College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2026-04-28 12:32:55
Major
Chemical Engineering
Honors Course
CHEE 497-001
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
The goal of this honors project is to develop a cost-effective and accessible method for entrapping stimuli-responsive polymers onto solid substrates using aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The entrapment network process will first be replicated on glass or silicon using APTES and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), involving spin coating and thermal annealing to chemically bond the polymer to the substrate. Once validated, the method will be applied to other stimuli-responsive polymers, including thermo-responsive, electroactive, and pH-sensitive types, with APTES as a control. For each sample, film stability, responsiveness, and surface behavior will be evaluated using contact angles, optical microscopy, and spectroscopic analysis, followed by statistical evaluation. The project will be shared through IdeaExchange and presented in a detailed report.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Bi-min Newby
First Reader
Dr. Roya Gitiafroz
Second Reader
Dr. Edward Evans
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Bungard, Walter and Nixon, Ryan, "Surface Immobilization of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers using a Network of Aminopropyltriethoxysilane" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2121.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2121