Reinforced hydrogels via carbon nitride initiated polymerization

Kumru, B., Shalom, M., Antonietti, M. and Schmidt, B. V.K.J. (2017) Reinforced hydrogels via carbon nitride initiated polymerization. Macromolecules, 50(5), pp. 1862-1869. (doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b02691)

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Abstract

The utilization of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) as photoinitiator for hydrogel formation is reported. On top of the photochemical activity, g-CN entails the role of a reinforcing agent. Hydrogels formed via g-CN (0.6 wt % g-CN and 11 wt % solid content in total) possess significantly increased mechanical strength, around 32 times stronger storage moduli (from 250 Pa for the reference sample up to 8300 Pa for g-CN derived hydrogels) than the ones initiated with common radical initiators. In addition, the g-CN derived hydrogels show mechanical properties that are pH dependent. Therefore, g-CN acts as a photoinitiator for hydrogel formation and as reinforcer at the same time.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Schmidt, Dr Bernhard
Authors: Kumru, B., Shalom, M., Antonietti, M., and Schmidt, B. V.K.J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:Macromolecules
Publisher:American Chemical Society
ISSN:0024-9297
ISSN (Online):1520-5835
Published Online:24 February 2017

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