Electrophoretic evidence for a new type of counterion condensation

A systematic capillary electrophoresis study uncovered how polyelectrolyte effective charge density varies with backbone charge spacing and solvent dielectric constant. The study primarily focused on aliphatic ionenes, a special class of polyelectrolytes, which possess regularly spaced quaternary ammonium groups in the backbone. Complete ionization of functional units and good solvency in water or mixtures of water with lower dielectric constant solvents (methanol, acetonitrile) enabled continuous measurements of ionene effective charge density through the onset of counterion condensation. Ionenes with both uniform and alternating charge spacing were examined. As expected, effective charge density rose linearly with fixed charge density to a critical value, above which effective charge density remained constant. Deviating from expectation, the onset of condensation did not occur at a critical fixed charge density. Instead, condensation initiated at a constant critical Bjerrum length. The same onset condition was found for quaternized poly(vinyl pyridine)s. These experimental results suggest a new form of condensation, one driven by ion-pairing of polyelectrolyte with counterions. In support of this hypothesis, the onset of condensation appeared to correlate with counterion size. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3616–3627, 2004     

Determination of the Nanostructure of Polymer Materials by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is one the few methods that can characterize structural features in the range between 0.5 and 5 nm in systems that lack long‐range order. Approaches based on EPR spectroscopy provide good structural contrast even in complex materials, as the sites of interest can be selectively labeled or addressed by suitably functionalized spin probes using well established techniques. This article assesses the EPR experiments available for distance measurements on nanoscales in terms of the accessible distance range, precision, and sensitivity. Recommendations are derived for the proper choice of experiment for a given problem. Both simple and sophisticated methods for data analysis are described and their limitations are evaluated. It is discussed which assumptions must be made to extract a pair correlation function from EPR data. Finally, applications to the study of polymer chain conformation and the structure of ionically functionalized diblock copolymers are highlighted.     

Ultrasonic absorption spectroscopy between 5 and 3100 MHz on some aqueous polyelectrolyte solutions

The ultrasonic absorption coefficient has been measured as a function of frequency between 5 MHz and 3.1 GHz for aqueous solutions of polyacrylic acid and of its sodium, potassium, and tetraethylammonium salts. Unlike an aqueous solution of propionic acid, all polymer solutions clearly exhibit excess absorption. Within the frequency range under consideration the excess absorption spectra can be analytically represented by two Debye-type relaxation terms. At 25°C the corresponding relaxation times adopt values between 3 and 12.4 ns, and between 0.12 and 0.22ns, respectively. The former process is discussed in accordance with previous models. The relaxation of the polyacrylic acid solutions is assumed to be related to the formation of hydrogen bonds of the polymeric molecules and that of the polyacrylate solutions may be due to interactions of counterions with chain segments. The latter process, the existence of which has been first proven in this study, is likely to reflect rotational motions of carboxyl groups.     

Spin‐labeling of polymeric micelles and application in probing micelle swelling using EPR spectroscopy

Polymer structure and conformational dynamics are essential to polymer macroscopic properties, but are challenging to probe. We report here a synthetic pathway to chemically add a nitroxide moiety onto block polymers in a mild, aqueous environment and demonstrate its use in a series of polymeric micelles using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The micelles were characterized with several analytical approaches and EPR findings were in general consistent with other approaches. Upon exposure to organic solvents, the line shape changes reflected the micelle swelling and EPR spectral simulations revealed structural information of the swelled micelles. The label introduced via our method can be cleaved and replaced with other probes to report different information site‐specifically. The mild conditions facilitate the future use of EPR in solving biopolymer problems. In combination with other labeling approaches, one can perform polymer spin labeling with different chemistry, so that various information about polymers can be obtained site‐specifically. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1770–1782     

Conformational Behavior of Bottle‐Brush Polyelectrolytes with Charged and Neutral Side Chains

The conformational transition of a single bottle‐brush polyelectrolyte with charged and neutral side chains is studied through MD simulations. Counterions are included explicitly and no additional salt is added. The structure of the polyelectrolyte and the counterion condensation are found to depend greatly on the Bjerrum length. As the Bjerrum length increases, the neutral side chains in a poor solvent can condense into clusters with variable size. Moreover, the polyelectrolyte forms globular structures at large or very small Bjerrum lengths. This transition is quite different from that in the case of a good solvent, in which there are not observable clusters and a globular structure is only formed at large Bjerrum lengths.

     

EPR study of persistent free radicals in cross-linked EPDM rubbers

Cross-linking of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubbers containing different amounts of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and 5-vinyl-2-norbornene (VNB) dienes was examined by EPR spectroscopy. The cross-linking was initiated by thermal decomposition of dicumyl peroxide at 440 K. The concentration of free radicals increased towards the end of the cross-linking process before reaching a maximum and decaying to zero. This is explained by the spatial confinement of the radicals in the cross-linked rubber, which leads to increased life time and, hence, higher radical concentration at a time when most peroxide has decomposed. The EPR spectra showed the presence of two components: a well-resolved spectrum overlapping a broad line. Both components are assigned to allyl radicals possessing different mobility. The more mobile component is assigned to allyl radicals along the EPDM chains, whereas the immobilised allyl radicals are formed in the cross-links. The stability of the allyl radicals decreases in the order DCPD > ENB > VNB. EPDMs containing two dienes show more persistent radicals than their single-diene counterparts. The most persistent radicals are observed for highly cross-linked (e.g., 28% ENB) or mixed diene EPDMs (e.g., 2.2% DCPD-4.4% ENB); the EPR spectra of free radicals in these systems can be observed for several hours.     

Synthesis and properties in solution of rodlike polyelectrolytes

Efficient synthetic strategies are described for the preparation of rodlike polyelectrolytes based on the intrinsically rigid poly(p-phenylene). Uncharged precursors were first prepared via the Suzuki coupling and then characterized by different methods of polymer analysis. Finally, they were transformed into polyelectrolytes using macromolecular substitution reactions. Depending on the substitution pattern, the obtained polyelectrolytes are either soluble or insoluble in water. Using water-soluble derivatives, the Poisson-Boltzmann cell model was tested by osmotic measurements and small-angle X-ray scattering. It is shown that the cell model provides a good first approximation of the distribution of the counterions around the macroion but still underestimates their correlation. Moreover, the PPP polyelectrolytes show a very pronounced polyelectrolyte effect. Since the rodlike PPPs are very rigid in shape, this observation proves that the polyelectrolyte effect is caused by long-range intermolecular electrostatic repulsion of the dissolved macroions rather than due to conformational changes.     

Enrichment and distribution of counterions in spherical polyelectrolyte brushes probed by SAXS

The spatial correlation of counterions [Li⁺, Na⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, NH₄⁺, (CH₃)₄N⁺] with spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPBs), which consist of a PS core and chemically grafted PSS chains, was comprehensively studied through a combination of SAXS, DLS, and Zeta potential. Results show that the SAXS intensity profiles of the brush appears to be “insensitive” to the concentration of Na⁺. By contrast, introducing salt ions with a density lower than sodium [NH₄⁺, (CH₃)₄N⁺ and Li⁺] into the brush layer will cause a decrease in the scattering intensity while introducing those with a higher density than sodium (Rb⁺ and Cs⁺) will cause the opposite result. As verified by the combined results of SAXS, DLS, and Zeta potential, the collapse of the brush and the enrichment of the counterions in the brush layer occur simultaneously. It was further demonstrated that the concentration of counterions enriched in the innermost layer of the brush shell can be enhanced up to hundreds of times compared with the bulk concentration, and the counterion distribution in SPB shell follows a radial attenuation distribution. SAXS is confirmed to be powerful in probing the enrichment and distribution of counterions within SPB. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 738–747     

Brownian dynamics simulation of polyelectrolyte dilute solutions: Relaxation time and elongational flow

The authors used the bead‐and‐spring model and the Brownian dynamics simulation technique including hydrodynamic interaction to study the behavior of dilute polyelectrolyte solutions under elongational flow. First they carried out simulations to determine the longest relaxation time of a polyelectrolyte, finding that the relaxation time depends on the ionic strength of the solution. Then, they studied the coil‐stretch transition of polyelectrolyte molecules in elongational flow and determined the critical value of the elongational rate necessary in order this transition to occur. In this way, they could compute the value of the Deborah number at which coil‐stretch transition sets in for polyelectrolyte dilute solutions. Finally, they studied the power law relationship that relates the critical elongational rate with the molecular weight of the polyelectrolyte. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 714–722, 2007     

Counterion mobility and effective charge of polyelectrolytes in solution

Polyelectrolytes are macromolecules containing dissociable or charged groups. The charge, that is effectively accessible, is determined by counterion condensation, which is strongly influenced by the ionic strength of the solution under study. In general a rapid exchange between free and condensed counterions is expected. In the present study diffusion and electrophoretic mobility of poly(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) and perfluorinated succinic acid have been monitored simultaneously. Condensation of the perfluorinated succinic acid to the macroion shows in the electrophoretic mobility of succinic acid monitored by pulsed field gradient NMR. In the concentration dependence of the averaged diffusion coefficient and electrophoretic mobility an exchange fast on the time scale of the NMR experiment is manifested.     

EPR Study of Backbiting in the Aqueous‐Solution Polymerization of Acrylamide

Via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the type of radicals occurring during acrylamide (AAm) homopolymerization in aqueous solution is investigated between −5 and +100 °C. The radicals are produced photochemically under stationary conditions. Midchain AAm radicals (MCRs) are clearly identified by EPR which demonstrates that secondary propagating AAm radicals (SPRs) undergo backbiting reactions. Above 50 °C, the fraction of MCRs even exceeds the one of SPRs. The extent of backbiting is however well below the one in butyl acrylate polymerization at identical temperature.

     

Thermodynamics of some long-chain biradicals studied by EPR spectroscopy

Four biradicals of differing chain lengths have been prepared by spin-labelling the sulphhydryl groups of dithiothreitol. Temperature-dependent EPR spectra of these biradicals indicate that the dynamics of biradicals is associated with both fast and slow exchanges of conformations. The three-conformational model incorporating cage configuration is found to be more appropriate. Certain thermodynamic parameters of conformationalchanges have been calculated from the experimental EPR parameters, obtained by the use of simulation procedures developed recently.     

SP–PLP–EPR Investigations into the Chain‐Length‐Dependent Termination of Methyl Methacrylate Bulk Polymerization

Termination kinetics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) bulk polymerization has been studied via the single pulsed laser polymerization–electron paramagnetic resonance method. MMA‐d₈ has been investigated to enhance the signal‐to‐noise quality of microsecond time‐resolved measurement of radical concentration. Chain‐length‐dependent termination rate coefficients of radicals of identical size, k, are reported for 5–70 °C and up to i = 100. k decreases according to the power‐law expression . At 5 °C, k_t for two MMA radicals of chain‐length unity is k = (5.8 ± 1.3) · 10⁸ L · mol⁻¹ · s⁻¹. The associated activation energy and power‐law exponent are: E_A(k) ≈ 9 ± 2 kJ · mol⁻¹ and α ≈ 0.63 ± 0.15, respectively.

     

The effects of abstractable hydrogen in radical photopolymerization of maleate/vinyl ether monomers studied with EPR and photo‐RTIR

In this contribution, the influence of abstractable hydrogen on the kinetics of photopolymerized vinyl ether/maleate monomer formulations is reported. The effects of chain transfer on the polymerization rate were studied with photo real‐time Infra Red (IR) for formulations composed of equimolar amounts of diethyl maleate (DEMA) and three different vinyl ethers; methyl hexyl vinyl ether where the abstractable hydrogens adjacent to the vinyl functionality have been replaced with methyl groups, ethyl hexyl vinyl ether (EHVE) which has two easily abstractable α‐hydrogens and triethylene glycol methyl vinyl ether (TEGMVE), which has several abstractable hydrogens. Four conclusions are drawn from these studies: (i) the vinyl ether/maleate kinetics differs significantly from the classical expression R_p = KI^0.5, with recorded exponential factors of 0.84 ± 0.04 in the absence of easily abstractable hydrogens; (ii) the presence of abstractable hydrogens significantly changes the kinetics of vinyl ether/maleate polymerizations with recorded exponential factors of 0.55 ± 0.04 for EHVE/DEMA and 0.70 ± 0.04 for TEGMVE/DEMA; (iii) the presence of easily abstractable hydrogens leads to a preferential consumption of maleates; and (iv) electron paramagnetic resonance studies show that vinyloxy‐like radicals constitute the majority of the radicals in the systems with easily abstractable hydrogens. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2810–2816, 2010     

Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations and EPR property calculations on aqueous ubisemiquinone radical anion

Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations have been performed on ubisemiquinone radical anion in aqueous solution. The different types of hydrogen bonding formed between the semiquinone and the solvent were studied in terms of frequency and directionality, in comparison with the parent benzosemiquinone radical anion. The EPR parameters (g-tensors and hyperfine coupling constants) were obtained from quantum chemical property calculations performed on snapshots along the MD trajectory, and the contributions of different solvation effects to the EPR parameters have been evaluated. The influence of the anion’s conformational behaviour was examined, including the orientation-dependent effects of hyperconjugation on side-chain hyperfine coupling.