Electric Field‐Aided Formation Combined with a Nanoimprinting Technique for Replicating a Plant Leaf

The surface of the taro plant leaf was replicated using a nanoimprinting technique (NIT) supplemented with an electric field. This field‐aided nanoimprinting method (FA‐NIT) consists of two steps: applying an electric field to a liquid polymer under the plant leaves and the curing process of the polymer with the applied electric field. An appropriate electric field was needed to induce the electrokinetic phenomena of a liquid polymer to obtain a good replicated surface. The roughness fabricated by the FA‐NIT was about 45% higher than the one prepared by NIT. The FA‐NIT method is a good supplementary technique to improve the quality of NIT.

     

High‐Yield Fabrication of PLGA Non‐Spherical Microarchitectures by Emulsion‐Solvent Evaporation Method

Recently, it has been recognized the shape of particles plays an essential role in the design of materials with unique properties. In this study, PLGA non‐spherical microarchitectures, rods and fibers, were fabricated successfully in high yield by single emulsion‐solvent evaporation method in the presence of sodium tripolyphosphate. The assay of PVA residue was carried out and the hydrogen bonds formation was verified as well. The presented data show that viscosity and coagulation agent have a synergistic effect on forming the rod‐ and fiber‐like microarchitectures in the shear response and the formation mechanisms were proposed accordingly.

     

Energy Transfer from Locally Excited π* to Charge Transfer Ground States in a Silylene–π Hetero‐Junction Polymer

Summary: The silylene–π conjugating polymer, poly(di‐n‐hexylsilylenephenylene‐ethynylenephenylene) ( 1 ) adopted a fairly flexible coil‐like conformation due to the bent structure of silylene moiety and showed a unique photoexcited energy transfer behavior. The UV‐vis absorption and steady‐state/time‐resolved photoluminescence studies revealed the occurrence of an intramolecular photoexcited energy transfer (IET) between locally excited π* to charge transfer ground states as well as an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT).

The silylene–π conjugating polymer, poly(di‐n‐hexylsilylenephenylene‐ethynylenephenylene) showing a unique photoexcited energy transfer behavior.     

Heterogeneous ‘Organoclick’ Derivatization of Polysaccharides

Summary: A simple method for the direct catalytic heterogeneous modification of polysaccharides is presented. The novel method is exemplified by the combination of organic acid‐catalyzed esterification and copper‐catalyzed Huisgen reaction (click chemistry) to attach a fluorescent probe to solid cellulose. The heterogeneous ‘organoclick’ derivatization of cellulose allows for a mild, highly modular surface modification of cellulose under environmentally benign reaction conditions.

Schematic of the combined organic acid‐catalyzed esterification and copper‐catalyzed Huisgen reaction (click chemistry) to modify a polysaccharide with a fluorescent probe.     

Enhancement of Biomolecular Recognition of DTIC Based on Functional Monodisperse Polystyrene Spheres

Summary: Monodisperse carboxy polystyrene (PS) spheres were synthesized and utilized as an interface to increase the detection sensitivity of some biomolecules. The binding behavior of dacarbazine (DTIC), an anticancer drug, with DNA bases in the absence and presence of the PS spheres was investigated. The results indicated a remarkable effect of PS on the binding behavior of DTIC to DNA bases and significantly enhanced detection sensitivity for the relative biomolecular recognition.

Electrochemical detection of DTIC on a GCE surface in the absence and presence of polystyrene spheres.     

A Composite Polymer Film with both Superhydrophobicity and Superoleophilicity

Summary: A composite film composed of porous polyurethane (PU) and polystyrene (PS) microspheres with both superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity has been prepared. In this film, the dual‐scale structure enhances both the hydrophobicity and oleophilicity of the surface material. The composite film with such an ‘intelligent’ wettability property can be utilized to separate oil and water systems efficiently.

The composite film can be used to separate diesel oil and water.     

Nitroxide‐Mediated Polymerization of Styrene in a Continuous Tubular Reactor

Summary: Nitroxide‐mediated polymerization of styrene in a continuous tubular reactor has been demonstrated for the first time. The polymerization kinetics in the tubular reactor are similar to those in a batch reactor. The number average molecular weight increases linearly with conversion, and chain extension experiments were successful, indicating that the living nature of the polymerization is maintained in the tubular reactor.

Evolution of molecular weight as measured by GPC for chain‐extended latex in continuous tubular reactor.     

Rings of Hydrogel Fabricated by a Micro‐Transfer Technique

Microgel rings have been fabricated on a glass surface by a micro‐transfer technique. The polymer melt is transferred to the substrate surface in a confined space with a picoliter volume along the boundary of the polymeric stamp. The surface of the polymer features is smoothened by surface tension in an annealing cycle, which results in isotropic rings. After cross‐linking, the microgels respond swiftly when immersed in water. Asymmetric rings are also obtained by tilting the substrate. The microgels can detach from the substrate to form a suspension of the rings. Conjugated rings have also been fabricated by supplementing functional molecules into the poly(ethylene glycol) network.

