Dual Photo‐functionalized Amphiphile for Photo‐reversible Liquid Crystal Alignments

Without the conventional polymer‐based liquid crystal (LC) alignment process, a newly synthesized dual photo‐functionalized amphiphile (abbreviated as ADMA₁) was successfully applied as a robust photo‐reversible LC alignment layer by self‐assembly and photo‐polymerization. The LC alignment layer constructed by directly adding dual photo‐functionalized amphiphiles into LC media significantly cuts the manufacturing cost as well as opens new doors for the fabrication of novel electro‐optical devices.     

Hamilton Receptor‐Mediated Self‐Assembly of Orthogonally Functionalized Au and TiO2 Nanoparticles

A new prototype of reversible self‐assembly between functionalized gold and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) utilizing hydrogen bonding interactions was developed and established. The gold nanoparticles were functionalized with a Hamilton‐receptor functionality bearing a thiol moiety as anchoring group. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles were modified with cyanurate derivatives which contained phosphonic acids as anchoring groups. The host–guest type interaction between two functionalized nanoparticles yielded a highly integrated nanoparticle system in chloroform. Moreover, by presenting a competing ligand in an exchange reaction, the product of self‐assembly can be segregated into the individual soluble components of functionalized nanoparticles. The self‐assembly and the exchange reaction were followed and monitored in detail by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The structure of the self‐assembly product was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS).     

Photocatalytic Activity of Fe and Ce Co‐doped Mesoporous TiO2 Catalyst under UV and Visible Light

The catalysts of un‐doped, single‐doped and co‐doped mesoporous titanium dioxide (MTiO₂) were prepared by a template method with tetrabutyltitanate (Ti(OC₄H₉)₄) as a Ti source material and Pluronic P123 as a template. The photo‐absorbance of the obtained catalysts was measured by UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, and the photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples under UV and visible light were estimated by measuring the degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) (50 mg/L) in an aqueous solution. It was shown that the co‐doped MTiO₂ could be activated by visible light and could thus be used as an effective catalyst in photo‐oxidation reactions. The effect of Fe and Ce co‐dopants on the material properties was investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption‐desorption isotherm measurement. The characterizations indicated that the photocatalysts possessed a homogeneous pore diameter of ca. 10 nm with high surface area of ca. 150 m²/g. The photocatalytic activity of MTiO₂ co‐doped with Fe and Ce was markedly improved due to the synergistic actions of the two dopants.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel photosensitive polyimide based on 5‐(2,5‐dioxotetrahydrofuryl)‐3‐methyl‐3‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylic anhydride

A negative type photosensitive polyimide with alicyclic moiety (NPI) was synthesized from 5‐(2,5‐dioxotetrahydrofuryl)‐3‐methyl‐3‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylic anhydride and 4,4‐diaminobenzophenone by one‐step polymerization in m‐cresol. Properties of the polyimides were characterized and a photo‐crosslinking mechanism was investigated using DEPT ¹³C‐NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The negative polyimide showed good photosensitivity on exposure to UV light from a mercury xenon lamp. The polyimide showed remarkable solubility difference after photo‐ irradiation with an exposure dose of 500 mJ/cm². The resulting negative pattern of the photo‐cured NPI exhibited 10 μm resolution. Glass transition temperature of the photo‐crosslinked polyimide was about 307°C, which increased by 10°C compared to that of the polyimide before UV exposure. Transmittance of NPI after photo‐irradiation was about 87% at 500 nm. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Melt‐compounded nanocomposites of titanium dioxide atomic‐layer‐deposition‐coated polyamide and polystyrene powders

Polyamide and polystyrene particles were coated with titanium dioxide films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and then melt‐compounded to form polymer nanocomposites. The rheological properties of the ALD‐created nanocomposite materials were characterized with a melt flow indexer, a melt flow spiral mould, and a rotational rheometer. The results suggest that the melt flow properties of polyamide nanocomposites were markedly better than those of pure polyamide and polystyrene nanocomposites. Such behavior was shown to originate in an uncontrollable decrease in the polyamide molecular weight, likely affected by a high thin‐film impurity content, as shown in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy‐dispersive spectrometer. Transmission electron microscope image showed that a thin film grew on both studied polymer particles, and that subsequent melt‐compounding was successful, producing well dispersed ribbon‐like titanium dioxide with the titanium dioxide filler content ranging from 0.06 to 1.12 wt%. Even though we used nanofillers with a high aspect ratio, they had only a minor effect on the tensile and flexural properties of the polystyrene nanocomposites. The mechanical behavior of polyamide nanocomposites was more complex because of the molecular weight degradation. Our approach here to form polymeric nanocomposites is one way to tailor ceramic nanofillers and form homogenous polymer nanocomposites with minimal work‐related risks in handling powder form nanofillers. However, further research is needed to gauge the commercial potential of ALD‐created nanocomposite materials. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Degradation mechanisms of polyfluorene‐based organic semiconductor lasers under ambient and oxygen‐free conditions

