Abstract
Solvent properties of temperature-responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [PNIPAAm], in the aqueous solution was evaluated from the fluorescence spectra of probe molecules, 1-phenyl-N-naphthylamine and 8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate, With increasing in the concentration of PNIPAAm, the fluorescence intensities of the probes increased and the wavelength for the maximum emission shift to be shorter. From the correlation between the fluorescence intensity and PNIPAAm concentration, the extent of the probe distributed into the polymer media and its fluorescence intensity were successfully determined. The results indicated that the hydrated PNIPAAm has solvent properties similar to alcoholic solvents such as 1-propanol.
