Hyperbranched block copolymer from AB2 macromonomer: Synthesis and its reaction‐induced microphase separation in epoxy thermosets

In this contribution, we reported the synthesis of a hyperbranched block copolymer composed of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polystyrene (PS) subchains. Toward this end, we first synthesized an α‐alkynyl‐ and ω,ω′‐diazido‐terminated PCL‐b‐(PS)₂ macromonomer via the combination of ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization. By the use of this AB₂ macromonomer, the hyperbranched block copolymer (h‐[PCL‐b‐(PS)₂]) was synthesized via a copper‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition (i.e., click reaction) polymerization. The hyperbranched block copolymer was characterized by means of ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Both differential scanning calorimetry and atomic force microscopy showed that the hyperbranched block copolymer was microphase‐separated in bulk. While this hyperbranched block copolymer was incorporated into epoxy, the nanostructured thermosets were successfully obtained; the formation of the nanophases in epoxy followed reaction‐induced microphase separation mechanism as evidenced by atomic force microscopy, small angle X‐ray scattering, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 368–380     

Visible light-driven acridone catalysis for atom transfer radical polymerization

Acridone as a new kind of visible light photocatalyst has been developed to catalyze metal free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The photocatalyst possess low excited state potential as can undergo an oxidative quenching pathway to initiate ATRP of vinyl monomers. Kinetic study and light on/off reaction demonstrate the “living”/controlled nature of the polymerization by light. Block copolymers can be achieved by using PMMA as macroinitiator to reinitiate polymerization of other vinyl monomers, which shows highly preserved Br chain-end functionality in the synthesized polymers. Moreover, the polymerization can be conducted under air atmosphere as most photocatalysts need anaerobic condition, which may give inspiration of further application of this kind of photocatalyst.     

Resonant-interaction-induced Rydberg antiblockade and its applications

Different from the conventional Rydberg antiblockade (RAB) regime that either requires weak Rydberg-Rydberg interaction (RRI), or compensates the RRI-induced energy shift by introducing off-resonant interactions, we show that RAB regime can be achieved by resonantly driving the transitions between ground state and Rydberg state under strong RRI. The Rabi frequencies are of small amplitude and time-dependent harmonic oscillation, which plays a critical role for the presented RAB. The proposed unconventional RAB regime is used to construct high-fidelity controlled-Z (CZ) gate and controlled-not (CNOT) gate in one step. Each atom requires single external driving. And the atomic addressability is not required for the presented unconventional RAB, which would simplify experimental complexity and reduce resource consumption.     

强耦合腔-QED系统中原子的纳秒脉冲激发光谱研究

本文在多原子强耦合腔-QED系统中,利用脉冲宽度为5 ns的强脉冲光在垂直于腔轴方向直接激发原子,脉冲的峰值功率为40 mW,通过光学腔观测激发原子辐射到腔中的光子获得相应的激发光谱。我们发现当光场频率和原子跃迁失谐±80 MHz时原子激发率达到最大,而在共振时原子激发被抑制。我们建立了脉冲光与三能级原子相互作用的模型,通过缀饰态能够解释此现象。     

光与原子纠缠存储寿命与磁场噪声关系的实验研究

在冷原子系综中,利用自发拉曼散射过程产生光与原子纠缠,测量了恢复效率随存储时间的关系。实验结果显示在没有施加轴向磁场时的存储寿命仅仅只有40μs。而在施加轴向磁场的情况下,存储时间在50μs以后甚至在400μs时都可以测量到明显的恢复信号,存储寿命明显高于100μs,远高于未施加轴向磁场时的情况。对这个实验现象进行分析认为:原子所处的环境中存在磁场噪声的影响,当没有轴向磁场时,噪声会扰乱自旋波信号的相位;当有轴向磁场时,磁场噪声对自旋波相位的影响便被抑制了。     

Bose-like few-fermion systems

It is shown that the specific heat of a few-fermion system with odd number fermions behaves differently from that of a few-fermion system with even number fermions. The specific heat of an even-number-fermion system behaves like a Bose one rather than a Fermi one.     

The covalent functionalization of few-layered MoTe2 thin films with iodonium salts

Covalent functionalization of 2D materials provides a tailored approach towards tuning of their chemical, optical, and electronic properties making the search for new ways to graft small molecules important. Herein, the reaction with (3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)iodonium salt is revealed as an effective strategy for functionalization of MoTe₂ thin films. Upon decomposition of the salt, the generated radicals graft covalently as aryl-(CF₃)₂ groups at the surface of both metallic (1T’) and semiconducting (2H) polymorphs of MoTe₂. Remarkably, the reactivity of the salt is governed by the electronic structure of the given polymorph. While the functionalization of the metallic MoTe₂ occurs spontaneously, the semiconducting MoTe₂ requires activation by light. The reaction proceeds with the elimination of oxide from the original films yielding the functionalized products that remain protected in ambient conditions, presenting a viable solution to the ageing of MoTe₂ in air.     

Fabricating Dual-Atom Iron Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Heteroatom Modulator Approach

Understanding the thermal aggregation behavior of metal atoms is important for the synthesis of supported metal clusters. Here, derived from a metal–organic framework encapsulating a trinuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II complex (denoted as Fe₃) within the channels, a well-defined nitrogen-doped carbon layer is fabricated as an ideal support for stabilizing the generated iron nanoclusters. Atomic replacement of Fe^II by other metal(II) ions (e.g., Zn^II/Co^II) via synthesizing isostructural trinuclear-complex precursors (Fe₂Zn/Fe₂Co), namely the “heteroatom modulator approach”, is inhibiting the aggregation of Fe atoms toward nanoclusters with formation of a stable iron dimer in an optimal metal–nitrogen moiety, clearly identified by direct transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The supported iron dimer, serving as cooperative metal–metal site, acts as efficient oxygen evolution catalyst. Our findings offer an atomic insight to guide the future design of ultrasmall metal clusters bearing outstanding catalytic capabilities.     

The Metaphosphite (PO2−) Anion as a Ligand

The utilization of monomeric, lower phosphorous oxides and oxoanions, such as metaphosphite (PO₂⁻), which is the heavier homologue of the common nitrite anion but previously only observed in the gas phase and by matrix isolation, requires new synthetic strategies. Herein, a series of rhenium(I–III) complexes with PO₂⁻ as ligand is reported. Synthetic access was enabled by selective oxygenation of a terminal phosphide complex. Spectroscopic and computational examination revealed slightly stronger σ-donor and comparable π-acceptor properties of PO₂⁻ compared to homologous NO₂⁻, which is one of the archetypal ligands in coordination chemistry.     

Remote Fluorination and Fluoroalkyl(thiol)ation Reactions

Remote functionalization reactions have the power to transform a C−H (or C−C) bond at a distant position from a functional group. This Review summarizes recent advances and key breakthroughs in remote fluorination, trifluoromethylation, difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylthiolation, and fluoroalkenylation reactions. Several powerful strategies have emerged to control the reactivity and distal selectivity such as the undirected radical approach, the 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer, the metal migration, the use of distant directing groups, and the ring-opening reactions. These unconventional and predictable C−H (and C−C) functionalization transformations should allow for the preparation of a wide range of otherwise-difficult-to-access alkyl, aromatic, heteroaromatic, and structurally complex fluorides.