| 초록 |
The flow of water used in hydropower generation, purification of wastewater, etc., is usually made using a height difference or power unit. However, using a hydrogel composites, a water pumping system can be constructed that operates with temperature changes. In this study, water swelling and shrinking was controlled by using thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogel and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites. The composites were prepared by directional freezing of PNIPAm to make cylindrical pores, and subsequent infiltration of PDMS substrate to the end of micro-channeled PNIPAm. The composites can repeat shrinking and swelling in water following temperature cycles. When they shrink, water droplets can form and PNIPAm/PDMS phase at the end of hydrogels acts a one-way flow valve. Thus, the water droplets cannot backflow through the PNIPAm/PDMS phase, only roll over the substrate. We successfully make one-way water flow system using PNIPAm/PDMS hydrogel composites. |
