Temperature-rise fractionation of poly(3-alkyl thiophenes)

In this article, we have investigated a temperature-rise fractionation procedure for poly(3-hexyl thophene) (P3HT) and poly(3-octyl thophene) (P3OT) that provides well-defined molecular weight (MW) fractions with improved molecular weight distributions (MWD) when compared with Soxhlet extraction. This process involves dispersing the material over C18-boned silica stationary phase in a jacketed column and using incremental rises in column temperature (T_col) to gradually improve solvent quality and selectively dissolve higher molecular weight samples with a narrow polydispersity (PDI). Fractionation of P3HT with ΔT_col = 5 °C in methylene chloride (MC) yielded 7 fractions ranging from M_p of 20 to 53 kg/mol with an average PDI of 1.80 compared with a mother sample of 3.10. Predominant recovery of P3HT was acquired for fractions with T_col > 20 °C (30 wt %). Subsequent separation of P3OT in methylene chloride, with a reduced ΔT_col of 3 °C per fraction, due to increased solubility from the longer alkyl chain, generated 8 fractions with a weight range of M_n = 22 to 57 kg/mol with an mean PDI of 1.23 with the mother sample having PDI = 2.34, demonstrating the tunability of this method. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2547–2555, 2009     

Thermochemical study of 2- and 3-alkyl substituted thiophenes

The standard (p ⁰=0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation, in the condensed phase, of nine linear-alkyl substituted thiophenes, six in position 2- and three in position 3-, at T=298.15 K, were derived from the standard massic energies of combustion, in oxygen, to yield CO₂(g) and H₂SO₄·115H₂O(aq), measured by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry. The standard molar enthalpies of vaporization of these compounds were measured by high temperature Calvet Microcalorimetry, so their standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, were derived. The results are discussed in terms of structural contributions to the energetics of the alkyl-substituted thiophenes, and empirical correlations are suggested for the estimation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation, at T=298.15 K, for 2- and 3-alkyl-substituted thiophenes, both in the condensed and in the gaseous phases.     

Synthesis and properties of new poly(arylene thiophenes)

Soluble poly(arylene thiophenes) containing amide bridge bonds and free nitrile groups have been synthesized through polycondensation of new arylene-bis(2-aminothiophene-3-carbonitrile)s with arylene- dicarboxylic acid dichlorides, and their physical and photochemical properties have been studied. Thermostable and acid-resistant poly(thiene pyrimidones) co ntaining main-chain thiophene, arylene, and pyrimidone fragments have been obtained via the isomerization polycyclomerization of the poly(arylene thiophenes).     

Temperature variation of piezoelectric moduli in oriented poly(γ-methyl L-glutamate)

The real and imaginary components of the complex piezoelectric strain constant, which relates the polarization to the applied stress, have been determined for elongated films of poly(γ-methyl L -glutamate) over the temperature range ?170°C to +170°C at a frequency of 20 Hz. The variation of the piezoelectric constant with temperature is similar for both α-helical and β-form molecular conformations. The sign of piezoelectric polarization is opposite for L and D polymers. A simple model, representing the piezoelectric crystallites as embedded in nonpiezoelectric amorphous regions, is proposed to account for the piezoelectric temperature dispersion curves.     

烃基-3-噻吩硫醚的合成

噻吩与溴、锌粉依次发生取代,还原反应生成3-溴噻吩。在-70℃,3-溴噻吩与n-丁基锂反应后,再依次加入硫粉、卤代烃,在常温下分别反应1．5、2．5、2．5、3、3和3．5 h,分别合成甲基-3-噻吩硫醚、乙基-3-噻吩硫醚、丙基-3-噻吩硫醚、丁基-3-噻吩硫醚、烯丙基-3-噻吩硫醚和异丙基-3-噻吩硫醚,收率分别为82％、74％、71％、70％、73%和49％。这些化合物结构都通过IR、1H NMR、13C NMR和MS测试技术进行了表征,并对其进行了初步香味评价。结果表明,它们都具有肉香味的特征。     

Electrical conductivity of FeCl3-doped poly(alkynylsilane)s

The electrical conductivies of the poly(alkynylsilane)s [C-SiR¹R²-CC-Z]_n (R¹R²Si = Ph₂Si, ⁿOct(Me)Si, 2,3.4,5-tetraphenyl-1-sila-2,4-cyclopentene; Z = (hetero)aromatic group) doped with FeCl₃ are found to lie in the range 10⁻⁹ < α < 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, whereas those of the undoped polymers are less than 10⁻¹⁰ S cm⁻¹. The presence of Ph groups on Si leads to incresed conductivity.     

