Chemically crosslinked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-block-4-vinylpyridine) organogel with myriad applications

We report the synthesis of a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-block-4-vinylpyridine) (PNIPAM-b-P4VP) block copolymer and its subsequent chemical crosslinking to form a quaternized organogel. Oscillatory shear measurements are indicative of a robust elastic network in the organogel, and the critical gel point is found to be 8 wt% block copolymer with 0.8 wt% crosslinker. Interestingly, the myriad applications of the organogel across domains, including anionic dye adsorption, heavy metal removal, and antibacterial activity, suggest a new paradigm for wastewater treatment.