The Influence of the Capping Agent on the Oxidation of Silver Nanoparticles: Nano‐impacts versus Stripping Voltammetry

The influence of capping agents on the oxidation of silver nanoparticles was studied by using the electrochemical techniques of anodic stripping voltammetry and anodic particle coulometry (“nano‐impacts”). Five spherical silver nanoparticles each with a different capping agent (branched polyethylenimine (BPEI), citrate, lipoic acid, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)) were used to perform comparative experiments. In all cases, regardless of the capping agent, complete oxidation of the single nanoparticles was seen in anodic particle coulometry. The successful quantitative detection of the silver nanoparticle size displays the potential application of anodic particle coulometry for nanoparticle characterisation. In contrast, for anodic stripping voltammetry using nanoparticles drop casting, it was observed that the capping agent has a very significant effect on the extent of silver oxidation. All five samples gave a low oxidative charge corresponding to partial oxidation. It is concluded that the use of anodic stripping voltammetry to quantify nanoparticles is unreliable, and this is attributed to nanoparticle aggregation.     

Effect of Potato Pulp Pectic Polysaccharide on the Stability of Acidified Milk Drinks

In order to broaden the application of potato pulp pectic polysaccharide (PPP) in stabilizing acidified milk drinks (AMDs) and investigate the stabilizing effect and physical properties of AMDs prepared with PPP, a comparative study was made among PPP, commercial high methoxyl pectin (HMP) and low methoxyl pectin (LMP). The zeta potential, rheology, particle size and serum separation of AMDs were evaluated after preparing with PPP, HMP and LMP, respectively. Results indicated that PPP led to lower serum separation than LMP (14.65% for AMDs prepared with 0.5% PPP compared to 25.05% for AMDs prepared with 0.5% LMP), but still higher than HMP (9.09% for AMDs prepared with 0.5% HMP). However, narrower particle size distribution and lower viscosity of AMDs was achieved by PPP than by LMP and HMP. PPP can electrostatically adsorb on the surface of casein and its abundant neutral sugar side chains would provide steric hindrance to prevent casein flocculation in AMDs. Our results might provide some new ideas for the application of PPP in improving the stability of AMDs.     

A Study on the Direct Esterification of Monoalkylphosphates and Dialkylphosphates; The Conversion of the Latter Species to Trialkylphosphates by Alkylating Esterification

The microwave (MW)-assisted direct esterification of certain P-acids is a green method. Quantum chemical calculations revealed that the activation enthalpy (ΔH^#) for the exothermic monoalkylphosphate → dialkylphosphate transformation was on the average 156.6 kJ mol⁻¹, while ΔH^# for the dialkylphosphate → trialkylphosphate conversion was somewhat higher, 171.2 kJ mol⁻¹, and the energetics of the elemental steps of this esterification was less favorable. The direct monoesterification may be performed on MW irradiation in the presence of a suitable ionic liquid additive. However, the second step, with the less favorable energetics as a whole, could not be promoted by MWs. Hence, dialkylphosphates had to be converted to triesters by another method that was alkylation. In this way, it was also possible to synthesize triesters with different alkyl groups. Eventually a green, P-chloride free MW-promoted two-step method was elaborated for the synthesis of phosphate triesters.     

Direct arylation polymerization toward ultra‐low bandgap poly(thienoisoindigo‐alt‐diketopyrrolepyrrole) conjugated polymers: The effect of β‐protection on the polymerization and properties of the polymers

Direct arylation polymerization between derivatives of dibromodiketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and thienoisoindigo (TIIG) resulted in two π‐conjugated copolymers with average molecular weights up to 24.0 kDa and bandgaps as low as 0.8 eV. The structural analysis of the obtained two polymers revealed well‐defined alternating conjugation backbones without obvious structural defects. The introduction of hexyl‐group in the β‐position of thiophene rings in the DPP units not only reduces the bandgap of conjugated polymer compared to a similar polymer containing bare‐thiophene flanked DPP but also affects polymer morphology in thin films. P‐type charge‐transport characteristics were observed for two polymers in organic field‐effect transistors with comparable hole mobilities. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3205–3213