Water-assisted mechanical testing of polymeric thin-films

Thin films with a nanometer-scale thickness are of great interest to both scientific and industrial communities due to their numerous applications and unique behaviors different from the bulk. However, the understanding of thin-film mechanics is still greatly hampered due to their intrinsic fragility and the lack of commercially available experimental instruments. In this review, we first discuss the progression of thin-film mechanical testing methods based on the supporting substrate: film-on-solid substrate method, film-on-water tensile tests, and water-assisted free-standing tensile tests. By comparing past studies on a model polymer, polystyrene, the effect of different substrates and confinement effect on the thin-film mechanics is evaluated. These techniques have generated fruitful scientific knowledge in the field of organic semiconductors for the understanding of structure–mechanical property relationships. We end this review by providing our perspective for their bright prospects in much broader applications and materials of interest.     

Polyprenols from Ficus carica Leaves and their Biological Activity

Chemistry of Natural Compounds -     

A NEW POLYMORPH OF THE [ReCl3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] COMPLEX AND ITS OXIDATION PRODUCTS

Journal of Structural Chemistry - A new polymorph of the [ReCl3(MeCN)(PPh3)2] complex is synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). Its recrystallization from the...     

A Novel Ternary Composite of Polyurethane/Polyaniline/Nanosilica with Antistatic Property and Excellent Mechanical Strength: Preparation and Mechanism

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science - Antistatic and strength properties are of vital importance for polyurethane rubber used in moving parts of many industrial instruments. Herein, polyurethane was...     

(O-Si)-Chelate acetic and benzoic acid N-(fluorosilylmethyl)amides: synthesis and structure

Russian Chemical Bulletin - New representatives of (O-Si)-chelate compounds, N-(fluorosilyl)methyl derivatives of N-methylacetamide, N-methylbenzamide, N-phenylacetamide, and N-phenylbenzamide,...     

Chitosan-Based Magnetic Polymetallic Pd-Catalysts for Heck Reaction in Aqueous Media

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - A mechanochemical method was developed for the synthesis of ferromagnetic Pd–Fe–Co–Ni composites based on the natural biopolymer chitosan,...     

Formation of Supramolecular Nanostructures through in Situ Self-Assembly and Post-Assembly Modification of a Biocatalytically Constructed Dipeptide Hydrazide**

Aqueous self-assembly of short peptides has attracted growing attention for the construction of supramolecular materials for various bioapplications. Herein, we describe how the thermolysin-assisted biocatalytic construction of a dipeptide hydrazide from an N-protected amino acid and an amino acid hydrazide leads to the formation of thermally stable supramolecular hydrogels. In addition, we demonstrate the post-assembly modification of the supramolecular architectures constructed in situ tethering hydrazide groups as a chemical handle by means of fluorescence imaging.     

ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND CHEMICAL BOND IN 9,9,10,10-TETRAETHYNYL-9,10- DIHYDRODISILAANTHRACENE

Journal of Structural Chemistry - Atomic and electronic structures of cyclic organosilicon compound 9,9,10,10-tetraethynyl-9,10-dihydrodisilaanthracene are studied by the density functional theory....     

Synthesis and Properties of Magnetically Susceptible Porous Carbon Materials Based on Hydrolysis Lignin Modified with ZnCl2 and FeCl3

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - A method for the disposal of hydrolysis lignin waste based on its modification with ZnCl2 and FeCl3 and subsequent carbonization at 800°C was proposed....