In this communication we investigate the degradation mechanisms of different highly fluorescent polyfluorenes for applications as active organic semiconductor material in laser devices. Using various analytical methods, like Ultraviolet‐Visible (UV‐Vis) absorption spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), we investigate photo‐induced degradation mechanisms. It is shown that the photo‐oxidation rate decreases with an increasing number of benzothiadiazole units within the conjugated polymer. Photooxidation is much more distinct for poly[9,9‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl] (PFO) than for poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐co‐(1,4‐benzo‐{2,1′,3}‐thiadiazole)] (F8BT). The influence of the photooxidation on the lifetime of the organic laser devices is not as profound as previously assumed, since the laser shuts down before any evidence of photo‐oxidation in F8BT manifests. We observe that the solubility of the material is different at various degradation levels and we consider chain scission of excited bonds and cross‐linking as dominant degradation factors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1029–1034     

Spiropyran‐Conjugated Pluronic as a Dual Responsive Colorimetric Detector

Novel spiropyran‐conjugated Pluronic [polyethylene oxide (PEO)‐b‐polypropylene oxide (PPO)‐b‐polyethylene oxide (PEO)] micelles are developed as a new colorimetric detector showing photo‐ or thermo‐switchable behavior. Facile conjugation of spiropyran to Pluronic was confirmed by ¹H NMR, UV–Vis, and Fluorescence spectroscopy. A switchable photoluminescence is found depending on the irradiation with either UV or visible light, and temperature resulting from structural isomerization of spiropyran between spiropyran (SP) and merocyanine (MC) form. Cytotoxicity of the spiropyran‐conjugated Pluronic (SP‐PL) was evaluated following an MTT assay, whereas photo responsiveness of spiropyran within the micelles was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy.     

Novel Photo－induced Coupling Reactions of 9－Fluorenylidene－malononitrile or l,l－Diphenyl－2,2－dicyanoethylene with 10－Methyl－9,10－dihydroacridine. A Study on the Photophysics of the Reaction

9‐Fluorenylidenemalononitrile (FDCN) or 1, 1‐diphenyl‐2,2‐dicyanoethylene (DPCN) reacted with 10‐methyl‐9,10‐dihydroacridine (AcrH₂) under irradiation (λ 320 nm) to give couping products. In order to gain further insight into the mechanism of the photo‐induced reaction, the photophysics of the reactions of FDCN or DPCN with AcrH₂ have been investigated by using UV‐vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, excitation spectroscopy and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that FDCN or DPCN interacts with AcrH₂ in the ground states to form a charge transfer complex, which further reacts to give the coupling product upon. irradiation.     

A photo‐oxidizable kinetic pathway of three‐component photoinitiator systems containing porphrin dye (Zn‐tpp), an electron donor and diphenyl iodonium salt

A series of kinetic experiments were conducted involving visible‐light activated free radical polymerizations with three‐component photoinitiators and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Three‐component photoinitiator systems generally include a light‐absorbing photosensitizer (PS), an electron donor and an electron acceptor. To compare kinetic efficiency, we used thermodynamic feasibility and measured kinetic data. For this study, 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphyrin zinc (Zn‐tpp) and camphorquinone (CQ) were used as the PSs. The Rehm‐Weller equation was used to verify the thermodynamic feasibility for the photo‐induced electron transfer reaction. Using the thermodynamic feasibility, we suggest two different kinetic mechanisms, which are (i) photo‐reducible series mechanism of CQ and (ii) photo‐oxidizable series mechanism of Zn‐tpp. Kinetic data were measured by near‐IR spectroscopy and photo‐differential scanning calorimetry based on an equivalent concentration of excited state PS. We report that the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism using Zn‐tpp produced dramatically enhanced conversions and rates of polymerizations compared with those associated with the photo‐reducible series mechanism using CQ. It was concluded from the kinetic results that the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism efficiently retards back electron transfer and the recombination reaction step. In addition, the photo‐oxidizable series mechanism provides an efficient secondary reaction step that involves consumption of the dye‐based radical and regeneration of the original PS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3131–3141, 2009     

TiO2‐Nanoparticles Catalyzed Synthesis of New Trifluoromethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles and Trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles

Synthesis of a new series of trifluoromethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles and trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been described by utilizing the reactions between amidoximes and trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides. Trifluoromethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been synthesized under mild conditions such as Na₂CO₃, THF‐H₂O, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as catalyst in good to excellent yields. Also, trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been synthesized directly from reaction of amidoximes and trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides in a one‐pot manner in present of NaH, THF, and titanium dioxide nanoparticle as catalyst.     

