A new kind of dualistic intelligent hydrogel [P(AMPS/NIPA)], which has the characters of both PAMPS and PNIPA, was introduced. For the purpose of synthesizing the P(AMPS/NIPA) hydrogel, the polymerization between 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA), which was initiated by the microwave low temperature plasma, was investigated. The influencing factors such as plasma-treating time and power, concentration of monomers and crosslinking agent, mole fraction of AMPS in mixed monomers, and temperature of polymerization were analyzed and discussed in detail. The optimal synthesizing condition of P(AMPS/NIPA) was determined according to the variety in the swelling ratio of the hydrogel. IR spectra and microscopic photos were made to characterize the functional groups and the three-dimension crosslinked network of the dualistic intelligent hydrogel. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.