Terpyridine-Functionalized Calixarenes: Synthesis,Characterization and Anion Sensing Applications

Lanthanide complexes have been developed and are reported herein. These complexes were derived from a terpyridine-functionalized calix[4]arene ligand, chelated with Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺. Synthesis of these complexes was achieved in two steps from a calix[4]arene derivative: (1) amide coupling of a calix[4]arene bearing carboxylic acid functionalities and (2) metallation with a lanthanide triflate salt. The ligand and its complexes were characterized by NMR (¹H and ¹³C), fluorescence and UV-vis spectroscopy as well as MS. The photophysical properties of these complexes were studied; high molar absorptivity values, modest quantum yields and luminescence lifetimes on the ms timescale were obtained. Anion binding results in a change in the photophysical properties of the complexes. The anion sensing ability of the Tb(III) complex was evaluated via visual detection, UV-vis and fluorescence studies. The sensor was found to be responsive towards a variety of anions, and large binding constants were obtained for the coordination of anions to the sensor.     

Size-controlled flow synthesis of metal-organic frameworks crystals monitored by in-situ ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy

Size-controlled flow synthesis of nanoporous particles are of considerable interest for future industrial applications,however,is facing challenges due to lack of in-situ method for size-characterization in fluidic environment.We present that ultraviolet-visible(UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy can be integrated into a flow-synthesis system which was produced by femtosecond laser micro machining.The shift of the absorption peak position of the ex-situ and in-situ UV-vis spectra correlates to variation of size of porous metal-organic frameworks crystals.ZIF-67 crystals with a size in the range from 200 nm to1025 nm are fabricated with the assistance of tri-ethylamine under monitoring of in-situ UV-vis spectra.The ZIF-67 crystals are converted into nanoporous carbons particles with controlled sizes.These materials show size-dependent performance in Na-ion battery and size-independent performance in metal/H_2 O seawater battery.     

Energy structure and absorption spectra of colloidal CdS nanocrystals in gelatin matrix

We investigate the energy structure of colloidal CdS nanocrystals by measuring the UV–vis absorption spectra. Nanocrystals were synthesized by sol–gel method in a gelatin matrix in the size range from 2.5 to 3.9 (±0.2) nm. In order to interpret the UV–vis absorption spectra we calculate the energy spectrum of electron quasi-stationary states using the model of open nanocrystal as well as the hole stationary spectrum in a two-band approach. It is shown that the main contribution to the absorption spectrum is made by interband transitions 1S_3/2→1S_e and 1P_3/2→1P_e, and its shape is determined by the size distribution of nanoparticles. For this system the estimated values of the effective masses of the heavy hole and light hole are 1.44m₀ and 0.28m₀, respectively.     

On the formation mechanism for electrically generated exciplexes in a carbazole–pyridine copolymer

Although carbazole‐containing copolymers are frequently used as hole‐transporting host materials for polymer organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), they often suffer from the formation of undesired exciplexes when the OLED is operated. The reason why exciplexes sometimes form for electrical excitation, yet not for optical excitation is not well understood. Here, we use luminescence measurements and quantum chemical calculations to investigate the mechanism of such exciplex formation for electrical excitation (electroplex formation) in a carbazole–pyridine copolymer. Our results suggest that the exciplex is formed via a positively charged interchain precursor complex. This complex is stabilized by interactions that involve the nitrogen lone pairs on both chain segments. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Dependence of electrical performance on structural organization in polymer field effect transistors

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) are strong contenders for use in printed, flexible electronics. Although organic electronic materials have been studied for many years, the physics of charge transport is still under investigation. This is in part due to variability resulting from the large variety of molecules that can be synthesized and inconsistency in electrical characterization due to device and processing conditions. Molecular ordering in OSCs is known to alter the charge transport characteristics and attention to long range and short range ordering provides clues as to the nature of transport pathways. Here, we study ordered regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) films carefully prepared to obtain a set of three samples with incrementally increasing order on identical transistor architectures. Ordering was characterized using a variety of short and long range techniques to probe the coherence and number of crystallites formed during processing, and the correlation between these different measures of order are quantified. We observe three changes in transistor behavior that show a shift from non‐ideal to more textbook‐like characteristics with increasing order: reduction of the contact resistance, shift to field‐independent mobility, and a shift from a diode‐like (S‐shaped) to linear response at low lateral fields. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1063–1074     

EDOT‐diketopyrrolopyrrole copolymers for high bulk hole mobility and near infrared absorption

