Fundamental study on dynamics of hydration and structural transition of polymers in water

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25288099
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Polymer/Textile materials
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Maeda Yasushi 福井大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60242484)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Sugihara Shinji 福井大学, 大学院工学研究科, 准教授 (70377472)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 高分子構造・物性 / 高分子溶液 / 応答性高分子 / 分子分光 / 一分子計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The effects of hydration, especially hydrophobic hydration, on the phase behaviors of temperature-responsive polymers as a model system for the mechanism of protein foldings have been investigated from both experimental and theoretical points of view. We showed that the ν(C-D) bands of the polymers possessing deuterated alkyl groups at specific site exhibit red shifts on the phase separation and that the changes in hydrogen bonding to the ester and the alkyl groups are important to the shifts. We revealed the effects of copolymer and solvent compositions on five thermodynamic parameters such as ΔV and ΔS by analyzing temperature-pressure phase diagrams of various polymers. Tip-enhanced Raman spectrometers exhibiting special resolution beyond diffraction limit have also be prepared from atomic force microscopes and Raman spectrometers to investigate hydration of polymer chains in nano spaces.

Free Research Field

高分子物理化学