Correlation of SiO x layer thickness and properties of BOPP/SiO x composite films with spin coating process parameters

The effects of the spin coating process parameters on the thickness of the SiOx layer of the BOPP/SiOx composite film were investigated. When the concentration of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) increased from 12.5 vol% to 55% vol%, the SiOx thickness increased from about 80 nm to 470 nm. In the sol time range of 1.5 h to 5 h the SiOx layer thickness reached a maximum at about 4 h and the change of the thickness roughly matched the change of the silica colloidal sphere sizes in sol. When the spin-coating speed of the dispensing stage increased from 450 r/min to 500 r/min, the SiOx layer thickness drastically decreased from about 1.67 μm to 400 nm. While the spin-coating speed of the thinning and drying stage went up to 1200 r/min, the SiOx layer thickness was in the range of 330 nm to 390 nm. It was also found that the SiOx layer thickness was almost increased linearly from about 500 nm to 1.02 μm with the ratio of the commercial silica colloidal to the TEOS from 0.2 to 1.0. The water contact angles decreased to about 23.0° for the BOPP/Si-Sol composite film with 1.67 μm SiOx layer and about 4.0° for the BOPP/mixing Si-Sol composite film with 1.02 μm SiOx layer. Compared to BOPP, the light transparency of the BOPP/Si-Sol composite films decreased by about 5.5% with the SiOx layer from about 80 nm to 1.67 μm and by 7.0% for the BOPP/mixing Si-Sol composite film with the SiOx layer from about 350 nm to 1.02 μm respectively.     

Systhesis of double-hydrophilic core-shell type multiarm star copolymer polyethylenimine-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Multiarm star block copolymers hyperbranched polyethylenimine-b-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HPEI-b-PHEMA) with average 28 PHEMA arms have been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of HEMA in a mixed solvent of methanol and water using a core-first strategy. The hyperbranched macroinitiator employed was prepared on the basis of well-defined hyperbranched polyethylenimine with Mw/Mn of 1.04 by amidation with 2-bromo-isobutyryl bromide. The polymerization condition was optimized to prepare star copolymers with narrow dispersity, and the variables included the volume ratio of methanol to water, the molar ratio of initiating site to CuCl and the molar ratio of [CuCl]:[CuBr2]. Under the optimized polymerization condition, the lowest Mw/Mn value of the obtained star copolymers was around 1.3. Kinetic analysis showed that an induction period existed in the polymerization of HEMA. After this induction period, a linear dependence of ln([M]0/[M]t) on time was observed. The obtained HPEI-b-PHEMA could adsorb hydrophilic molecules. The comparison with the star copolymer with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic PHEMA shell verified that both the hydrophilic core and shell could host the hydrophilic guests, but the amidated HPEI core was more effective than the PHEMA shell.     

Synthesis, characterization and ion transport properties of hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes (1−x) PEO:x KI

Synthesis and ion transport properties of hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), (1-x) PEO: x KI, where x is the content of KI in wt%, are reported. A hot-press technique has been used for the formation of the polymeric membranes in place of the usual solution cast method. The composition (80PEO:20KI) was identified as the highest conducting polymer electrolyte on the basis of compositional dependent conductivity studies of PEO:KI films. A conductivity enhancement of more than two orders of magnitude from that of the pure PEO was achieved. Materials characterization and ion transport mechanism were explained by using various experimental techniques.     

Improving the properties of HDPE based separators for lithium ion batteries by blending block with copolymer PE-b-PEG

To improve the performances of HDPE-based separators, polyether chains were incorporated into HDPE membranes by blending with poly(ethylene-block-ethylene glycol) (PE-b-PEG) via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process. By measuring the composition, morphology, crystallinity, ion conductivity, etc, the influence of PE-b-PEG on structures and properties of the blend separator were investigated. It was found that the incorporated PEG chains yielded higher surface energy for HDPE separator and improved affinity to liquid electrolyte. Thus, the stability of liquid electrolyte trapped in separator was increased while the interfacial resistance between separator and electrode was reduced effectively. The ionic conductivity of liquid electrolyte soaked separator could reach 1.28 × 10-3 S.cm-1 at 25℃, and the electrochemical stability window was up to 4.5 V (versus Li + /Li). These results revealed that blending PE-b-PEG into porous HDPE membranes could efficiently improve the performances of PE separators for lithium batteries.     

Dispersion production by semi-continuous radical vinyl acetate emulsion polymerization with silane co-monomer and characterization of final products

Vinyl acetate radical emulsion polymerization in water with GF51 silane co-monomer was performed by semi continuous way. The GF51 impacts on dispersion rheology as well on films and bonding strength properties were determined. It should be stated that even low quantities of GF51 (up to 6% from VAc) determined high viscosity of dispersions. The GF51 modified films have low water absorption and high affinity to glass. Molecular mass and thermal properties of GF51 modified polymers were determined accordingly.     

