Synthesis of nonlinear optical polymers with large photoconductive sensitivity and transparency

Novel nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophore, 2-{3-[2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)vinyl]carbazol-9-yl}ethanol was synthesized and subsequently reacted with methacryloyl chloride to give a photoconducting NLO monomer ( M1 ). 2-Methylacrylic acid 2-[3-(diphenylhydrazonomethyl)carbazol-9-yl]ethyl ester ( M2 ) was also synthesized as a comonomer to enhance the carrier mobility of the NLO polymer. Photoconducting NLO polymers, P1 and P2 were obtained by the copolymerization of Ml with methyl methacrylate and M2 , respectively. These polymers were well soluble in organic solvents and showed glass transition at 177 °C and 196 °C, respectively. Polymer films of P1 and P2 were optically clear, and were transparent at wavelengths longer than 420 nm. The electro-optic coefficient (r₃₃) of poled P1 films was measured to be ∼5 pm/V at 632.8 nm. The photoconductive sensitivities of P1 and P2 were 6.2 × 10⁻¹⁴ S·cm⁻¹/mW·cm⁻² and 5.6 × 10⁻¹¹ S·cm⁻¹/mW·cm⁻².     

Selective Electroanalysis of Ascorbic Acid Using a Nickel Hexacyanoferrate and Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) Hybrid Film Modified Electrode

The mixed‐valent nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) hybrid film (NiHCF‐PEDOT) was prepared on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by multiple scan cyclic voltammetry. The films were characterized using atomic force microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (AC impedance). The advantages of these films were demonstrated for the detection of ascorbic acid (AA) using cyclic voltammetry and amperometric techniques. The electrocatalytic oxidation of AA at different electrode surfaces, such as the bare GCE, the NiHCF/GCE, and the NiHCF‐PEDOT/GCE modified electrodes, was determined in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7). The AA electrochemical sensor exhibited a linear response from 5×10⁻⁶ to 1.5×10⁻⁴ M (R²=0.9973) and from 1.55×10⁻⁴ to 3×10⁻⁴ M (R²=0.9983), detection limit=1×10⁻⁶ M, with a fast response time (3 s) for AA determination. In addition, the NiHCF‐PEDOT/GCE was advantageous in terms of its simple preparation, specificity, stability and reproducibility.     

Neodymium Catalyst for the Polymerization of Dienes and Polar Vinyl Monomers

Ziegler–Natta catalysts have played a major role in industry for the polymerization of dienes and vinyl monomers. However, due to the deactivation of the catalyst, this system fails to polymerize polar vinyl monomers such as vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, and methyl acrylate. Herein, a catalytic system composed of NdCl₃⋅3TEP/TIBA is reported, which promotes a quasi‐living polymerization of dienes and is also active for the homopolymerization of polar vinyl monomers. Additionally, this catalytic system generates polymyrcene‐b‐polyisoprene and poly(myrcene)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers by sequential monomer addition. To encourage the replacement of petroleum‐based polymers by environmentally benign biobased polymers, polymerization of β‐myrcene is demonstrated with a catalytic activity of ≈106 kg polymer mol Nd⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

High-quality polythiophene films prepared by electropolymerization of thiophene in BF3-ethyl ether solution

Polythiophene films have been deposited on a platinum electrode surface by direct oxidation of thiophene in BF₃-ethyl ether solution containing a controlled amount of water (5 mM). The electric and mechanical properties of the films were studied. Experimental results demonstrated that the films prepared at low applied potentials were semiconductors with conductivities in the order of 10^?1 s cm^?1. The strengths of these films were high and comparable to those of some widely used engineering plastics such as poly(propylene) and poly(vinyl acetate). The conductivities of the PT films varied with the value of applied potential used for electrolysis and passed through a maximum of 19.13 s cm^?1 at +1.6 V. At a given applied potential, low experimental temperature, and monomer concentration led to formation of films with high quality. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nonlinear optical properties of poly(fluorophenyl-diacetylene) evaporated films

A new insoluble polydiacetylene with fluoro-aromatic units directly bound to the π-conjugated main backbone has been obtained via solid-state polymerization induced by UV light, daylight and γ-rays. Third-order harmonic generation has been measured on poly(fluorophenyl-diacetylene) films prepared by the vacuum deposition method. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of this poly(fluorophenyl-diacetylene) film was evaluated as χ⁽³⁾ = 7.3 × 10⁻¹¹ esu.     

