Nanospheres,Nanotubes, Toroids,and Gels with Controlled Macroscopic Chirality

The interaction of a highly dynamic poly(aryl acetylene) (poly‐ 1 ) with Li⁺, Na⁺_, and Ag⁺ leads to macroscopically chiral supramolecular nanospheres, nanotubes, toroids, and gels. With Ag⁺, nanospheres with M helicity and tunable sizes are generated, which complement those obtained from the same polymer with divalent cations. With Li⁺ or Na⁺, poly‐ 1 yields chiral nanotubes, gels, or toroids with encapsulating properties and M helicity. Right‐handed supramolecular structures can be obtained by using the enantiomeric polymer. The interaction of poly‐ 1 with Na⁺ produces nanostructures whose helicity is highly dependent on the solvation state of the cation. Therefore, structures with either of the two helicities can be prepared from the same polymer by manipulation of the cosolvent. Such chiral nanotubes, toroids, and gels have previously not been obtained from helical polymer–metal complexes. Chiral nanospheres made of poly(aryl acetylene) that were previously assembled with metal(II) species can now be obtained with metal(I) species.     

Nanospheres,Nanotubes, Toroids,and Gels with Controlled Macroscopic Chirality

The interaction of a highly dynamic poly(aryl acetylene) (poly‐ 1 ) with Li⁺, Na⁺_, and Ag⁺ leads to macroscopically chiral supramolecular nanospheres, nanotubes, toroids, and gels. With Ag⁺, nanospheres with M helicity and tunable sizes are generated, which complement those obtained from the same polymer with divalent cations. With Li⁺ or Na⁺, poly‐ 1 yields chiral nanotubes, gels, or toroids with encapsulating properties and M helicity. Right‐handed supramolecular structures can be obtained by using the enantiomeric polymer. The interaction of poly‐ 1 with Na⁺ produces nanostructures whose helicity is highly dependent on the solvation state of the cation. Therefore, structures with either of the two helicities can be prepared from the same polymer by manipulation of the cosolvent. Such chiral nanotubes, toroids, and gels have previously not been obtained from helical polymer–metal complexes. Chiral nanospheres made of poly(aryl acetylene) that were previously assembled with metal(II) species can now be obtained with metal(I) species.     

Cover Feature: Are the Accompanying Cations of Doping Anions Influential in Conducting Organic Polymers? The Case of the Popular PEDOT (Chem. Eur. J. 63/2019)

Conducting organic polymers (COPs) are made of a conjugated polymer backbone supporting a certain degree of oxidation. These positive charges are compensated by the doping anions that are introduced into the polymer synthesis along with their accompanying cations. In this work, the influence of these cations on the stoichiometry and physicochemical properties of the resulting COPs have been investigated, something that has previously been overlooked, but, as here proven, is highly relevant. As the doping anion, metallacarborane [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ was chosen, which acts as a thistle. This anion binds to the accompanying cation with a distinct strength. If the binding strength is weak, the doping anion is more prone to compensate the positive charge of the polymer, and the opposite is also true. Thus, the ability of the doping anion to compensate the positive charges of the polymer can be tuned, and this determines the stoichiometry of the polymer. As the polymer, PEDOT was studied, whereas Cs⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, and H⁺ as cations. Notably, with the [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ anions, these cations are grouped into two sets, Cs⁺ and H⁺ in one and Na⁺, K⁺, and Li⁺ in the second, according to the stoichiometry of the COPs: 2:1 EDOT/[Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ for Cs⁺ and H⁺, and 3:1 EDOT/[Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ for Na⁺, K⁺, and Li⁺. The distinct stoichiometries are manifested in the physicochemical properties of the COPs, namely in the electrochemical response, electronic conductivity, ionic conductivity, and capacitance.     

Salt effects in the binding of 4-(1-pyrenyl)-butyltrimethylammonium to poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) and poly(vinylbenzoglyme) in water

