Free-standing thermosensitive composite gel particles incorporating ionic liquids

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In this study, to develop free-standing gel particles that exhibit the thermosensitive properties of the incorporated ionic liquid (IL) without being dispersed in the IL, composite gel particles consisting of 2-phenylethyl methacrylate polymer (PPhEMA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared by seeded polymerization of MMA in the presence of PPhEMA/IL gel particles, in which PPhEMA exhibited lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase transition behavior in IL. The PPhEMA phase exhibited LCST-type volume-phase transition behavior and separation of IL occurred above the LCST. In contrast, the PMMA phase was swollen with IL separated from the PPhEMA phase. Interestingly, the composite gel particles exhibited similar volume-phase transition behavior in both air and vacuum without leaking of IL from gel particles, which should be free-standing thermosensitive gel particles.