Electrode kinetics of electroactive electropolymerized polymers deposited on graphite electrode surfaces

A kinetic examination of the charge-transport processes (i.e. (i) heterogeneous electron-transfer process of electrode/film interfaces and (ii) homogeneous charge-transport process within films) at electroactive electropolymerized film-coated electrodes was conducted by normal pulse voltammetry. The films employed were of poly(o-phenylenediamine), Poly(N-methylaniline) and poly(N-ethylaniline), which were prepared on electrodes as coating films by electrooxidative polymerization of the corresponding monomers in an acidic solution. It was found that process (i) obeys the conventional Butler-Volmer equation and that process (ii) can be treated as a Fickian diffusion process. In addition, the kinetic parameters characterizing processes (i) and (ii) (i.e. the standard rate constant (k°) and transfer coefficient (α) for process (i), and the apparent diffusion coefficient (D_app for process (ii)) were estimated: D_app = ca (1–4)×10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ s⁻¹, k° = ca. (4–6)×10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹, α_a (for anodic process) = 0.83–0.86 and α_c (for cathodic process)=0.13–0.23. The are compared with the data reported previously for other electroactive polymer films.     

Synthesis of new conducting poly(2,5-thienylene)s containing alkylhydroxy and alkylester side chains

The chemical synthesis of new electroconducting poly(2,5-thienylene)s containing alkylhydroxy and alkylester side-chains in the β-position of the thiophene rings is reported. The polymers were obtained by oxidative homopolymerization or copolymerization of 2-(3-thienyl)ethanol and 2-(3-thienyl)ethyl hexanoate by FeCl₃ in nitromethane. Structural characterization using elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy shows that a partial nucleophilic substitution of the hydroxy group by chlorine and a partial cleavage of the ester function take place during polymerization. The presence of the ester function with a long aliphatic chain makes the polymers soluble and allows them to be processed into films. The polymers can be doped using a solution of FeCl₃ to the maximum electrical conductivity of 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/organo-modified cloisite Na+ with chiral L-leucine amino acid/TiO2 nanocomposites

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/organo-clay/TiO₂ nanocamposites films were prepared with 10 wt % of organo-nanoclay and various amount of TiO₂ nanoparticles. Cloisite Na⁺ has been modified via cation exchange reaction using ammonium salt of natural L-leucine amino acid as a cationic surfactant. After that poly(vinyl alcohol)/organo-nanoclay/TiO₂ nanocomposites were synthesized by dispersion of TiO₂ on the surfaces of organo-nanoclay in poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix by using ultrasonic energy. Three nanocomposites with different loading of TiO₂ were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission type scanning electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and ultraviolet-visible transmission spectra. The results showed that the organo-nanoclay and TiO₂ were dispersed homogeneously in poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix and also showed improvement in their thermal properties compared with the pure poly(vinyl alcohol).     

Synthesis,characterization, and bulk properties of amphiphilic copolymers containing fluorinated methacrylates from sequential copper‐mediated radical polymerization

The partly fluorinated monomers, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate (3FM), 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5‐octafluoropentyl methacrylate (8FM), and 1,1,2,2‐tetrahydroperfluorodecyl methacrylate (17FM) have been used in the preparation of block copolymers with methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2‐methoxyethyl acrylate (MEA), and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization. A kinetic study of the 3FM homopolymerization initiated with ethyl bromoisobutyrate and Cu(I)Br/N‐(n‐propyl)‐2‐pyridylmethanimine reveals a living/controlled polymerization in the range 80–110 °C, with apparent rate constants of 1.6 · 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ to 2.9 · 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. Various 3FM containing block copolymers with MMA are prepared by sequential monomer addition or from a PMMA macroinitiator in all cases with controlled characteristics. Block copolymers of 3FM and PEGMA resulted in block copolymers with PDI < 1.22, whereas block copolymers from 3FM and MEA have less controlled characteristics. The block copolymers based on MMA with 8FM and 17 FM have PDI's < 1.30. The glass transition temperatures of the block copolymers are dominated by the majority monomer, as the sequential monomer addition results in too short pure blocks to induce observable microphase separation. The thermal stability of the fluorinated poly((meth)acrylate)s in inert atmosphere is less than that of corresponding nonfluorinated poly((meth)acrylate)s. The presence of fluorinated blocks significantly increases the advancing water contact angle of thin films compared to films of the nonfluorinated poly((meth)acrylate)s. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 8097–8111, 2008     