Preparation of single-hole hollow polymer nanospheres by raspberry-like template method

Single-hole hollow polymer nanospheres were fabricated by raspberry-like template method using "graft-from" strategy through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Nanometer-sized silica spheres were covalently attached onto the surfaces of micrometer-sized silica spheres. Crosslinked polymer shells on the nano-sized spheres outside the attached area were formed by "graft-from" strategy through ATRP. After removal of the silica cores, single-hole hollow crosslinked polymer nanospheres were obtained. In this strategy, most of ATRP monomers may be used and thus many functional groups can be easily incorporated into the single-hole hollow crosslinked polymer nanospheres.     

Some key ordered macroporous composites

This review summarizes recent progress of the ordered macroporous composites with the opals and inverse opal structure. Synthesis and performance of the composites are emphasized. Composition of the ordered composites is tunable ranging within metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, polymer, carbon and hydrogel. The ordered structure gives brilliant color effects, which is useful for sensors and photonic crystals. The interconnected macroporous structure provides easiness for mass transportation and species culturing.     

Phase behavior of charge stablized colloid dispersion with added water soluble polymers

Demixing and colloidal crystallization in the mixture of charge stabilized colloidal poly(methyl methacrylate) particles and soluble poly(ethylene oxide) were investigated by means of synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. Phase diagram of the mixture was obtained based on visual inspection and SAXS results. The phase behavior is determined as a function of the concentration of the polymer as well as the volume fraction of the colloidal particles. The system shows a one phase region when the concentration of the polymer is low, whereas a two-phase region is present when the concentration of the polymer is larger than a critical concentration at certain volume fraction of the colloids. Interestingly, a face centered cubic colloidal crystalline structure was formed under certain conditions, which has been rarely observed in experiments of colloid-polymer mixtures with competing interactions.     

An electrochemically prepared sky-blue light emitting ether functionalized polyfluorene as chemosensor for metal ions

Synthesis and electrochemical polymerization of 9,9-bis(2-(2-(2-methoxy ethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)-fluorene(EO-F)into poly[9,9-bis(2-(2-(2-methoxy ethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)-fluorene](EO-PF) films are reported. The boron trifluoride diethyl etherate electrolyte enables facile preparation of EO-PF films at lower potential compared to LiClO4/MeCN and the electrochemical polymerizations are discussed. The EO-PF shows good electrochemical behavior and can be dissolved in solvents such as DMSO and THF. The solubility of EO-PF in THF is 2 mg mL 1and the number average molecular weight is35300 with a polydispersity index of 1.65. The side chains on C9position of the monomer maintain unchanged after electrooxidation into corresponding polymer. The EO-PF dissolved in THF under 365 nm ultraviolet light is sky blue light emitting with the Commission Internationale de L Eclairage-CIE coordinates of(0.19, 0.15). The electropolymerized EO-PF is used for the first time in chemosensing metal ions, demonstrating fluorescence quenching for Mn2+and Fe3+while fluorescence enhancement for Cr6+ions.     

Crystal orientation and melting behavior of poly(ɛ-Caprolactone) under one-dimensionally “hard” confined microenvironment

Crystal orientation and melting behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) in a diblock copolymer of poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(2,5-bis[4-methoxyphenyl]oxycarbonyl)styrene) (PCL-b-PMPCS) was investigated. The degrees of polymerization of the PCL and PMPCS block are 200 and 98, respectively. With the PMPCS in a columnar liquid crystalline phase, the diblock is rod-coil one, which exhibits a lamellar phase morphology with the PCL layer thickness of 15.2 nm. Since the glass transition temperature of PMPCS block is much higher than the melting temperature of PCL, the crystallization of PCL is in a one-dimensionally "hard" confinement environment. Mainly on the basis of two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction experiments, we identified the orientation of PCL isothermally crystallized at various crystallization temperatures (Tcs). At high Tcs (Tc≥10℃), the c-axis of the PCL crystal is along the layer normal of the microphase-separated sturcture. Decreasing Tc can result in the tilting of PCL c-axis with respect to the layer normal. The lower the Tc is, the more the c-axis inclines. Meanwhile, the b-axis of PCL remains perpendicular to the layer normal. At a very low Tc of -78℃, the orientation of the PCL crystals is completely random. For the samples isothermally crystallized at Tc≤10℃, double melting behavior can be observed. While the low temperature endotherm reflects the melting of the crystals originally formed at the Tc applied, the high temperature one is associated with the crystals subjected to the process of recrystallization/reorganization upon heating due to the annealing effect.