Polymer Dipole Engineering Enables Ultra-Sensitive and Ion-Specific Tuning of Lower Critical Solution Temperature

, polarization of the hydrogen-bonded water works in synergy with enhanced interchain dipole-dipole interactions to lower the LCST. The dipole engineering strategy demonstrated here provides a rational design route to thermoresponsive polymers with ultrasensitive and broadly tunable phase transitions, offering new insight into the development of ion-responsive and thermoresponsive polymers.