Highly conducting graphitic carbon films and nano patterns from poly(p-phenylenevinylene) prepared on the surface of silicon wafers by the CVD method

We could prepare highly electrically conducting graphitic carbon films and nano patterns by carbonizing the poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) films and nano patterns prepared on the silicon surface by the chemical vapor deposition polymerization method of α,α'-dichloro-p-xylene. When the PPV films on silicon wafers were thermally treated at 850°C highly oriented graphitic carbon films were obtained which exhibit an electrical conductivity higher than 0.7 x 10³ Scm⁻¹. This conductivity value is more than 10 times the value for the carbon films obtained from bulk PPV films or glassy carbons heat treated at the same temperature. Moreover, nano patterns of graphitic carbons were easily obtained on silicon wafers through carbonization of nano patterned PPV obtained by the CVD polymerization method.     

Morphologies and enzymatic degradability of melt-crystallized poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-Co-6-hydroxyhexanoic acid)

The films of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-10mol% 6-hydroxy-hexanoic acid] (P[(R)-3HB-co-6HH]) were prepared by melt-crystallized method at various crystallization temperatures. The morphologies and properties of melt-crystallized films were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. All of the melt-crystallized films showed the banded spherulite morphology. The enzymatic degradation of melt-crystallized films was carried out at 37 °C in an aqueous solution (pH 7.4) of PHB depolymerase from Alcaligenes faecalis. The rate of enzymatic erosion was strongly dependent on the crystallinity of films, and the highest rate was as large as 2.15 mg·h⁻¹·cm⁻². After enzymatic degradation, the banded morphology of P[(R)-3HB-co-6HH] spherulites was visible, suggesting that PHB depolymerase predominantly hydrolyzes polymer chains on the edges of crystalline lamellar stacks.     

Screen-printed electrochemical sensors for label-free potentiometric and impedimetric detection of human serum albumin

Herein, two electrochemical methods based on potentiometric and impedimetric transductions were presented for albumin targeting, employing screen-printed platforms (SPEs) to make easy and cost-effective sensors with good detection merits. The SPEs incorporated ion-to-electron multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) transducer. Sensors were constructed using either tridodecyl methyl-ammonium chloride (TDMACl) (sensor I) or aliquate 336S (sensor II) in plasticized polymeric matrices of carboxylated poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC-COOH). Analytical performances of the sensors were evaluated using the above-mentioned electrochemical techniques. For potentiometric assay, constructed sensors responded to albumin with −81.7 ± 1.7 (r² = 0.9986) and −146.2 ± 2.3 mV/decade (r² = 0.9991) slopes over the linearity range 1.5 μM–1.5 mM with 0.8 and 1.0 μM detection limits for respective TDMAC- and aliquate-based sensors. Interference study showed apparent selectivity for both sensors. Impedimetric assays were performed at pH = 7.5 in 10 mM PBS buffer solution with a 0.02 M [Fe(CN)₆]^−3/−4 redox-active electrolyte. Sensors achieved detection limits of 4.3 × 10⁻⁸ and 1.8 × 10⁻⁷ M over the linear ranges of 5.2×10⁻⁸–1.0×10⁻⁴ M and 1.4×10⁻⁶–1.4×10⁻³ M, with 0.09 ± 0.004 and 0.168 ± 0.009 log Ω/decade slopes for sensors based on TDMAC and aliquate, respectively. These sensors are characterized with simple construction, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response time, single-use, and cost-effectiveness. The methods were successfully applied to albumin assessment in different biological fluids.     

