Carbon-Doped BN Nanosheets for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene

Carbon-based catalysts have demonstrated great potential for the aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation reaction (ODH). However, its widespread application is retarded by the unavoidable deactivation owing to the appearance of coking or combustion under ODH conditions. The synthesis and characterization of porous structure of BCN nanosheets as well as their application as a novel catalyst for ODH is reported. Such BCN nanosheets consist of hybridized, randomly distributed domains of h-BN and C phases, where C, B, and N were confirmed to covalent bond in the graphene-like layers. Our studies reveal that BCN exhibits both high activity and selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene, as well as excellent oxidation resistance. The discovery of such a simple chemical process to synthesize highly active BCN allows the possibility of carbocatalysis to be explored.     

Control of Polymer Morphology for Biomedical Applications. I. Hydrophilic Polycarbonate Membranes for Dialysis

The control of polymer morphology for biomedical applications is discussed by a detailed reference to the tailormaking of polycarbonates for hemodialysis membranes, a case in which control was necessary on molecular, microcrystalline, and colloidal levels.

On the molecular level, the hydrophilicity of the parent polymer, bisphenol-A polycarbonate, was increased with the introduction of aliphatic ether groups by the copolymerization of bisphenol-A and the polyethylene glycols. On the microcrystalline level it was found that the bisphenol-A polycarbonate blocks formed crystallites within the amorphous matrix composed of the polyethylene oxide blocks. Because of this the modified polymer retained most of the strength of the parent bisphenold polycarbonate. Another striking property exhibited by the copolymer is that the tensile strength of the wet material was in excess of that of the dry. This has been attributed to plasticization and realignment of the polyethylene oxide blocks by water molecules. Finally, morphology on the colloidal level was controlled by the preparation of asymmetric membranes possessing a skin layer and a substructure whose void volume, and hence resistance to material transport, could be varied at will.     

Polymer/boron nitride nanosheet composite with high thermal conductivity and sufficient dielectric strength

An efficient method was reported to fabricate boron nitride (BN) nanosheets using a sonication–centrifugation technique in DMF solvent. Then non‐covalent functionalization and covalent functionalization of BN nanosheets were performed by octadecylamine (ODA) and hyperbranched aromatic polyamide (HBP), respectively. Then, three different types of epoxy composites were fabricated by incorporation of BN nanosheets, BN‐ODA, and BN‐HBP. Among all three epoxy composites, the thermal conductivity and dielectric strength of epoxy composites using BN‐HBP nanosheets display the highest value, efficiently enhancing to 9.81 W/m K at 50 vol% and 34.8 kV/mm at 2.7 vol% (increase by 4057% and 9.4% compared with the neat epoxy), respectively. The significantly improved thermal conductivity and dielectric strength are attributed to the large surface area, which increases the contact area between nanosheets and nanosheets, as well as enhancement of the interfacial interaction between nanosheets and epoxy matrix. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Iridium(III) complexes as polymer bound oxygen sensors

New luminescent oxygen sensors have been prepared by covalent attachment of iridium complex luminophores to a silicone polymer. The oxygen sensor properties of these novel materials were compared to related sensors in which the luminophore is dispersed within the polymer matrix. Covalently bound luminophore materials showed increased sensitivity to oxygen over dispersions in pure silicone polymer as well as in blends with polystyrene, which was added to improve the mechanical properties of the material.     

A steady‐state mass balance model of the polycarbonate–CO2 system reveals a self‐regulating cell growth mechanism in the solid‐state microcellular process

