Temperature controlled water/oil wettability of a surface fabricated by a block copolymer: application as a dual water/oil on-off switch.

Xue, Baolong; Gao, Longcheng; Hou, Yongping; Liu, Zhiwen; Jiang, Lei · Adv Mater · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A temperature controlled dual water/oil on-off switch is achieved by using a PMMA-b-PNIPAAm block-copolymer coated mesh, determined by the conformational change of the PNIPAAm chain around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and also the cooperation between PNIPAAm and PMMA. Water can permeate through the BCP-coated mesh, and oil cannot below the LCST, whereas oil can and water cannot above the LCST.

Medical subject headings