Systematic study of steric and spatial contributions to molecular recognition by non-covalent imprinted polymers.

Although molecular imprinting is a widely accepted method for producing template specific polymers, the general rules for prediction and control of the binding and catalytic properties of these materials are still not fully understood. One reason for this is the problematic structural analysis of the active sites in the polymers, which are not amenable to X-ray crystallography or microscopic techniques due to their amorphous and heterogeneous nature. Therefore, molecular probes have been the most informative agents for the analysis of the structure of active sites. This paper focuses on the steric and geometrical aspects of shape recognition in non-covalent imprinted polymers, with particular effort to minimize other factors contributing to molecular recognition by the polymers. Chiral amine compounds with systematic changes in spatial, distal and conformational components of sterically controlled molecular recognition were investigated for use as non-covalent imprinted polymers. Chromatographic studies revealed that steric and spatial interactions influence the selectivity properties of imprinted polymers in a predictable fashion.     

Process structuring of polymers by solid phase orientation processing

Solid phase orientation of polymers is one of the most successful routes to enhancement of polymer properties.It unlocks the potential of molecular orientation for the achievement of a range of enhanced physical properties.We provide here an overview of techniques developed in our laboratories for structuring polymers by solid phase orientation processing routes,with a particular focus on die drawing,which have allowed control of significant enhancements of a single property or combinations of properties,including Young’s modulus,strength,and density.These have led to notable commercial exploitations,and examples of load bearing low density materials and shape memory materials are discussed.     

Single Molecules as Optical Nanoprobes for Soft and Complex Matter

The optical signals of single molecules provide information about structure and dynamics of their nanoscale environment, free from space and time averaging. These new data are particularly useful whenever complex structures or dynamics are present, as in polymers or in porous oxides, but also in many other classes of materials, where heterogeneity is less obvious. We review the main uses of single molecules in studies of condensed matter at nanometer scales, especially in the fields of soft matter and materials science. We discuss several examples, including the orientation distribution of molecules in crystals, rotational diffusion in glass‐forming molecular liquids, polymer studies with probes and labeled chains, porous and heterogeneous oxide materials, blinking of single molecules and nanocrystals, and the potential of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering for local chemical analysis. All these examples show that static and dynamic heterogeneities and the spread of molecular parameters are much larger than previously imagined.     

How rigid are conjugated non-ladder and ladder polymers?

Persistence length is commonly used to quantitatively describe the chain rigidity of macromolecules, which represents an important structural parameter governing many physical properties of polymers. Although the mathematical models and experimental measurements on the chain rigidity of conventional single stranded polymers have been well explored and documented, those of the more rigid yet highly intriguing multiple stranded polymers, especially conjugated ladder polymers, are yet not well established. This article introduces the fundamental concepts on macromolecular chain rigidity, as well as the corresponding experimental methods, models, and simulations. Subsequently, representative examples of works done on the chain rigidity of nonladder conjugated polymers and conjugated ladder polymers are reviewed. Last but not least, it provides outlooks on the challenges with respect to the less-investigated chain rigidity of conjugated ladder polymers, including new models to describe and predict chain conformation, synthetic control on structural defects, and insights into the correlation of rigidity and applications.     

Weighing synthetic polymers of ultra‐high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials: What can we learn from charge detection mass spectrometry?

Advances in soft ionization techniques for mass spectrometry (MS) of polymeric materials make it possible to determine the masses of intact molecular ions exceeding megadaltons. Interfacing MS with separation and fragmentation methods has additionally led to impressive advances in the ability to structurally characterize polymers. Even if the gap to the megadalton range has been bridged by MS for polymers standards, the MS‐based analysis for more complex polymeric materials is still challenging. Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is a single‐molecule method where the mass and the charge of each ion are directly determined from individual measurements. The entire molecular mass distribution of a polymer sample can be thus accurately measured. Described in this perspective paper is how molecular weight distribution as well as charge distribution can provide new insights into the structural and compositional studies of synthetic polymers and polymeric nanomaterials in the megadalton to gigadalton range of molecular weight. The recent multidimensional CDMS studies involving couplings with separation and dissociation techniques will be presented. And, finally, an outlook for the future avenues of the CDMS technique in the field of synthetic polymers of ultra‐high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials will be provided.     

