Thermo- and pH- dual responsive inorganic-organic hybrid hydrogels with tunable luminescence

A thermo- and pH- dual responsive luminescent hydrogel was successfully constructed by coupling dysprosium-containing polyoxometalates Na₉DyW₁₀O₃₆ (DyW₁₀) with the ABA triblock copolymer, where the B block is PEO and the A block is the thermosensitive poly(methoxydi(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-co-N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate). The complex hybrid underwent a sol-gel phase transition above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the A block. DyW₁₀ was electrostatically encapsulated into the hydrophobic domain of the A block with enhanced photoluminescence. When temperature cooled down, the luminescence could be restored. By addition of acids to protonate the A block, and emission of DyW₁₀ was simultaneously enhanced. Sensitivity of poly(N,N-dimethy laminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) to pH also enabled the emission of DyW₁₀/copolymer hydrogel to be reversibly switched by alternating acid/base treatments.     

Preparation and characterization of temperature‐ and pH‐responsive diblock copolymers and their silica‐coated nanoparticles

Multiresponsive amphiphilic poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PDMAEMA‐b‐PNIPAM) was successfully synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) has thermal and pH stimuli responsiveness. Their lower critical solution temperature and hydrodynamic radius can be adjusted by varying the copolymer composition, block length, solution pH, and temperature. In addition, a convenient method has been established to prepare cross‐linked silica‐coated nanoparticles with PDMAEMA‐b‐PNIPAM micelles as a template, resulting in good organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles defined as 175 to 220 nm. The structure and morphology were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (₁HNMR), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transmission electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (TEM‐EDS).     

Thermal and pH‐sensitive gold nanoparticles from H‐shaped block copolymers of (PNIPAM/PDMAEMA)‐b‐PEG‐b‐(PNIPAM/PDMAEMA)

Well‐defined H‐shaped pentablock copolymers composed of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethylacrylamide) (PDMAEMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with the chain architecture of (A/B)‐b‐C‐b‐(A/B) were synthesized by the combination of single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization, atom‐transfer radical polymerization, and click chemistry. Single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization of NIPAM using α,ω azide‐capped PEG macroinitiator resulted in PNIPAM‐b‐PEG‐b‐PNIPAM with azide groups at the block joints. Atom‐transfer radical polymerization of DMAEMA initiated by propargyl 2‐chloropropionate gave out α‐capped alkyne‐PDMAEMA. The H‐shaped copolymers were finally obtained by the click reaction between PNIPAM‐b‐PEG‐b‐PNIPAM and alkyne‐PDMAEMA. These copolymers were used to prepare stable colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in aqueous solution without any external reducing agent. The formation of GNPs was affected by the length of PDMAEMA block, the feed ratio of the copolymer to HAuCl₄, and the pH value. The surface plasmon absorbance of these obtained GNPs also exhibited pH and thermal dependence because of the existence of PNIAPM and PDAMEMA blocks. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Crystallization and stereocomplexation behavior of poly(D‐ and L‐lactide)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) block copolymers

The thermal properties, crystallization, and morphology of amphiphilic poly(D ‐lactide)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) (PDLA‐b‐PDMAEMA) and poly (L ‐lactide)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) (PLLA‐b‐PDMAEMA) copolymers were studied and compared to those of the corresponding poly(lactide) homopolymers. Additionally, stereocomplexation of these copolymers was studied. The crystallization kinetics of the PLA blocks was retarded by the presence of the PDMAEMA block. The studied copolymers were found to be miscible in the melt and the glassy state. The Avrami theory was able to predict the entire crystallization range of the PLA isothermal overall crystallization. The melting points of PLDA/PLLA and PLA/PLA‐b‐PDMAEMA stereocomplexes were higher than those formed by copolymer mixtures. This indicates that the PDMAEMA block is influencing the stability of the stereocomplex structures. For the low molecular weight samples, the stereocomplexes particles exhibited a conventional disk‐shape structure and, for high molecular weight samples, the particles displayed unusual star‐like shape morphology. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1397–1409, 2011     

Luminescent Property of a Supramolecular Silver(I)‐Thiolate Complex Based on Secondary Ag‐S Interactions and Hydrogen Bonds

The supramolecular silver(I)‐thiolate complex [Ag(μ₂‐SC₄N₂H₄)₂(SCN)]_n has been prepared from the reaction of AgSCN and pyrimidine‐2‐thiol in DMF. X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that the supramolecular structure exhibits one‐dimensional chain through the secondary Ag‐S interactions and the chains are further linked by strong hydrogen bonds to form a three dimensional network. The luminescence effect from the silver‐centered state of S→Ag LMCT in solid state is different from that in solution due to the secondary Ag‐S interactions.     

