CO2-triggered liquid-solid switching through a jamming mechanism

The concept of jamming is introduced into a CO2-responsive microgel suspension. The particle size of the microgel changes with the pH of the solvent and the rheological properties of the suspension are responsive to the triggering of CO2. At a certain concentration of the microgel, the microgel suspension transforms from a liquid into a solid-like material as CO2 is bubbled into it, and it returns to a liquid after the CO2 is blown away with N-2. The CO2-triggered jamming is rapid and reversible, leading to many interesting applications of the system.