Transition and relaxation processes of polyethylene,polypropylene, and polystyrene studied by positron annihilation

Transition and relaxation processes of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were studied by the positron annihilation technique. From measurements of lifetime spectra of positrons as a function of temperature, the lifetime of ortho-positronium, τ₃, and its intensity, I₃, were found to increase above 260 K for PP. This fact was attributed to a cooperative motion of large segments of molecules above the glass transition temperature, T_g. For PE, above T_g (140 K), the value of τ₃ increased, but the temperature coefficient of I₃ was negative below 230 K. From this fact, for PE, the molecular motions that cause the glass transition were associated with a rearrangement of molecules by local motions such as kink motions. The discrepancy between the results for PE and PP was attributed to the presence of methyl groups in PP and the resultant suppression of the local motions. For PS (T_g = 340 K), the molecular motions were found to start above 260 K, but those were suppressed by an interphenyl correlation. Detailed annihilation characteristics of positrons in polymers were also discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35 : 1601–1609, 1997     

Positron annihilation studies in highT c superconductor YBa2Cu3Cd x O y (x=0, 0.05)

Positron lifetime and Doppler broadening of the annihilation line measurements were performed in highT _c superconducting samples YBa₂Cu₃Cd _x O _y ,x=0, 0.05 and 6.9<y<7, as a function of temperature in the region of 14–300 K. It was found that the positron lifetime and theS parameter values are lower in the Cd doped sample than those in the undoped one. It was also observed that the positron annihilation parameters show similar temperature dependence for the undoped and Cd doped samples. We conclude that the Cd doping in highT _c superconductor YBa₂Cu₃Cd _x O _y , 6.9<y<7 fills defects associated with oxygen vacancies probably in oxygen deficient regions which can trap positrons.     

Positron lifetime study of Pr1−xCaxMnO3 (x=0.5, 0.3) during magnetic transition

We measured the positron lifetime in perovskite manganites Pr_1−xCa_xMnO₃ (x=0.3, 0.5). Two lifetime components were observed for each compound; they were attributed to the annihilation of free positrons and positrons trapped at the A-site vacancies. The positron lifetime at the A-site vacancies changed significantly during the antiferromagnetic transition in both the compounds, whereas it was constant around the charge-ordering transition. This change indicates that the electron distribution at the vacancies changed possibly due to the change in the electron distribution of neighboring oxygen atoms. This result indicates that positron lifetime measurements can provide unique information on electronic states during a spin-related phase transition in various oxide materials.     

Open spaces and molecular motions of polyether-based network polymers probed by positron annihilation

The lifetimes of positrons have been measured for network polymers based on polyethers. From the temperature dependence of the lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps), τ₃, for the network polymer of poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) [P(EO/PO)], an onset temperature for limited local motions of molecules, T_γ, and the glass transition temperature, T_g, were determined to be 57 and 201 K, respectively. For the network polymer of poly[EO-co-2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl glycidyl ether] [P(EO/MEEGE)], T_γ and T_g were determined to be 57 and 185 K, respectively. For both specimens, above 270 K, the observed linear temperature dependence of τ₃ was attributed to the thermal expansion of open spaces in a liquid state. In the temperature range between T_γ and 270 K, for the P(EO/MEEGE) network, τ₃ was longer and its intensity was smaller than those for the P(EO/PO) network. These results were attributed to the increase in the size of open spaces for the P(EO/MEEGE) network polymer and the blocking of these regions by motions of side chains and chain ends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1919–1925, 1998     

Positron annihilation lifetime studies of free volume in a polymer electrolyte PEO complexed with NH4I

Positron lifetime spectroscopy has been applied to study the temperature dependence of free-volume properties in a solvent-free polymer–salt complex polyethylene oxide (PEO) doped with ammonium iodide (NH₄I, with NH ≈ 0.076) in the temperature range of 298–353 K. The observed lifetime spectra were resolved into three components and the longest lifetime, τ₃, was associated with the pick-off annihilation of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) trapped by the free volume. The lifetime component, τ₃, and its intensity, I₃, both showed a significant variation with temperature, which followed a different course in the heating and cooling cycle. Changes in the temperature coefficient of τ₃ and I₃ were observed at T ≈ 328 K, the melting point of the sample. This behaviour is correlated to the temperature variation of the electrical conductivity. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 969–976, 1998     

Free volumes in polystyrene probed by positron annihilation

Free volume characteristics in three samples of monodisperse polystyrene were investigated by positron annihilation technique over a temperature range from 300 to 380 K. The number-average molecular weight of the samples ranged from 5730 to 1,524,000. The observed lifetime spectra were resolved into three components, where the longest lifetime, τ₃ was associated with the pick-off annihilation of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) trapped by free volumes. The change of the temperature coefficient of τ₃ was observed at around 350 K, at which the value of τ₃ was a constant value of 2,3 ns for all specimens with different molecular weights. There was no discrete change of τ₃ in intensity, which is corresponding to the number of free volumes. The size of free volume at glass transition was evaluated to be 0.l nm³. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Supertoughness and critical interparticle distance dependence in poly(butylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate) blends

Supertough poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)‐based blends were obtained by the melt blending of PBT with 0–30 wt % poly(ethylene‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate) (EGMA). The reaction between PBT and EGMA was detected by torque measurements. The particle size was almost constant with increasing EGMA content, and this indicated that compatibilization occurred. The minimum EGMA content for achieving supertoughness (i.e., an impact strength 16 times greater than that of PBT) was 20 wt %. The interparticle distance was the parameter controlling toughness in these PBT/EGMA blends. The dependence of the critical interparticle distance (τ_c) on the modulus of the dispersed phase appeared only at low τ_c values, and the primary dependence of τ_c on the ratio of the modulus of the matrix to the modulus of the rubbery dispersed phase was proposed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2236–2247, 2003     

1‐(β‐d‐Erythrofuranosyl)adenosine

The title compound, also known as β‐erythroadenosine, C₉H₁₁N₅O₃, (I), a derivative of β‐adenosine, (II), that lacks the C5′ exocyclic hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) substituent, crystallizes from hot ethanol with two independent molecules having different conformations, denoted (IA) and (IB). In (IA), the furanose conformation is ^OT₁–E₁ (C1′‐exo, east), with pseudorotational parameters P and τ_m of 114.4 and 42°, respectively. In contrast, the P and τ_m values are 170.1 and 46°, respectively, in (IB), consistent with a ²E–²T₃ (C2′‐endo, south) conformation. The N‐glycoside conformation is syn (+sc) in (IA) and anti (−ac) in (IB). The crystal structure, determined to a resolution of 2.0 Å, of a cocrystal of (I) bound to the enzyme 5′‐fluorodeoxyadenosine synthase from Streptomyces cattleya shows the furanose ring in a near‐ideal ^OE (east) conformation (P = 90° and τ_m = 42°) and the base in an anti (−ac) conformation.     

Open spaces and molecular motions of acrylic epoxy-based network polymers probed by positron annihilation

Lifetime spectra of positrons have been measured for acrylic epoxy-based network polymers. For the specimens with the different permeability coefficients to water vapor C_p, the lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) τ₃ increased with increasing C_p. This fact suggests that the permeability increases with an increase in the size of open spaces. From measurements of temperature dependencies of τ₃ and the intensity of o-Ps, three onset temperatures for the change in the temperature gradient of these parameters were determined. The highest onset temperature (T_α = 300–325 K) was identified to be the glass transition temperature, and others (T_γ = 90–180 K and T_β = 160–205 K) were associated with the onset temperatures for limited local motions of molecules; those molecular motions were found to be affected by both the number of crosslinks and the presence of free side chains. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2875–2880, 1999     

离子液体中纳米TiO2/聚3-甲基噻吩复合膜的制备及性质研究

采用溶胶凝胶法制成了纳米TiO₂电极, 在离子液体中将其应用于3-甲基噻吩的电化学聚合, 采用循环伏安法(CV), 在线紫外可见光谱(UV-Vis), 扫描电镜(SEM)和电化学阻抗谱(EIS)对TiO₂/聚3-甲基噻吩(TiO₂/PMT)复合膜进行了表征并研究了其电化学性质. 实验证明, 不论是用循环伏安法, 恒电位, 还是恒电流方法, 都能在电极上得到聚3-甲基噻吩(PMT)膜, 并伴随有明显的掺杂和去掺杂过程. 对应的在线紫外可见光谱上, 也出现了氧化和还原两种不同的吸收状态, 还原(去掺杂)过程中在480 nm处有一个吸收峰, 而氧化(掺杂)过程中此峰消失, 取而代之的是一个可见光区的逐渐增强的吸收. PMT膜是p型半导体, TiO₂是n型半导体, 两者之间能够形成p-n异质结, 使光电转换效率得以提高. SEM给出了TiO₂电极和聚合物修饰的TiO₂的形貌图, 电极的交流阻抗谱则从一个角度说明了聚合物膜修饰电极的导电性.     

Effect of polymer polarity on the positronium formation

Positron annihilation lifetime spectra have been measured on styrene–methyl methacrylate, styrene–acrylonitrile, and styrene–butyl methacrylate copolymers. The results show that the longest lifetime τ₃ remains constant during extended PALS measurement in all experiment copolymers, and relative intensity I₃ decreases to a certain extent with measured time in weak polar copolymers and remain almost unchanged in strong polar copolymers as well as ST–BMA copolymers. The observed decrease in I₃ have been found to be unrelated to the microstructural change of copolymers, and, instead, to be more likely a result of the buildup of an electric field inside the copolymers during the prolonged PALS measurement. The field effect can result in the decrease of I₃ due to the increase in the positrons and electrons diffusing out of the spur, but the influence of the electric field on I₃ decrease with increasing the polarity of the copolymers and the softness of side groups of macromolecular chains in the copolymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 435–442, 2000     

A toyocamycin analogue with the sugar moiety in a syn conformation

The title compound [systematic name: 4‐amino‐5‐cyano‐1‐(β‐d ‐ribofuranosyl)‐7H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine hemihydrate], C₁₂H₁₃N₅O₄·0.5H₂O, is a regioisomer of toyocamycin with the ribofuranosyl residue attached to the pyrimidine moiety of the heterocycle. This analogue exhibits a syn glycosylic bond conformation with a χ torsion angle of 57.51 (17)°. The ribofuranose moiety shows an envelope C2′‐endo (²E) sugar conformation (S‐type), with P = 161.6 (2)° and τ_m = 41.3 (1)°. The conformation at the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond is +sc (gauche, gauche), with a γ torsion angle of 54.4 (2)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular O—H...O, N—H...N and O—H...N hydrogen bonds; water molecules, located on crystallographic twofold axes, participate in interactions. An intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond stabilizes the syn conformation of the nucleoside.     

2′‐Deoxyimmunosine: a thiazolo[4,5‐d]pyrimidine nucleoside adopting the syn conformation

The title compound [systematic name: 5‐amino‐3‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl)thiazolo[4,5‐d]pyrimidine‐2,7‐(3H,6H)‐dione], C₁₀H₁₂N₄O₅S, exhibits a syn glycosylic bond conformation, with a torsion angle χ of 61.0 (3)°. The furanose moiety adopts the N‐type sugar pucker (³T₄), with P = 33.0 (5)° and τ_m = 15.1 (1)°. The conformation at the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond is +ap (trans), with the torsion angle γ = 176.71 (14)°. The extended structure is a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network involving O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

A study on free‐volume properties of styrene‐acrylic ester type copolymers

The positron annihilation lifetime measurements have been performed on a number of amorphous styrene–methyl acrylate copolymers and styrene–butyl methacrylate copolymers. The densities of copolymers were obtained with immersion method by using a capillary pycnometer and the average molecular weights were determined by gel chromatography. The lifetime τ₃ of ortho‐positronium (o‐Ps) pick‐off annihilation have been found to correlate with side group volume and polarity of macromolecular chains in the copolymers, and relative intensity I₃ is attributed mainly to the electron‐attracting groups trapping the spur electrons and positrons. The experimental results have been discussed on the basis of the structural variation of macromolecular chains. In addition, the PALS measurement as a function of time for polystyrene and several styrene–methyl acrylate copolymers has also been performed. The result shows that an electric field is built in polymers during extended positron annihilation spectroscopy measurement, and the field effect is a main factor which causes the decrease in I₃ with time. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2476–2485, 1999     

界面聚合法合成手性掺杂剂诱导螺旋形聚苯胺纳米纤维

以手性试剂D-樟脑磺酸(D-CSA)和L-樟脑磺酸(L-CSA)为掺杂剂和构象诱导剂,采用界面聚合法合成了螺旋形聚苯胺纳米纤维。通过FESEM、TEM、FTIR和UV-Vis吸收光谱等测试技术对螺旋形聚苯胺纳米纤维结构进行了表征。结果表明,所得聚苯胺纤维具有螺旋形构象,形貌均一,平均直径约为50nm,长度为300～600nm,具有较高的长径比(6:1～12:1)。在水溶液中,聚苯胺纳米纤维以伸展的螺旋形分子链构象存在,调节溶液的pH值,螺旋形聚苯胺纳米纤维表现出可逆的掺杂和脱掺杂性质。循环伏安(CV)测试表明,螺旋形聚苯胺纳米纤维在0.5mol/LHCl溶液中表现出良好的电化学活性。     

Investigation of charge carriers in poly(3,4-butylenedioxythiophene) (PBuDOT) by means of ESR spectroelectrochemistry

In situ ESR spectroelectrochemical studies of poly(3,4-butylenedioxythiophene) (PBuDOT) have been performed, in order to investigate more closely the species responsible for the conductivity of this polymer in the doped state. In the process of electrochemical doping of the polymer, ESR spectra at progressively changed potentials were recorded. Then the subsequent dedoping process was studied accordingly. The results reveal that PBuDOTs ESR spectroscopic properties are markedly different form its close relative, poly(3,4-etylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Firstly, the potential dependence of the spin concentration displays a clear peak-shaped transient with a gradual decrease at higher oxidation potentials. Similar behaviour is seen for the B_pp widths of the ESR signal, indicating that the type of interactions between paramagnetic centres is potential sensitive. The course of the reduction process of the polymer is more or less the reverse of the oxidation one, with only a slight hysteresis of the spin concentration and a barely discernible one of B_pp widths being observed. In PBuDOT, as in PEDOT, distinct narrow ESR lines revealing a noteworthy spin concentration in the reduced state of the polymer have also been observed. The presence of these residual spins in the dedoped polymer may indicate that the dedoping process of this polymer is indeed a slow one. The presence of trace amounts of impurities or oxygen may hinder the dedoping process, especially for thicker films.Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

7‐Amino‐1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazolo[4,5‐d]pyrimidine: an 8‐azaadenine nucleoside with the nucleobase in a syn conformation

The title compound, C₉H₁₂N₆O₃, shows a syn‐glycosylic bond orientation [χ = 64.17 (16)°]. The 2′‐deoxyfuranosyl moiety exhibits an unusual C1′‐exo–O4′‐endo (₁T⁰; S‐type) sugar pucker, with P = 111.5 (1)° and τ_m = 40.3 (1)°. The conformation at the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond is +sc (gauche), with γ = 64.4 (1)°. The two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network is built from intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds. An intramolecular bifurcated hydrogen bond, with an amino N—H group as hydrogen‐bond donor and the ring and hydroxymethyl O atoms of the sugar moiety as acceptors, constrains the overall conformation of the nucleoside.     

Preparation of C3‐Symmetric Homochiral syn‐Trisnorbornabenzenes through Regioselective Cyclotrimerization of Enantiopure Iodonorbornenes

C₃‐symmetric homochiral (?)‐syn‐trisoxonorbornabenzene 1 possessing a rigid cup‐shaped structure was synthesized through a novel regioselective cyclotrimerization of enantiopure iodonorbornenes catalyzed by palladium nanoclusters. The yield of the cyclotrimerization was dependent on the stability of the palladium clusters, which was ascertained from the appearance and TEM images of the reaction mixtures. The efficient preparation of (?)‐syn‐ 1 was established in short steps, including the newly developed cyclotrimerization reaction. The thus‐prepared homochiral (?)‐syn‐ 1 can serve as a key intermediate for the synthesis of C₃‐symmetric homochiral cup‐shaped molecules with a helical arrangement of substituents. Introduction of several types of substituents was well demonstrated through palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions with the corresponding phosphate and triflate of (?)‐syn‐ 1 .     

Free volumes in nematic and smectic liquid-crystalline polymers probed by positron annihilation

Free volumes in thermotropic side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers were probed by positron annihilation technique. Lifetime spectra of positrons were measured in the temperature range between 130 and −60°C in cooling. For a nematic liquid-crystalline polymer (polyacrylate), the lifetime of ortho-positronium (τ₃) was decreased with decreasing temperature above the glass transition temperature (T_g, 21°C) with larger temperature coefficient than that below T_g. The intensity of ortho-positronium (I₃) was constant above T_g. These facts mean that the size of the free-volume holes decreased with the decreasing the temperature but the concentration was almost constant in nematic phase. For a smectic liquid-crystalline polymer (poly(p-methylstyrene) derivative), a discontinuous decrease in the value of τ₃ and that of I₃ were observed at 107°C, which was the transition temperature from smectic to crystalline phase. Such discontinuous changes were not observed for the polyacrylate specimen. This difference was considered to be attributed to the higher-ordered structure of the smectic phase. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ortho‐positronium lifetime distribution analyzed with MELT and LT and free volume in poly(ε‐caprolactone) during glass transition,melting, and crystallization

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was used to study the free volume behavior in the temperature range between 100 and 370 K in semicrystalline poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL). For the analysis of the spectra we used the well‐known routine MELT as well as the new program LT8.0, which allows both discrete and log‐normal distributed annihilation rates. From experiments, confirmed by the analysis of simulated spectra, we found that MELT returns too large values for the o‐Ps lifetime τ₃ associated with too small intensities I₃. This is due to the underestimation of the width of o‐Ps lifetime distribution in MELT (the spectra analyzed contained 3 million counts). The same effects were observed in the parameters obtained from the discrete term analysis. LT, however, returns, when allowing the o‐Ps lifetime to be distributed, rather accurate values for τ₃, I₃, and the width (standard deviation σ₃) of the o‐Ps lifetime distribution. The effect of the glass transition, melting, and crystallization on the annihilation parameters was observed. These results were compared with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) experiments. From this comparison, the number density of holes and the fractional free (hole) volume have been estimated. At a “knee” temperature T_k ≈ 1.5 T_g, a leveling off of the o‐Ps lifetime τ₃ and a distinct decrease in the width, σ₃, of its distribution was observed; the latter effect was detected for the first time. Fast motional processes and/or the disappearance of the dynamic heterogeneity of the glass and the transition to a homogeneous liquid are discussed as possible reasons for these effects. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3077–3088, 2003