Biodegradable and thermoresponsive micelles of triblock copolymers based on 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and ε-caprolactone for controlled drug delivery

Amphiphilic triblock copolymers, poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)_x-block-poly(caprolactone)-block-poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)_x, PDMAEMA_Co, were synthesized. Polymerization and structural features of the polymers were analyzed by different physicochemical techniques (GPC, ¹H NMR and FTIR). Formation of hydrophobic domains as cores of the micelles was studied by ¹H NMR and further confirmed by fluorescence. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed a monodispersed size distribution only for the copolymer with the lowest degree of polymerization, while increasing the length of PDMAEMA blocks leads to a bimodal size distribution. The micelles showed reversible dispersion/aggregation in response to temperature cycles through an outer polymer shell lower critical solution temperature (LCST) for PDMAEMA at temperatures between 54 and 87 °C. The triblock copolymer micelles were loaded with the sparingly water-soluble anticancer drug, chlorambucil, by a dialysis procedure. The drug release profile monitored by fluorescence showed that the release of chlorambucil from PDMAEMA nanoparticles is controlled by a combined degradation-diffusion mechanism.     

Combination of living anionic polymerization and ATRP via ��click�� chemistry as a versatile route to multiple responsive triblock terpolymers and corresponding hydrogels

A combination of anionic polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ??click?? chemistry was used to construct trishydrophilic ABC triblock terpolymers composed of a pH-sensitive A block, a water-soluble B block and two different thermo-sensitive C blocks without any block sequence limitation problems. First, an azido end-functionalized poly(2-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (P2VP-b-PEO-N₃) diblock copolymer was synthesized by anionic polymerization. In a second step, poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (POEGMA) were synthesized via ATRP using an alkyne functionalized initiator. The resulting polymers were attached to the P2VP-b-PEO-N₃ diblock copolymer using the 1,3-dipolar Huisgen cycloaddition (??click?? chemistry). For the ??click?? step, P2VP-b-PEO-N₃ diblock copolymers with either an azidoacetyl or a 2-azidoisobutyryl group were tested. In the latter case, however, a side reaction involving the cleavage of the formed ??click?? product via nucleophilic substitution occurred, preventing a permanent attachment of PDMAEMA or POEGMA to the P2VP-b-PEO-N₃ diblock copolymer. Finally, P2VP-b-PEO-b-POEGMA (with POEGMA=P(MEO₂MA-co-MEO_8.5MA)) and P2VP-b-PEO-b-PDMAEMA triblock terpolymers were successfully synthesized and used to construct stimuli-responsive hydrogels. A concentrated solution of P2VP₅₆-b-PEO₃₇₀-b-P[(MEO₂MA)₈₉-co-(MEO_8.5MA)₇] showed a gel?Csol?Cgel transition at pH?7 upon temperature increase, whereas in the case of P2VP₅₆-b-PEO₃₇₀-b-PDMAEMA₇₀, a gel?Csol or a weak gel?Cstrong gel transition was observed, depending on the applied pH. Finally, the addition of trivalent hexacyanocobaltate(III) ions to the P2VP₅₆-b-PEO₃₇₀-b-PDMAEMA₇₀ solution induced an upper critical solution temperature for the PDMAEMA block, which led to gel formation. This allows for the construction of light-sensitive hydrogels, utilizing the photo-aquation of hexacyanocobaltate(III) ions.     

