New designs for sensory materials: Conducting polymers displaying molecular recognition

The integration of molecular recognition elements into conducting polymers holds great promise for the formation of new types of sensory materials. We describe some of our recent results in this area which focus on producing polymers which are responsive to alkali ions and electron deficient organic molecules.     

Conducting polymers: Efficient thermoelectric materials

This review highlights the recent progress made in the area of thermoelectric (TE) applications of conducting polymers and related composites. Several examples of such materials and their TE properties are discussed. TE properties of new poly(2,7‐carbazole) derivatives are highlighted. References are also made to carbon nanotube/polymer composites and their improved electrical and TE performance. Studies on polymer/inorganic materials composites have also taken a step forward and have shown very promising TE properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Chiral recognition applications of molecularly imprinted polymers: a critical review

Molecular imprinting technology offers the unique opportunity to tailor chiral stationary phases with predefined chiral recognition properties by employing the enantiomers of interest as binding-site-forming templates. Added advantages, such as ease of preparation, chemical robustness, low-cost production, and the possibility of shaping molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in various self-supporting formats, render them attractive materials for a broad range of chiral recognition applications. In this review a critical overview on recent developments in the field of MIP-based chiral recognition applications is given, focusing on separation techniques and molecular sensing. Inherent limitations associated with the use of enantioselective MIP materials in high-performance separation techniques are outlined, including binding site heterogeneity and slow mass transfer characteristics. The prospects of MIP materials as versatile recognition elements for the design of enantioselective sensor systems are highlighted.     

Supramolecular polymers constructed by crown ether-based molecular recognition

Supramolecular polymers, polymeric systems beyond the molecule, have attracted more and more attention from scientists due to their applications in various fields, including stimuli-responsive materials, healable materials, and drug delivery. Due to their good selectivity and convenient enviro-responsiveness, crown ether-based molecular recognition motifs have been actively employed to fabricate supramolecular polymers with interesting properties and novel applications in recent years. In this tutorial review, we classify supramolecular polymers based on their differences in topology and cover recent advances in the marriage between crown ether-based molecular recognition and polymer science.     

盐酸强力霉素分子印迹聚合物的制备及分子识别性能

以盐酸强力霉素(DC)为模板分子、甲基丙烯酸为功能单体、乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯为交联剂、四氢呋喃(THF)为溶剂.采用本体聚合法制备了DC的分子印迹聚合物.在水溶液中,采用平衡结合方法和Scatchard模型评价了该聚合物的结合特性及识别机理,并考察了DC分子印迹聚合物的选择性吸附能力.结果表明,在所研究的浓度范围内,D...     

Conducting polymers in chemical sensors and arrays

The review covers main applications of conducting polymers in chemical sensors and biosensors. The first part is focused on intrinsic and induced receptor properties of conducting polymers, such as pH sensitivity, sensitivity to inorganic ions and organic molecules as well as sensitivity to gases. Induced receptor properties can be also formed by molecularly imprinted polymerization or by immobilization of biological receptors. Immobilization strategies are reviewed in the second part. The third part is focused on applications of conducting polymers as transducers and includes usual optical (fluorescence, SPR, etc.) and electrical (conductometric, amperometric, potentiometric, etc.) transducing techniques as well as organic chemosensitive semiconductor devices. An assembly of stable sensing structures requires strong binding of conducting polymers to solid supports. These aspects are discussed in the next part. Finally, an application of combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput analysis to the development and optimization of sensing materials is described.     

Onsager chains: Semi-flexible polymers revisited

Using a density functional approach we derive the equations describing the equilibrium orientational distribution of a system of chains composed of elongated segments that interact with segments located on other chains through excluded volume interactions and with neighbouring segments of the same chain through a potential that determines the chain flexibility. We analytically determine the limit of stability of the low density isotropic phase as a function of the number of segments and the chain stiffness. The approach turns out to be formally equivalent to a recently proposed mean-field theory by Petschek and Terentjev. Comparison with the Khoklov-Semenov theory shows that the latter is based on an additional assumption that is not valid in an orientationally ordered phase.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers with halogen bonding-based molecular recognition sites

Molecular recognition materials bearing halogen bonding-based binding sites were synthesized by a non-covalent imprinting technique using a 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-iodostyrene (TFIS) as the functional monomer. The binding sites were generated by co-polymerizing TFIS, styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of the template molecule (4-dimethylaminopyridine—DMAP). The imprinted polymer preferentially adsorbed aminopyridine derivatives, suggesting that halogen bonding may play a role in the selective recognition of analytes by the synthesized synthetic receptor.     