Thermodynamic behavior of poly(3-alkyl thiophene) blends: Equilibrium cocrystal formation and phase segregation

The equilibrium cocrystal formation of poly(3-alkyl thiophene) (P3AT) blends has been studied by isothermal cocrystallization in a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC-7). The equilibrium melting points (T(m)0) of the cocrystals are measured using the Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation procedure. The equilibrium phase diagrams are of three different types: (a) concave upward, (b) linear, and (c) linear with phase separation at higher content of lower melting component. The phase diagram nature depends on the regioregularity difference and also on the difference in the number of carbon atoms in the pendent alkyl group of the components. The origin of biphasic nature of type "c" phase diagram has been explored from the glass transition temperature (Tg) measurement using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The biphasic compositions show two glass transition temperatures (Tg) as well as two beta transition temperatures (T beta). The T(g)s of phase-separated regions correspond to almost the component values but the T(beta)s correspond to that of a lower (T beta) component value, and the other is higher than that of the higher (T beta) component value. Possible reasons are discussed from the interchain lamella thickness in the P3AT blends and molecular modeling using molecular mechanics program.     

Direct current conductivity studies on poly(3-methyl thiophene)

The direct current (dc) conductivity of poly(3-methyl thiophene) was measured in the temperature range of 77–300 K. The observed dc conductivity data were analyzed in the light of Mott’s variable range hopping model. Different Mott’s parameters such as characteristic temperature (T ₀), average hopping distance (R), average hopping energy (W), and density of states at the Fermi level (N [E _F ]) were evaluated. By taking the inverse of the coefficient of exponential decay of the localized states involved in the hopping process as 0.5 nm, a realistic value of density of states at the Fermi level (N [E _F ]) was obtained that agrees well with the values reported earlier for other conjugated polymers.     

Synthesis of 3-alkyl(aryl)-3-aminoquinuclidines

A series of 3-alkyl(aryl)-3-aminoquinuclidines was synthesized by means of the interaction between 3-alkyl(aryl)-3-oxyquinuclidines and acetonitrile in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid with subsequent hydrolysis of the 3-alkyl(aryl)-3-acetaminoquinuclidines. It was shown that in addition to acetamino derivatives 3-alkyl-²-dehydroquinuclidines and 3-alkylidenequinuclidines are formed, the structure of which was established by the method of NMR.     

Recent developments in the synthesis and functionalization of conducting poly(thiophenes)

The mechanism of the electropolymerization of thiophene derivatives has been investigated by varying the electrosynthesis conditions and the monomer structure. The results of these analyses led to the definition of optimized electrosynthesis conditions allowing the control of the electrical and electrochemical properties of poly(thiophenes). On the basis of these results, the properties of these polymers have been modified by means of a new one-step electrosynthesis of conducting composite materials and by the direct electropolymerization of tailor-made functionalized monomers. For this purpose, the steric conditions associated to the various possibilities of covalent derivatization have been analyzed, leading to the definition of a “functionalization space”, compatible with the preservation of high conductivity and electrochemical reversibility in the resulting polymers. This concept has been applied to the synthesis of highly conducting chiral poly(thiophenes) on which an effect of enantioselective molecular recognition has been demonstrated for the first time.     

Temperature dependence of swelling of crosslinked poly(N,N′-alkyl substituted acrylamides) in water

The swelling of crosslinked poiy(N,N′-alkyl substituted acrylamides) in water was studied in relation to temperature changes. Conventional swelling theory and separation of the polymer solvent interaction parameter into enthalpic and entropic contributions were used to characterize the temperature dependence of swelling in water. The thermosensitivity of swelling can be attributed to the delicate hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of polymer chains and is affected by the size, configuration, and mobility of alkyl side groups. A sharp swelling transition may occur at an optimum hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance but was found only in the N-isopropylacrylamide network among the networks tested. This swelling transition pattern was also reflected by the endothermic peak of the DSC thermogram of the swollen sample.     

Temperature dependence of DC electrical conductivity of kaolin

The samples from kaolin Sedlec were investigated by the help of DTA, TG, and temperature dependences of DC conductivity using Pt wire electrodes and linear heating up to 1,050 °C. After drying, the samples contained ~1.5 mass% of the physically bound water. DTA and TG reflected generally known facts about a release of the physically bound water, dehydroxylation, and metakaolinite → Si–Al spinel transformation. The results of electrical measurements showed the electric current passed over the maximum at 60 °C. The self-ionization of water results in the process H₂O → H⁺ + OH^? in the water layers on the crystal surfaces; consequently, OH^? and H⁺ are the main charge carriers in the low-temperature region. The water molecules simultaneously evaporate from the sample which decreases the number of the charge carriers. When the physically bound water evaporates, the current is carried mostly by K⁺ and Na⁺ ions. During dehydroxylation, the hydroxyls OH^? split into H⁺ and O^2?. The ions H⁺ jump to the neighboring OH^? groups creating the water molecules. The ions O^2?remain bounded to the newly created metakaolinite lattice. Therefore, mobile protons contribute to the electric current. At the same time, this contribution gradually decreases because of the escape of H₂O from the sample. The sharp current peak and DTA peak at 970 °C imply relatively fast metakaolinite → Si–Al spinel transformation. This DC current peak results from the shift of Al³⁺ and O^2? ions into new positions.     