The binding of 4¹-(1-pyrenyl)butyltrimethylammonium bromide (PN⁺) to the neutral poly-soap-type polymers poly(vinylbenzo-18-crown-6) (P18C6) and poly(vinylbenzoglyme) (PVBG) was studied by optical spectroscopy and fluorescence in the presence and absence of salts. Measurements of the respective binding constants were based on distinct differences in the optical absorption spectra of free and polymer-bound PN⁺. When crown ether-compelxable cations (e.g., K⁺) were added the adsorption of PN⁺ to P18C6 decreased as the neutral polymer was converted to a polycation. No decrease was found with PVBG because alkali ions do not complex significantly to this polymer in water. PN⁺ adsorption to both polymers rose rapidly, however, as the salt concentration increased. This effect was strongly anion-dependent and increased in the order of Cl^? < Br^? < I^? < CNS^? < BPh₄?. The increased binding was reflected in a higher binding constant and also in a larger number of bound PN⁺ molecules per polymer chain under saturation conditions. It is argued that the formation of ion pairs or larger ion clusters in the aqueous phase when anions are added forces more PN⁺ molecules to adsorb on the surface of the polymer coil to which they are bound as ion pairs or higher aggregates. Under saturation conditions enough PN⁺ molecules are bound to convert the pyrene monomer fluorescence spectrum into that of the excimer. These results are compared with data obtained for the anionic solute 4-(1-pyrenyl)butanoate in the presence of salts.     

Electrochemical properties of a network polymer based on tetra(sulfonatophenyl)-meta-cyclophanoctol

Conductivity of the network polymer based on tetra(sulfonatophenyl)-meta-cyclophanoctol in the H⁺, Na⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ni²⁺ forms is studied, and the self-diffusion coefficients and activation energies of diffusion of the metal cations in the polymer phase are estimated.     

Interaction between Na+ and polymer in aqueous solution of sodium salts of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) studied by 23Na-NMR

The interaction between Na⁺ and polymer was studied by ²³Na-NMR for the aqueous solution of P(HEMA-co-MAANa), sodium salt of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid), as a function of the polymer concentration, charge density of the polymer chain, and temperature. The NMR line width of ²³Na-NMR in 1% (w/v) aqueous solution of the P(HEMA-co-MAANa) narrowed with increasing temperature due to the rapid exchange of Na⁺ between free and polymer-bound states with a rate of exchange exceeding the quadrupolar relaxation rate in the latter state. At high concentrations of the polymer above 1.0% (w/v) at 298 K, the ²³Na-NMR relaxation fits for a single Lorentzian due to the rapid exchange between two Na⁺ states. However, it follows a biexponential decay of magnetization in dilute solutions of polymer. The biexponential decay character of relaxation increased with the increase of the fraction of the MAANa monomer unit on the polymer chain. This feature of ²³Na-NMR relaxation was used to deduce the correlation time (τ_c), the degree of binding (p_B), and the quadrupole coupling constants (X) of the polymer-bound counterion. The χ and τ_c values show that the mobilities of the polymer chain are correlated with the motion of Na⁺ in aqueous solution of the polymer and there is a small degree of the specific binding between COO^? and Na⁺. No evidence in support of the intramolecular conformational change by the charge density variation in P(HEMA-co-MAANa) was obtained. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Argon cluster cleaning of Ga+ FIB-milled sections of organic and hybrid materials

Secondary ion mass spectrometry studies have been made of the removal of the degraded layer formed on polymeric materials when cleaning focused ion beam (FIB)-sectioned samples comprising both organic and inorganic materials with a 30-keV Ga⁺ FIB. The degraded layer requires a higher-than-expected Ar gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) dose for its removal, and it is shown that this arises from a significant reduction in the layer sputtering yield compared with that for the undamaged polymer. Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter calculations for many FIB angles of incidence on flat polymer surfaces show the depth of the damage and of the implantation of the Ga⁺ ions, and these are compared with the measured depth profiles for Ga⁺-implanted flat polymer surfaces at several angles of incidence using an Ar⁺ GCIB. The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter depth and the measured dose give the sputtering yield volume for this damaged and Ga⁺-implanted layer. These, and literature yield values for Ga⁺ damaged layers, are combined on a plot showing how the changing sputtering yield is related to the implanted Ga density for several polymer materials. This plot contains data from both the model flat poly(styrene) surfaces and FIB-milled sections showing that these 2 surfaces have the same yield reduction. The results show that the damaged and Ga⁺-implanted layer's sputtering rate, after FIB sectioning, is 50 to 100 times lower than for undamaged polymers and that it is this reduction in sputtering rate, rather than any development of microtopography, that causes the high Ar⁺ GCIB dose required for cleaning these organic surfaces.     

