Switchable control of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity in conjugated polymer nanoparticles by carbon dioxide

Abstract

We synthesized yellow-emissive, fluorine-based conjugated polymer to fabricate CO₂-responsive conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNPs). The CPNPs were functionalized with tertiary amine to have responsiveness to CO₂. The amine-functionalized CPNPs became hydrophilic by CO₂, bubbling because the bubbling led to formation of cationic ammonium ions at the side chains of the hydrophobic CPNPs. This resulted in high dispersion stability in aqueous phase even after vigorous mixing in the presence of organic phase (1-octanol). Subsequent N₂ bubbling was done to remove CO₂ present in water, leading to deprotonation of the side chains of CPNPs. The CPNPs became hydrophobic and moved to the organic phase. The CO₂-responsive property was based on the amine groups in the side chain of polymer that reversibly interacted with bicarbonate ion (HCO₃^-), formed by dissolving CO₂ in water, generating switchable hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity.

Keywords:

• conjugated polymer nanoparticles
• fluorescence
• switchable hydrophilicity

Acknowledgment

Financial support from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korean government through Basic Science Research Program (2018R1A2A2A14022019) and Nuclear R&D Project (2016M2B2B1945085) is gratefully acknowledged.