Environmentally responsive polymers have gained great attention due to their applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other areas. In this report, we explore these ''smart'' polymers for energy and fuels applications. We present the investigation of a photoresponsive polymer, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and a temperature responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), as capping materials for aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs). Both the PMMA-Al NPs and PNIPAM-Al NPs demonstrate good air stability. After exposure to UV radiation, the PMMA-Al NPs react considerably faster with alkaline solutions to generate hydrogen, compared to unphotolyzed samples. The preliminary data of the PNIPAM-Al NPS indicates that the material reacted with water above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) much more faster than water below LCST. Powder X ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared with total attenuated reflection (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the crystalline aluminum cores and the presence of coating material, respectively. Different techniques were used to study the thermal profiles for polymer oxidation and metal ignition exotherms. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images show the average size of PMMA-Al NPs materials ranging from 23 nm to 45 nm. Photolysis times of 6, 24, and 52 hours were investigated in order to establish a minimum UV exposure time for the activation of the PMMA-Al NPs toward hydrolytic hydrogen gas generator. The results prove our concept that the energy stored in the material can be switch on when exposed to an appropriate environmental stimulus.

Proof-of-concept investigations using environmentally responsive polymers as capping material for aluminum nanoparticles

251st National Meeting (2016)

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