A simple mechanism regulating polymer mobility is demonstrated to determine initial and final growth states of solid‐state microcellular foams. This mechanism, governed by the extent of plasticization of the polymer by the dissolved gases, is examined with a mass balance model and results from foam growth experiments. Polycarbonate was exposed to CO₂, which acted as both a plasticizing gas and a physical blowing agent driving foam growth. The polycarbonate specimens were saturated to the equilibrium gas concentration at 25 °C for CO₂ pressures of 1–6 MPa in 1‐MPa increments. Equilibrated specimens were heated in a glycerin bath until thermal equilibrium was reached, and a steady foam structure was attained. Glycerin bath temperatures of 30–150 °C in 10 °C increments were examined. Using knowledge of gas solubility, the equation of state for CO₂, the effective glass‐transition temperature as a function of gas concentration, and a model for mass balance within a solid‐state foam, we demonstrate that foam growth terminates when sufficient gas is driven from the polycarbonate matrix into the foam cells. The foam cell walls freeze at the elevated bath temperature because of gas transport from the polycarbonate matrix and the associated rise in the polymer glass‐transition temperature to that of the heated bath. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 868–880, 2001     

Photochemical activation of a polycarbonate surface for covalent immobilization of a protein ligand

Polycarbonate—a thermostable polymer is activated by a simple and rapid method using a photolinker, 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (FNAB) for covalent immobilization of a biomolecule. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is used as a model enzyme to check the efficacy of the activated surface. HRP is immobilized on the activated polycarbonate surface without addition of any reagent or catalyst and is found to give 2-2.5-fold increase in absorbance with the substrate as compared to the directly adsorbed enzyme. Photochemical attachment of FNAB to the PC surface is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which shows the presence of nitrogen and fluorine in the ratio of 2:1 in the activated polycarbonate. Disappearance of fluorine peak in the XP spectra of PC bound enzyme further confirms the covalent binding of HRP, through displacement of fluorine moiety of the activated PC by the amino group of the protein. Optimized concentration of the photolinker is found as 6 μmol of FNAB per well and time of photo irradiation is 8 min for activation of a PCR polycarbonate plate. PC bound HRP has shown enhanced thermal and storage stability. Kinetic studies of the immobilized HRP shows improved catalytic activity. The potential application of activated polycarbonate surface includes immobilization of biomolecules for biosensors, immunoassays, and protein and DNA micro-arrays. Due to the stability of the polycarbonate at high temperature, the activated polycarbonate has an advantage for immobilization of thermostable biomolecule such as thermostable enzyme for reaction at elevated temperature.     

Modification of graphene/graphene oxide with polymer brushes using controlled/living radical polymerization

Graphene nanosheets possess a range of extraordinary physical and electrical properties with enormous potential for applications in microelectronics, photonic devices, and nanocomposite materials. However, single graphene platelets tend to undergo agglomeration due to strong π–π and Van der Waals interactions, which significantly compromises the final material properties. One of the strategies to overcome this problem, and to increase graphene compatibility with a receiving polymer host matrix, is to modify graphene (or graphene oxide (GO)) with polymer brushes. The research to date can be grouped into approaches involving grafting‐from and grafting‐to techniques, and further into approaches relying on covalent or noncovalent attachment of polymer chains to the suitably modified graphene/GO. The present Highlight article describes research efforts to date in this area, focusing on the use of controlled/living radical polymerization techniques. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Photochemistry of bisphenol-a based polycarbonate: The effect of the matrix and early detection of photo-fries product formation

The effect of polymer matrices on a photoinduced rearrangement process has been shown to be dependent upon whether the photoreactive group is attached to a polymer backbone, or free. If diphenylcarbonate is simply embedded in a polymer matrix, the rearrangement process is independent of whether the host film is above or below its glass transition. However, if the diphenylcarbonate group is incorporated as part of a polycarbonate backbone, the Fries rearrangement process is significantly reduced for photolyses conducted at temperatures well below the glass transition of polycarbonate. The utility of fluorescence spectroscopy in identification of the initial salicylate type photo-Fries type rearrangement product of polycarbonate is also demonstrated. The broad, structureless fluorescence spectrum with peak maximum at 470 nm produced by photolysis of polycarbonate films for short time periods is assigned to emission from phenyl salicylate type photoproducts. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polymer/boron nitride nanocomposite materials for superior thermal transport performance

Boron nitride nanosheets were dispersed in polymers to give composite films with excellent thermal transport performances approaching the record values found in polymer/graphene nanocomposites. Similarly high performance at lower BN loadings was achieved by aligning the nanosheets in poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix by simple mechanical stretching (see picture).     

