara D, Chatterji P (2000) J Macromol Sci Rev Macromol Chem Phys C40:51–68
Van Durme K, Rahier H, Van Mele B (2005) Macromolecules 38:10155–10163
Winnik FM, Ringsdorf H, Venzmer J (1990) Macromolecules 23:2415–2416
Schild HG, Muthukumar M, Tirrell DA (1991) Macromolecules 24:948–952
Costa ROR, Freitas RFS (2002) Polymer 43:5879–5885
Spěváček J, Starovoytova L, Hanyková L, Kouřilová H (2008) Macromol Symp 273:17–24
Winnik FM, Ottaviani MF, Bossnann SH, Garcia-Garibay M, Turro NJ (1992) Macromolecules 25:6007–6017
Winnik FM, Ottaviani MF, Bossnann SH, Pan W, Garcia-Garibay M, Turro NJ (1993) J Phys Chem 97:12998–13005
Asano M, Winnik FM, Yamashita T, Horie K (1995) Macromolecules 28:5861–5866
Zhang GZ, Wu C (2001) J Am Chem Soc 123:1376–1380
Zhang GZ, Wu C (2001) Phys Rev Lett 86:822–825
Yamauchi H, Maeda Y (2007) J Phys Chem B 111:12964–12968
Moelbert S, De Los Rios P (2003) Macromolecules 36:5845–5853
Dong QJ, Luo CH, Yin RC, Cui YM (2010). Acta Polym Sin; 776–781
Buncel E, Rajagopal S (1990) Acc Chem Res 23:226–231
Wang PF, Wu SK (1994) J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 77:127–131
Acknowledgments
This research work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50903018), Natural Science Foundation for High School of Anhui Province (KJ2014A192, 2014KJ014), and Support Plan for Young Elite Talents of High School of Anhui Province (gxyqZD2016191).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dong, Q., Qian, M. & Luo, C. Phase separation behavior and fluorescence properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with chalcone side groups in mixed solvents. J Polym Res 23, 33 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-0923-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-0923-7