Synthesis of Polyampholyte Janus-like Microgels by Coacervation of Reactive Precursors in Precipitation Polymerization

Wenjing Xu; Andrey Rudov; Alex Oppermann; Sarah Wypysek; Michael Kather; Ricarda Schroeder; Walter Richtering; Igor I Potemkin; Dominik Wöll; Andrij Pich

doi:10.1002/anie.201910450

Synthesis of Polyampholyte Janus-like Microgels by Coacervation of Reactive Precursors in Precipitation Polymerization

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2020 Jan 13;59(3):1248-1255. doi: 10.1002/anie.201910450. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Authors

Wenjing Xu^{1

2}, Andrey Rudov^{1

3}, Alex Oppermann⁴, Sarah Wypysek⁴, Michael Kather^{1

2}, Ricarda Schroeder^{1

2}, Walter Richtering⁴, Igor I Potemkin^{1

3

5}, Dominik Wöll⁴, Andrij Pich^{1

2

6}

Affiliations

¹ DWI-Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V., RWTH-Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
² Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
³ Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.
⁴ Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
⁵ National Research South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russian Federation.
⁶ Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Controlling the distribution of ionizable groups of opposite charge in microgels is an extremely challenging task, which could open new pathways to design a new generation of stimuli-responsive colloids. Herein, we report a straightforward approach for the synthesis of polyampholyte Janus-like microgels, where ionizable groups of opposite charge are located on different sides of the colloidal network. This synthesis approach is based on the controlled self-assembly of growing polyelectrolyte microgel precursors during the precipitation polymerization process. We confirmed the morphology of polyampholyte Janus-like microgels and demonstrate that they are capable of responding quickly to changes in both pH and temperature in aqueous solutions.

Keywords: Janus-like microgels; molecular modeling; polyampholyte; responsive materials; self-assembly.

Grants and funding

SFB 985/Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft