Dynamic study of the noncrystalline phase of 13C-labeled polyethylene by variable-temperature 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy

The ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ of ¹³C-labeled polyethylene crystallized under different conditions were measured at temperatures from ?120 to 44°C by variable-temperature solid-state high-resolution ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, in order to determine accurately the dynamics of the noncrystalline region of the polymer. From these results, it was found that the T₁ minimum for the CH₂ carbons in the noncrystalline region of solution-crystallized polyethylene with high crystallinity appears at higher temperature by about 20°C than that of melt-quenched polyethylene with low crystallinity. This means that the molecular motion of the CH₂ carbons in the noncrystalline regions is more constrained at a given temperature in the material of higher crystallinity. Furthermore, dynamics of the noncrystalline region is discussed in terms of the ¹³C dipolar dephasing times.     

How to measure absolute P3HT crystallinity via 13C CPMAS NMR

We outline the details of acquiring quantitative ¹³C cross‐polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance on the most ubiquitous polymer for organic electronic applications, poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), despite other groups' claims that CPMAS of P3HT is strictly nonquantitative. We lay out the optimal experimental conditions for measuring crystallinity in P3HT, which is a parameter that has proven to be critical in the electrical performance of P3HT‐containing organic photovoltaics but remains difficult to measure by scattering/diffraction and optical methods despite considerable efforts. Herein, we overview the spectral acquisition conditions of the two P3HT films with different crystallinities (0.47 and 0.55) and point out that because of the chemical similarity of P3HT to other alkyl side chain, highly conjugated main chain polymers, our protocol could straightforwardly be extended to other organic electronic materials. Variable temperature ¹H NMR results are shown as well, which (i) yield insight into the molecular dynamics of P3HT, (ii) add context for spectral editing techniques as applied to quantifying crystallinity, and (iii) show why T_1ρ^H, the ¹H spin–lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame, is a more optimal relaxation filter for distinguishing between crystalline and noncrystalline phases of highly conjugated alkyl side‐chain polymers than other relaxation times such as the ¹H spin–spin relaxation time, T₂^H, and the spin–lattice relaxation time in the toggling frame, T_1xz^H. A 7 ms T_1ρ^H spin lock filter, prior to CPMAS, allows for spectroscopic separation of crystalline and noncrystalline ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance signals. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Solid‐State NMR Study on Relationships between Miscibility and Chain Mobility in Poly(4‐Methylstyrene)/Poly(Cyclohexyl Methacrylate) Blend

The phase behavior and motional mobility in binary blends of poly(4‐methylstyrene) (P4MS) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA) have been examined by ¹³C solid state NMR techniques. The blend miscibility was studied by measuring the ¹H spin‐relaxation times in the laboratory frame (T₁^H) and in the rotating frame (T_1ρ^H), respectively. Although intermolecular spin diffusion contributes to the proton relaxations in accordance with homogeneity, T_1ρ^H data shows signs of in complete averaging. The T_1ρ^H relaxation behavior indicates the existence of heterogeneous do mains with shortest dimensions in the nanometer range, which is also sup ported by the intermolecular cross polarization experiments with variable contact times. In addition, according to the resuits of carbon T_1ρ relaxation time measurements, it is concluded that mixing is intimate some what enough to cause a reduction in local chain mobility for P4MS and vice versa for PCHMA.     

Chain behavior of an amphoteric cellulose derivative: O-carboxymethyl-O-2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio) propylcellulose

The ¹³C NMR spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) of anhydroglucose units vary with the number of substituents, and the T₁ values of unsubstituted anhydroglucose units of O-carboxymethylcellulose are longer than those of amylose. Those results indicate that in water, the rotational motions of anhydroglucose units of cellulose derivative are quite important local motions contributing to the ¹³C NMR spin-lattice relaxation, and within a cellulose chain, anhydroglucose units rotate with different degrees of freedom depending on their environment. Moreover, the ¹³C NMR spin-lattice relaxation data indicate that the mobilities of ionic substituents are dependent on substitution positions as well as their ionic interaction. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High-Resolution Solid-State NMR Characterization of Morphology in Annealed Polylactic Acid

Single-pulse ¹³C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹H), detected indirectly via ¹³C carbons, and T₁(¹³C) were measured at 31°C for virgin pelletized and annealed polylactic acid (PLA) samples using the magic-angle spinning technique. The structural relaxation resulting in more regular crystals with narrower conformation distribution and increase in the lamellae thickness and crystallinity brought about by annealing at 100°C was deduced from the narrowing of the ¹³C NMR lines and proton spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹H). The spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹³C) related to the respective carbons of the α-polymorph of PLA are also discussed in the study.     

