Synthesis and characterization of electrically conducting poly(o‐/m‐toluidine‐co‐o‐/m‐aminoacetophenone) copolymers

A series of poly(o‐/m‐toluidine‐co‐o‐/m‐aminoacetophenone) copolymers combining the features of high conductivity and processibility are synthesized and characterized by a number of techniques including ¹H NMR; thermogravimetry; IR, Raman, and UV–visible spectroscopy; scanning electron microscopy; and X‐ray diffraction. The copolymers are synthesized by the emulsion and inverse emulsion methods using conventional ammonium persulfate and a new oxidant, benzoyl peroxide, respectively. The influence of the polymerization conditions such as the monomer feed ratios, solvent, and the nonsolvent is investigated. The composition of the resulting copolymers is determined by ¹H NMR analysis. The conductivity of the copolymers varies with the aminoacetophenone content in the feed and the polymerization conditions. It is interesting that the conductivity of the copolymers is higher than that of the corresponding homopolymers. The results are rationalized on the basis of the effect of the ? COCH₃ substituent on the polymer structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4300–4310, 2004     

Core–shell functionalized MWCNT/poly(m‐aminophenol) nanocomposite with large dielectric permittivity and low dielectric loss

Core–shell carboxyl‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (c‐MWCNT)/poly(m‐aminophenol) (PmAP) nanocomposite were prepared through in‐situ polymerization of m‐aminophenol (m‐AP) in the presence of MWCNTs, and explicated as a dielectric material for electronic applications. The formation of thin PmAP layer on individual c‐MWCNT with excellent molecular level interactions at interfaces was confirmed by morphological and spectroscopic analyses. Here we conducted a comparative study of the dielectric performances of PmAP based nanocomposite films with pristine MWCNTs and c‐MWCNTs as fillers. Compared to PmAP/MWCNT nanocomposites, the PmAP/c‐MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited higher dielectric permittivity and lower dielectric loss. The well dispersed c‐MWCNTs in PmAP/c‐MWCNT nanocomposite produce huge interfacial area together with numerous active polarized centers (crystallographic defects), which in turn intensified the Maxwell‐Wagner‐Sillars (MWS) effect based on excellent molecular level interactions and thus, produce large dielectric permittivity (8810 at 1 kHz). The percolation threshold of PmAP/c‐MWCNT nanocomposites is found lower than that of the PmAP/MWCNT nanocomposites, which could be attributed to homogeneous distribution of c‐MWCNTs and strong c‐MWCNT//PmAP interfacial interactions in the nanocomposites. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of conducting poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenethyl alcohol)s

Poly(o‐aminophenethyl alcohol) and its copolymers containing the aniline unit were synthesized in aqueous hydrochloric acid medium by chemical oxidative polymerization. The chemical composition of these novel polymers was determined spectroscopically, and their viscosities were measured. These polymers exhibit good solubility in organic solvents that is attributed mainly to the polar hydroxyethyl side groups. Their structures (chain conformation and morphological structure) and properties (conductivity, electrochemical characteristics, glass transition, and degradation behavior) were characterized and then interpreted on the basis of the chemical composition along with the electronic and steric hindrance effects associated with the hydroxyethyl side group. Overall, the side group has a significant effect on the polymerization and influences the structure, chain conformation, and properties of the resultant polymer. The poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenethyl alcohol)s containing 20–40 mol % o‐aminophenethyl alcohol units are potential conducting materials for microelectronic and electromagnetic shielding applications because they are easier to process than polyaniline but retain its beneficial properties. These polymers can also be used as a functional conducting polymer intermediate owing to the reactivity of the side group. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 983–994, 2002     

Melt‐processable blends of ionic poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Relaxation behavior

