pH-Responsive Thin Film Membranes from Poly(2-vinylpyridine): Water Vapor-Induced Formation of a Microporous Structure

Abstract

We report the fabrication of microporous thin film membranes with two-dimensionally arranged submicron pores whose size can be varied by changing pH of aqueous medium. A solution containing poly(2-vinylpyridine) partially quaternized with 1,4-dilodobutane (qP2VP) and unreacted 1,4-diodobutane (DIB) was used for the formation and deposition of the membranes on solid substrates. The membranes were spin-coated on to solid substrates in a controlled humid environment. The presence of water vapor in air was found to be a necessary condition for the pore formation. We studied the influence of relative humidity on the membrane morphology and proposed a mechanism of pore formation. Cross-linking the qP2VP membranes with DIB made them insoluble (stable) in organic solvents and acidic water. The cross-linked membranes demonstrated pH-dependent swelling, which had a strong influence on the pore size.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 30, 2007
Accession Number
ADA482630

Entities

People

  • Andreas Scholl
  • Andrew Doran
  • Ihor Tokarev
  • Maxim Orlov
  • Sergiy Minko

Organizations

  • Clarkson University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemistry
  • Coatings
  • Copolymers
  • Detectors
  • Dew Point
  • Glass Transition Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Hydroxides
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Phase Separation
  • Polymeric Films
  • Polymers
  • Thin Films
  • Transition Temperature
  • Two Dimensional
  • Water Vapor

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Electrochemical Surface Science
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.