Selective Transport of Cesium and Strontium Ions Through Polymer Inclusion Membranes Containing Calixarenes as Carriers

Abstract

Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ are selectively removed over Na⁺ from acidic aqueous solutions with high Na⁺ concentrations by using membranes designed to selectively transport one of the two cations. To this end, calix[4]arene derivatives were used as carriers in polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). The synthesis and characterization of new calix[4]arene derivatives (a bisamide (2) and three bisesters (3, 5 and 6)) used for the separation of Sr²⁺ are described. Another bisester (4) was employed for the same separation. In addition, a calix[4]arene-crown-6 (7) was incorporated into the membrane for Cs⁺ extraction. The concentration of each membrane component (polymer, carrier and counter-ion) was optimized and the permeability coefficients (P, m sec^?1) of Cs⁺, Sr²⁺ and Na⁺ were determined. A synergistic effect between the calixarenes and dinonylnaphtalenesulfonic acid, used as counterion, (DNNS, 8) was observed. High selectivity of Cs⁺ over Na⁺ and of Sr²⁺ over Na⁺ were obtained with compounds 7 and 3, respectively. The best P for Sr²⁺ was obtained with compound 4. A long-term experiment was carried out to demonstrate the durability of PIMs. PIMs are compared to classical supported liquid membranes.     

Enhanced Surface Interactions Enable Fast Li+ Conduction in Oxide/Polymer Composite Electrolyte

Li⁺‐conducting oxides are considered better ceramic fillers than Li⁺‐insulating oxides for improving Li⁺ conductivity in composite polymer electrolytes owing to their ability to conduct Li⁺ through the ceramic oxide as well as across the oxide/polymer interface. Here we use two Li⁺‐insulating oxides (fluorite Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95 and perovskite La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.55) with a high concentration of oxygen vacancies to demonstrate two oxide/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based polymer composite electrolytes, each with a Li⁺ conductivity above 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 30 °C. Li solid‐state NMR results show an increase in Li⁺ ions (>10 %) occupying the more mobile A2 environment in the composite electrolytes. This increase in A2‐site occupancy originates from the strong interaction between the O^2? of Li‐salt anion and the surface oxygen vacancies of each oxide and contributes to the more facile Li⁺ transport. All‐solid‐state Li‐metal cells with these composite electrolytes demonstrate a small interfacial resistance with good cycling performance at 35 °C.     

High Dielectric Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Polymer Enables Uniform Lithium-Ion Transport in Solid-State Ionogel Electrolytes

Ionic liquids (ILs)-incorporated solid-state polymer electrolytes (iono-SPEs) have high ionic conductivities but show non-uniform Li⁺ transport in different phases. This work greatly promotes Li⁺ transport in polymer phases by employing a poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), PTC] as the framework of ILs to prepare iono-SPEs. Unlike PVDF, PTC with suitable polarity shows weaker adsorption energy on IL cations, reducing their possibility of occupying Li⁺-hopping sites. The significantly higher dielectric constant of PTC than PVDF facilitates the dissociation of Li-anions clusters. These two factors motivate Li⁺ transport along PTC chains, narrowing the difference in Li⁺ transport among varied phases. The LiFePO₄/PTC iono-SPE/Li cells cycle steadily with capacity retention of 91.5 % after 1000 cycles at 1 C and 25 °C. This work paves a new way to induce uniform Li⁺ flux in iono-SPEs through polarity and dielectric design of polymer matrix.     

Electrophoretic analysis of proteins and enantiomers using capillaries modified by a successive multiple ionic-polymer layer (SMIL) coating technique

The applicability of three-layer coatings consisting of three different polymers (A⁺-B⁻-C⁺ coating) prepared by a successive multiple ionic-polymer layer (SMIL) coating technique to the immobilization of polypeptides and/or proteins onto the inner surface of the capillaries was investigated to provide a high-performance separation medium for proteins and enantiomers in capillary electrophoresis (CE). To obtain a stable protein-coated capillary, high molecular mass poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) was employed as the first layer in the A⁺-B⁻-C⁺ coating, and then a cationic protein was immobilized as the third layer. Comparisons of analytical performances between the A⁺-B⁻-C⁺ coating and the conventional SMIL-coated (A⁺-B⁻-A⁺ coating) capillary were conducted. The CE separation of cationic proteins was successfully achieved with the prepared capillaries. In addition, the polypeptide- and protein-coated capillaries were applied to the chiral separation of a binaphthyl compound. It should be noted that the chiral separation efficiency was strongly dependent on the second anionic polymer layer of the coating. Effects of the interaction between oppositely charged ionic polymer layers on the separation efficiency are discussed.     

