Temperature- and salt-responsive polyoxometalate-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hybrid macromolecules in aqueous solution

Polyoxometalate (POM) polar head groups were covalently functionalized with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) tails. The macromolecular hybrid demonstrates solution behavior of hydrophilic macroions by self-assembling into blackberry structures at room temperature. The hybrid behaves like an amphiphilic surfactant by forming a vesicular structure when the temperature is above the phase transition of PNIPAM. The reversible self-assembly is also salt-sensitive and the salt-induced smaller vesicular formation results from counterion-association.