     

Silyl‐Substituted Poly(thienylenevinylene) via Heteroaromatic Dehydrohalogenation Polymerization

A long alkylsilyl group was attached to a thiophene ring system to overcome the instability of 2,5‐bis(halomethyl)thiophene monomers, by imparting steric hindrance and electronic delocalization. The resulting stable monomer could be used directly to prepare low‐band‐gap poly(thienylenevinylene) (1.57 eV) through heteroaromatic dehydrohalogenation polymerization.

     

Natural Bioactive Material: A Preparation of Soluble Eggshell Membrane Protein

The proteins of eggshell membranes, an industrial waste product, are dissolved by reductive cleavage with aqueous 3‐mercaptopropionic acid and acetic acid. The soluble protein preparation is cast into a thin film, and its bioactivity is investigated by cell culture.

Photomicrograph of NIH3T3 fibroblasts cultured on SEP film for 3 days.     

Fluorene‐Based Co‐polymer with High Hole Mobility and Device Performance in Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

A new donor–acceptor polymer based on 9,9‐dioctylfluorene is synthesized and tested in organic photovoltaic devices. Results show that the polymer exhibits good solubility in a range of organic solvents and has a high hole mobility. When blended with a PC₇₀BM acceptor and fabricated into a bulk heterojunction, photovoltaic devices having a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.2% and a peak external quantum efficiency of 74% are created. Such efficiencies are realized without any necessity for solvent additives or thermal annealing protocols.

     

Poly(dicyclopentadiene) Submicron Fibers Produced by Electrospinning

Summary: We have used the process of electrospinning to produce fibers of poly(dicyclopentadiene) with diameters on the submicron scale. The material, formed from a monomer‐catalyst solution, polymerized in flight during the electrospinning process. Fibers were collected over trenches etched in silicon and the Young's moduli were measured using an atomic force microscope to measure force‐displacement curves. The resulting values of Young's moduli are larger than typical values for bulk polymer material.

SEM image of suspended PDCPD fiber.     

Coherent Dynamic Structure Factor of a Polymer Chain Confined Into a Harmonic Radial Potential

The coherent dynamic structure factor of a single polymer chain is calculated based on the model of a Rouse polymer chain constrained (confined) by a harmonic radial potential and its behavior in different limiting cases is analyzed. The strength of confinement is characterized using an effective diameter of the harmonic radial potential as a model parameter. The method provides a reliable model to study the crossover between unconstrained (Rouse) and constrained dynamics.

     

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers using a Fluorescently Labeled N‐Alkoxyamine Initiator

Summary: An initiator for nitroxide mediated ‘living’ free radical polymerization was prepared with a fluorescent tag attached to the initiating alkyl radical terminus. This was used to synthesize amphiphilic poly(acrylic acid)‐block‐polystyrene diblock copolymers, which self assembled in a tetrahydrofuran/buffer solution to form structures that are visible by fluorescence.

     

On the Statistical Nonliving Nature of the Cationic Ring‐Opening Copolymerization of Oxetane with Tetrahydropyran

The copolymerization system of oxetane and tetrahydropyran is reinterpreted with the aid of computer simulations. The original claim that this system is a “living” and/or controlled pseudoperiodic copolymerization 1 is not confirmed by the simulation results. It is suggested that the formation of branched oxonium cations and the statistical nature of THP incorporation are the reasons for the observed discrepancies between the simulation results and experimental data.

     

Vapor‐Based Synthesis of Poly[(4‐formyl‐p‐xylylene)‐co‐(p‐xylylene)] and Its Use for Biomimetic Surface Modifications

Summary: The vapor‐based synthesis and characterization of a reactive polymer, poly[(4‐formyl‐p‐xylylene)‐co‐(p‐xylylene)] ( 1 ), have been reported. The reactive polymer coating enables the immobilization of oligosaccharides via the chemoselective aldehyde‐hydrazide coupling reaction.

     

Reversible Thermally Responsive and Luminescent Coil–Rod–Coil Triblock Copolymers

A functional coil–rod–coil triblock copolymer containing a terfluorene unit as the rigid segment and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) as the flexible block was successfully synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization using terfluorene‐based dithioester as the RAFT agent. The temperature‐responsive optical properties were investigated with the aid of dynamic light scattering and fluorescence techniques. Additionally, the relationship between the optical properties and the reversible phase transition of the doping system formed by blending the copolymer with tetraphenylporphine tetrasulfonic acid was studied. Above the lower critical solution temperature, the energy transfer efficiency decreased as a result of the globule–to–coil transition from PNIPAAm segments. The result indicates that these copolymers have a potential to be used as responsive fluorescent probes in facile detection of dye‐labeled biopolymers.