Explanation of Ionic Sequences in Various Phenomena. I. Salting-Out of Uncharged Molecules

Abstract

Theoretical models for hydrated ions and their calculated effective dielectric constants obtained previously were used to explain the salting-in or salting-out of nonionic molecules. Three types of salting-out sequences were obtained: nonpolar (Na⁺ > K⁺ > Li⁺ Rb⁺ > Cs⁺), basic (K⁺ > Na⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺ > Li⁺), and acidic (Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺). The nonpolar sequence is not influenced by the A region of a cation, and therefore the ability to salt-out is great if the effective dielectric constant of the ion is small. The A region on hydrated Li⁺ ions (the tightly bound water) salts-in basic compounds because of the interaction of its positively charged hydrogen atoms with the negative dipolar charge of the base. Conversely, the A region of a cation salts-out acidic compounds because the hydroxyl group on carboxylic acids behaves as a similar cationic A region. A sulfonic polymer will cause the salting-in of the base p-nitroaniline because the addition of salts to an aqueous solution of the base and polymer destroys hydrogen bonds in the polymer and in so doing releases hydronium ions from the polymer. This release of H⁺, in turn, produces a positive charge on part of the p-nitroaniline molecules, which produces a salting-in effect.     

The influence of tetraalkylammonium counterions on the conformational transition of an alternating copolymer of maleic acid and n-butyl vinyl ether in aqueous solutions

pH titration curves for the neutralization of an alternating co-polymer of maleic acid and n-butylvinylether (MAnBVE) with tetrabutylammoniumhydroxide (TBAOH) are reported, and compared to the case of neutralization with NaOH or tetraethylammoniumhydroxide (TEAOH). With TBA⁺ counterions the compact form of the polymer is stabilized, remaining the preferred form up to higher net charge densities. This tendency is enhanced at higher temperature. Free energy changes of the conformational transition are higher for TBA⁺ than for TEA⁺ or Na⁺ as counterions.     

The Partitioning Mechanism of Phenazine Ethosulfate into Polymer Film Electrodes

Phenazine ethosulfate (PES⁺) partitioning into the AQ55 cation‐exchange polymer has been demonstrated by immersion and continuous electrochemical cycling experiments. Cyclic voltammetric waveshapes indicate that both the reduction of PES⁺ and the oxidation of PESH are diffusion‐controlled when incorporated into the polymer film. This is in dramatic contrast to the behavior exhibited at bare glassy carbon where the reduction of PES⁺ is diffusion‐controlled but the oxidation of PESH is characteristic of a surface‐confined redox process. The straightforward determination of the partition coefficient is complicated by the uncertainty associated with accurately knowing the thickness of the swollen polymer. Therefore Randles‐Sevcik data for the reduction of PES⁺ at the bare and polymer‐modified electrode were compared to qualitatively assess the extent of possible partitioning, which was determined to be on the order of 10¹–10². The partition coefficient was determined to be 9.1±0.4, a value in agreement with qualitative assessment. Partitioning was found to be sensitive to the cations present in solution with the order of extractability of PES⁺ from solutions of Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺, increasing in the order: Li⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Continuous cycling experiments suggest PES⁺ partitions into the film during the reductive cycle to restore the equilibrium concentration in the film caused by the electrochemical consumption of the species.     

A Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Polymer Enabled by Robust Nickel–Nitrogen and Hydrogen Bonds for Exceptional Sodium-Ion Storage

Organic electrode materials suffer from low electronic conductivity and poor structure stability. Herein, a metal–organic polymer, Ni-coordinated tetramino-benzoquinone (Ni-TABQ), is synthesized via d–π hybridization. The polymer chains are stitched by hydrogen bonds to feature as a robust two-dimensional (2D) layered structure. It offers both electron conduction and Na⁺ diffusion pathways along the directions of the polymer chains and the hydrogen bonds. With both the conjugated benzoid carbonyls and imines as the redox centers for the insertion and extraction of Na⁺, the Ni-TABQ delivers high capacities of about 469.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹ and 345.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 8 A g⁻¹. The large capacities are sustained for 100 cycles with almost 100 % coulombic efficiencies. The exceptional electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique 2D electron conduction and Na⁺ diffusion pathways enabled by the robust Ni–N and hydrogen bonds.     

Drug Surfactant and Polymer Mediated Acid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Acetohydroxamic Acid

The effects of drug-surfactant and polymer on the acid hydrolysis of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) have been studied at room temperature in 2% (v/v) dioxane medium. Kinetic data corresponding to the reaction with drug micelles are analyzed by using the pseudo-phase ion exchange model. The binding constant and first-order rate constant in micellar media in presence of AMYTP⁺-Drug, AMYTP⁺-β-Cyclodextrine, AMYTP⁺-SDS, AMYTP⁺-PEG, AMYTP⁺-TX-100, AMYTP⁺-CTAB, have been studied in 0.5 M HCl media.     