Graphene nanosheet: synthesis, molecular engineering, thin film, hybrids, and energy and analytical applications

The emergence of graphene nanosheet (GN, 2010 Nobel Prize for Physics) has recently opened up an exciting new field in the science and technology of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with continuously growing academic and technological impetus. GN exhibits unique electronic, optical, magnetic, thermal and mechanical properties arising from its strictly 2D structure and thus has many important technical applications. Actually, GN-based materials have enormous potential to rival or even surpass the performance of carbon nanotube-based counterparts, given that cheap, large-scale production and processing methods for high-quality GN become available. Therefore, the studies on GN in the aspects of chemistry, physical, materials, biology and interdisciplinary science have been in full flow in the past five years. In this critical review, from the viewpoint of chemistry and materials, we will cover recent significant advances in synthesis, molecular engineering, thin film, hybrids, and energy and analytical applications of the "star-material" GN together with discussion on its major challenges and opportunities for future GN research (315 references).     

Toward transparent molecular wires: electron and energy transfer in transition metal derivatized conducting polymers

A great deal of research has concentrated on long range electron and energy transport in transition metal-based systems, including molecular donor-acceptor assemblies, electron and energy transfer cascades, dendrimers, and derivatized polymer systems. In an effort to improve efficiencies for electron and energy transport over large distances, several groups have now turned to conjugated systems. Several challenges exist to incorporating conducting materials/polymers in the study of photoinduced electron and energy transfer: solubility and processibility of the materials, thermal stability and limitations on direct spectroscopic characterization due to band gap absorptions. We have prepared a new series of conducting materials that provides for direct incorporation of chromophores and electrophores within the backbone of a conducting polymer. Energy transfer dynamics between conducting polymer bridges and porphyrin or metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) chromophores can be controlled through intermolecular interactions in solid vs solution samples. We have also developed a methodology to incorporate transmissive benzothiophene-type polymers such as polyisothianaphthene (PITN) within a copolymer assembly. These new materials are now being used to investigate long range electronic coupling and have potential applications that range from artificial photosynthesis to light emitting diodes.     

Main-chain organometallic polymers: synthetic strategies, applications, and perspectives

Main-chain organometallic polymers utilize transition metal-organic ligand complexes as primary components of their backbones. These hybrid materials effectively integrate the physical and electronic properties of organic polymers with the physical, electronic, optical, and catalytic properties of organometallic complexes. Combined with the rich and continuously growing array of ligands for transition metals, these materials have outstanding potential for use in a broad range of applications. This tutorial review discusses the major classes of main-chain organometallic polymers, including coordination polymers, poly(metal acetylide)s, and poly(metallocene)s. Emphasis is placed on their synthesis, characterization, physical properties, and applications, as well as ongoing challenges and limitations. These discussions are supplemented with highlights from the recent literature. The review concludes with perspectives on the current status of the field, as well as opportunities that lie just beyond its frontier.     

Conducting polymers electromechanical actuators and strain sensors

Electromechanical actuators are being investigated for a wide range of applications in medical, electronics and industrial areas. One attractive application is to incorporate conducting polymer fibre actuators into fabrics for use in prosthetic applications. In this paper, the design of polypyrrole fibre actuators for use in a glove to open and close the human hand (for assisting those with paralysis or hand injuries) is described. The key requirements for this application are the simultaneous generation of 16 mm of contractile movement and 2.9 N of force. Although not critical in the first prototypes, eventually it will also be necessary to produce a rate of movement of around 10 mm sec⁻¹. The effect of the geometry of polypyrrole actuators is examined in this paper and it is shown that a tubular geometry is superior to conventional flat films. Another aspect of the practical use of actuator materials is their control. Fabric strain gauges with polymer actuators is a convenient means for providing feedback control to the actuating element. The fabric strain gauges ideally articulate with fibre actuators to give both the actuating and sensing function in the same fabric structure.     

Molecular imprinting on amphiphilic folded polymers for selective molecular recognition in water

We report amphiphilic folded polymers with imprinted nanocavities for selective molecular recognition in water. For this, a molecular imprinting technique is applied to the polymer synthesis: amphiphilic polymer micelles interacting with template molecules are crosslinked in water to fix the folded architecture and memorize the template structure within the polymers; the removal of the templates provides imprint polymers bearing template-specific nanospaces. Here, a hydrophilic dye bearing two anionic groups, Orange G (OG), is used as a model template. For the imprinting, we design amphiphilic random copolymers bearing hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains, hydrophobic olefin groups, and quaternary ammonium groups that can interact with the template. The copolymers were prepared by living radical polymerization and post functionalization. In the presence of OG and methyl blue (MB), the imprinted nanocavity polymers simultaneously capture both of the dyes in water. The total number of encapsulated dyes increased with increasing the number of polymer-bound quaternary ammonium groups. The selectivity of OG against MB increased with the crosslinking density, while imprint polymers encapsulated OG more efficiently than nonimprint polymers. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 215–224     