Studies on the kinetics of dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) in solution induced by a weak base

Kinetics of dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), induced by a weak base such as ammonium hydroxide or n-butylamine (n.BA) in cyclohexanone solution, were studied by following the disappearance of NH₄OH or n.BA on reacting with the HCl liberated. An overall kinetic scheme was considered and the rate constants of dehydrochlorination under various sets of conditions determined. The initial rate constants (k₁) of dehydrochlorination at 40°C induced by NH₄OH or n.BA are very close (3.10 × 10⁻³ l mol⁻¹ min⁻¹) indicating that NH₄OH and n.BA are comparable in their capacity to induce dehydrochlorination of PVC in solution.     

Henry's law and diffusion constants of vinyl chloride in poly(vinyl chloride) at high temperature

The Henry's law and diffusion constants of vinyl chloride in poly(vinyl chloride) were determined at temperatures of 24, 90, 120, 150, and 170°C for weight fractions of vinyl chloride between 0.2 × 10^?3 and 0.8 × 10^?3. Above 90°C, Henry's law applies; values of the constant increase with temperature from 1.8 × 10² to 5.5 × 10² atm per unit weight fraction of dissolved vinyl chloride. The heat of desorption is about 15 kJ/mole. At 24°C, the nominal Henry's law constant was smaller than would have been obtained by extrapolating the values found at higher temperature. The diffusion constants increase with temperature from about 2 × 10^?13 to 3 × 10^?7 cm²/sec. The activation energy for diffusion is about 110 kJ/mole between 90 and 170°C. Although all values were determined in the absence of air, it is likely that they apply to polymer in air. They may, therefore, be used to calculate the vinyl chloride content in the gas above poly(vinyl chloride) under specific processing conditions.     

New Organic Dispersions of Conducting Polymers Using Polymeric Ionic Liquids as Stabilizers

Summary: Polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), and poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) aqueous dispersions were prepared by polymerizing the corresponding monomer in the presence of a polymeric ionic liquid (PIL), poly(1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium bromide). By addition of bispentafluoroethanesulfonimide lithium salt, the PIL stabilizer becomes hydrophobic and precipitates in water and traps the conducting polymer microparticles inside. The dispersion of the recovered powders in organic solvents leads to organic conducting dispersions. After casting the organic dispersions, hydrophobic films with electrical conductivity values as high as 0.1 S · cm⁻¹ were obtained.

A new synthetic route to new organic dispersions.     

Composite proton-conducting membranes based on poly(ethylene glycol vinyl glycidyl ether)

Composite proton-conducting membranes in the form of interpolymer films are prepared in an aqueous medium from sulfo-acid-modified poly(ethylene glycol vinyl glycidyl ether) and poly(vinyl alcohol). The initial poly(hydroxysulfo acid) is synthesized through the radical polymerization of ethylene glycol vinyl glycidyl ether followed by modification with sodium sulfite via epoxy groups and treatment with a cationite in the H form. The proton-conducting membranes feature improved thermal stability (200–250°C), a breaking strength of 1.0–8.9 MPa, elasticity (a relative elongation at break of 1.0–8.2%), chemical resistance, and specific proton conductivity attaining 10^?1 S/cm after doping with orthophosphoric acid.     

Diffusive desorption of small solute molecules from amorphous polymers: poly(methyl methacrylate), poly (vinyl acetate) and poly(n-alkyl 2-cyanoacrylates)

Diffusion coefficients of some aromatic substances in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(methyl methacrylate) have been measured from desorption rates into aqueous buffers from solid solutions of diffusant in cast polymer films. With ordinary spectrophotometric instrumentation, extension of the measurable range of the diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution to below 10^?21 m² sec^?1 is sometimes possible. Measures values below 10^?12 m² sec^?1 are generally much more quickly obtained, and are apparently at least as reproducible as those obtained by time-lag methods, permitting differential effects of diffusant molecular weight and shape to be studied, with solutes of higher molecular weight than those to which previous published studies were confined. Diffusion coefficients of the same solutes in a number of poly(n-alkyl 2-cyanoacrylates) were measured by desorption from polymer particles and films. The rank order and general dependence of diffusivity upon molecular weight and shape is similar in all three polymers. There is a tendency for the ionic and basic solutes to become bound, probably by covalent linkage, to poly(n-alkyl 2-cyanoacrylate) molecular chain ends.     