Melt‐processable blends were prepared from rigid molecules of an ionically modified poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) and flexible‐coil molecules of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP). Dynamic mechanical analyses of blends with 50% or more of the ionic PPTA component revealed the presence of two distinct phases. The glass‐transition temperature of the more stable, ionic PPTA‐rich phase increased linearly with the ionic PPTA content. The second phase present in these blends was an ionic PPTA‐poor, or a PVP‐rich, phase. For this phase, a reasonably good fit of the data, showing the glass‐transition temperature as a function of the ionic PPTA content, was achieved between the results of this study and the reported results of previous investigation of molecular composites of the same two components with ionic PPTA contents of 15 wt % or less. The possible influence of annealing on the blend structure of a 90/10 blend of ionic PPTA and PVP was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1468–1475, 2003     

Synthesis of poly(m‐phenylene) and poly(m‐phenylene)‐block‐ poly(3‐hexylthiophene) with low polydispersities

Well‐defined poly(m‐phenylene) (PMP), which is poly(1,3‐dibutoxy‐m‐phenylene), was successfully synthesized via Grignard metathesis polymerization. PMP with a reasonably high number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of 25,900 and a very low polydispersity index of 1.07 was obtained. The polymerization of a Grignard reagent monomer, 1‐bromo‐2,4‐dibutoxy‐5‐chloromagnesiobenzene, proceeded in a chain‐growth manner, probably due to the meta‐substituted design producing a short distance between the MgCl and Br groups and thereby making a smooth nickel species (? C? Ni? C? ) transfer to the intramolecular chain end (? C? Ni? Br) over a benzene ring. PMP showed a good solubility in the common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran, CH₂Cl₂, and CHCl₃. Furthermore, a new block copolymer comprised of PMP and poly(3‐hexylthiophene) was also prepared. The tapping mode atomic force microscopy image of the surface of the block copolymer thin film on a mica substrate showed a nanofibril morphology with a clear contrast. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.     

Donor–acceptor‐based poly(toluidine‐co‐chloroaniline)s: Synthesis and characterization

A series of poly(o‐/m‐toluidine‐co‐o‐/m‐chloroaniline) copolymers of different compositions were synthesized by an emulsion method with ammonium persulfate as the oxidant. The conductivity of the copolymers was two to five orders of magnitude higher than that of the homopolymers poly(o‐toluidine) and poly(m‐chloroaniline). Among the copolymers, the copolymer of o‐toluidine and m‐chloroaniline exhibited a maximum conductivity of 0.14 S cm^?1. The conductivity of these copolymers was also higher than that of poly(aniline‐co‐chloroaniline). The properties of the copolymers were greatly influenced by the positions of the substituents and the concentrations of the individual monomers in the feed. All the copolymers were completely soluble in polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and showed higher heat stability as the chloroaniline concentration increased. These effects could be interpreted in terms of extensive hydrogen bonding and interchain linking and, therefore, higher electron delocalization in these copolymers due to the presence of electron‐rich toluidine rings adjacent to electron‐deficient chloroaniline. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1579–1587, 2005     

Simultaneous synthesis of silver nanoparticles and poly(2,5‐dimethoxyaniline) in poly(styrene sulfonic acid)

Silver nanoparticles were formed in situ along with poly(2,5‐dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) in an interconnected network matrix (reactor), comprising the electronic conductive polymer, PDMA, and a polyelectrolyte, poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS), through the simultaneous reduction of Ag⁺ ions and polymerization of 2,5‐dimethoxyaniline. In situ ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy showed that peaks corresponding to the plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles at 411 nm and the polaronic transition of PDMA at 438 nm provided evidences for the simultaneous formation of silver nanoparticles and PDMA. Transmission electron microscopy and size distribution analysis revealed the presence of spherical silver nanoparticles with an average diameter of 12 nm in the composite. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the amine units in PDMA changed to imine units upon the formation of silver nanoparticles. A comprehensive mechanism for the formation of the PDMA‐PSS‐Ag nanocomposite is proposed. A 10‐fold increase in the conductivity was noticed for the PDMA–PSS–Ag nanocomposite (1 S/cm) in comparison with the PDMA–PSS composite (0.1 S/cm). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3843–3852, 2006     

Comparative studies of solid‐state synthesized poly(o‐methoxyaniline) and poly (o‐toluidine)