Physical properties of the nonlinear optical material Li2B4O7 studied by static NMR and MAS NMR

The mechanisms behind the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of Li₂B₄O₇ are characterized by ⁷Li static nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Furthermore, the structural nature of 3-coordinate BO₃ and 4-coordinate BO₄ groups is also characterized by the same method. For ⁷Li and ¹¹B, the spin-lattice relaxation time T₁ in laboratory frame gradually decreases with increasing temperature, whereas the spin-lattice relaxation time T_1ρ in rotating frame, which differs from T₁, is nearly constant. In addition, the activation energies of ⁷Li and ¹¹B, which are obtained via the values of T₁ and T_1ρ, are also compared.     

Solid‐state NMR analyses of the crystalline–noncrystalline structure and its thermal changes for ethylene ionomers

The crystalline–noncrystalline structure and its structural changes from thermal treatments for ethylene ionomers have been investigated with solid‐state ¹³C and ²³Na NMR spectroscopy. ¹³C spin–lattice relaxation time (T_1C) measurements reveal that as‐received ethylene ionomers have much enhanced molecular mobility in the crystalline region in comparison with conventional polyethylene samples. By appropriate annealing, however, polyethylene‐like morphological features reflecting T_1C behavior can also be observed. ¹³C spin–spin relaxation time (T_2C) measurements for the noncrystalline region reveal the existence of two components with different T_2C values, and these two components have been assigned to the crystalline–amorphous interfacial and rubbery–amorphous components. These results indicate that the structure of the major part of the noncrystalline region in the ethylene ionomers is similar to that of bulk‐crystallized polyethylene samples, regardless of possible ionic aggregates. The origin of the lower temperature endothermic peak in the heating process of the differential scanning calorimetry curve observed for the as‐received sample has also been examined somewhat in detail. As a result, it is proposed that the melting of smaller crystallites produced during storage at room temperature is the origin of the lower temperature peak. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1142–1153, 2002     

Lamellar thickness of crystallizable ethene runs in ethene-propene copolymers by solid state NMR

Crystallizable runs of ethene in ethene-propene copolymers can be identified in ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectra as a resonance at 33 ppm. In the absence of spin diffusion, the variation in intensity of this resonance with a ¹H spin lock will reflect the intrinsic T^H_1ρ. Spin diffusion leads to a more complex relaxation decay, which reflects the local polymer morphology. Simulations of the spin diffusion process have been carried out for a simplified two-phase model for the morphology with the aim of determining whether the lamellar thickness of the crystalline and amorphous regions can be found from the T^H_1ρ observed via the ¹³C NMR spectrum. Calculations covering the expected range of the input parameters, namely the spin diffusion coefficients, domain lengths, and intrinsic relaxation times, show that, providing the intrinsic relaxation time in the amorphous phase is known, an accurate estimate of the crystalline and amorphous lamellar thicknesses can be made. Analysis of simulated T^H_1ρ decays indicate that, in general, the time constant of the fastest decaying component can be identified with the intrinsic relaxation time of the amorphous phase. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the ferroelastic phase transition of order-disorder type in [N(C2H5)4]2CdCl4

This study uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to examine the detailed changes in [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂CdCl₄ around its phase transition at the temperature T_C = 284 K. The chemical shifts and spin-lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame (T_1ρ) were determined from ¹H magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR and ¹³C cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR spectra. The two sets of inequivalent ¹H and ¹³C nuclei in CH₃ and CH₂ were distinguished. A ferroelastic phase transition was observed at T_C, without structural symmetry change. The phase transition is mainly attributed to the orientational ordering of the [N(C₂H₅)₄]⁺ cations, and the spectral splitting at low temperature is associated with different ferroelastic domains.     

Solid-state NMR study of biodegradable starch/polycaprolactone blends

Abundant literature exists on starch or modified starch blended with biodegradable polyesters to achieve good performance with cheap compost plastics. The level of miscibility in these blends is one of the most relevant parameters. In the present study, solid-state ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, as well as carbon spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(C) and proton spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(H) and proton spin-lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame T_1ρ(H) of biodegradable starch (or starch formate)/polycaprolactone (PCL) (or polyester (PE) oligomers) blends and samples of the neat components were measured. From the T_1ρ(H) and T₁(H) relaxation times it follows that blends starch/PCL, starch/PE-oligomers and starch formate/PE-oligomers are phase separated even on the scale of 20-110 nm. On the contrary starch formate/PCL blend is phase separated on the scale 2.5-12 nm but homogeneously mixed on the scale 20-90 nm. Moreover, shorter T₁(C) and especially T_1ρ(H) values found for the starch or starch formate component in all these blends in comparison with neat samples show that molecular mobility of starch and starch formate segments is affected by blending. This indicates some miscibility also in phase separated blends which can happen in amorphous channels of starch.     

Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of MDI-based polyurethanes

¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments on linear polyurethanes and poly(ether-urethane) block copolymers demonstrate that ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation experiments in the laboratory [T₁(C)] and rotating [T_1p(C)] frames provide the most information about domain morphology in these microphase-separated polymer systems. T₁(H) TCH, and T_1p(H) data are less useful in a 4,4′-methylene bis(p-phenyl isocyanate)-1,4-butanediol (MDI/BD) hard-segment material, the MDI bridging methylene and the MDI urethane carbonyl T₁(C and T_1p(C) times fall in characteristic ranges for crystalline, amorphous, interfacial, and dissolved species. BD methylene carbons have short T_1p(C) for crystalline and long T_1p(C) for amorphous hard-segment aggregates. The distinct T_1p(C) and T₁(C) fractins observed are attributed to the presence of several crystalline polymorphs. Both T₁(C) results and DSC endotherms indicate that the crystalline polymorphs present in the poly(ether-urethane) are less ordered than the types seen in the pure hard-segment material. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation on the dynamics of aromatic polyesters by means of high resolution solid state CPMAS 13C NMR

The dynamics of amorphous aromatic polyesters consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene isophthalate) (PEI), and poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (PEN) has been investigated by means of solid state CPMAS ¹³C NMR. Proton T₂, ¹³C T_1ρ, and proton T_1ρ decays have been measured in particular, and the experimental data fitted to suitable model functions to determine best relaxation parameters. The fitting results show for proton T₂ and ¹³C T_1ρ measurements the presence of two components with different relaxation times and intensities, arising from different motional domains. The proton T_1ρ, on the contrary, shows a single component which limits the dimensions of the two regions to less than 20 Angstroms. The dependence of ¹³C T_1ρ values on two different irradiating field strengths (H₁ = 38 KHz, H₁ = 60 KHz) allowed the assignment of each component to relatively rigid and mobile regions. By comparing the three polymers we observe that PEN and PEI have a similar relaxation behavior, while a higher fraction of mobile components was found for PET. These differences are believed to arise mainly from local motions of the aromatic rings. The relaxation measurements have been evaluated to suggest a correspondence to O₂ and CO₂ gas permeabilities in PET, PEI, and PEN. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1557–1566, 1998     

Examination of miscibility at molecular level of poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A)/poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) blends by cross-polarization/magic angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The miscibility of poly(hydroxyether of bisphenol A) (phenoxy) and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high-resolution solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The DSC studies showed that the phenoxy/PVP blends have a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature (T_g). The S-shaped T_g-composition curve of the phenoxy/PVP blends was reported, which is indicative of the strong intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. To examine the miscibility of the system at molecular level, high-resolution solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique was employed. Upon adding phenoxy to system, the chemical shift of carbonyl carbon resonance of PVP was observed to shift downfield by 1.6 ppm in the ¹³C cross-polarization (CP)/magic angle spinning (MAS) together with the high-power dipolar decoupling (DD) spectra when the concentration of phenoxy is 90 wt %. The observation was responsible for the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The proton spin-lattice relaxation time T₁(H) and the proton spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame T_1ρ(H) were measured as a function of the blend composition. The T₁(H) result was in good agreement with the thermal analysis, i.e., the blends are completely homogeneous on the scale of 20 ∼ 30 nm. The six results of T_1ρ(H) further indicated that the blends were homogeneous on the scale of 40 ∼ 50Å. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2291–2300, 1998     