Preparation and characterization of humidity sensor based on poly(3-alkyl)pyrrole containing phosphonic acid groups

Poly(3-alkyl)pyrroles containing phosphonic acid groups with different alkyl segment lengths were chemical synthesized and the properties were measured by FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. FTIR and UV-Vis results showed that the synthesized polymers were in a low doping level through chemical polymerization. By spin-coating on the surface of substrates, the polymer can be used as a humidity sensor. The change of DC electric current of the polypyrroles varies with the chain length of the alkyl substituents. The capacitance increases with the increase of the humidity and resistance decreases with the increase of humidity. This result is different from that of polypyrrole without alkyl substituents due to the influence of the phosphonic acid group. The sensor showed the resistive-type at high relative humidity, and the capacitivetype at the low relative humidity. The sensor exhibited very fast response to the change of environment humidity.     

Ionic conductivity and compatibility studies of blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(propylene glycol) complexed with LICF3SO3

Stable to atmospheric moisture, adhesive and transparent polymer electrolytes have been prepared by blending poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with poly(propylene glycol)-425/LiCF₃SO₃ complexes. The blending of the polymers has been achieved by a method developed in our laboratory: free radical polymerization of methylmethacrylate in the polyether/salt matrix. A series of polymer blend complexes varying in PMMA content (up to 20% by weight) and oxygen/metal ratios (25, 16, and 8) have been synthesized and their properties studied. All the samples prepared in this study were found to be optically clear unlike the higher molecular weight poly(propylene glycol)-2000 (PPG-2000) system which required a minimum salt concentration to compatibilize a specific amount of PMMA with PPG. The mechanisms by which the salt holds the otherwise incompatible polymers together in a single phase have been investigated by FT-IR. Our studies show a weak coupling of the ether oxygens in the PPG with the ester groups of the PMMA through the lithium cations. Discrete changes has been observed in the FT-IR spectrum of PMMA when doped with the lithium salt hitherto unnoticed with other dopants. Gel permeation chromatography results of the PMMA samples isolated from the solid electrolytes indicate the molecular weight to vary between 43000 and 121000 with relatively narrow distributions, 1.6?2.0. The ionic conductivities of the polymer blend electrolytes were fairly high (10^?5 S/cm) at room temperature. The PMMA neither significantly influenced the T_g of the blend complexes nor effected the ionic conductivities drastically. The ionic conductivity as a function of temperature followed the empirical Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher equation. The blending of PMMA with PPG/LiCF₃SO₃ complexes was found to impart good adhesiveness to the solid electrolytes while making them stable to atmospheric moisture. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ion conductivity studies of blends of poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ethylene glycol) complexed with LiCF3 SO3

Polymer electrolytes which are adhesive, transparent, and stable to atmospheric moisture have been prepared by blending poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) with poly(ethylene glycol)/LiCF₃ SO₃ complexes. The maximum ionic conductivities at room temperature were measured to be in the range of 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁵ s cm⁻¹. The clarity of the sample was improved as the graft degree increased for all the samples studied. The graft degree of poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) was found to be important for the compatibility between the poly(methyl methacrylate) segments in poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) and the added poly(ethylene glycol), and consequently, for the ion conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. These properties make them promising candidates for polymer electrolytes in electrochromic devices. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Poly (3-substituted) thiophenes electroactive in water

Three thiophene rings bearing n-ethoxy arylsulfonamide pendant groups were synthesized and their electropolymerization was performed at a platinum electrode. The electrochemical behaviour of the polythiophene matrix was studied both in organic and in aqueous solvent. If all polymers present a reversible n- and p-doping process in organic solvents, only one of them particularly possess a reversible p-doping in aqueous media. This phenomenon was shown to be directly related to the nature of the spacer between the thiophene ring and the aryl sulfonamide unit.     

Synthesis and ionic conductivity of hyperbranched poly(glycidol)

A novel hyperbranched poly(glycidol) (HPG) was prepared and characterized. The synthesized HPG was used as a substrate of a polymer electrolyte. The ionic conductivity of a blend of HPG, polyurethane (PU), and salt was studied. The ionic conductivity of HPG/PU/LiClO₄ was about 6.6 × 10^?6 S · cm^?1 at 20 °C and 6.3 × 10^?4 S · cm^?1 at 60 °C. The results indicated that HPG showed higher solubility for salt than linear polyether when both had the same [O]/[Li⁺] molar ratio. The main reason was that more cavities and a lower degree of chain entanglement in HPG resulted in a lower glass‐transition temperature and were beneficial for decreasing the aggregation of salt or enhancing the ionic conductivity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2225–2230, 2001