Novel lower critical solution temperature phase transition materials effectively control osmosis by mild temperature changes.

Osmosis can be controlled reversibly and effectively by mild temperature changes based on novel thermosensitive solutes with LCST transition. The nBu-TAEA thermosensitive solution can draw fresh water from seawater at temperatures less than the phase separation temperature, and the osmotic flow was reversed at higher temperatures. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012