Facile preparation of superhydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces via the combination of Cu(0)‐mediated reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization and click chemistry

The fabrication of novel hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, and oleophobic surfaces on glass using nanosilica particles modified with polymer brushes prepared via surface initiated Cu(0)‐mediated reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization was demonstrated. Monomers including n‐butyl acrylate, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate, and 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate were used to synthesize a series of nanosilica–polymer organic/inorganic hybrid materials. Products were analyzed using infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The coated nanosilica showed core–shell structures that contains polymer brushes up to 67 wt %. The application of these particles for modifying surface wettability was examined by covalently attaching them to glass via a recently developed one‐pot “grafting to” methodology using “thio‐bromo click” chemistry. Atomic force microscopy topographic images show up to 25 times increase in roughness of the coated glass compared to blank glass sample. Contact angle measurements showed that nanosilica coated with PBA and PTFEM produced hydrophobic glass surfaces, while a superhydrophobic and oleophobic surface was generated using nanosilica functionalized with PHFIPA. This novel methodology can produce superhydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces in an easy and fast way without the need for tedious and time‐consuming processes, such as layer‐by‐layer deposition, high temperature calcination, and fluorinated oil infusion. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018     

Synthesis and characterization of polycyanurate/montmorillonite nanocomposites

The advantages of cyanate esters (CEs) versus competitor systems such as epoxies and polyimides, as well as the great reinforcing potential of organoclays properly dispersed into a polymeric matrix, have been examined in a series of polycyanurate (PCN)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites prepared under appropriate polymerization conditions. The curing schedule applied resulted in gradual propagation of polymerization. Through this procedure, the intragallery curing rate becomes comparable to the extragallery one, allowing intercalation before gelation. Systems with clay loadings from 1 to 3% per weight were synthesized, and their morphology and mechanical properties were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile tests. Microscopy investigations revealed better dispersion for the 3 wt % system compared to smaller concentrations, in which aggregation and, in some cases, agglomeration were the conspicuous features. Roughness and area analyses revealed more homogeneous dispersion for this nanocomposite. Topology and 3D‐phase images further suggested considerable reduction of the average particle diameters. WAXS analysis showed that the interlayer spacing of nanocomposites was increased compared to pristine MMT, indicating the formation of intercalated structures. On the other hand, tensile strength and elongation at break values displayed abrupt diminution with MMT addition, while Young's modulus exhibited a slight but systematic increment with MMT content. The decreasing glass transition tendency observed for small clay loadings was reversed in the case of 3 wt %, while secondary transitions were practically unaffected by the presence of MMT. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1036–1049, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of functional polysilanes [RMe2Si(CH2)x(Me)Si]n (R = 2‐Fu, 5‐Me‐2‐Fu, 2‐Th, 4‐Me‐2‐Th; x = 2, 3) with appended furyl/thienyl groups on the carbosilyl side chains and their application in the generation and stabilization of palladium nanoparticles

The polysilanes [RMe₂Si(CH₂)_x(Me)Si]_n [x = 2, 3; R = 2‐Fu ( 1, 2 ), 5‐Me‐2‐Fu ( 3, 4 )] bearing furyl‐substituted carbosilyl side chains have been synthesized by dehalocondensation reaction (Wurtz coupling) of the corresponding carbosilanes using sodium dispersion in refluxing toluene. On the other hand, analogous polysilanes with appended thienyl groups [x = 2, 3; R = 2‐Th ( 5, 6 ), 4‐Me‐2‐Th ( 7, 8 )] are only accessible by the reaction of the corresponding carbosilane precursors under mild Wurtz coupling conditions (THF, RT). These polysilanes reveal monomodal molecular weight distribution with M_w/PDI = 3.3–5.4 × 10⁴/1.22–1.47 ( 1–4 ) and 9.1–14.4 × 10⁴/1.45–1.61 ( 5–8 ) and are characterized by FT‐IR, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ²⁹Si{¹H}) NMR, and UV/PL spectral studies as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Preliminary studies on the reactivity of polysilane 2 with palladium acetate (toluene, RT) reveal the formation of spherical palladium nanoparticles of size 8.2 ± 0.6 nm, which remain stable in solution for several weeks. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7816–7826, 2008     

Application of principal component analysis to the thermal characterization of silanized nanoparticles obtained at supercritical carbon dioxide conditions

Samples resulting from reaction of TiO₂ with octyltriethoxysilane, developed using a supercritical carbon dioxide procedure, have been studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopies and thermogravimetric analysis. Different reaction conditions have been applied to the preparation of samples in order to study the influence of experimental factors on the sample properties. Vibrational techniques have first been used to verify the presence of silanized structures on the surface of TiO₂ through the detection of specific bands characteristic of the Si-O-Si cross-linking. Thermogravimetric profiles consisting of weight loss values as a function of temperature have been analyzed by principal component analysis to extract information about the characteristics of the linkage between silane and TiO₂ as well as the thermal stability of the prepared materials. The mathematical treatment of data has provided conclusions on the properties of the samples and analogies and differences with respect to the commercial material.     

Lead Sensor Using Gold Nanostructured Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes as Transducers

Gold nanostructured screen‐printed carbon electrodes are demonstrated to be suitable transducers for the determination of lead using square‐wave voltammetry. Reproducible gold nanostructures have been obtained by direct electrochemical deposition. A calibration plot from 2.5 to 250 μg/L was obtained in acidic solutions of Pb(II) with a reproducibility of 4% (n=10). The detection limit was 0.09 μg/L of lead. The method is then applied to perform a blood lead analysis by adjusting square‐wave parameters in capillary or venous blood with a minimum sample pretreatment and excellent accuracy and reproducibility.