Double dynamic hydrogels formed by wormlike surfactant micelles and cross-linked polymer

Andrey V Shibaev; Alexander I Kuklin; Vladimir N Torocheshnikov; Anton S Orekhov; Sébastien Roland; Guillaume Miquelard-Garnier; Olga Matsarskaia; Ilias Iliopoulos; Olga E Philippova

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2021.11.198

Double dynamic hydrogels formed by wormlike surfactant micelles and cross-linked polymer

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2022 Apr:611:46-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.11.198. Epub 2021 Dec 4.

Authors

Andrey V Shibaev¹, Alexander I Kuklin², Vladimir N Torocheshnikov³, Anton S Orekhov⁴, Sébastien Roland⁵, Guillaume Miquelard-Garnier⁵, Olga Matsarskaia⁶, Ilias Iliopoulos⁵, Olga E Philippova⁷

Affiliations

¹ Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.
² Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia.
³ Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.
⁴ Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia; A.V. Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, Moscow 119333, Russia.
⁵ Laboratoire PIMM, Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, CNRS, Cnam, HESAM Universite, Paris 75013, France.
⁶ Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble 38042, France.
⁷ Physics Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia. Electronic address: phil@polly.phys.msu.ru.

PMID: 34929438
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.11.198

Abstract

Hypothesis: Interpenetrating networks consisting of a polymer network with dynamic cross-links and a supramolecular network allow obtaining hydrogels with significantly enhanced mechanical properties.

Experiments: Binary hydrogels composed of a dynamically cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) network and a transient network of entangled highly charged mixed wormlike micelles (WLMs) of surfactants (potassium oleate and n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide) were prepared and studied by rheometry, SANS, USANS, cryo-TEM, and NMR spectroscopy.

Findings: Binary hydrogels show significantly enhanced rheological properties (a 3400-fold higher viscosity and 27-fold higher plateau modulus) as compared to their components taken separately. This is due to the microphase separation leading to local concentrating of PVA and WLMs providing larger number of polymer-polymer contacts for cross-linking and longer WLMs with more entanglements. Such materials are very promising for the application in many areas, ranging from enhanced oil recovery to biomedical uses.

Keywords: Hydrogels; Polymer networks; Self-assembly; Surfactants; Wormlike micelles.

MeSH terms

Hydrogels
Micelles*
Polymers
Rheology
Surface-Active Agents*

Substances

Hydrogels
Micelles
Polymers
Surface-Active Agents