Local Water Content in Polymer Gels Measured with Super-Resolved Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging.

Water molecules play an important role in the structure, function, and dynamics of (bio-) materials. A direct access to the number of water molecules in nanoscopic volumes can thus give new molecular insights into materials and allow for fine-tuning their properties in sophisticated applications. The determination of the local water content has become possible by the finding that H O quenches the fluorescence of red-emitting dyes.

Microgel-stabilized liquid crystal emulsions enable an analyte-induced ordering transition.

We develop a new strategy that involves the formation of microgel (MG) decorated liquid crystal (LC) droplets, which show remarkable stability. This system facilitates the analysis of the LC droplets that undergo an analyte-triggered conformational transition, thus optimizing the quantitation of aqueous analytes.

From One-Pot NH-Sulfoximidations of Thiophene Derivatives to Dithienylethene-Type Photoswitches.

Thiophene NH-sulfoximines have been synthesized using a one-pot NH-sulfoximidation reaction of thiophenes. The reactivity of the products was investigated, and the developed protocols were used for the synthesis of a new class of dithienylethene-type photoswitches containing a sulfoximidoyl group.

Fluid Dynamics of Microgel-Covered Drops Reveal Impact on Interfacial Conditions.

Microgels are deformable polymer-networks with conspicuous properties. Their surface- activity associated with their switchability makes their application in liquid-liquid systems, such as extraction processes, particularly promising. For their application as switchable stabilizers at the interface, a detailed understanding of their impact on process relevant phenomena, such as the sedimentation behavior, is necessary.

Nanoscopic Visualization of Cross-Linking Density in Polymer Networks with Diarylethene Photoswitches.

The in situ nanoscopic imaging of soft matter polymer structures is of importance to gain knowledge of the relationship between structure, properties, and functionality on the nanoscopic scale. Cross-linking of polymer chains effects the viscoelastic properties of gels. The correlation of mechanical properties with the distribution and amount of cross-linkers is relevant for applications and for a detailed understanding of polymers on the molecular scale.