Figure 4: Thermo-response of NSGs.
From: Nano-structured smart hydrogels with rapid response and high elasticity
(a) Optical images showing the NSG and NG hydrogel samples in swollen states at 20 °C (<LCST) and in shrunken states at 40 °C (>LCST) in pure water. Scale bar, 10 mm. (b,c) Temperature dependence of the equilibrium swelling ratios of NSG and NG hydrogels, in which VT and V45 are the equilibrium volumes of hydrogels at T °C and 45 °C respectively, and Vp is the initial volume of hydrogels in the preparation tube. (d,e) Dynamic volume-deswelling behaviours of NSG and NG hydrogels after the environmental temperature jumping abruptly from 25 °C to 55 °C, in which Vt and V0 are the volumes of hydrogels at time t and at beginning (t=0, equilibrated in water at 25 °C) respectively.
