Normal and shear forces between a polyelectrolyte brush and a solid surface

The diblock copolymer poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(sodium sulfonated glycidyl methacrylate) (PMMA‐b‐PSGMA) was end‐attached by its hydrophobic block (PMMA) onto mica hydrophobized by a stearic trimethylammonium iodide (STAI) layer, to form a polyelectrolyte brush immersed in water. With a surface force balance (SFB), we extended earlier measurements between two such brush layers for the case of normal and shear forces at different shear rates, surface separation, and compressions between one mica surface coated with STAI or a STAI‐diblock layer against a bare mica surface. After coating one of the surfaces with STAI, a long range attraction that results in a jump into an adhesive flat contact between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces was observed. A very different behavior was seen after forming the polyelectrolyte brush on the STAI‐coated surface. The long range attraction was replaced by repulsion, accompanied by very low friction during shear (ca. three orders of magnitude lower than with adsorbed polyelectrolytes). On further compression, a weak attraction to the adhesive contact was observed. From the final surface–surface contact separation, we deduce that most of the polyelectrolyte diblock brush layer was squeezed out from the gap, leaving the STAI layer and a small amount of the polymer attached to the surface. Stick‐sliding behavior was seen while applying shear, suggesting a dissipation mechanism caused by the trapped polyelectrolyte. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 193–204, 2005     

Interactions between surfactant-coated surfaces in hydrocarbon liquids containing functionalized polymer dispersant

The forces and viscosity between calcium benzene sulfonate surfactant-coated mica surfaces in various hydrocarbon liquids containing a polyamine-functionalized hydrocarbon polymer (M _W≈8000) have been measured using the surface forces apparatus technique. The polymer is found to adsorb to the substrate surfaces by displacing the surfactant layer, and to produce forces that are monotonically repulsive. The forces have a maximum range of 50–100 nm (>3R _H), indicating that tails play a particularly important role in the interaction of this relatively low molecular weight polymer. The forces become steeply repulsive below about 10 nm (∼0.6R _H), at which point a “hard-wall” repulsion comes in that can sustain pressures greater than 100 atm. Thin-film viscosity measurements indicate that the far-field positions of the slipping planes Δ_H depend on the shear rate, showing that significant shear thinning/thickening effects occur within the outermost tail regions of the adsorbed layers during shear. The position of the slipping plane, or hydrodynamic layer thickness Δ_H, varies from 0.6R _H to 2R _H away from each surface (mica and surfactant-coated mica surfaces). Beyond the hydrodynamic layer the far-field fluid viscosity is the same as that of the bulk polymer solution. At separations below D = 2Δ_H the viscosity increases as each polymer layer is compressed. The static forces exhibited various time- and history-dependent effects, which further indicate that a number of different relaxation/equilibration processes are operating simultaneously in this complex multicomponent system. The results reveal that the interactions of tails of functionally adsorbed polymers play a more important role than previously thought. This is especially true in this study where the adsorbed polymers are of low molecular weight and where the tails may represent the largest fraction of interacting segments. Received: 22 September 1998 Accepted: 11 January 1999     

Glucose transformation to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural in acidic ionic liquid: A quantum mechanical study

Isomerization and transformation of glucose and fructose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in both ionic liquids (ILs) and water has been studied by the reference interaction site model self‐consistent field spatial electron density distribution (RISM‐SCF‐SEDD) method coupled with ab initio electronic structure theory, namely coupled cluster single, double, and perturbative triple excitation (CCSD(T)). Glucose isomerization to fructose has been investigated via cyclic and open chain mechanisms. In water, the calculations support the cyclic mechanism of glucose isomerization; with the predicted activation free energy is 23.8 kcal mol^?1 at experimental condition. Conversely, open ring mechanism is more favorable in ILs with the energy barrier is 32.4 kcal mol^?1. Moreover, the transformation of fructose into HMF via cyclic mechanism is reasonable; the calculated activation barriers are 16.0 and 21.5 kcal mol^?1 in aqueous and ILs solutions, respectively. The solvent effects of ILs could be explained by the decomposition of free energies and radial distribution functions of solute‐solvent that are produced by RISM‐SCF‐SEDD. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Solution properties of poly(styrene-co-sodium styrene sulfonate)

The relative conductivities of solutions of poly(styrene-co-sodium styrene sulfonate) (PSSNa) in N,N-dimethylformamide + water have been measured as functions of temperature and at various concentrations. With the aid of the newly proposed theory related to the effect of solute adsorption on the relative conductivity measurement, the experimental data were analysed, and some interesting parameters describing the interfacial properties were deduced. The concentration of PSSNa data dependence of the reduced electrical conductivities has been fitted to an equation similar to the Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher based on the critical concentration model. The intrinsic electrical conductivity of Vogel [σ_V], the critical concentration and the concentration of Vogel C_VFT were calculated. The behaviour of polymers close to interfaces has been studied with the parameter of [σ_V]. Two mechanisms of interaction between a polymer solution and a surface are in general distinguished, leading to the formation of adsorbed and grafted layers.     

Electrochemical Immunosensing Strategies Based on Immobilization of Anti-IgC on Mixed Self-Assembly Monolayers Carrying Surface Amide or Carboxyl Groups

Abstract

In the development of electrochemical immunosensing strategies, stability or activity of the immobilized biocomponents and signal amplification of the immunoconjugates are two key factors. In this study, a comparative study of immunoglobulin G antibody (anti‐IgG) immobilization, as a model, was performed on cysteine (Cys), 2‐aminoethane thiol (AET), and 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) monolayers. The change of anti‐IgG layer formation on the three base layers as a function of the anti‐IgG concentration was investigated in parallel via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, surface plasmon resonance, and quartz crystal microbalance. Through the parallel measurements, we demonstrate that the Cys‐modified layer is more suitable for the immobilization of the anti‐IgG molecules than the MUA or AET‐modified layer. Based on the CV and EIS analyses, it was determined that the current responses decreased with the increment of anti‐IgG concentration, while the resistance responses increased with the concentration of anti‐IgG increased. Moreover, the current and resistance shifts were more remarkable on the Cys layer than that of the other two layers. In the SPR and QCM measurements, the SPR and QCM response signals were similar in shape but differing in time scales, reflecting differences in detection mechanisms. With regard to the fundamental problem of comparing different measurement principles, the mechanism of the IgG immobilized on the three layers was proposed. Consequently, the surface concentration of anti‐IgG immobilized on the electrode should be optimized to improve the sensitivity of the immunosensors.     

Poly[aqua‐μ3‐2,2‐dimethyl­malonato‐zinc(II)]

The title complex, [Zn(C₅H₆O₄)(H₂O)]_n, has a two‐dimensional layer structure. The Zn atoms, in a geometry that is closer to trigonal bipyramidal than square pyramidal, are coordinated by two O atoms of a bidentate dimethyl­malonate ligand, two O atoms of monodentate dimethylmalonate ligands and one O atom from the aqua ligand. The crystal structure is characterized by the intra­layer motif of a hydrogen‐bonded network. Neighboring layers are linked together to build up a three‐dimensional network via van der Waals forces.     

Photo absorption of ‐coumaric acid in aqueous solution: RISM‐SCF‐SEDD theory approach

Photo absorption properties of p‐coumaric acid, the chromophore of photoactive yellow protein, in aqueous solution were investigated by means of reference interaction site model self‐consistent field with spatial electron density distribution (RISM‐SCF‐SEDD) method. RISM‐SCF‐SEDD is a combination methodology of electronic structure theory and statistical mechanics for molecular liquids. Here, time‐dependent density functional theory was coupled with RISM equation to study the electronic structure of p‐coumaric acid in aqueous system. Excitation energies of the chromophore in its neutral, two monoanionic and dianionic forms were computed to elucidate the effect of the deprotonation and solvation on the spectroscopic properties. We found that solvation strongly affects the excitation character of the chromophore, especially for phenolate anion and dianion. The free energy difference among the four protonation states is also discussed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis of PS and PDMAEMA mixed polymer brushes on the surface of layered silicate and their application in pickering suspension polymerization

An ammonium free radical initiator was ion exchanged onto the surface of clay layers. Polystyrene (PS) and poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) mixed polymer brushes on the surface of clay layers were prepared by in situ free radical polymerization. PS colloid particles armored by clay layers with mixed polymer brushes were prepared by Pickering suspension polymerization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the colloid particles. Clay layers on the surface of PS colloid particles can be observed. Because of the cationic nature of the PDMAEMA brushes the colloid particles have positive zeta potentials at low pH values. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the surface of the colloid particles. N_1s binding energy of PDMAEMA chains on the surface of clay layers was detected by XPS. The two peaks of the N_1s binding energy indicate two different nitrogen environments on the surface of clay layers. The peak with a lower binding energy is characteristic of neutral nitrogen on PDMAEMA chains, and the peak with a higher binding energy is attributed to protonated nitrogen on PDMAEMA chains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5759–5769, 2007     

Ab initio study of molecular oxygen adsorption on Pu (111) surface

Using the generalized gradient approximation to density functional theory (DFT), molecular and dissociative oxygen adsorptions on a Pu (111) surface has been studied in detail. Dissociative adsorption with a layer‐by‐layer alternate spin arrangement of the plutonium layer is found to be energetically more favorable, and adsorption of oxygen does not change this feature. Hor1 (O₂ is parallel to the surface and lattice vectors) approach on the center2 (center of the unit cell, where there is a Pu atom directly below on the third layer) site, both without and with spin polarization, was found to be the preferred chemisorbed site among all cases studied with chemisorption energies of 8.365 and 7.897 eV, respectively. The second‐highest chemisorption energy occurs at the Ver (O₂ is vertical to the surface) approach of the bridge site with chemisorption energies of 8.294 eV (non‐spin‐polarized) and 7.859 eV (spin‐polarized), respectively. We find that 5f electrons are more localized in the spin‐polarized case than the non‐spin‐polarized counterparts. Localization of the 5f electrons is higher in the oxygen‐adsorbed plutonium layers compared with the bare layers. The ionic part of O? Pu bonding plays a significant role in the chemisorption process, along with Pu 5f? O 2p hybridization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Synthesis of a Helical Bilayer Nanographene

A rigid, inherently chiral bilayer nanographene has been synthesized as both the racemate and enantioenriched M isomer (with 93 % ee) in three steps from established helicenes. This folded nanographene is composed of two hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene layers fused to a [10]helicene, with an interlayer distance of 3.6 Å as determined by X‐ray crystallography. The rigidity of the helicene linker forces the layers to adopt a nearly aligned AA‐stacked conformation, rarely observed in few‐layer graphene. By combining the advantages of nanographenes and helicenes, we have constructed a bilayer system of 30 fused benzene rings that is also chiral, rigid, and remains soluble in common organic solvents. We present this as a molecular model system of bilayer graphene, with properties of interest in a variety of potential applications.     

Interphase development in a three‐component polymer system with asymmetric mobility

We report a study on the interphase evolution in a system composed by three polymeric components with markedly different mobility distributed between two layers. One of the layers is a low‐T_g blend containing a low molecular weight polystyrene (PS) as a plasticizer (low‐M PS) and PS chains with much higher molecular weight (high‐M PS). The counterpart is a high‐T_g layer composed by polyphenylene oxide. The system was annealed at several temperatures between T_g of the polymer layers and the subsequent interphase development probed by optical sectioning with confocal Raman microspectroscopy. The profiles obtained revealed the existence of two diffusion fronts that advance in opposite directions, both showing a similar response with time and temperature. These fronts act as well‐defined boundaries that structure the interphase into three well‐defined regions with almost constant PS volume fraction. We discuss this particular phenomenology proposing a simple diffusion model that describes the main interphase features. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 627–633, 2010     

First‐principles study of the (001) surface of cubic PbTiO3

We present first‐principles calculations on the (001) surfaces of cubic PbTiO₃ with PbO and TiO₂ terminations. The cleavage energy, surface energy, surface grand potential, surface relaxation and surface electronic structure have been investigated by using the projector‐augmented wave method under generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The results show that surface energy of a TiO₂‐terminated surface is a little lower than that of a PbO‐terminated one, thus allowing both terminations to coexist. The PbO‐termination is stable in O‐ and Pb‐rich environments, while on the contrary, the TiO₂‐termination is stable in O‐ and Pb‐poor conditions. In addition, the surface rumpling S of a PbO‐terminated surface is slightly larger than that of a TiO₂‐terminated one. The relaxations dominantly take place on the outermost three layers, and an oscillatory (? + ?) damping (|Δd₁₂ | > | Δd₂₃ | > | Δd₃₄|) relaxation phenomenon appears for both terminations. The band gaps of both PbO‐ and TiO₂‐terminations are slightly lower than that of the bulk. Moreover, the DOS curves of each layer show that for the TiO₂‐termination, the top of the valence band of the first and third TiO₂ layers moves toward Fermi level. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of hydrophobic tannins‐inspired polymer materials via low‐ppm ATRP methods

The novel hydrophobic coating material was received for the first time by a two‐step synthetic route. Firstly, the 15‐functional brominated macroinitiator was prepared by the esterification methodology. Next step covers synthesis of star‐like polymers by poly(n‐butyl acrylate) (PBA) arms polymerization via three low‐ppm atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) approaches including application of copper and silver wire in SARA and ARGET ATRP, respectively, as driving forces in redox cycle of catalyst, and an external stimulus in the form of electric current (seATRP) as the third approach in copper(II) regeneration system. As expected, the electrochemically mediated technique allows synthesis of tannic acid‐inspired coating polymers in precisely controlled manner during the entire polymerization process, proved by linear first‐order kinetics plot in contrast to above‐mentioned methods, low dispersity (Ð = 1.18) of star‐shaped polymers, and high efficiency of initiation (? _i = 81%) determined after detaching of polymers side arms. Macromolecules received by all low‐ppm ATRP solutions were characterized by preserved chain‐end functionality (theoretical dead chain fraction; DCF_theo <1%). Adhesive and hydrophobic properties of received polymer materials were investigated by contact angles (θ) and free surface energy (FSE) calculations. Prepared polymer films besides excellent hydrophobic properties have great potential as a self‐healing solution.     

Structural,electronic, and magnetic properties of double perovskite Pb2FeReO6 thin films with (001) orientation and three possible terminations

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the three possible terminated (001)‐oriented thin films of the double perovskite Pb₂FeReO₆ compound, 9‐L FeReO₄ terminated, 10‐L FeReO₄+PbO terminated, and 11‐L PbO terminated, have been studied by using the first‐principles calculations. An outward relaxation is observed for several layers near surface, and the relaxed fractional rumpling s of the PbO layer is larger than that of the adjacent FeReO₄ layer, and both have a decrease tend from surface layer to inner layer. The O atom is closer to the adjacent Re atom than to the adjacent Fe atom. Except for Fe or Re transition‐metal (TM) atoms on the film's symmetrical central layer, the two axial TM‐O bond lengths are not equal in the survived FeO₆ or ReO₆ octahedra. The maintained HM‐FM character ensures the three possible terminated (001)‐oriented thin films of the double perovskite Pb₂FeReO₆ compound a potential application in magnetoresistive and spintronics devices. An FM coupling is obtained within each Fe or Re TM sublattice, whereas two TM sublattices are coupled AFM. The delocalized distribution of the spin/magnetic charge densities around the Fe atom on the first FeReO₄ layer leads to a smaller magnetic moment. The remained two Re 5d² electrons are mainly located on the down‐spin t_2g (d_xy, d_yz, and d_zx) orbitals.     

Simulation study on the coil‐globule transition of adsorbed polymers

Coil‐globule transition of adsorbed polymers on attractive surface is simulated by using dynamic Monte Carlo simulation. The effect of surface attraction strength E_PS and intrachain attraction strength E_PP on polymer phases is investigated. The coil‐globule transition point is dependent on E_PS, while the globule conformation is dependent on both E_PS and E_PP. At small E_PS, the conformation of adsorbed polymer is three‐dimensional layer structure. While at large E_PS, the conformation of adsorbed polymer is roughly two‐dimensional (2D) at E_PP = 0, and we observe a 2D coil‐globule transition at E*_PP and a layer‐forming transition from 2D conformation to three‐dimensional layer structure at E*_PP,L > E*_PP. The layer‐forming transition point E*_PP,L increases with E_PS as E*_PP,L = E_PS ? 1.4. In addition, we find that the adsorption suppresses the coil‐globule transition, i.e., the coil‐globule transition point E*_PP increases with the increase in E_PS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2359–2367     

A Links‐Nodes‐Blobs Model for Conductive Polymer Composites

A Links‐Nodes‐Blobs (L‐N‐B) model, based on the fractal and percolation concepts, is used to study the electrically conductive mechanism of conductive filler loaded polymer composites. The change in the conductivity of polymer composites during the mixing process can be explained as the competition between the breakdown of filler aggregates and the diffusion of ingredients of matrix material and impurities onto the surface of the filler. The value of the fractal dimension μ, which is the exponent in the power‐law relationship of the electrical conductivity σ = σ₀·(ϕ – ϕ_c)^μ, is calculated as 1.88. This value is close to the values obtained directly from experiments or from other simulations. The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) behavior in the conductivity of composite material is also explained by this model as the breakdown of the conductive filler network. If the thermo‐expansion induced strain is greater than the apparent on‐set strain ε_onset = mQ + 2 G/2d G·ε_b of the L‐N‐B model, a strong PTC effect would happen.     

A three‐dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer: poly[[[μ‐4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine‐κ2N:N](μ‐3,3′‐thiodipropionato‐κ3O,O′:O)cadmium(II)] monohydrate]

In the title coordination polymer, {[Cd(C₆H₈O₄S)(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)]·H₂O}_n, the Cd^II atom displays a distorted octahedral coordination, formed by three carboxylate O atoms and one S atom from three different 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands, and two N atoms from two different 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine ligands. The Cd^II centres are bridged through carboxylate O atoms of 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands and through N atoms of 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine ligands to form two different one‐dimensional chains, which intersect to form a two‐dimensional layer. These two‐dimensional layers are linked by S atoms of 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands from adjacent layers to form a three‐dimensional network.     

Method and basis set dependence of the NICS indexes of aromaticity for benzene

The role of theory level in prediction of benzene magnetic indexes of aromaticity is analysed and compared with calculated nuclear magnetic shieldings of ³He used as NMR probe. Three closely related nucleus‐independent chemical shift (NICS) based indexes were calculated for benzene at SCF‐HF, MP2, and DFT levels of theory and the impact of basis set on these quantities was studied. The changes of benzene NICS(0), NICS(1), and NICS(1)zz parameters calculated using SCF‐HF, MP2 and several density functionals were within 1 to 3 ppm. Similar deviations between magnetic indexes of aromaticity were observed for values calculated with selected basis sets. Only very small effect of polar solvent on benzene aromaticity was predicted. The ³He nuclear magnetic isotropic shielding (σ) and its zz‐components (σ_zz) of helium atom approaching the centre of benzene ring from above produced similar curves versus benzene‐He distance to NICS parameters calculated for similarly moving Bq ghost atom. We also propose an experimental verification of NICS calculations by designing the ³He NMR measurement for benzene saturated with helium gas or in low temperature matrices.     

MgNB9, a new magnesium nitridoboride

The structure of a new magnesium nitridoboride, MgNB₉, has been refined from single‐crystal X‐ray data. The Mg and N atoms lie on sites with crystallographic 3m symmetry. The structure consists of two layers alternating along the c axis. The NB₆ layer, with B₁₂ icosahedra, has the C₂B₁₃ structure type. Within this layer, boron icosahedra are bonded to N atoms, each coordinating to three boron polyhedra. Another MgB₃ layer, with B₆ octahedra, does not belong to any known structure type. The boron icosahedra and octahedra are connected to each other, thus forming a three‐dimensional boron framework.     

Tetrathiophene on Graphite: Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Summary: We describe molecular dynamics simulations of α‐tetrathiophene molecules deposited on a flat graphite substrate, at two different temperatures (300 K and 400 K) and several degrees of coverage (from approximately one to three molecular layers). The simulations employ a modified version of the CFF91 force field, with the torsion parameters tailored on high‐level ab initio calculations on 2,2′‐bithiophene. We found that the molecules in the first layer were relatively planar and packed against the underlying surface, while those outside it were not arranged in well‐defined layers and were more conformationally disordered. On the time scale of the simulation, the molecules did not crystallize but rather achieved a liquid crystalline‐like state with their average director parallel to the surface.

Side view of the final configuration in the simulation of 24 tetrathiophenes at 300 K. Molecules are depicted with different shades of gray according to their z coordinate (first, second or third layer).