Covalent polymeric modification of graphene nanosheets via surface‐initiated single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization

Graphene nanosheets offer intriguing electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties and are expected to find a variety of applications in high‐performance nanocomposite materials. Dispersal of graphene nanosheets in polymer hosts and precise interface control are challenging due to their strong interlayer cohesive energy and surface inertia. Here, an efficient strategy is presented for growing polymers directly from the surface of reduced graphene oxide (GO). This method involves the covalent attachment of Br‐containing initiating groups onto the surface of hydrazine hydrate reduced GO via a diazonium addition and the succeeding linking of poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) chains (71.7 wt % grafting efficiency) via surface‐initiated single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) to graphene nanosheets. The resulting materials were characterized by using a range of testing techniques and it was proved that polymer chains were successfully introduced to the surface of exfoliated graphene sheets. After grafting with PtBMA, the modified graphene sheets still maintained the separated single layers, and the dispersibility was improved significantly. The method is believed to offer possibilities for optimizing the processing properties and interface structure of graphene–polymer nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.     

Grafting polymerization of single‐handed helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s on graphene oxide and their application in enantioselective separation

We herein report a “grafting from” strategy to immobilize optically active helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s onto graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. After covalently bounding alkyne‐Pd(II) initiator onto GO nanosheets, the designed GO/polymer composites P1 @GO and P1 ‐b‐ P2 @GO featuring single‐handed helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s growing from GO nanosheets were prepared by sequential addition of the chiral and achiral isocyanide monomers. Post‐synthetic hydrolysis rendered P1 ‐b‐ P3 @GO to improve the hydrophilicity. The successful covalent bonding of poly(phenyl isocyanide)s chains onto GO nanosheets was certified by several cross evidences including scan emission microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Circular dichroism spectra proved that the chiral information was introduced through the grafted single‐handed helical polymer chains successfully. In addition, the resulting GO/polymer composites were explored as a chiral additive to induce enantioselective crystallization of racemic organic molecules. Preferential formation of rod‐like L‐alanine crystals was induced by composites bearing right‐handed helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s. The enantiomeric excess value of the induced crystals reached 76%, displaying the potential in future applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2092–2103     

Metal Oxide Nanosheets as 2D Building Blocks for the Design of Novel Materials

Research into 2-dimensional materials has soared during the last couple of years. Next to van der Waals type 2D materials such as graphene and h-BN, less well-known oxidic 2D equivalents also exist. Most 2D oxide nanosheets are derived from layered metal oxide phases, although few 2D oxide phases can be also made by bottom-up solution syntheses. Owing to the strong electrostatic interactions within layered metal oxide crystals, a chemical process is usually needed to delaminate them into their 2D constituents. This Review article provides an overview of the synthesis of oxide nanosheets, and methods to assemble them into nanocomposites, mono- or multilayer films. In particular, the use of Langmuir–Blodgett methods to form monolayer films over large surface areas, and the emerging use of ink jet printing to form patterned functional films is emphasized. The utilization of nanosheets in various areas of technology, for example, electronics, energy storage and tribology, is illustrated, with special focus on their use as seed layers for epitaxial growth of thin films, and as electrochemically active electrodes for supercapacitors and Li ion batteries.     

Glass transition in semicrystalline polycarbonate

The intensity of the glass transition in semicrystalline polycarbonate was measured by differential scanning calorimetry and by thermally stimulated discharge of electrets. Solution-cast and bulk-crystallized samples possessing widely varying crystallinities and morphologies were investigated. It is shown that the intensity of the glass transition is governed by the extent of primary crystallization and is a linear combination of intensities from the bulk amorphous regions and from noncrystalline polymer within semicrystalline aggregates such as spherulites. The intensity of the glass transition within spherulites is about 0.1–0.3 as great as that in bulk amorphous regions. A three-phase model incorporating two distinct types of noncrystalline polycarbonate is proposed to account for the properties of this polymer.     

