Abstract: Thermosensitive ion-imprinted hydrogel (IIH) with interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure was prepared by one-pot strategy using Zn2+ as the template ion. The IIH exhibited a coarse and irregular surface compared to the non-imprinted hydrogel (NIH), probably due to the presence of the template ion during the polymerization process. The swelling ratio (SR) of the IIH was strongly dependent on both pH and temperature. The Zn2+ adsorption by the IIH and NIH gradually increased with temperature, and the highest affinity was obtained at 50 °C. Selectivity studies indicated that the IIH exhibited excellent recognition ability towards template ions above the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) due to the thermosensitive adsorption property
Template and target information: zinc ion, Zn(II)
Author keywords: polymers, hydrogel, interpenetrating polymer network (IPN), microstructure, ion imprinting