Mechano-responsive polymer solutions based on CO2 supersaturation: shaking-induced phase transitions and self-assembly or dissociation of polymeric nanoparticles

Abstract

Mechanical stimulation of supersaturated aqueous CO2 solutions is accompanied by a pH increase within seconds. In solutions of tailored homo- and AB diblock copolymers this is exploited to induce micelle formation, or, taking advantage of an aqueous upper critical solution temperature transition, nanoparticle disassembly.