Miscibility and dynamics of the poly(vinylimidazole-co-methyl methacrylate)-silica hybrids studied by solid-state NMR

Poly(vinylimidazole-co-methyl methacrylate)-silica hybrids, bonded through hydrogen bond (PVM-SiO₂) or chemical bond (PVM(5)-SiO₂) between organic and inorganic units, were prepared and characterized. The characterization of PVM-SiO₂ and PVM(5)-SiO₂ hybrids were confirmed by IR, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectra. The intermolecular interaction between copolymer chains was studied by the spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (T^H_1ρ), and that between copolymer and silica was evaluated by the time constant for energy change between ¹H and ²⁹Si spin system (T_SiH). T^H_1ρ and T_SiH values in PVM-SiO₂ hybrids were consistent with those in PVM(5)-SiO₂ hybrids, and those were independent of the silica content. Moreover, the T^H_1ρ values are in order of poly(methyl methacrylate)-silica hybrids (PMMA-SiO₂) ≧ PVM-SiO₂ ≒ PVM(5)-SiO₂ > polyvinylimidazole-silica hybrids (PVI-SiO₂), while those of T_SiH are in reverse order PMMA-SiO₂ ≦ PVM(5)-SiO₂ < PVI-SiO₂.     

Ion-solvent molecule interaction in nonaqueous solutions: Spin-lattice relaxation time of7Li

The spin-lattice relaxation time (T ₁) of⁷Li⁺ was measured in solutions of LiCl and LiClO₄ in protic (MeOH, EtOH,n-PrOH,i-PrOH,n-BuOH, sec-BuOH, formamide, N-methylformamide) and aprotic (MeCN, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, propylene carbonate, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, hexamethylphosphotriamide) solvents and in mixtures of H₂O-formamide, H₂O–N-methylformamide, H₂O–N,N-dimethylformamide, H₂O-DMSO, H₂O-hexamethylphosphotriamide, and formamide-N,N-dimethylformamide at 25°C. The values of (1/T ₁)₀ obtained by extrapolation are discussed in terms of current theories of the magnetic relaxation of ionic nuclei. Linear correlations were found between (1/T ₁)₀ and Gutmann's donor numbers and Kosower's Z-values. These correlations indicate that relaxation of⁷Li⁺ is dominated by donor-acceptor interaction of the cation with solvent molecules. Concentration dependences of 1/T ₁ for LiCl and LiClO₄ differ from one another in a given solvent, a fact which is accounted for by a specific cation-anion short-range potential. The quantity 1/T ₁ of⁷Li⁺ atC=1 mole per 55.5 moles of mixed solvent as a function of solvent composition show characteristic features, which are discussed in terms of the relaxation mechanism proposed.     

Influence of the processing solvent on the photoactive layer nanomorphology of P3HT/PC60BM solar cells

In this article, it is demonstrated that doctor blading of thin poly‐3‐hexylthiophene/phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (1/1) bulk‐hetero junction films from toluene leads to an improved nanocrystallinity, when compared with their unannealed chlorobenzene processed counterparts. This difference in morphology was demonstrated by solid‐state NMR and Rapid Heating Cooling Calorimetry (RHC), being useful complementary techniques to investigate the active layer morphology of photovoltaic devices. An increased PC₆₀BM nanocrystallinity is indicated by several NMR relaxation decay times (T_1C, T_1H, and T_1ρH) and confirmed by an increase of the melting enthalpy in RHC experiments. An improved solar cell performance further strengthens this conclusion. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Determination of one-bond 14N?13C coupling constants in amines using 13C T1ρ measurements

¹³C T_1ρ values measured for isobutylamine, diethylamine, pyrrolidine, piperidine and triethylamine yield one-bond ¹⁴N? ¹³C coupling constants and ¹⁴N spin-lattice relaxation times. A decrease of ¹J(¹⁴N¹³C) was observed in sterically hindered secondary amines.     