Cyclic polymers: Advances in their synthesis,properties, and biomedical applications

Since the time first synthetic macrocycles were observed as academic curiosities, great advances have been made. Thanks to the development of controlled polymerization processes, new catalytic systems and characterization techniques during the last decades, well-defined cyclic polymers are now readily accessible. This further permits the determination of their unique set of properties, mainly due to their lack of chain ends, and their use for industrial applications can now be foreshadowed. This review aims to give an overview on the recent progresses in the field of ring polymers to this day. The current state of the art of the preparation of cyclic polymers, the challenges related to it such as the purification of the samples and the scalability of the synthetic processes, the properties arising from the cyclic topology and the potential use of cyclo-based polymers for biomedical applications are as many topics covered in this review.     

Conducting polymers in redox devices and intelligent materials systems

Applications opportunities are described for conducting polymer devices, including (1) batteries and redox capacitors, (2) electromechanical actuators, (3) electrochromic windows and displays, (4) chemical separation and chemical delivery systems, and (5) indicators and sensors. Each of these potential application areas depends upon the dramatic property changes which occur during chemical or electrochemical doping. Since the properties profiles of conducting polymers can be reversibly changed either chemically or electrochemically, these polymers also provide exciting candidates for intelligent materials systems - where sensor, logic element, and actuator functions can be either partially or fully integrated. Results of device and properties investigations are used to evaluate future possibilities for conducting polymers in intelligent material systems.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers: modulating molecular recognition by a thermal phase transition in the binding framework

The concept used to realize the modulation of molecular recognition in a molecularly imprinted polymer is presented. Creating a thermal phase transition within the binding framework, the imprinted material was prepared using Boc-phenylalanine as the template and pNIPAM as the sensitive unit. The results indicate that such a transition causes a clear modulation in the recognition behavior of the prepared polymer which depends on the operation temperature. At a relatively low temperature, the prepared polymer acts like a traditionally imprinted one, showing a highly specific recognition for the imprint species. However, the prepared polymer does not present any notable resolution at 40 degrees C. This recognition behavior is comparable to a process that can be switched on and off, thus making modulated recognition feasible.     

Synthesis, resolution, and applications of 1,16-dihydroxytetraphenylene as a novel building block in molecular recognition and assembly

This paper concerns the synthesis of 1,16-dihydroxytetraphenylene (DHTP) (2) by employing a novel NBS bromination route. (+/-)-DHTP 2 was successfully resolved into its optical antipodes and converted to (+/-)-1,16-bis(diphenylphosphino)tetraphenylene (BPTP) (26), whose platinum complex BPTP-PtCl(2) (27) was also obtained. As a hydrogen bond donor, racemic and optically active DHTP 2 was allowed to assemble with 4,4'-bipyridine to form single crystals of good quality. X-ray Diffraction studies of these crystals revealed that the crystallographic packing of the hydrogen bonded complex between (+/-)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine was different from the one formed from (S)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine. It was found that an infinite zigzag chain with alternate chirality was formed in the assembly of (+/-)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine, while (S)-2 and 4,4'-bipyridine failed to show the same assembly pattern. The reason (+/-)-2 formed an alternate and zigzag chain with 4,4'-bipyridine was most likely due to the inherent stability of this supramolecular assembly. The chiral recognition between 2 and optically active BINAP under the direction of platinum(II) has also been examined. (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopic studies demonstrated that there was an obvious discrimination of 2 between the enantiomers of BINAP-PtCO(3).     

Photoresponsive polymers and block copolymers by molecular recognition based on multiple hydrogen bonds

A new methacrylate containing a 2,6‐diacylaminopyridine (DAP) group was synthesized and polymerized via RAFT polymerization to prepare homopolymethacrylates (PDAP) and diblock copolymers combined with a poly(methyl methacrylate) block (PMMA‐b‐PDAP). These polymers can be easily complexed with azobenzene chromophores having thymine (tAZO) or carboxylic groups with a dendritic structure (dAZO), which can form either three or two hydrogen bonds with the DAP groups, respectively. The supramolecular polymers were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, optical microscopy, TGA, and DSC. The supramolecular polymers and block copolymers with dAZO exhibited mesomorphic properties meanwhile with tAZO are amorphous materials. The response of the supramolecular polymers to irradiation with linearly polarized light was also investigated founding that stable optical anisotropy can be photoinduced in all the materials although higher values of birefringence and dichroism were obtained in polymers containing the dendrimeric chromophore dAZO. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3173–3184