Poly(o‐methoxyaniline) (POMA) and poly(o‐toluidine) (POT) salts doped with different acids (methanesulphonic acid (MeSA), trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and hydrochloric acid (HCl)) were synthesized by using solid‐state polymerization method. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and conductivity measurements. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was done to study the morphologies of POMA and POT salts. The FTIR and UV‐Vis absorption spectra revealed that the reduced phase was predominant in POMA salts, and the pernigraniline phase was predominant in POT salts. It was found that POMA salts displayed higher doping level and conductivity. In contrast, POT salts were lower at doping levels and conductivity. In accordance with these results, the electrochemical activity was also found to be lower in POT salts. The XRD patterns showed that the POMA salts displayed higher crystallinity than POT salts. The results from TEM revealed that the morphologies of POMA salts were different from those of POT salts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorption of aqueous Hg (II) by a novel poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenol)/mesoporous silica SBA‐15 composite

A novel poly(aniline‐co‐o‐aminophenol) (PAOA)/mesoporous silica SBA‐15 nanocomposite was synthesized and investigated for adsorption of Hg (II) from aqueous solutions of wide pH range. A chemical oxidation method was employed for polymerization of aniline and o‐aminophenol on an ordered SBA‐15 template to obtain a significantly enlarged BET surface area of the adsorbent. Efficiency study revealed that the PAOA/SBA‐15 could reach a maximum Hg (II) adsorption capacity of over 400 mg/g. Kinetic study showed that the Hg (II) adsorption by the PAOA/SBA‐15 fitted a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model, indicating that the mercury adsorption process was predominantly controlled by chemical process. The results of this study also proved that the adsorbed Hg (II) could be effectively desorbed from the PAOA/SBA‐15 in 0.1M HCl and 5% sulfocarbonide solutions. Associated adsorption mechanism was also investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antibacterial activity of pH‐sensitive genipin cross‐linked chitosan/poly(ethylene glycol)/silver nanocomposites

Novel nanocomposites consisting of genipin cross‐linked chitosan (GC), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and silver nanoparticles were prepared for such biomedical applications as the wound‐healing materials. Various amounts of silver nanoparticles were dispersed in the GC/PEG hydrogel matrix without severe aggregation. The effects of composition and silver nanoparticles on the physico‐chemical properties of samples were evaluated by infrared analysis, contact angle measurements, and swelling tests. The GC/PEG/Ag nanocomposite showed a pH‐sensitive swelling behavior. The surface hydrophilicity of GC/PEG/Ag nanocomposites was improved with the increase of silver nanoparticle content. L929 cell attachment was improved in the presence of silver nanoparticles. The antimicrobial function was assessed for the GC/PEG/Ag nanocomposites containing the silver content over 100 ppm. The silver nanoparticles had the dual functions of reinforcing structural stability and enhancing antimicrobial activity of GC/PEG/Ag nanocomposites. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Static and shear induced crystallization of glass fiber reinforced poly(m‐xylylene adipamide) with nucleating additives

Static and shear induced crystallization studies were carried out on a glass fiber reinforced poly(m‐xylylene adipamide) with various fiber contents. The crystallization experiments were performed using calorimetry and a shearing hot stage coupled with an optical microscope. The crystallization times were measured as a function of the temperature, the shear rate, and the fiber content. In static conditions, no nucleating ability of the fibers was highlighted. However, the shear treatment led to a substantial decrease of the crystallization times for all materials. Moreover, the shear effect is largely influenced by the fiber content, because the shear really undergone by the matrix between the fibers is locally higher than the nominal shear. A previously proposed crystallization kinetics model based on both Avrami and Hoffman–Lauritzen equations and taking into account the nucleating effect of the shear is improved. Hence, the fibers effect is included taking into account the higher local shear between the fibers. The nucleation rate due to the shear is described by a power law of the shear rate, where the prefactor is linked to the fibers amount. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2982–2992, 2007     

Preparation and characterization of polyfuran/poly(2‐fluoroaniline) conducting composites

