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Photoresponsive surface molecularly imprinted poly(ether sulfone) microfibers
Dongsheng Wang1, Xiaoxue Zhang, Shengqiang Nie
1College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 17, 2012
Summary
Researchers developed photoresponsive microfibers for selective 4-hydrobenzoic acid (4-HA) capture and release using light. This new method modifies polymers, making them responsive to specific light wavelengths for controlled molecular interactions.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Chemistry
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Developing smart materials with tunable properties is crucial for advanced separation and delivery systems.
- Photoresponsive polymers offer dynamic control over molecular interactions triggered by light.
- Molecular imprinting creates selective binding sites within polymer matrices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize photoresponsive surface molecularly imprinted poly(ether sulfone) microfibers.
- To achieve selective photoregulated uptake and release of 4-hydrobenzoic acid (4-HA).
- To demonstrate a versatile method for creating azo-containing photoresponsive polymers.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of poly(ether sulfone) microfibers via nitration, wet-spinning, nitro reduction, and diazotation.
- Utilizing light irradiation at 450 nm for uptake and 365 nm for release of 4-HA.
- Applying the azo modification technique to polysulfone and poly(ether ether ketone).
Main Results:
- The synthesized microfibers exhibited selective binding of 4-HA under 450 nm irradiation.
- Controlled release of 4-HA was achieved upon irradiation with 365 nm light.
- Polysulfone and poly(ether ether ketone) also demonstrated significant photoresponsibility after azo modification.
Conclusions:
- A facile and effective method for preparing photoresponsive azo-containing polymers was established.
- The developed microfibers show potential for light-controlled selective adsorption and release applications.
- The azo modification strategy is broadly applicable to various benzene-ring-containing polymers.
