Switchable dispersivity and molecular-trapping performance of mesostructured CaCO-thermosensitive polymer composite microspheres.

Monodispersed thermosensitive microspheres were synthesized by the combination of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and a mesostructured framework consisting of vaterite CaCO nanocrystals ∼20 nm in diameter. The switchable dispersivity in water and organic media was provided to the rigid porous framework by the soft shell of the thermosensitive organic component. The microspheres were shuttlecocked between water and hydrophobic organic media by a swing in temperature across the lower critical solution temperature (LCST).