This article deals with the chemical synthesis and characterization of poly(2‐fluoroaniline) (P2FAn) and polyfuran (PFu) homopolymers and PFu/P2FAn and P2FAn/PFu composites. P2FAn and PFu homopolymers were synthesized using ammonium persulfate and antimony (III) chloride as catalyst, respectively. These homopolymers and composites were studied in the doped state using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, four‐probe conductivity technique, and Gouy Scale measurements. PFu/P2FAn and P2FAn/PFu composites were found to possess different thermal, conductivity, electronic, and morphological properties from each other when synthesis order of guest and host polymers was varied. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3359–3367, 2004     

Salicylaldimine‐functionalized poly(m‐phenyleneethynylene) as turn‐on chemosensor for ferric ion

A new turn on fluorescent probe for ferric ion based on poly(m‐phenyleneethynylene salicylaldimine) ( PPE‐IM ) has been developed. The preparation of PPE‐IM involves post‐polymerization functionalization of the corresponding polymeric amine, PPE‐AM , via the condensation with salicylaldehyde. The degree of polymerization of both PPE‐IM and PPE‐IM is 17 with polydispersity index of 1.5. In aqueous solution, the polymeric PPE‐IM is highly stable unlike its small molecule analog which is gradually hydrolyzed. The weak fluorescence of initial PPE ‐ IM (λ_em = 470) is greatly enhanced by 300 folds upon the addition of Fe³⁺. The ¹H NMR reveals that the fluorescence enhancement is caused by Fe³⁺‐induced hydrolysis of the imine group. The sensing system shows a detection limit of 0.14 μM of Fe³⁺. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1155–1161     

Preparation of antimicrobial poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles were prepared by electrospinning PVA/silver nitrate (AgNO₃) aqueous solutions, followed by short heat treatment, and their antimicrobial activity was investigated for wound dressing applications. Since PVA is a water soluble and biocompatible polymer, it is one of the best materials for the preparation of wound dressing nanofibers. After heat treatment at 155 °C for 3 min, the PVA/AgNO₃ nanofibers became insoluble, while the Ag⁺ ions therein were reduced so as to produce a large number of Ag nanoparticles situated preferentially on their surface. The residual Ag⁺ ions were reduced by subsequent UV irradiation for 3 h. The average diameter of the Ag nanoparticles after the heat treatment was 5.9 nm and this value increased slightly to 6.3 nm after UV irradiation. It was found that most of the Ag⁺ ions were reduced by the simple heat treatment. The PVA nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles showed very strong antimicrobial activity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2468–2474, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(styrene‐maleic anhydride)‐montmorillonite nanocomposite

Poly(styrene‐maleic anhydride)‐montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by intercalation of layered montmorillonite with the polymer ions. Synthetic approaches including polymerization and phosphonium salt formation have been used for polymer intercalation and dispersion of the host layers in the polymer matrix. The ratio of the mineral in the composites ranged 30–50%. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) disclosed that the d₍₀₀₁₎ spacing between the internal lamellar surface were only expanding to about 13 and 15 Å according to the type of phosphonium salt suggesting packing of polymer molecules between the layers. Examination of these materials by scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed spherical nano size particles of average diameter, 350 nm. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Uni‐molecular nanoparticles of poly(2‐oxazoline) showing tunable thermoresponsive behaviors

Herein, cylindrical molecular bottlebrushes grafted with poly(2‐oxazoline) (POx) as a shaped tunable uni‐molecular nanoparticle were synthesized via the grafting‐onto approach. First, poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) backbones with azide pendant units were prepared via reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization followed by post‐modification. The degree of polymerization (DP) of the backbones was tuned in a range from 20 to 800. Alkynyl‐terminated POx side chains were synthesized by living cationic ring opening polymerization (LCROP) of 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline (EtOx) and 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline (MeOx), respectively. The DP of side chains was varied between 20 and 100. Then, the copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkynyl cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry was conducted with a feed ratio of [alkynyl]:[azide] = 1.2:1 to yield a series of brushes. Depending on the DP of side chains, the grafting density ranged between 47 and 85%. The resulting brushlike nanoparticles exhibited shapes of sphere, rod and worm. Aqueous solutions of PEtOx brushes demonstrated a thermoresponsive behavior as a function of the length of backbones and side chains. Surprisingly, it was found that the lower critical solution temperature of PEtOx brushes increased with a length increase of backbones. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 174–183     

