Insights on the Lower Critical Solution Temperature Behavior of pNIPAM in an Applied Electric Field

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), or pNIPAM, is a free-radical polymer that is commonly studied for uses in surface coatings, tissue engineering, energy storage, biosensing, and more, due to its temperature responsiveness. pNIPAM is known to solubilize at temperatures below its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and agglomerate above its LCST. This behavior has been shown to be reproducible and reversible. We confirmed this reversibility and the value of the LCST by performing dynamic light scattering (DLS) with a temperature sweep (increase and decrease). However, performing the same experiment under an applied voltage from copper electrodes, we observed a decrease in the LCST of pNIPAM and irreversible aggregation. Here we present preliminary data comparing the LCST behavior of pNIPAM in the presence of applied voltage using copper, aluminum, and carbon electrodes. We present data in support of the hypothesis that a phenomenon is occurring specifically with the use of copper electrodes that is altering pNIPAM LCST behavior.