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Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process
Published on: March 21, 2014
Photochromic superabsorbent polymers
Thilini K Mudiyanselage1, Douglas C Neckers1
1Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, 43403, USA. neckers@photo.bgsu.edu.
Abstract:
Photochromic superabsorbent polymers (PSAPs) with a hydrophilic core and a photochromic shell were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization using acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) as monomers, potassium persulfate as the initiator, N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (BIS) as a cross-linker, sorbitan monostearate (Span60) as the dispersant, cyclohexane as the solvent and bis(methacryloylamino)azobenzene (AC) as the photochromic surface cross-linker. The polymer was characterized by NMR, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Water absorption (Q) and the photoresponse of the PSAPs was investigated. The PSAPs prepared have excellent water absorption (2800 g g-1). When the sample is irradiated at 350 nm water expulsion from the swollen PSAPs was observed.
