Morphology tuning in the formation of vaterite crystal thin films with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brush matrices

Yulai Han, Tatsuya Nishimura, Takashi Kato
2014 CrysteEngComm  
The use of a thermoresponsive polymer brush matrix resulted in the formation and morphology tuning of CaCO 3 crystal thin films. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) brushes with thickness of approximately 500 nm were synthesized and employed as crystallization templates for CaCO 3 . The PNIPAm brush matrix induced the formation of vaterite thin films in the presence of poly(acrylic acid). Moreover, crystallization of CaCO 3 at temperatures above and below the lower critical solution
more » ... of the PNIPAm brush matrices led to the preparation of vaterite films with distinctly different crystallographic orientations. The approach of using a stimuli-responsive polymer brush matrix may provide a novel way for the development of hybrid coating materials. 3540 | CrystEngComm, 2014, 16, 3540-3547 This journal is
doi:10.1039/c3ce42646g fatcat:jurnzq335fhnvefh4kypqvyoju