Dual‐curable fluorinated poly(methacrylate) copolymers for optical adhesives

In pursuit of photo‐curable adhesive for optical communication, dual‐curable acrylic oligomers (AOs) having alkoxy silane group, fluorine atoms and vinyl group as a pendent group were synthesized by two‐stage reactions. The isocyanate group containing oligomers were firstly synthesized via radical polymerization of acrylic monomers, and followed by urethane reaction with 2‐hydroxy ethyl methacrylate. The dual curing behaviors, e.g. thermal and photo‐cure, were studied by using photo‐differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and real‐time IR. An optimum adhesive formulation, based on AO (15 g), epoxy acrylate (80 g), isobonyl methacrylate (17 g) and photo‐initiator (3 g), was obtained. As the content of AO was increased in the optical adhesive formulation, refractive index decreased but transmittance increased due to the increase in fluorine content. The optical transmittance at the range of 1.3 to 1.55 μm was higher than 90%. The addition of colloidal silica with the earlier mentioned formulation was helpful in decreasing crosslinking volume shrinkage and the increasing of glass fiber adhesion. The required properties for the optical adhesive, including chemical resistance and thermal resistance, dimension stability, etc. were also investigated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Europium‐Doped Mesoporous Titania Thin Films: Rare‐Earth Locations and Emission Fluctuations under Illumination

Herein, Eu^III‐doped 3D mesoscopically ordered arrays of mesoporous and nanocrystalline titania are prepared and studied. The rare‐earth‐doped titania thin films—synthesized via evaporation‐induced self‐assembly (EISA)—are characterized by using environmental ellipsoporosimetry, electronic microscopy (i.e. high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy, HR‐SEM, and transmission electron microscopy, HR‐TEM), X‐ray diffraction, and luminescence spectroscopy. Structural characterizations show that high europium‐ion loadings can be incorporated into the titanium‐dioxide walls without destroying the mesoporous arrangement. The luminescence properties of Eu^III are investigated by using steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy via excitation of the Eu^III ions through the titania host. Using Eu^III luminescence as a probe, the europium‐ion sites can be addressed with at least two different environments within the mesoporous framework, namely, a nanocrystalline environment and a glasslike one. Emission fluctuations (⁵D₀→⁷F₂) are observed upon continuous UV excitation in the host matrix. These fluctuations are attributed to charge trapping and appear to be strongly dependent on the amount of europium and the level of crystallinity.     

Preparation of 1,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted imidazoles over magnetic core–shell titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Magnetic core–shell titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@TiO₂) were applied for the efficient preparation of 1,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted imidazole derivatives by the one‐pot multi‐component condensation of benzil with aldehydes, primary amines and ammonium acetate under solvent‐free conditions. The catalyst was synthesized and studied using several techniques including X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Titanium(IV)‐Based Metal–Organic Framework Featuring Defect‐Rich Ti‐O Sheets as an Oxidative Desulfurization Catalyst

While titanium‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied for their (photo)catalytic potential, only a few Ti^IV MOFs have been reported owing to the high reactivity of the employed titanium precursors. The synthesis of COK‐47 is now presented, the first Ti carboxylate MOF based on sheets of Ti^IVO₆ octahedra, which can be synthesized with a range of different linkers. COK‐47 can be synthesized as an inherently defective nanoparticulate material, rendering it a highly efficient catalyst for the oxidation of thiophenes. Its structure was determined by continuous rotation electron diffraction and studied in depth by X‐ray total scattering, EXAFS, and solid‐state NMR. Furthermore, its photoactivity was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance and demonstrated by catalytic photodegradation of rhodamine 6G.     

Supramolecular Light‐Harvesting Antennas of Metal‐Coordinated Bis(8‐Hydroxyquinoline)‐Substituted Porphyrin Networks

Artificial antenna complexes of metal‐coordinated bis(8‐hydroxyquinoline)‐substituted porphyrin networks that mimic antenna chromophores in plants were organized on titanium dioxide electrodes in photoelectrochemical cells. The generated photocurrents can be optimized according to the two ways of porphyrin self‐assembly due to the “antenna effect”: changing the number of assembled porphyrin monolayers and the number of generations of the metal‐coordinated porphyrin networks.     

Covalent and Non‐covalent Chemical Modification of Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotubes with Tetra‐(4‐hydroxylphenyl)porphyrin and Its Complexes

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were covalently and non‐covalently functionalized with tetra‐(4‐hydroxylphenyl) porphyrin (THPPH₂) and its complexes (ZnTHPP) forming dispersible nanohybrids in organic solution. The morphology of the nanohybrids was observed with transmission electron microscopy. The structure of the product was characterized by FT‐IR, UV‐Vis spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The photo‐induced electron‐transfer process of the nanohybrids in organic solution was also revealed.     

