Time-resolved structural evolution during the collapse of responsive hydrogels: The microgel-to-particle transition

Abstract

Adaptive hydrogels, often termed smart materials, are macromolecules whose structure adjusts to external stimuli. Responsive micro- and nanogels are particularly interesting because the small length scale enables very fast response times. Chemical cross-links provide topological constraints and define the three-dimensional structure of the microgels, whereas their porous structure permits fast mass transfer, enabling very rapid structural adaption of the microgel to the environment. The change of microgel structure involves a unique transition from a flexible, swollen finite-size macromolecular network, characterized by a fuzzy surface, to a colloidal particle with homogeneous density and a sharp surface. In this contribution, we determine, for the first time, the structural evolution during the microgel-to-particle transition. Time-resolved small-angle x-ray scattering experiments and computer simulations unambiguously reveal a two-stage process: In a first, very fast process, collapsed clusters form at the periphery, leading to an intermediate, hollowish core-shell structure that slowly transforms to a globule. This structural evolution is independent of the type of stimulus and thus applies to instantaneous transitions as in a temperature jump or to slower stimuli that rely on the uptake of active molecules from and/or exchange with the environment. The fast transitions of size and shape provide unique opportunities for various applications as, for example, in uptake and release, catalysis, or sensing.

Description
Keywords
Hydrogels, Macromolecules, Mass transfer, X ray scattering, Core shell structure
Citation
Keidel, R., Ghavami, A., Lugo, D. M., Lotze, G., Virtanen, O., Beumers, P., et al. (2018). Time-resolved structural evolution during the collapse of responsive hydrogels: The microgel-to-particle transition. 4(4). https://doi.org//10.1126/sciadv.aao7086
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License
CC BY 4.0 Unported