Temperature responsive poly(phosphonate) copolymers: from single chains to macroscopic coacervates. Issue 4 (9th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wolf, Thomas; Hunold, Johannes; Simon, Johanna; Rosenauer, Christine; Hinderberger, Dariush; Wurm, Frederik R.
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 9:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 490
• Page End: 498
• Publication Date: 2018-01-09
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c7py01811h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : Detailed investigation of the LCST phase separation mechanism of poly(ethylene alkyl phosphonate)- copolymers is presented. Abstract : We present the first series of random poly(ethylene alkyl phosphonate) copolymers with either high solubility in water or a finely tunable hydrophilic-to-hydrophobic phase transition upon heating ("LCST"). Polymerization via the organocatalytic anionic ring-opening polymerization provided high control over molecular weight (up to 23 000 g mol −1 ) and copolymer composition, and resulted in narrow molecular weight distribution ( Đ < 1.3). Polymers of molecular weights up to 23 000 g mol −1 were obtained. The phase separation temperature was precisely adjusted in a range from 55 °C to 6 °C in water, depending on the copolymer composition. The phase transition mechanism was thoroughly investigated at different length scales via electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (cLSM), proving the step-wise formation of aggregates close to the cloud point temperature up to macroscopic coacervates.