Novel Water‐Soluble Poly(m‐benzamide)s: Precision Synthesis and Thermosensitivity in Aqueous Solution

Summary: Chain‐growth polycondensations of 3‐aminobenzoic acid methyl esters 1a and 1b , bearing a tri‐ or tetra(ethylene glycol) methyl ether unit on the amino group, respectively, were carried out with lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) as a base and phenyl 4‐methylbenzoate ( 2 ) as an initiator in THF at 0 °C. The poly(m‐benzamide)s obtained in the presence of N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) possessed narrow molecular weight distributions ( < 1.2) with molecular weights that were determined by the feed ratios of [ 1 ]₀/[ 2 ]₀. Poly 1a and poly 1b were each soluble in water and exhibited a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water. Furthermore, the phase separation in water depended on the length of the oligo(ethylene glycol) side chain and on the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of poly 1 .

Thermally sensitive water‐soluble poly(m‐benzamide)s.     

Novel UV‐induced photografting process for preparing poly(tetrafluoroethylene)‐based proton‐conducting membranes

A novel process comprising the UV‐induced photografting of styrene into poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films and subsequent sulfonation has been developed for preparing proton‐conducting membranes. Although under UV irradiation the initial radicals were mainly generated on the surface of the PTFE films by the action of photosensitizers such as xanthone and benzoyl peroxide, the graft chains were readily propagated into the PTFE films. The sulfonation of the grafted films was performed in a chlorosulfonic acid solution. Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the grafted and sulfonated membranes. With a view to use in fuel cells, the proton conductivity, water uptake, and mechanical properties of the prepared membranes were measured. Even through the degree of grafting was lower than 10%, the proton conductivity in the thickness direction of the newly prepared membranes could reach a value similar to that of a Nafion membrane. In comparison with γ‐ray radiation grafting, UV‐induced photografting is very simple and safe and is less damaging to the membranes because significant degradation of the PTFE main chains can be avoided. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2624–2637, 2007     

Miscibility of poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) with poly(ethyl methacrylate): Existence of both UCST and LCST

A miscible homopolymer–copolymer pair viz., poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA)–poly(styrene‐co‐butyl acrylate) (SBA) is reported. The miscibility has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry. While 1 : 1 (w/w) blends with SBA containing 23 and 34 wt % styrene (ST) become miscible only above 225 and 185 °C respectively indicating existence of UCST, those with SBA containing 63 wt % ST is miscible at the lowest mixing temperature (i.e., T_g's) but become immiscible when heated at ca 250 °C indicating the existence of LCST. Miscibility for blends with SBA of still higher ST content could not be determined by this method because of the closeness of the T_g's of the components. The miscibility window at 230 °C refers to the two copolymer compositions of which one with the lower ST content is near the UCST, while the other with the higher ST content is near the LCST. Using these compositions and the mean field theory binary interaction parameters between the monomer residues have been calculated. The values are χ_ST‐BA = 0.087 and χ_EMA‐BA = 0.013 at 230 °C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 369–375, 2000     

Fabrication and characterization of poly(butylene succinate)‐grafted carbon fiber/poly(L‐lactide) nanocomposites

A new poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)‐grafted vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF)/poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) nanocomposites were successfully prepared by an in situ condensation reaction between PBS (M_w = 6,000) and surface oxidized VGCF, followed by direct melt mixing technique, and their mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies indicate a chemical interaction between the PBS and the surface of VGCF. It was found that the maximum tensile strength and modulus of PBS‐grafted VGCF/PLLA nanocomposites were 135 MPa (27% increase relative to neat PLLA) and 4,400 MPa (29% increase relative to neat PLLA), respectively. The results indicate that significant improvement in the mechanical properties can be accomplished by optimizing the surface modification conditions for VGCF. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4433–4441, 2008