Influence of polyelectrolyte multilayer adsorption on the temperature sensitivity of Tpoly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) microgels

The electrophoretic mobility and temperature-dependent particle size of poly(Nisopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) microgels after alternating adsorption of poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) have been determined. First a PNiPAM-co-acrylic acid (AAc) shell was added to the PNiPAM microgel, then PDADMAC and PSS were adsorbed alternately. The studies of the electrophoretic mobility revealed charge reversal when a polyelectrolyte (PE) layer was adsorbed. Particle size measurements revealed a strong influence of polyelectrolyte adsorption on the temperature-dependent particle swelling. The strong influence of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte on the particle size is in contrast to polyelectrolyte multilayer adsorption on rigid particles.