The influence of deposition solution pH and ionic strength on the quality of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel-based thin films and etalons.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-co-AAc) microgel-based thin films and etalons were fabricated via "painting" a pNIPAm-co-AAc microgel monolayer on a Au-coated substrate, followed by the deposition of another Au overlayer. Herein, in situ observation of how the pH and ionic strength (I.S.) of the painting solution influenced microgel deposition and, ultimately, the optical homogeneity and pH sensitivity of the etalon was carried out. It was shown that microgels closely pack on the Au substrate when they are deposited at pH 3.0, leading to a good optical homogeneity. Additionally, increasing the painting solution I.S. leads to a slight decrease in microgel packing density on the substrate, but enhances the ability of the microgel layer to swell, exhibiting thicker polymer layers when immersed in pH 3.0 solutions. When painting at pH 7.5, the optical homogeneity of the etalon is improved at the expense of swellability, exaggerated high I.S. We also determined the device's sensitivity to pH changes and found a maximum sensitivity when the microgels were deposited at pH 7.5 with an I.S. of 10 mM.