Synthesis and liquid crystalline behavior of bulky poly(methacrylamide)s

N‐(Bis(4‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)(phenyl)‐methyl)methacrylamide was synthesized and polymerized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The chain‐transfer agent (4‐cyano‐4‐(phenylcarbonothioylthio) pentanoic acid (CPADB)), combined with a chiral additive, and a radical initiator yielded polymers with dispersities between 1.2 and 1.4. At low concentrations, the polymers are soluble in hexanes and chloroform while at higher concentrations they swell in these solvents. Characterization of the polymers by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) revealed an interplanar distance of 19.0 Å. The WAXS data combined with polarized optical microscopy support a lamellar crystallization and lyotropic liquid crystalline behavior in hexanes and chloroform. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2563–2568     

Metal-free phthalocyanine single crystal: Solvothermal synthesis and near-infrared electroluminescence

A metal-free purple H₂Pc single crystal was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method, and its solubility and near-infrared (NIR) optical properties were also investigated due to its potential applications as a light-emitting layer for OLEDs. The H₂Pc single crystal is insoluble in 1-chlorine naphthalene and other organic solvents. It gives a wide absorption in the range from 620 nm to 679 nm and a wide emission in near 922 nm. As an active light-emitting layer, H₂Pc was employed to fabricate electroluminescent (EL) devices with a structure of ITO/NPB (30 nm)/Alq₃:H₂Pc (30 nm)/BCP (20 nm)/Alq₃ (20 nm)/Al. The emission center is at 936 nm when the H₂Pc doping concentration is 20 wt%. The doping concentration strongly governs the emission intensity. When doping concentration decreases from 10 wt% to 1 wt%, the emission intensity remarkably fades, and simultaneously the emission center undergoes a blue shift.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a New Metal-organic Framework with Nou Topology

A new compound, [H2N(CH3)2]2[Zn(btec)].H2O(1, H4 btec = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid) has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure is of monoclinic, space group P21/c with a = 9.5741(3), b = 14.5044(4), c = 13.7329(5) , β = 100.582(4)°, V = 1874.61(10) 3, C14H20N2O9 Zn, Mr = 425.7, Z = 4, Dc = 1.387 g/cm3, μ = 1.349 mm-1, F(000) = 776, R = 0.0560 and w R = 0.1684 for 2834 observed reflections(I 2σ(I)). Compound 1 based on μ4-btec and tetrahedral building unit features a three-dimensional(3D) anionic framework with mixed connected nou topology. The luminescent property and thermogravimetric analysis of compound 1 are investigated.     

pH控制硫酸锰骨架的演化及其晶体结构

在DMF/H2O/CH3OH的混合体系中,反应温度为170℃,Mn SO4·4H2O盐溶液在p H=5和7的条件下,加热72小时,最终得到了结构不同的硫酸锰骨架[Mn2(SO4)3]·(H3O)2(1)和[Mn3(SO4)2(OH)2(H2O)2](2)。化合物结构通过单晶X-射线和红外光谱所表征,相应的晶胞参数:化合物1,立方晶系,空间群:P213,a=10.2009(12),V=1061.49(37)3,Goo F=1.158,Flack parameter 0.02(2),R1=0.0186(I2sigma);化合物2,四方晶系,空间群:Pbcm,a=7.3214(15),b=9.984(2),c=13.291(3),V=971.5(4)3,Goo F=1.063,R1=0.0227(I2sigma);单晶X射线分析显示化合物1是一个三维单手性硫酸锰骨架,化合物2是一个非手性羟基硫酸锰骨架。实验结果说明,p H值对硫酸锰骨架的改变起重要作用。     

A new nonlinear optical silicate carbonate K2Ca[Si2O5](CO3) with a hybrid structure of kalsilite and soda-like layered fragments

