Gas storage of simple molecules in boron oxide nanocapsules

The capability of the B₂₀O₃₀ nanocapsule to store H₂, N₂, CO, CO₂, NH₃, CH₄, and Cl₂ molecules on the outer surface and inside of the cage was investigated using Monte Carlo simulations, long‐range and dispersion corrected density functional theory, and Møller–Plesset second‐order perturbation theory. Also, Monte Carlo simulations were employed to investigate the adsorption behavior of larger number of guest molecules inserted into and onto the larger B₈₀O₁₂₀ and B₂₀O₃₀@B₈₀O₁₂₀ cages. Absolute localized molecular orbitals energy decomposition analysis was used to describe the nature of intermolecular interactions in these endohedral and exohedral complexes. It is found that the hydrogen and ammonia gases are diffused to the inside of spherical B₂₀O₃₀ capsule, while other guest molecules prefer to interact with the outer surface of spherical and pyramidal capsules. For B₈₀O₁₂₀, up to 26 H₂ and 11–14 N₂, CO, CO₂, NH₃, and CH₄ molecules are stored inside the capsule. The residual molecules are adsorbed on the outer surface of nanocapsule. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Core/Shell Structured PCM Nanocapsules Obtained by Resin Fortified Emulsion Process

Phase change material (PCM, octadecane) nanocapsules were successfully prepared by resin fortified emulsion (RFE) polymerization using the alkali soluble resin (ASR) of poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (EAA) and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) (SAA). Stable PCM nanocapsules were obtained by resin fortified emulsion polymerization, which could be attributed to the prevention of Ostwald ripening due to PCM being hydrophobic. Analysis of online FTIR measurements throughout the reaction confirmed that the nanocapsules contained octadecane as a PCM. TEM imaging of the PCM nanocapsules showed spherical and core/shell morphology. The characteristics of PCM nanocapsules can be controlled by process parameters. As a result, the particle size and particle size distribution (i.e., polydispersity index (Dw/Dn)) of the PCM nanocapsules were created by adjusting manufacturing conditions. The PCM nanocapsules exhibited thermal energy storage (～49.8 J/g) and release (～47.9 J/g) behavior.     

Structural and electronic properties of lithium endohedral doped carbon nanocapsules

Endohedral lithium and lithium ion doped carbon nanocapsule (CNC) systems have been theoretically investigated by performing semi-empirical molecular orbital method at the level of PM3 (UHF and/or RHF) type quantum chemical treatment in order to explore the energetics and electronic structures. The geometries of the studied systems have been optimized and the molecular properties, energies, some selected molecular orbital eigenvalues and dipole moments of the studied capsules are reported. Molecular dynamics simulations have been also performed to study the structural properties and energetics of endohedral lithium and lithium ion doped CNCs.     

碳纳米胶囊中水分子的分子动力学研究

采用分子动力学方法研究了不同温度下碳纳米胶囊中水分子及其氢键的聚集密度分布,讨论了水分子内部键角及其取向规律.计算结果表明,由于碳纳米胶囊的束缚作用,水分子主要聚集在与胶囊形状相似的三个薄层中,随着温度的升高,聚集密度峰均会展宽并向管壁移动.氢键的分布规律与水分子聚集密度类似并对其取向角分布有明显影响.与通常情况不同,在1000K高温时仍存在相当数量的氢键.在3100 K附近,碳纳米胶囊发生破裂,溢出少量水分子后自动愈合.     

新型共价交联纳米胶囊的构筑、调控与功能

利用共价自组装的方法，将刚性组装基元与柔性链在一定条件下进行横向交联，可以方便地制备出单层高分子纳米胶囊.相比于传统的非共价超分子囊泡，这种新型的共价纳米胶囊具有结构稳定、尺度可控且分散性优异等诸多优点.因此，如何利用化学合成的手段来制备新型的纳米胶囊，并进一步实现对其结构调控和性能的探究具有十分重要的意义.针对这些问题，分别发展了功能化的柱[5]芳烃、四苯乙烯、卟啉、三嗪、苯硼酸酐等不同类型构筑基元，并使之与两端具有活性位点的柔性烷基链在适当的溶剂中进行聚合反应，最终获得了一系列的共价纳米胶囊.通过对其结构的修饰和调控，发现这些功能化的高分子纳米胶囊在光捕获、人工酶、抗菌材料以及药物载体等领域具有诸多潜在应用价值.未来，新型共价高分子纳米胶囊的开发、功能化以及应用有望得到进一步的拓展.     

微乳中纳米胶囊的复凝聚法制备

在O/W型APG微乳液模板上, 以明胶和阿拉伯树胶作为包裹材料, 用复凝聚的方法制备纳米胶囊, 对影响纳米胶囊的合成条件进行了分析. 用粒度仪测定产物的粒径及其分布, 用透射电镜观察产物的形貌. 结果表明, 用复凝聚法在微乳中合成了粒度均匀、粒径30～100 nm的球性纳米胶囊. 考察了微乳液的组成、高分子的浓度和复凝聚的条件对纳米胶囊性质的影响. 纳米胶囊对氯氰菊酯的包裹率较高, 在60%以上. 本方法条件温和, 操作简单, 是一种新型的纳米胶囊合成技术.     

Selective Fabrication of Polymer Nanocapsules and Nanotubes Using Cyclodextrin as a Nanoporogen

Summary: Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanocapsules and nanotubes were selectively synthesized by microemulsion polymerisation using β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) as a nanoporogen. Iron(III ) chloride (FeCl₃) was used as a structure‐directing agent to fabricate polymer nanotubes. In addition, the average pore size of the PAN nanocapsules and nanotubes could be controlled with the concentration of β‐CD.

(a) TEM image of PAN nanocapsules; (b) SEM image of PAN nanotubes.     

Synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules by radical UV‐activated interface‐emulsion polymerization

A new methodology is reported that allows a better control of the synthesis of polymeric core–shell nanocapsules. These nanocapsules were made of biocompatible polymers, obtained from poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, and were used as carrier for curcumin as therapeutic agent. The impact of manufacturing factors (time of sonication, time of UV irradiation, and type of monomer) was investigated in relation to the average size of nanocapsules, their distribution, shape, composition, stability, and their capability to deliver curcumin. We successfully synthesized core–shell nanocapsules in various sizes, ranging from 80 nm to 300 nm, by acting either on the process conditions or on the composition of the monomer mixture. This wide range of sizes makes the method here proposed very promising for the production of nanocarriers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3357–3369     

Control of random self-assembly of pyrogallol[4]arene-based nanocapsule or framework

The controlled self-assembly of discrete metal-organic nanocapsules (MONCs), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on the MONCs are achieved. Specifically, the solvothermal reaction of nickel nitrate hexahydrate and C-methylpyrogallol[4]arene in mixed DMF/MeOH solution leads to the unexpected form of discrete nickel-seamed hexameric pyrogallol[4]arene MONCs, and MONC-based three-dimensional (3D) MOF. Notably, the latter MOF is constructed from the aforementioned nickel-seamed MONC building blocks and formate linkers in-situ generated from the hydrolysis of DMF solvent. Interestingly, introducing pyridine and formic acid in the reaction conditions leads to the controlled assemblies of the discrete MONC and MONC-based 3D MOF structures. Moreover, the variable-temperature magnetic susceptibilities of both the abovementioned compounds have been investigated, indicating typical antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers.