Molecular dynamics in fluorinated side-chain maleimide copolymers as studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy

A series of alternating maleimide (MI) copolymers with fluorinated side chains have been investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The side chains consist of fluoroalkane (–C _x F_2x+1, x=1, 7, 9) end groups connected to the main chain via methylene spacers. The experiments were carried out in a frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz and at temperatures between 120 K and 500 K. The fluorinated MI copolymers show a fast sub-T _g (β) relaxation characterized by an Arrhenius-type temperature dependence with activation energy in the range of 30–37 kJ/mol. Two more processes (α and δ-like) are observed, corresponding to independent relaxations of the main chain and the fluoroalkane domains respectively. For shorter side chains, the δ-like process is not observed but instead another relaxation process, α _S , occurs at temperatures higher than either the α and δ-like processes. When compared with unfluorinated MI copolymers, the fluorinated MI copolymers show the δ-like process and a slower β-relaxation unlike their unfluorinated counterparts. A model to explain the molecular origin of the four processes is proposed, supplemented by differential scanning calorimetry and published WAXS/SAXS data.     

New dielectric relaxation process reveals mesomorphic ordering in rapidly cooled poly(ethylene naphthalate)

A curious, strong dielectric relaxation process (δ) was found in rapidly cooled poly(ethylene naphthalate). This process, which is located between two known β and β* relaxations of PEN, appears predominantly after rapid cooling and remains present even after heating above the glass transition temperature. In view of its very low activation energy of ∼10 kJ/mol, its markedly high relaxation strength of up to Δɛ=5, and its Debye-like peak shape, a collective relaxation mechanism is proposed, which involves collective crankshaft motions of the -O-CH₂-CH₂-O- sequences in a regular arrangement of the main chains. The analogy between this δ-relaxation and an ultra-slow relaxation recently found in the smectic E phase of a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer suggests a (close-to) hexagonal smectic ordering in PEN. The very existence of liquid-crystalline order in PEN is corroborated by the observation of a thermo-reversible discontinuity in the relaxation parameters around −90 °C, which resembles a broadened LC-LC phase transition. Re-evaluation of experimental data of the β* relaxation, which occurs in the non-crystalline fraction of PEN, suggests that this relaxation is sensitive to the local orientational order, which extends from nematic to isotropic. The shift in the temperature of the β* peak and even the splitting of this peak found by other authors can be ascribed to the lowering of the activation energy by the local ordered packing of the PEN chains in line with a lower activation energy in the nematic order. The coexistence of isotropic and nematic regions in PEN is put in the context of orientational order fluctuations during the induction period of cold crystallisation of semi-flexible polymers. Received: 31 August 2000 Accepted: 30 October 2000     

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy of the inter- and intramolecular dynamics of a series of random polyester copolymers

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (1–10⁶ Hz, 183–423 K) and differential scanning calorimetry are employed to analyze the inter- and intramolecular dynamics of a series of random copolymers based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate). In addition to an interfacial relaxation (α*-process), three dielectric relaxation processes are observed: The α-relaxation (“dynamic glass transition”) and two secondary relaxations (β- and β*-relaxations). The α-relaxation depends sensitively on the composition of the copolymer and shows a rapid slowing down with increasing content of cyclohexylene dimethylene (CHDM) linkages. Besides the β-relaxation, attributed to local motion of the ester group, an additional process (β*-relaxation) is observed on introducing the CHDM linkages. Increasing the content of the latter reduces the strength of the β-relaxation strongly and increases its activation energy by more than 30%. This proves that owing to interactions between the cylohexylene rings and the ester group the β-relaxation no longer has local character only. Received: 28 September 2000 Accepted: 29 January 2001     

Molecular mobility of a comb-shaped copolymethacrylate with chalcone chromophore-containing side groups

The molecular mobility of copolymethacrylate with chromophore-containing chalcone side chains is studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Five regions of dipolar polarization relaxation are identified: namely, γ, β, β₁, α, and δ processes. It is shown that γ and β1 processes are related to the local mobility of methylene sequences and ester groups adjoining the backbone, while the α process is associated with the cooperative segmental mobility of the backbone. The β and δ processes are attributed to the mobility of chalcone groups: the local mobility in the glassy state (reorientation relative to the long axis of chromophores) and the cooperative mobility in the rubbery state (reorientation relative to the short axis of chromophores), respectively. The incorporation of 20% chalcone groups does not change the glass-transition temperature but enhances the cooperativity of the α process and intermolecular interactions.     

Dielectric properties and Fourier transform IR analysis of MCM-48, Al-MCM-48 and Ti-MCM-48 mesoporous materials

 Broad-band dielectric spectroscopy was used to investigate the dielectric properties of the meso- porous materials MCM-48, Al-MCM-48 and Ti-MCM-48. The samples were examined in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range from −100 to 250 °C. The dielectric relaxation of the materials has a complex nonexponential behavior with some common features for all the samples. The dielectric spectroscopy and Fourier transform IR measurements identified the relaxation process related to percolation of H⁺ ions associated with silanol groups and water adsorbed in the materials. The non-Debye behavior of the macroscopic dipole correlation functions related to the percolation process allowed us to extract the fractal dimensions of the paths of excitation transfer within the porous medium, and the porosity of each sample was estimated. Received: 7 September 1999 Accepted: 10 December 1999     

Study of Nd2–x Ce x CuO4?±?δ (x?=?0.1–0.25) as cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

The solid solubility limit of Ce in Nd_2–x Ce _x CuO_4 ± δ , prepared by sol–gel process, is established up to x = 0.2. The transition from negative temperature coefficient to positive temperature coefficient, within the solid solubility region, is observed at 620 °C. The area-specific-resistance (ASR) is optimized for electrochemical cell sintered at 800 °C. ASR enhances with increase in sintering temperature of cell. ASR value of 0.93 ohm cm² at 700 °C, determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is comparable against that by voltage versus current (V–I) characteristics at 0.98 ohm cm² at the same temperature. Electrochemical performance and ASR of Nd_1.8Ce_0.2CuO_4 ± δ is improved when prepared by sol–gel route over solid-state reaction, which is attributed to uniform size and shape of nanocrystalline grains.     

Small-angle neutron-scattering study of bis(quaternaryammonium bromide) surfactant micelles in water. Effect of the long spacer chain on micellar structure

The microstructure of the normal micelles formed by dimeric surfactants with long spacers, [Br⁻(CH₃)₂N⁺(C _m H_{2 m +1})-(CH₂) _S  -(C _m H_{2 m +1})N⁺(CH₃)₂Br⁻, m = 10 and s = 8, 10 and 12], has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering and compared with previously reported results for micelles of the same dimeric surfactants with shorter spacers (m = 10 and s = 2, 3, 4 and 6). It was found that for dimeric surfactants with long spacers (s = 8 and 10), both micellar growth and variation in shape occur to only a small extent, if at all, compared with dimeric surfactants with short spacers. However, for the dimeric surfactant with the longest spacer, s = 12, the extent of micellar growth and shape variation is also large. These results are due to the differences in conformation of dimeric surfactants with short spacers (s = 2–6) compared with that of the surfactants with long spacers (s = 8–12). Received: 15 June 1998 Accepted: 22 July 1998     

Dilectric and thermal properties of PEO doped with cadimium chloride salt

The main aim of this research is to investigate the effect of salt concentration on the dielectric properties(AC (σ_AC),permittivity（ε′）,dielectric loss（ε″）,and dielectric relaxation process) and melting behavior of polyethylene oxide （PEO）/CdCl₂ complexes.The dielectric study was carried out over a frequency range 10-335 kHz and a temperature range 25-45℃.The AC conductivity,permittivity and dielectric loss of the PEO/CdCl₂ complexes increase with increasing salt concentration and temperature.Also,it was found that the addition of CdCl₂ salt to PEO host reduced the melting temperature of PEO host.Dielectric results reveal that the relaxation process of these complexes is due to viscoelastic relaxation or non-Debye relaxation at room temperature.Additionally,it was found that relaxation behavior remained viscoelastic at different temperatures and salt concentrations.     

Structural characterization and dielectric properties of the solid solutions AgPb(Sb,Bi)S3

The new solid solutions AgPbSb_1 − x Bi _x S₃ were prepared by solid state reactions. The phases were characterized by powder X-ray diffractions (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The XRD patterns of different members (x = 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, and 1.0) are consistent with pure phases crystallizing in the cubic PbS-type structure. The electrical characterization was carried out using ac impedance spectroscopy and dc methods. The temperature dependence of the dc conductivity shows typical semiconductor Arrhenius behavior. The impedance measurements were performed in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz and at the temperature range of 15 °C to 350 °C. The ac conductivity conforms to Jonscher’s universal power law. The frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity follows the normal dielectric material behavior, and the relaxation is thermally activated. The frequency and temperature dependences of the electrical data are found to follow Summerfield scaling formalism.     

Dielectric permittivity and relaxation of aqueous cesium iodide solutions

The high-frequency dielectric permittivity and losses of CsI solutions were studied at 288–323 K in the range of water dielectric permittivity dispersion (7–25 GHz). The low-frequency electrical conductivity of these solutions was measured, and ionic losses at high frequencies were calculated. The Debye or Cole-Cole relaxation model was used for describing the spectra. The low-frequency limits of these relaxation region were calculated, which are the static dielectric constants ɛ_S and well as dielectric relaxation times (τ) and activation enthalpies (ΔH _ɛ⁺⁺). The ɛ_S values decrease in going from water to a solution. In concentrated solutions, the slope of the plot of ɛ_S versus temperature become zero. The decrease in τ and gDH _ɛ⁺⁺ is evidence of the structure-breaking effect of ions on water. At elevated temperatures (313 K), the decrease in τ is minimal. At 323 K, τ slightly increases in going from water to a solution.     

Enthalpy relaxation in an epoxy-cycloaliphatic amine resin

Enthalpy relaxation in a system containing the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) resin and a diamine, 1,3-bisaminomethylcyclohexane (1,3-BAC) as curing agent, has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Samples fully cured were annealed at temperature T_g–15 °C for periods of time from 1 h to a maximum of 168 h. The enthalpy relaxation is analyzed by the peak shift method, in which the sample is heated at 10 °C/min following cooling at various rates through the glass transition region. The key parameters of structural relaxation determined were the non-linearity parameter x=0.47 ± 0.02, the apparent activation energy Δh*=1264 ± 48 kJ/mol or Δh*/R=152 ± 6 kK and the non-exponentiality parameter β ≈ 0.3. The results, obtained by the same method, were compared with those for other systems based on fully cured DGEBA. The correlations among these parameters with the peak shift model should be considered with caution. However, the results show that a correlation between crosslink lengths and the value of Δh* can be considered. The relaxation process for DGEBA/1,3-BAC proves to be highly cooperative. Received: 28 June 2000 Accepted: 6 September 2000     

Spectroelectrochemistry of conducting polypyrrole and poly(pyrrole–cyclodextrin) prepared in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents

Conducting polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) [poly(Py-β-DMCD)] films were prepared by electrode potential cycling on a gold electrode in aqueous and nonaqueous (acetonitrile) electrolyte solutions containing lithium perchlorate. The resulting products were characterized with cyclic voltammetry, in situ UV–Vis spectroscopy, and in situ conductivity measurements. For the electrosynthesis of poly(Py-β-DMCD), a (1:1) (mole–mole) (Py-β-DMCD) supramolecular cyclodextrin complex of pyrrole previously characterized with proton NMR spectroscopy was used as starting material. A different cyclic voltammetric behavior was observed for pyrrole and the poly(Py-β-DMCD) complex in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions during electrosynthesis. The results show that in both solutions in the presence of cyclodextrin, the oxidation potential of pyrrole monomers increases. However, the difference of oxidation potentials for films prepared in aqueous solution is larger than for the films prepared in nonaqueous solution. In situ conductivity measurements of the films show that films prepared in acetonitrile solution are more conductive than those synthesized in aqueous solutions. Maximum conductivity can be observed for PPy and poly(Py-β-DMCD) films prepared in nonaqueous solution in the range of 0.10 < E _Ag/AgCl < 0.90 V and 0.30 < E _Ag/AgCl < 0.90 V, respectively. In situ UV–Vis spectroelectrochemical data for both films prepared potentiodynamically by cycling the potentials from −0.40 < E _Ag/AgCl < 0.90 V in nonaqueous solutions are reported. This paper is dedicated to Prof. Alan Bond on the occasion of his 65th birthday in recognition of his numerous contributions toward electrochemistry.     

Physicochemical characterization of a novel surfactant peptide containing an arginine cation and laurate anion

 A novel surfactant peptide consisting of an arginine cation with laurate anion has been synthesized, purified and characterized. The critical micellar concentration (cmc) of peptide in aqueous solutions has been determined using spectroscopic techniques and is found to increase from 0.06 to 0.11 mM with increasing temperature (15–45 °C). Cmc is also determined in the presence of salts like NaCl, KCl and sodium acetate and it is found that these electrolytes hinder aggregation with a significant increase in the case of sodium acetate. The aggregation number of the surfactant peptide has been determined using fluorescence quenching measurements and is observed to decrease from 14 to 6 with increasing temperature (15–45 °C). The standard free energy change (ΔG ⁰ _m) and standard enthalpy change (ΔH ⁰ _m) of the peptide aggregate are found to be negative with a small positive value for standard entropy change (ΔS ⁰ _m). The peptide aggregate seems to undergo phase transition above 50 °C as observed from UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. From pyrene binding studies, it is shown that the interior dielectric constant increases from 5.08 at 34 °C to 8.77 at 50 °C and further decreases with increase in temperature indicating a phase change at 50 °C. Also, the ratio of excimer intensity to monomer intensity, which is a measure of microviscosity of the aggregate, decreases with increase in temperature with a change at 50 °C indicating a phase change. Received: 14 February 1997 Accepted: 13 August 1997     

Impedance studies on the 5-V cathode material,LiCoPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Olivine-structured LiCoPO₄ is synthesized by a Pechini-type polymer precursor method. The structure and the morphology of the compounds are studied by the Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area technique, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The ionic conductivity (σ ionic), dielectric, and electric modulus properties of LiCoPO₄ are investigated on sintered pellets by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range, 27–50 °C. The σ (ionic) values at 27 and 50 °C are 8.8 × 10⁻⁸ and 49 × 10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹, respectively with an energy of activation (E _a) = 0.43 eV. The electric modulus studies suggest the presence of non-Debye type of relaxation. Preliminary charge–discharge cycling data are presented.     

Solution conformations of structured peptides: continuum electrostatics versus distance-dependent dielectric functions

To compare different implicit solvent potentials, the folding thermodynamics of the helical peptide RN24 and the β-hairpin peptide BH8 are studied by molecular dynamics simulation with adaptive umbrella sampling. As the potential energy functions, the analytical continuum solvent (ACS) potential and three simplified variants, termed EPSR₁, EPSR₄, and EPSR₁₀, are used. The ACS potential is a combination of the standard CHARMM force field for the internal energy (bonds, angles, dihedrals) and the van der Waals energy with the analytical continuum electrostatic (ACE) potential and a non-polar solvation potential. The EPSR potentials differ from the ACS potential by the use of Coulomb's law with a distance-dependent dielectric function to calculate the electrostatic energy. With the ACS potential, quantitative agreement with experiment is obtained for the helix propensity (RN24: 62% calculated vs 50–60% experiment) and the β-hairpin propensity (BH8: 33% calculated vs 19–37% experiment) of the peptides. During the simulations with the EPSR potentials, no significant formation of secondary structure is observed. It is shown that the preference for coil conformations over conformations with secondary structure by the EPSR potentials is due to an overestimation of the energy of salt bridge formation, independent of the magnitude of the Coulomb energy relative to the other energy terms. Possible improvements of the distance-dependent dielectric functions which may permit their application to the simulation of peptide folding, are discussed. Received: 11 July 1998 / Accepted: 22 September 1998 / Published online: 17 December 1998     

Oxygen excess nonstoichiometry and thermodynamic quantities of La2NiO4?+?δ

The oxygen excess nonstoichiometry of La₂NiO_4 + δ is measured as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) by coulometric titration method. A positive deviation from the ideal dilution solution behavior is exhibited, and the partial molar thermodynamic quantities of La₂NiO_4 + δ are calculated from the Gibbs–Helmholtz equation for regular solution by introducing the activity coefficient of the charge carriers. The activity coefficient of holes is successfully calculated by using the Joyce–Dixon approximation of the Fermi–Dirac integral. The effective mass of holes ( m_\texth^* m_{\text{h}}^{{*}} ) is 1.27–1.29 times the rest mass (m _h), which indicate the action of band-like conduction and allow the effect of the small degree of polaron hopping to be ignored. The activity coefficient of holes calculated against the oxygen nonstoichiometry clearly illustrates the early positive deviation of the activity coefficient of holes from unit, leading to g_{\texth ^·} \gamma_{{{\text{h}}^{ \bullet }}}  ≈ 14 at δ ≈ 0.08, which is quite close to the literature value of g_{\texth ^·} \gamma_{{{\text{h}}^{ \bullet }}}  ≈ 10 at δ ≈ 0.08. All the evaluated thermodynamic quantities are in good agreement with the experimental literature values.     

Oxygen ionic transport in Bi2O3-based oxides: The solid solutions Bi2O3–Nb2O5

The minimum concentration of niobium to stabilize the fluorite-type f.c.c. phase in the Bi₂O₃–Nb₂O₅ oxide system at temperatures below 996 K was ascertained to be about 10 mol%. Thermal expansion, electrical conductivity and crystal lattice parameters of the Bi(Nb)O_1.5+δ solid solutions decrease with increasing niobium content. Thermal expansion coefficients were calculated from the dilatometric data to be (10.314.5)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at temperatures in the range 300–700 K and (17.526.0)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 700–1100 K. The conductivity of the Bi_{1− x} Nb _x O_1.5+δ ceramics is predominantly ionic. The p-type electronic transference numbers of the Bi(Nb)O_1.5+δ solid solutions in air were determined to be less than 0.1. Annealing at temperatures below 900 K results in a sharp decrease in conductivity of the Bi_{1− x} Nb _x O_1.5+δ ceramics. Received: 18 August 1997 / Accepted: 20 October 1997     

Investigation of molecular order and phase transitions of smectic poly(ester imide)s by means of small-angle X-ray scattering

The molecular order and phase transitions of two smectic poly(ester imide)s based on aminobenzoic acid trimellitimide (PEI 1) or aminocinnamic acid trimellitimide (PEI 2) and α,ω-dihydroxydodecane were investigated by X-ray scattering. During cooling, the polymers pass through monotropic smectic liquid-crystalline (LC) phases (S_A, S_C), which transform into higher-ordered smectic-crystalline phases (S_E, S_H). The smectic layer structure of about 3 nm gives rise to a sharp reflection at 2θ ≅ 3°. Peak shape analysis and analysis of the interface distribution function revealed long-range longitudinal correlation among the mesogens in the LC phase but short-range lateral correlation. The development of a broad reflection in the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS, 2θ < 1°) indicates the formation of a lamellar two-phase system. The long-period changes reversibly between 10 and 30 nm with increasing temperature. The crystalline lamellae comprise a number of smectic-crystalline layers with packed mesogens, while the noncrystalline interlamellar regions keep their smectic-LC order. In the metastable S_B phase, formed during annealing of quenched PEI 1, the diffuse SAXS indicates a random distribution of small, probably fringed, crystals with hexagonal-packed mesogens. In the lamellar S_E and S_H phases, tie molecules play an important role, but chain folding cannot be excluded. Received: 16 July 1999/Accepted: 28 April 2000     

Obtaining nanostructured films of PbSe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>S<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> solid solutions by chemical deposition

We propose a technique for wet-chemical codeposition of lead sulfide and selenide using thiourea and selenourea to form films of PbSe _y S_1–y substitutional solid solutions. The synthesized nanocrystalline layers with NaCl (B1) structure simultaneously contain both PbS-based and PbSe-based PbSe _y S_1–y solid solutions (0 < y < 0.9).     

Uniform particles of manganese compounds obtained by forced hydrolysis of manganese(II) acetate

 Procedures for the preparation at low temperature (80 °C) of uniform colloids consisting of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles (about 20 nm) or elongated α-MnOOH particles with length less than 2 μm and width 0.4 μm or less, based on the forced hydrolysis of aqueous manganese(II) acetate solutions in the absence (Mn₃O₄) or the presence (α-MnOOH) of HCl are described. These solids are only produced under a very restrictive range of reagent concentrations involving solutions of 0.2–0.4 mol dm⁻³ manganese(II) acetate for Mn₃O₄ and of 1.6–2 mol dm⁻³ Mn(II) and 0.2–0.3 mol dm⁻³ HCl for α-MnOOH. The role that the acetate anions play in the precipitation of these solids is analyzed. It seems that these anions promote the oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(III), which readily hydrolyze causing precipitation. The evolution of the characteristics of the powders with temperature up to 900 °C is also reported. Thus, Mn₃O₄ particles transform to Mn₂O₃ upon calcination at 800 °C; this is accompained by a sintering process. The α-MnOOH sample also experiences several phase transformations on heating. First, it is oxidized at low temperatures (250–450 °C) giving MnO₂ (pyrolusite), which is further reduced to Mn₂O₃ at 800 °C. After this process the particles still retain their elongated shape. Received: 19 October 1999 Accepted: 24 November 1999