The carbon-13 chemical shifts and the analysis of the relaxation times T1 and long range 13C−1H coupling constants of quinoline and of 1-(X-quinolyl)ethyl acetate derivatives

The ¹³C chemical shifts and the ¹³C−¹H coupling constants of quinoline (1-(X-quinolyl)ethyl acetate derivatives (where X=−CH(OAc)CH₃ substituted at positions 2,4,5–8) are reported. Substituent chemical shift (SCS) effects for the ethyl acetate group are additive at all positions. A substantial upfield shift of 4.5 and 4.8 ppm was observed at C-4 and C-5, arising from the peri interaction of 5- and 4-ethyl acetate substituents respectively. A vicinal (peri) ³J CCCH coupling constant of approximately 5 Hz is observed between both C₅−H₄ and C₄−H₅. Carbon-13 relaxation times (T₁) and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (η) have been measured for quinoline and its derivatives, and the contributions of dipolar, T₁^DD, and spin rotation, T₁^SR, relaxation have been determined. Intramolecular dipole-dipole interactions are found to provide by far the most important spin-lattice relaxation mechanism whenever protons are bound directly to the carbons under investigation. Non-protonated ring carbons are relaxed by both DD and SR mechanisms. Anisotropic motion has an easily observable effect on the DD contribution to T₁, and can form the basis for spectral assignments, as in 1-phenylethyl acetate. Long-range ¹³C−¹H coupling constants were observed both between ring carbons and between ring carbons with ring side-chain hydrogens. These results have been used for the structure determination of the title compounds.     

Additional insights from very‐high‐resolution 13C NMR spectra of long‐chain n‐alkanes

New information has been obtained from very‐high‐resolution ¹³C NMR studies of a series of long‐chain n‐alkanes. These compounds are fundamentally important in the petroleum industry and are essential to the life of some plants, flowers, and insects. At least partial resolution of the ten different ¹³C NMR signals of n‐C₂₀H₄₂ is observed at 11.7 T for solutions in C₆D₆ or C₆D₅CD₃. A ¹³C T₁ inversion‐recovery experiment provides much more detailed information than in previous studies of long‐chain n‐alkanes, demonstrates a steady increase in the relaxation times of the ten different carbons proceeding from the middle to the end of the chain because of segmental motion, and thus confirms the assignments for the interior carbons. In contrast, there is significant overlap for the signals for C‐7 and the more interior carbons in a solution of n‐C₁₆ or longer chain alkanes in CDCl₃. Not only are the chemical shifts sensitive to the solvent used, but also the relative chemical shifts change. Signals for the interior carbons of the odd‐number alkanes in CDCl₃ are better resolved than in the spectra of their even‐number counterparts. Some mixed aromatic solvent systems give increased dispersion of the cluster of C‐6 through C‐10 signals of n‐C₂₀H₄₂, n‐C₂₁H₄₄, and n‐C₂₂H₄₆. However, none of the solvents used could even partially resolve the C‐10 and C‐11 signals of n‐C₂₁H₄₄ or n‐C₂₂H₄₆ at 11.7 T, which may result from a different distribution of conformers for n‐C₂₁H₄₄ or n‐C₂₂H₄₆ than for n‐C₂₀H₄₂ and shorter n‐alkanes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamics of macromolecular chains. VI. Carbon 13 and proton nuclear magnetic relaxation of polystyrene in solution

Spin-lattice ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic relaxation (NMR) times T₁ have been measured for solutions of polystyrene in hexachlorobutadiene at two different frequencies. Some nuclear Overhauser enhancements and linewidths have also been determined. At 15 and 25 MHz the relaxation times T₁ of the ortho and meta carbons show two different dependences on temperature. These measurements indicate internal motion of phenyl groups around the C_α—C_para axis. A single isotropic correlation time is inadequate to explain the relaxation data for the para carbon. Use of a diamond-lattice motional model reveals that segmental reorientation of the chain backbone of polystyrene can be described in terms of two correlation times, ρ characterizing the three-bond motion process, and θ reflecting either isotropic motions of subchains or departure from an ideal lattice. Data on low-molecular-weight polystyrene indicate the participation of overall rotatory diffusion in the relaxation process. This motion is no longer efficient in high-molecular-weight polymers, where relaxation is due to segmental reorientation.