Kinetics of volume changes of responsive microgels (B03)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: from 2012 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 191948804

Microgels are known for their rapid response to external stimuli. This feature makes the analysis of the kinetics also challenging. In this project, we study the kinetics of the volume change in detail for the uptake and release of molecules. Starting from microgels with cononsolvency where the volume change is induced by a co-solvent change, the scope will be expanded to the uptake/release of polyelectrolytes. To resolve the underlying phenomena, experiments will be performed in a newly developed microfluidic setup and using stopped-flow. The data will be used in thermodynamic models leading to a sound understanding of volume change kinetics.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 985: Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr.-Ing. André Bardow; Professor Dr. Kai Leonhard, until 6/2016; Professor Dr. Walter Richtering