Reactive intermediates in the initiation step of the photo‐oxidation of MDMO‐PPV

Because oxygen cannot be fully eliminated from organic solar cells, the occurrence of oxidative photo‐degradation of the device in operating conditions has to be considered. Polyphenylene‐vinylene‐based photovoltaic devices have a short lifetime that currently limits their applications. In this article, we focus on various transient species that are potentially involved in the initiation step of the photo‐oxidation of poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′,7′‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MDMO‐PPV). The role of the transient species was investigated by a combination of quenching and sensitization experiments. Complementary information was obtained by transient absorption spectroscopy. Results evidenced the fact that ¹O₂ was not the principal reactive intermediate involved in the photo‐oxidation of MDMO‐PPV. This result was in contradiction with previous reports. It was shown that the MDMO‐PPV^?+ radical cation was generated after excitation. The presence of oxygen and the photo‐aging favored the formation of the radical cation, suggesting that oxygen and photoproducts act as electron acceptors. The charged radicals formed are likely to evolve and give radicals that initiate the oxidation of the polymer by abstraction of the labile hydrogen in α position of the ether function and by addition on the double bonds. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6044–6052, 2009     

Ellipsometry study of the photo‐oxidation of poly[(2‐methoxy‐5‐hexyloxy)‐ p‐phenylenevinylene]

Poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV) and its derivatives exhibit strong luminescence, being serious candidates to be used as active layers in organic light‐emitting diodes. However, the structural degradation caused by photo‐oxidation is an obstacle for commercial applications of such materials. Here, we show that spectroscopy ellipsometry is a useful technique to investigate the photo‐oxidation of poly[(2‐methoxy‐5‐hexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] (MH‐PPV), a PPV derivative, which emits a red color light. Spectroscopy ellipsometry enables determination of the complex dielectric function—?*(E)—of MH‐PPV thin‐layer films exposed to air, in the 2.1–4.2 eV energy range, as a function of the light exposure time (t_e). By using the Lorentz model to fit the experimental ?*(E) curves, it was inferred that the interactions among polymeric chains increase with t_e. From ?*(E), it is also possible to obtain the complex refractive index, N*(E) = n + ik. At higher energies (where k ? n), n increases from 1.32 to 1.40 with the photo‐oxidation progress. The behavior of n was investigated by using the Lorenz–Lorentz equation, taking into account the contribution for n by the chromophores of MH‐PPV. The effect of photo‐oxidation, mainly due to the replacement of vinyl C?C by the ketone C?O bonds, is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared measurements, an effect that reduces the average effective polymer conjugation length. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1033–1041, 2004     

Mesostructured Dye‐Doped Titanium Dioxide for Micro‐Optoelectronic Applications

Optically transparent, mesostructured titanium dioxide thin films were fabricated using an amphiphilic poly(alkylene oxide) block copolymer template in combination with retarded hydrolysis of a titanium isopropoxide precursor. Prior to calcination, the films displayed a stable hexagonal mesophase and high refractive indices (1.5 to 1.6) relative to mesostructured silica (1.43). After calcination, the hexagonal mesophase was retained with surface areas >300 m² g^?1. The dye Rhodamine 6G (commonly used as a laser dye) was incorporated into the copolymer micelle during the templating process. In this way, novel dye‐doped mesostructured titanium dioxide films were synthesised. The copolymer not only directs the film structure, but also provides a solubilizing environment suitable for sustaining a high monomer‐to‐aggregate ratio at elevated dye concentrations. The dye‐doped films displayed optical thresholdlike behaviour characteristic of amplified spontaneous emission. Soft lithography was successfully applied to micropattern the dye‐doped films. These results pave the way for the fabrication and demonstration of novel microlaser structures and other active optical structures. This new, high‐refractive index, mesostructured, dye‐doped material could also find applications in areas such as optical coatings, displays and integrated photonic devices.     

The first montmorillonite‐supported surface single‐structure titanium complex: synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity in alkene epoxidation

A well‐defined single‐site titanium‐modified montmorillonite (MMT) with only one geometric construction ((?SiO)₃–Ti–NMe₂) was obtained in moderate conditions. Reaction of tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium with hydroxylated MMT was conducted by surface organometallic chemistry technique, and the surface structure was characterized by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, extended X‐ray absorption fine structure, and elemental analysis. The catalytic activity in alkene epoxidation was evaluated, and the results revealed that the steric hindrance of the substances is responsible for the catalytic activity of the MMT‐supported titanium complex but to the characteristic restricted layer‐like structure of the MMT. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.