Research Projects

Certain class water-soluble polymers in solution as part or in whole excludes the solvated water and precipitates out when the temperature of the medium is above certain temperature termed as Lower Critical solution Temperature transition (LCsT). Above LCsT, hydration around the polymer chains becomes less prominent, due to breakage of weak hydrogen bonding present between segments of polymer chain. LCsT of the polymer varies as a function of molecular weight as well as concentration. The rationale of this research proposal is to exploit the LCsT transition at its highest concentration (solid state), i.e in thin films. The scientific objectives are a) to synthesise brush type polymers that respond to LCsT in humid atmosphere b) the molecular weight of the polymer need to be fine-tuned as a function of temperature and humidity c) the thickness of the thin film and the quantum of water collection. The hypothesis to be tested are a) 2-substituted poly(oxazoline) exhibits LCsT, the relationship between molecular weight and concentration in homopolymer vs brush type polymer b) whether water capturing from humid environment is feasible with homopolymers or it is important to have brush type copolymers which forms nanopatterns is required to channelize the collected water onto the thin film. To elucidate this the main experiment is to synthesise series of polymers with varying morphology that contains LCsT segments and test their responses as a function of humidity in thin film & compare it with solution state. In summary, it is proposed that brush type polymers that has hydrophobic channels and responsive hydrophilic segments are essential to bring out water capturing during cold night release during hot day time.