To obtain novel low‐bandgap materials with tailored hole‐transport properties and extended absorption, electron rich 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene is introduced as a comonomer in diketopyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole copolymers with different aryl flanking units. The polymers are characterized by absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, dynamic scanning calorimetry, cyclic voltammetry, and X‐ray diffraction. The charge transport properties of these new materials are studied carefully using an organic field effect transistor geometry where the charge carriers are transported over a narrow channel at the semiconductor/dielectric interface. These results are compared to bulk charge carrier mobilities using space‐charge limited current (SCLC) measurements, in which the charge carrier is transported through the complete film thickness of several hundred nanometers. Finally, charge carrier mobilities are correlated with the electronic structure of the compounds. We find that in particular the thiophene‐flanked copolymer PDPP[T]₂‐EDOT is a very promising candidate for organic photovoltaics, showing an absorption response in the near infrared region with an optical bandgap of 1.15 eV and a very high bulk hole mobility of 2.9 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 as measured by SCLC. This value is two orders of magnitudes higher than SCLC mobilities reported for other polydiketopyrrolopyrroles and is in the range of the well‐known hole transporting polymer poly(3‐hexylthiophene). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 639–648     

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of alkyl‐2‐cyanoacrylates: An assessment of livingness

Alkyl 2‐cyanoacrylates (CAs) are primarily used as instant adhesives, including those sold under the Loctite brand. The adhesive action can be inhibited with acid stabilizers allowing radical polymerization to be employed. The following article details the first attempted controlled/living radical polymerization of alkyl CAs: Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization mediated by a poly(methyl methacrylate) dithiobenzoate macroRAFT agent for three different CA monomers (ethyl 2‐cyanoacrylate, n‐butyl 2‐cyanoacrylate, and 2‐phenylethyl cyanoacrylate) allowed the preparation of the first block copolymers of this challenging but commercially important monomer class. Nevertheless, GPC with UV detection indicated significant loss of the RAFT end‐group for all three CAs limiting control/living character. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1397–1408     

Spectrophotometric determination of deacetylation degree of chitinous materials dissolved in phosphoric acid

A simple spectrophotometric method is proposed for determining deacetylation degrees (DD) of chitinous materials using phosphoric acid as the UV-transparent solvent system. Calibrating by the extinction coefficients (A(210)) of D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, DD values (24-88%) were computed numerically. The results correlated well (R(2) = 0.9805, n = 50) with those obtained by solid-state (13)C NMR. Comparison of the results obtained by the proposed UV method and solid-state (13)C NMR.     

Low‐bandgap donor–acceptor copolymers with 4,6‐bis(3′‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thien‐2′‐yl)thieno[3,4‐c][1,2,5]thiadiazole: synthesis,optical, electrochemical,and photovoltaic properties

Two new low‐bandgap alternating copolymers (CEHTF and CEHTP) consisting of 4,6‐bis(3′‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thien‐2′‐yl)thieno[3,4‐c][1,2,5] thiadiazole and 9,9‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)fluorene or 2,5‐bis(isopentyloxy)benzene were synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction of corresponding comonomers. Their optical, electrochemical, and photovoltaic (PV) properties were studied and are reported. Both the copolymers exhibited long‐wavelength absorption covering the whole visible spectral region, which is in CEHTP thin films extended up to near infrared region, ambipolar redox properties, and electrochromism. High‐electron affinities and low‐optical bandgap values, 1.37 and 1.15 eV, were determined for CEHTF and CEHTP, respectively. PV devices with bulk heterojunction made of blends of copolymers and fullerene derivative [6,6]‐phenyl‐C⁶¹‐butyric acid methyl ester ([60]PCBM) were prepared and characterized. Effects of intramolecular charge transfer strength and side‐chain nature and length on photophysical properties are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and isomerization of conjugated oligomers containing azoimidazole unit

The Suzuki (for O1 – O3 ) and Stille (for O4 ) coupling polymerization of 2‐(phenylazo)imidazole bearing the benzyl protecting group at the 1‐position gave conjugated oligomers. The transformation from the neutral imidazole in the conjugated oligomer O2 , consisted of the alternating 2,5‐didecyl‐1,4‐phenylene unit, to the cationic imidazolium salt O2S was performed. Depending on the chemical structure of coupling partners, the absorption maximum of conjugated oligomers showed red shift or blue shift from that of the model compound M with the benzene ring at the 4,5‐positions. The absorption maximum wavelength of the cationic conjugated oligomer O2S showed a blue shift from that of the neutral conjugated oligomer O2 . The trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization of the azoimidazole unit in conjugated oligomers was observed by irradiating the light at 436 nm, and the conversion degree to the cis structure had a rough correlation with the maximum absorption wavelength of materials. The trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization in the film state was sluggish. On the other hand, the cis‐to‐trans thermal isomerization of the azoimidazole unit was confirmed and the absorbance returned to the initial state before the photoisomerization. The trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization of the cationic conjugated oligomer O2S required large energy, and the prolonged light irradiation might decompose the azoimidazole unit. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.