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Updated: May 25, 2026

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties
Published on: January 8, 2016
Reversible control of electrochemical properties using thermally-responsive polymer electrolytes
Jesse C Kelly1, Mark Pepin, Dale L Huber
1Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, USA.
Abstract:
A thermally responsive copolymer is designed to modulate the properties of an electrolyte solution. The copolymer is prepared using pNIPAM, which governs the thermal properties, and acrylic acid, which provides the electrolyte ions. As the polymer undergoes a thermally activated phase transition, the local environment around the acid groups is reversibly switched, decreasing ion concentration and conductivity. The responsive electrolyte is used to control the activity of redox electrodes with temperature.
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