Polymers with advanced structural and supramolecular features synthesized through topochemical polymerization

Polymers are an integral part of our daily life. Hence, there are constant efforts towards synthesizing novel polymers with unique properties. As the composition and packing of polymer chains influence polymer''s properties, sophisticated control over the molecular and supramolecular structure of the polymer helps tailor its properties as desired. However, such precise control via conventional solution-state synthesis is challenging. Topochemical polymerization (TP), a solvent- and catalyst-free reaction that occurs under the confinement of a crystal lattice, offers profound control over the molecular structure and supramolecular architecture of a polymer and usually results in ordered polymers. In particular, single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) TP is advantageous as we can correlate the structure and packing of polymer chains with their properties. By designing molecules appended with suitable reactive moieties and utilizing the principles of supramolecular chemistry to align them in a reactive orientation, the synthesis of higher-dimensional polymers and divergent topologies has been achieved via TP. Though there are a few reviews on TP in the literature, an exclusive review showcasing the topochemical synthesis of polymers with advanced structural features is not available. In this perspective, we present selected examples of the topochemical synthesis of organic polymers with sophisticated structures like ladders, tubular polymers, alternating copolymers, polymer blends, and other interesting topologies. We also detail some strategies adopted for obtaining distinct polymers from the same monomer. Finally, we highlight the main challenges and prospects for developing advanced polymers via TP and inspire future directions in this area.

This perspective showcases the potential of topochemical polymerization as an effective tool for synthesizing polymers with advanced molecular and supramolecular structures.     

Epitaxy of helical polyolefins

The structural rules which govern the epitaxial crystallisation of polymers - and especially polyolefins - on organic substrates are established. Illustrative examples involve isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylenes and poly( l-butene). Investigation of the film structure by electron microscopy, electron diffraction and atomic force microscopy reveals some unprecedented features, including in particular the selection of the contact plane according to the chirality of its constituent helices, and direct observation of both right and left hands of polyolefin helices.     

Structure and morphology control in thin films of regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene)

This review focuses on the structural control in thin films of regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), a workhorse among conjugated semiconducting polymers. It highlights the correlation existing between processing conditions and the resulting structures formed in thin films and in solution. Particular emphasis is put on the control of nucleation, crystallinity and orientation. P3HT can generate a large palette of morphologies in thin films including crystalline nanofibrils, spherulites, interconnected semicrystalline morphologies and nanostructured fibers, depending on the elaboration method and on the macromolecular parameters of the polymer. Effective means developed in the recent literature to control orientation of crystalline domains in thin films, especially by using epitaxial crystallization and controlled nucleation conditions are emphasized. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1218–1233, 2011     

Quantitative analysis of near surfaces three‐dimensional orientation of polymer chains in PET and PEN films using polarized ATR FTIR spectroscopy

Polarized attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was utilized to characterize the three‐dimensional orientation of polymer chains near highly anisotropic surfaces generated by uniaxial drawing. A versatile method was proposed to analyze the molecular orientation of the polymers by combining the experimental refractive indices and optimized contact pressure by an anvil for solving the optical contact problem. This method is effective even when changes in the molecular orientation along the thickness direction caused by drawing are remarkable. In addition, this method enables quantitative comparison of the molecular orientation among different polymers in the same coordinate system. From the molecular orientation analysis of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly (ethylene naphthalate) (PEN), it was revealed that this method has a broader range of applications with high accuracy in estimating the molecular orientation of polymers compared with the conventional methods. The significant changes in the molecular orientation caused by uniaxial and biaxial drawing of PET and PEN films were quantitatively analyzed, and the reasons for the significant in‐plane orientation of PEN chains on the film plane are discussed. In addition, the difference in the molecular orientation between both sides of the films was also demonstrated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 870–879, 2010     

THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF INORGANIC RING CHEMISTRY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW POLYMERS

The field of phosphazene high polymers has developed into a large area of more than 700 different types of macromolecules with novel combinations of properties and diverse applications. Small-molecule phosphazene rings have played a major role in these developments, first as starting materials for polymer synthesis, second as synthetic and structural models for the high polymers, and third as components of hybrid inorganic-organic macromolecules. These three aspects are reviewed, with examples taken from our recent work, together with some thoughts on the development of this and related fields in the future.     

