Development of Polymer Gel Sensors and Devices Controlled by Infrared Light andUltrasonic Waves

摘要

This research aims to develop sensors and devices based on polymer gels. Underthe support of the ARO grants (Technical monitor: Dr. Douglas Kiserow, Grant No. DAAH04-93-G-0215), we have made significant progress toward understanding, synthesis and application of gel systems. The major inventions are: (1) Synthesis and application of modulated polymer gels, (2) Bending of N-isopropylacrylamide gel under influence of infrared light, (3) CO2 laser controlled transmission of visible light in N-isopropylacrylamide gel, (4) Shape memory gels have been synthesized based on spatial modulation of the chemical nature of gels. A variety of shapes have been obtained including 'spiral', 'fish', 'numbers', 'alphabets' and 'tube', and (5) Change of the ultrasonic attenuation near the volume phase transition of gels. The accomplishments for the past four years have been published in 16 papers including one in Science, four in Journal of Chemical Physics, three in macromolecules, and two in Journal of Applied Polymer Science. Some of the results have been reported by Chemical and Engineering News (June 9, p.36-37, 1997), and Chemistry Industry (July 15, p.531-532,1996). One patent was filed to the U. S. Patent Office. Two graduate students have obtained their Ph.D. under the support of the ARO grants.