Single crystals of a new silicate carbonate, K₂Ca[Si₂O₅](CO₃), have been synthesized in a multi-components hydrothermal solution with a pH value close to neutral and a high concentration of a carbonate mineralizer. The new compound has an axial structure (s.g. P6₃22) with unit cell parameters a = 5.04789 (15), c = 17.8668 (6) Å. Pseudosymmetry of the structure corresponds to s.g. P6₃/mmc which is broken only by one oxygen position. The structure consists of two layered fragments: one of the type of the mineral kalsilite (KAlSiO₄) and the other of the high-temperature soda-like α-Na₂CO₃, Ca substituting for Na. The electro-neutral layer K₂[Si₂O₅] (denoted K) as well as the layer Ca(CO₃) (denoted S) may separately correspond to individual structures. In K₂Ca[Si₂O₅](CO₃) the S-K layers are connected together via Ca-O interactions between Ca atoms from the carbonate layer and apical O atoms from the silicate one, and also via K-O interlayer interactions. A hypothetical acentric structure, sp.gr. P-62c, is predicted on the basis of the order-disorder theory. It presents another symmetrical option for the arrangement of K-layers relative to S-layers. The K,Ca-silicate-carbonate powder produces a moderate SHG signal that is two times larger that of the α-quartz powder standard and close to other silicates with acentric structures and low electronic polarizability.     

The Tetracyanopyridinide Dimer Dianion, σ‐[TCNPy]22−

The reaction of 2,3,5,6‐tetracyanopyridine (TCNPy) and Cr(C₆H₆)₂ forms diamagnetic σ‐[TCNPy]₂^2? possessing a 1.572(3) Å intrafragment sp³–sp³ bond. This is in contrast to the structurally related 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobenzene and 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanopyrazine that form π‐dimer dianions possessing long, multicenter bonds.     

Asymptotic approximations for Bloch waves and topological mode steering in a planar array of Neumann scatterers

We study the canonical problem of wave scattering by periodic arrays, either of infinite or finite extent, of Neumann scatterers in the plane; the characteristic lengthscale of the scatterers is considered small relative to the lattice period. We utilise the method of matched asymptotic expansions, together with Fourier series representations, to create an efficient and accurate numerical approach for finding the dispersion curves associated with Floquet–Bloch waves through an infinite array of scatterers. The approach lends itself to direct scattering problems for finite arrays and we illustrate the flexibility of these asymptotic representations on topical examples from topological wave physics.     

A microfluidics-dispensing-printing strategy for Janus photonic crystal microspheres towards smart patterned displays

From the implementation point of view, the printable magnetic Janus colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) microspheres are highly desirable. Herein, we developed a dispensing-printing strategy for magnetic Janus CPCs display via a microfluidics-automatic printing system. Monodisperse core/shell colloidal particles and magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles precursor serve as inks. Based on the equilibrium of three-phase interfacial tensions, Janus structure is successfully formed, followed by UV irradiation and self-assembly of colloid particle to generate magnetic Janus CPCs microspheres. Notably, this method shows distinct superiority with highly uniform Janus CPCs structure, where the TMPTA/Fe₃O₄ hemisphere is in the bottom side while CPCs hemisphere is in the top side. Thus, by using Janus CPCs microspheres with two different structural colors as pixel points, a pattern with red flower and green leaf is achieved. Moreover, 1D linear Janus CPCs pattern encapsulated by hydrogel is also fabricated. Both the color and the shape can be changed under the traction of magnets, showing great potentials in flexible smart displays. We believe this work not only offers a new feasible pathway to construct magnetic Janus CPCs patterns by a dispensing-printable fashion, but also provides new opportunities for flexible and smart displays.     

Calcium-based coordination polymers from a solvothermal synthesis of HKUST-1 in 3D printed autoclaves

A mixed-metal 1D coordination polymer [CaCu(HBTC)₂(H2O)₈]_n (where H₃BTC – benzene-1,3,5-tric arboxylic acid) was obtained in a solvothermal synthesis of a well-known copper-containing metal–organic framework [Cu₃(BTC)₂(H₂O)₃]_n (HKUST-1) in autoclaves 3D-printed from commercial polypropylene. This material was a source of calcium ions, apparently, leaking from a colorant (calcium carbonate) promoted by glacial acetic acid as a modulator used to produce large single crystals of HKUST-1. This finding was confirmed by elemental analysis and a model experiment that resulted in a new calcium-based 1D coordination polymer [Ca(H₂BTC)₂(H₂O)₅]_n under the same solvothermal conditions with no copper or calcium salts put into a 3D-printed autoclave.