Interaction of polyoxometalate Mo132 with poly(vinyl alcohol)

Some aspects of the interaction of (NH₄)₄₂[Mo ₇₂ ^VI Mo ₆₀ ^V O₃₇₂(H₃CCOO)₃₀(H₂O)₇₂] · 30H₃CCOONH₄ · 250H₂O (polyoxometalate Mo132) with a water-soluble nonionic polymer (poly(vinyl alcohol) or related poly(vinylpyrrolidone)) were studied in aqueous solutions and in films. A set of methods was used: spectrophotometry, EPR spectroscopy, visual microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning probe microscopy, and potentiometry. The complex-formation features of the system were revealed. The miscibility of the components and their influence on crystallization phenomena were considered. The effect of UV and X-rays on poly(vinyl alcohol) + polyoxometalate films was studied. Poly(vinyl alcohol) stabilizes the polymer. Mutual radiation and thermal stabilization of the polymer and polyoxometalate was discovered. The utility of ion-sensitive electrodes for Mo132 determination in solution was demonstrated.     

Quantitative Analysis of Holmium Ion by a Ho3+ Ion‐Selective Sensor Based on a Symmetric Thio‐Schiff's Base

A poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane sensor for holmium ions was fabricated based on N‐[(Z)‐1‐(2‐thienyl)‐ methylidene]‐N‐[4‐(4‐{[(Z)‐1‐(2‐thienyl)methylidene]amino} phenoxy)phenyl] amine (TPA) as a new ion carrier, acetophenon (AP) as plasticizing solvent mediator and sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as an anion excluder. The electrode shows a good selectivity towards Ho³⁺ ions respect to other inorganic cations, including alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The constructed sensor displays a Nernstian behavior (19.5±0.3 mV/decade) over the concentration range of 1.0×10⁻⁶ to 1.0×10⁻² mol·L⁻¹ with the detection limit of the electrode being 4.6×10⁻⁷ mol·L⁻¹ and very short response time (ca. 5 s). It has a useful working pH range of 3.2–9.8 for at least 8 weeks. The electrode was successfully applied as an indicator electrode for the potentiometric titration of a Ho³⁺ solution with EDTA and holmium determination in some alloys. The proposed sensor accuracy was studied by the determination of Ho³⁺ in mixtures of three different ions.     

Supramolecular complexes of poly(3‐Hexylthiophene)‐block (and random)‐poly[3‐(2‐(6‐carboxyhexyl)methyl)thiophene] copolymers with perylene bisimide

Block and random copolymers of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly[3‐(2‐(6‐carboxyhexyl)methyl)thiophene] with side‐chain carboxylic functionality ((P3HT‐b‐P3COOH) and (P3HT‐r‐P3COOH) were developed by Grignard Metathesis (GRIM) polymerization. The carboxylic functionality was introduced in the side chain via the oxazoline route. Both the block and random polythiophene copolymers were complexed with pyridine functionalized perylene bisimide to obtain supramolecular block and random polymer complexes. The complex formation in both systems was confirmed by ¹H NMR, WXRD and SAXS studies. An expansion of d spacing upon complex formation was observed in both the block and random copolymer, which could be traced by WXRD. Hole and electron mobilities measured for the supramolecular complexes indicated values which were higher by an order of magnitude for the supramolecular block complex (μ_h ≈ 2.9 × 10⁻⁴ cm²/Vs; μ_e ≈ 3.1 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/Vs) as compared to the random (μ_h ≈ 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ cm²/Vs; μ_e ≈ 4.7 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/Vs) copolymer. These results are indicative of the higher degree of disorder prevailing in the films of random copolymer system compared to the block copolymer. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1574–1583