高储能密度聚酰亚胺/钛酸钡/水滑石复合薄膜的制备与性能

利用零维纳米粒子与二维纳米片在聚合物基体中的协同分散,构筑纳米粒子/二维纳米片/聚酰亚胺(PI)三元复合体系,系统研究了零维-二维组合纳米填料对复合材料介电常数、击穿强度、储能密度以及机械性能的影响.结果表明:采用氟碳表面活性剂插层修饰可以将水滑石剥离为水滑石二维纳米片(HT),在此纳米片溶液中分散钛酸钡纳米粒子(BT),并进行聚酰亚胺的原位聚合.在聚合物溶液形成薄膜的过程中,二维纳米片和纳米粒子的协同作用抑制了各自的团聚,改善了2种纳米填料在聚合物薄膜中的分散状况.在所制备的PI/BT/HT复合薄膜中,HT有利于改善BT在PI基体中的均匀分散,提高了薄膜的击穿强度,进而提升了复合薄膜的储能密度.与仅加入20%BT相比,在聚酰亚胺中同时加入2种填料20%BT和1%HT时,击穿强度达到354.4 kV/mm,储能密度达到2.58 J/cm3,分别提高了12.4%和14.6%.因此,在纳米粒子/聚合物复合材料中增加少量二维纳米片就可以显著改善其性能,这种方法有望在更多纳米复合功能材料领域得到应用.     

A Molecular Photosensitizer in a Porous Block Copolymer Matrix-Implications for the Design of Photocatalytically Active Membranes

Recently, porous photocatalytically active block copolymer membranes were introduced, based on heterogenized molecular catalysts. Here, we report the integration of the photosensitizer, i. e., the light absorbing unit in an intermolecular photocatalytic system into block copolymer membranes in a covalent manner. We study the resulting structure and evaluate the orientational mobility of the photosensitizer as integral part of the photocatalytic system in such membranes. To this end we utilize transient absorption anisotropy, highlighting the temporal reorientation of the transition dipole moment probed in a femtosecond pump-probe experiment. Our findings indicate that the photosensitizer is rigidly bound to the polymer membrane and shows a large heterogeneity of absolute anisotropy values as a function of location probed within the matrix. This reflects the sample inhomogeneity arising from different protonation states of the photosensitizer and different intermolecular interactions of the photosensitizers within the block copolymer membrane scaffold.     

Template synthesis of polyaniline and poly(2-methoxyaniline) nanotubes: comparison of the formation mechanisms

The process of polyaniline (PANI), poly(2-methoxyaniline) (POMA) nanotubes formation was investigated. Polyaniline and poly(2-methoxyaniline) nanotubes were prepared by chemical in situ deposition within the pores of polycarbonate membranes. It was found that the formation of polyaniline and poly(2-methoxyaniline) proceeds by two substantially different mechanisms. In the case of PANI, the polymer is first formed in the polymerization solution (the solution containing the monomer and oxidant, where the polycarbonate substrate is placed), and then it precipitates on/into the membrane. In the case of POMA, the oxidized 2-methoxyaniline molecules are first adsorbed on polycarbonate surface, and then, as a consequence of their accumulation, they recombine to form the polymer.     

可释放一氧化氮聚合物材料的制备及其在生物医疗器械中的应用

一氧化氮（NO）是一种很好的血小板黏附或活化的抑制剂，同时也是很有效的抗平滑肌细胞增生剂。可释放NO的聚合物材料显示出较好的抗血栓形成及抑制细胞增生的性能。本文综述了可释放NO聚合物材料的制备方法及其近年来在生物医疗器械中的应用。用来制备可释放NO聚合物材料的NO供体主要有两大类，一类是亲核NO供体N-diazeniumdiolates，另一类是S-亚硝基硫醇（RENOs）。制备可释放NO聚合物材料的方法主要有3种：（1）通过物理掺杂的方式将小分子的NO供体分散到聚合物材料中；（2）对聚合物材料的填料微粒进行化学改性，得到可释放NO的填料粒子，再将其填充到聚合物材料中；（3）通过共价键将可释放NO的基团连接到聚合物主链及侧链上。所得到的可释放NO聚合物材料在血管内传感器、体外血液循环电路和体内移植血管等生物医疗器械中有广泛的应用。     