Ion-etching of discharge-produced tetrafluoroethylene film with hydrogen,oxygen and noble gases. A mass spectrometric analysis

Freshly deposited discharge-produced tetrafluoroethylene films were ion-etched with either helium, neon, argon, oxygen or hydrogen. The ions C⁺, CF⁺, CF₂⁺ and CF₃⁺ comprised most of the positive ions in rare gas discharges, with CF⁺ always dominant. Sputtered fragments containing two or more carbon atoms were rare. These findings are compatible with the ion-etching of a highly crosslinked polymer film. Residual background gases were contributed to 1–3% of the total ion flux even though their actual partial pressures were very low. The concentration of neutral species corresponding to the ions observed was less than one part in ten thousand of the etching gas. With pure hydrogen, very little etching occurred and the degree of ionization relative to the rare gases was low. The principal reaction was the abstraction of fluorine from the polymer to give hydrogen fluoride and a more highly crosslinked film. Oxygen containing discharges produced the largest total yield of all the systems studied and the most evidence of chemical attack on the polymer. The ions observed were CO⁺, CO₂⁺, COF⁺, COF₂⁺ as well as C⁺, CF⁺, CF₂⁺ and CF₃⁺. Thus oxygen etches the polymer by preferentially attacking the carbon-carbon framework.     

Analysis of NAD(P) and NAD(P)H cofactors by means of imprinted polymers associated with Au surfaces:: A surface plasmon resonance study

Crosslinked films consisting of the acrylamide-acrylamidophenylboronic acid copolymer that are imprinted with recognition sites for β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NADP⁺, and their reduced forms (NAD(P)H), are assembled on Au-coated glass supports. The binding of the oxidized cofactors NAD⁺ or NADP⁺ or the reduced cofactors NADH or NADPH to the respective imprinted sites results in the swelling of the polymer films through the uptake of water. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy is employed to follow the binding of the different cofactors to the respective imprinted sites. The imprinted recognition sites reveal selectivity towards the association of the imprinted cofactors. The method enables the analysis of the NAD(P)⁺ and NAD(P)H cofactors in the concentration range of 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻³ M. The cofactor-imprinted films associated with the Au-coated glass supports act as active interfaces for the characterization of biocatalyzed transformations that involve the cofactor-dependent enzymes. This is exemplified with the characterization of the biocatalyzed oxidation of lactate to pyruvate in the presence of NAD⁺ and lactate dehydrogenase using the NADH-imprinted polymer film.     

Simultaneous Determination of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl− in Unstimulated and Stimulated Human Saliva Using All Solid State Multisensor Platform

Human saliva is one of the body fluids which collection method is relatively simple and non‐invasive. The article is dedicated to assess concentration (activity) of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ in fresh, unstimulated or stimulated human saliva samples using single solid contact ion‐selective electrodes with conventional reference electrode and self‐made multisensor platform (MP) equipped with ion‐selective membranes for Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl⁻ and reference electrode made in solid state technology, based on dispersed KCl in the polymer. Both kind of electrodes, single ISE and miniaturized electrodes in multisensor platform (ISE‐MP) were made of glassy carbon. The electrode surfaces have been modified by conductive polymer (PEDOT) layer deposition; with the exception of Cl⁻ electrode, in which conducting polymer was not applied. Potentiometric measurements were used to compare the changes of the ionic composition in various samples of saliva.     

Far-infrared studies on Nafion and perfluoroimide acid (PFIA) and their alkali salts

The terahertz/far-infrared spectra (<300 cm⁻¹) of perfluorinated sulfonic acid (Nafion NR211 polymer) and perfluoroimide acid (PFIA polymer) and their alkali (M⁺) salts have been analyzed and the results are presented. Pronounced features in the spectra of these ionomers that correlate systematically with the corresponding cation mass are reported and from their spectral position the force constants are derived. The average vibrational force constants for Nafion/M⁺ and PFIA/M⁺ are found to be 54 ± 7 and 39 ± 4 N/m, respectively. Such terahertz/far-infrared signatures probe the detailed structure of the Nafion/M⁺ and PFIA/M⁺ ionic clusters and, in turn, provide benchmarks for elucidating the ionomer “water channels” or water molecules located in the ionomer–water interface upon hydration. Qualitative trends in the vibrational energies of Nafion and PFIA can be explained by consideration of electronic and/or structural (ionic domain-size) effects.