Herein, we developed
a simple procedure for synthesizing micrometer-sized
microgel particles as a suspension in an aqueous solution and thin
films deposited as shells on different inorganic cores. A sufficiently
high constant potential was applied to the working electrode to commence
the initiator decomposition that resulted in gelation. Under hydrodynamic
conditions, this initiation allowed preparing different morphology
microgels at room temperature. Importantly, neither heating nor UV-light
illumination was needed to initiate the polymerization. Moreover,
thin films of the cross-linked gel were anchored on different core
substrates, including silica and magnetic nanoparticles. Scanning
electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy imaging confirmed
the microgel particles’ and films’ irregular shape and
porous structure. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that
the core coating with the microgel film was successful. Dynamic light
scattering measured the micrometer size of gel particles with different
combinations of acrylic monomers. Thermogravimetric analysis and the
first-derivative thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the microgels’
thermal stability of different compositions was different. Fourier-transform
infrared and
13
C NMR spectroscopy showed successful copolymerization
of the main, functional, and cross-linking monomers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.