Epitaxial electrodeposition of Prussian blue thin films on single-crystal Au(110)

Epitaxial Prussian blue (PB) films are deposited electrochemically onto a Au(110) substrate. High-resolution X-ray diffraction shows that the PB films have a [111] out-of-plane orientation. The very large lattice mismatch of 148% is reduced to about 1% by the formation of (1 x 2)PB(111)[onemacr;10]//(6 x 5)Au(110)[onemacr;10] and (1 x 2)PB(111)[01onemacr;]//(6 x 5)Au(110)[onemacr;10] epitaxial relationships. Peaks in the cyclic voltammogram of PB on Au(110) are sharper than those on polycrystalline Au, consistent with higher structural order and a single out-of-plane orientation. The development of epitaxial films of PB and PB analogues will allow the measurement of the orientation-dependent properties of these molecular magnets. It will also open the door to the development of novel molecular spintronic devices, such as those which exhibit spin-dependent electron transfer.     

Well-defined micropatterns of polymers prepared by controlled crystallization process

Surface confined recrystallization of highly-oriented polyethylene (PE) thin films realized by carbon-coating was utilized to control the morphological structure of ultrathin PE films. Selective carbon-coating with the help of a mask and subsequent recrystallization of the pre-oriented PE thin film lead to a partially structural control of the PE thin film in the coated domains. A fully structural control of the PE film is then fulfilled through a combination of surface confinement and heteroepitaxy of PE on the oriented poly(tetrafluroethylene) (PTFE) thin film. The thus obtained structure can serve as a template to induce pattern structures of a variety of other polymers through epitaxial growth. The poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(butylenes adipate) (PBA) micropattern thin films are shown in this paper as examples. These thin films exhibit different birefringence in different regions depending on the molecular orientation and may find potential applications in the fields of polarization-dependent display or storage.     

The effect of shear on mechanical properties and orientation of HDPE/mica composites obtained via dynamic packing injection molding (DPIM)

The interfacial interaction and orientation of filler play important roles in the enhancement of mechanical performances for polymer/inorganic filler composites. Shear has been found to be a very effective way for the enhancement of interfacial interaction and orientation. In this work, we will report our recent efforts on exploring the development of microstructure of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/mica composites in the injection‐molded bars obtained by so‐called dynamic packing injection molding (DPIM), which imposed oscillatory shear on the melt during the solidification stage. The mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and the crystal morphology, orientation, and the dispersion of mica were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and two‐dimensional wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. Compared with conventional injection molding, DPIM caused an obvious increase in orientation for both HDPE and mica. More importantly, better dispersion and epitaxial crystallization of HDPE was observed on the edge of the mica in the injection‐molded bar. As a result, increased tensile strength and modulus were obtained, accompanied with a decrease of elongation at break. The obtained data were treated by Halpin–Tsai model, and it turned out that this model could be also used to predict the stiffness of oriented polymer/filler composites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

X‐ray Crystallography in Open‐Framework Materials

Open‐framework materials, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination polymers have been widely investigated for their gas adsorption and separation properties. However, recent studies have demonstrated that their highly crystalline structures can be used to periodically organize guest molecules and non‐structural metal compounds either within their pore voids or by anchoring to their framework architecture. Accordingly, the open framework can act as a matrix for isolating and elucidating the structures of these moieties by X‐ray diffraction. This concept has broad scope for development as an analytical tool where obtaining single crystals of a target molecule presents a significant challenge and it additionally offers potential for obtaining insights into chemically reactive species that can be stabilized within the pore network. However, the technique does have limitations and as yet a general experimental method has not been realized. Herein we focus on recent examples in which framework materials have been utilized as a scaffold for ordering molecules for analysis by diffraction methods and canvass areas for future exploration.     