Organogelator–Cellulose Composite for Practical and Eco‐Friendly Marine Oil‐Spill Recovery

Marine oil spills pose serious threats to the ecosystem and economy. There is much interest in developing sorbents that can tackle such spills. We have developed a novel sorbent by impregnating cellulose pulp with a sugar‐derived oleogelator, 1,2:5,6‐di‐O ‐cyclohexylidene‐mannitol. The gelator molecules mask the surface‐exposed hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibrils by engaging them in H‐bonding and expose their hydrophobic parts making the fibers temporarily hydrophobic (water contact angle 110°). This sorbent absorbs oil effectively, selectively and instantly from oil–water mixtures due to its hydrophobicity. Then the gelator molecules get released uniformly in the oil and later self‐assemble to fibers, as evident from SEM analysis, congealing the oil within the matrix. This hierarchical entrapment of the oil by non‐covalent polymeric fibers within a covalent polymer matrix makes the gel very strong (230‐fold increase in the yield stress) and rigid, making it suitable for practical use.     

Covalent carbene modification of 2D black phosphorus

Black phosphorus (BP) has attracted an ever-growing interest due to its unique anisotropic two-dimensional structure, impressive photoelectronic properties and attractive application potential. However, the tools for bandgap engineering and passivation via covalent modification of BP nanosheets remain limited to diazonium salt and nucleophilic addition methods, so that developing new modification strategies for BP nanosheets is crucial to explore its physical and chemical properties and enrich the toolbox for functionalization. Herein, we report the covalent modification of liquid-phase exfoliated BP nanosheets based on a rational analysis of BP structure. The modification of BP is achieved via carbene, a highly reactive organic mediate. The carbene modification improves the solubility and stability of BP nanosheets. Detailed microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations including infrared spectra, Raman spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra, SEM and TEM were conducted to provide insights for the reaction. The proof of the existence of covalent bonds between BP nanosheets and organic moieties confirms the successful modification. Moreover, theoretical calculations were conducted to unveil the reaction mechanism of the two different types of bonds and the chemical property of two-dimensional BP.     

The photochromic properties of indoline spirooxazine-thermoplastic polymer systems obtained by supercritical fluid impregnation

The impregnation of thermoplastic polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polycarbonate) with photochromic compounds from the class of indoline spirooxazines in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) was studied. The concentration of the photochrome and the kinetics of decolorization of its colored form depended strongly on the type of the polymer matrix and the structure of spirooxazine. The introduction of 1,3′,3′-trimethylspiro(indoline-2′,3-3H-anthraceno[2,1-b][1,4]oxazine) (SAO) into polycarbonate caused anomalous stabilization (the prolonged conservation of the excited colored form of SAO in the polymer matrix). In contrast to other photochrome-polymer pairs, after supercritical impregnation into polycarbonate, at least 10% of all SAO molecules were in the colored form, which was highly stable and did not decolorize after 150 days; the rest of the impregnated SAO molecules were localized in the matrix as individual molecules, partially colorized after matrix relaxation, or nanocrystals of characteristic sizes ∼10–20 nm. The mechanisms of the anomalous stabilization of the colored SAO form in the polycarbonate matrix are discussed. Original Russian Text ? N.N. Glagolev, A.B. Solov’eva, A.V. Kotova, V.T. Shashkova, B.I. Zapadinskii, N.L. Zaichenko, L.S. Kol’tsova, A.I. Shienok, P.S. Timashev, V.N. Bagratashvili, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 5, pp. 985–992.