Giant molecules:where chemistry,physics,and bio-science meet

This feature article focuses on the recent development of giant molecules,which has emerged at the interface among chemistry,physics,and bio-science.Their molecular designs are inspired by natural polymers like proteins and are modularly constructed from molecular nanoparticle building blocks via sequential "click" chemistry.Most important molecular parameters such as topology,composition,and molecular weight can be precisely controlled.Their hierarchical assembly reveals many features reminiscent of both small molecules and proteins yet unusual for conventional synthetic polymers.These features are summarized and compared along with synthetic polymers and proteins.Specifically,examples are given in each category of giant molecules to illustrate the characteristics of their hierarchical assembly across different length,time and energy scales.The idea of "artificial domain" is presented in analogy to the structural domains in proteins.By doing so,we aim to develop a rational and modular approach toward functional materials.The factors that dominate the materials functions are discussed with respect to the precision and dynamics of the assembly.The complexity of structure-function relationship is acknowledged,which suggests that there is still a long way to go toward the convergence of synthetic polymers and biopolymers.     

Orientational Measurements in Polymers Using Vibrational Spectroscopy

The mechanical properties of polymers are strongly influenced not only by the structure of the material but by the magnitude of the molecular orientation. Thus a great deal of interest exists in information about the molecular orientation in samples introduced by drawing or other forming processes. Several techniques of evaluation of this orientation exist such as birefringence, x-ray diffraction, sonic modulus, and fluorescence measurements [l, 2]. Vibrational analysis of oriented polymers provides a method of determining independently the molecular orientation both in the crystalline and amorphous phases of polymers. By using vibrational techniques, a number of macromolecules have been studied in the solid state for a variety of different processes. It is the purpose of this review to summarize the recent theoretical and experimental results which have occurred since the review of Zbinden [3]. Infrared and Raman measurements will be reported since they are complementary to each other in their applications and results.     

高分子电光材料在THz辐射源领域的研究进展

THz辐射以其独特的性质和广阔的应用前景正吸引着科学家们广泛的关注,选择综合性能优良的辐射源材料是THz科学技术发展的关键,高分子电光材料相对传统晶体具有许多无法比拟的优势,如电光系数高、相干长度大、无声子吸收带隙、设计灵活多样等,能获得响应强、频带宽、平坦连续的THz谱图,是一类极具研究价值的THz辐射源材料。本文在简要介绍THz辐射的基础上,综述了近年来高分子电光材料在THz辐射源领域的研究进展,对影响THz辐射信号的因素作了相应分析,并指出了目前存在的主要问题。     

Poly(thiophenes) derivatized with linear and macrocyclic polyethers: from cation detection to molecular actuation

The association of linear or macrocyclic polyethers with the electronic properties of the π-conjugated polythiophene backbone leads to functional conducting polymers that exhibit metal cation dependent electronic properties. Based on this concept, various classes of cation sensors have been proposed and investigated for almost two decades. The interactions of metal cations with linear or macrocyclic polyether functional groups lead to modifications of the electronic properties of the π-conjugated backbone through various mechanisms including direct electronic effects on a single conjugated chain, collective electrochemical processes, or conformational changes. Conjugated polymers and oligomers representative of these various processes are discussed with an emphasis on recent examples of derivatized conjugated systems in which the interactions between metal cations and polyether groups serve as driving force to create molecular motion in conjugated systems.     

Simulations of calcite crystallization on self-assembled monolayers

This paper presents simulations of calcium carbonate ordering in contact with self-assembled monolayers. The calculations use potential-based molecular dynamics to model the crystallization of calcium carbonate to calcite expressing both the (00.1) and (01.2) surfaces. The effect of monolayer properties: ionization; epitaxial matching; charge density; and headgroup orientation on the crystallization process are examined in detail. The results demonstrate that highly charged surfaces are vital to stimulate ordering and crystallization. Template directed crystallization requires charge epitaxy between both the crystal surface and the monolayer. The orientation of the headgroup appears to make no contribution to the selection of the crystal surface.