Synthesis,crystalline morphologies,self‐assembly,and properties of H‐shaped amphiphilic dually responsive terpolymers

Novel and well‐defined amphiphilic H‐shaped terpolymers poly(L‐lactide)‐block‐(poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) ‐block‐)poly(ε‐caprolactone)(‐block‐poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) ‐b‐poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA‐b‐(PDMAEMA‐b‐)PCL(‐b‐PDMAEMA)‐b‐PLLA) were synthesized by the combination of ring‐opening polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization, and click chemistry. The H‐shaped amphiphilic terpolymers can self‐assemble into spherical nano‐micelles in water. Because of the dually responsive (temperature and pH) properties of PDMAEMA segments, the hydrodynamic radius of the micelles of the H‐shaped terpolymer solution can be adjusted by altering the environmental temperature or pH values. The thermal properties investigation and the crystalline morphology analysis indicate that the branched structure of the H‐shaped terpolymers and the presence of amorphous PDMAEMA segments together led to the obvious decrease of PCL segments and the complete destruction of crystallinity of the PLLA segments in the H‐shaped terpolymers. In addition, the H‐shaped terpolymer film has better hydrophilicity than linear PCL or triblock polymer of PLLA‐b‐(N₃? )PCL(? N₃)‐b‐PLLA, due to the decrease or destruction of the crystallizability of the PCL or PLLA in the H‐shaped terpolymer and the presence of hydrophilic PDMAEMA segments. These unique H‐shaped amphiphilic terpolymers composed of biodegradable and biocompatible PCL and PLLA components and intelligent and biocompatible PDMAEMA component will have the potential applications in biomedical fields. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-diethylanilinium complex with borodicitric acid: Synthesis and crystal structure

N,N-Diethylanilinium dicitratoborate [C₆H₅NH(C₂H₅)₂][(C₆H₆O₇)₂B] (I) has been synthesized for the first time. Single crystals has been synthesized in an aqueous solution to study the crystal structure of complex I by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystals are triclinic, space group Р1 a = 9.6183(2) Å, b = 10.3153(3) Å, c = 13.7364(4) Å, α = 69.0304(12)°, β = 77.0394(13)°, γ = 89.5518(10)°, V = 1236.25(6) ų, Z = 2, ρ_calcd = 1.454 g/cm³. Structural units in a crystal of complex I are large complex dicitratoborate anions with a spirane structure and N,N-diethylanilinium cations. The crystal packing is a three-dimensional framework implemented via a system of hydrogen bonds like О–Н…О, О–Н…О, ОI, and N–Н…О.     

Crystal structure of diacetato-bis(2-methyl-2-propylamine)zinc(II)

The diacetato-bis(2-methyl-2-propylamine)zinc(II) compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1 with unit cell parameters a = 10.0144(10)Å, b = 10.2687(10)Å, c = 10.5149(10)Å. α = 115.184(2)°, β = 97.489(2)°, γ = 114.066(2)°, ν = 830.85(14)ų. The obtained solid state structure of (^tBuNH₂)₂Zn(OOCCH₃)₂ shows both inter- and intramolecular NH—O hydrogen bond interactions which are analyzed.     

Mechanistic study of photocatalytic CO2 reduction using a Ru(ii)–Re(i) supramolecular photocatalyst

Supramolecular photocatalysts comprising [Ru(diimine)₃]²⁺ photosensitiser and fac-[Re(diimine)(CO)₃{OC(O)OC₂H₄NR₂}] catalyst units can be used to reduce CO₂ to CO with high selectivity, durability and efficiency. In the presence of triethanolamine, the Re catalyst unit efficiently takes up CO₂ to form a carbonate ester complex, and then direct photocatalytic reduction of a low concentration of CO₂, e.g., 10% CO₂, can be achieved using this type of supramolecular photocatalyst. In this work, the mechanism of the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ was investigated applying such a supramolecular photocatalyst, RuC2Re with a carbonate ester ligand, using time-resolved visible and infrared spectroscopies and electrochemical methods. Using time-resolved spectroscopic measurements, the kinetics of the photochemical formation processes of the one-electron-reduced species RuC2(Re)−, which is an essential intermediate in the photocatalytic reaction, were clarified in detail and its electronic structure was elucidated. These studies also showed that RuC2(Re)− is stable for 10 ms in the reaction solution. Cyclic voltammograms measured at various scan rates besides temperature and kinetic analyses of RuC2(Re)− produced by steady-state irradiation indicated that the subsequent reaction of RuC2(Re)− proceeds with an observed first-order rate constant of approximately 1.8 s⁻¹ at 298 K and is a unimolecular reaction, independent of the concentrations of both CO₂ and RuC2(Re)−.

Formation processes and reactivity of an important intermediate of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, one-electron reduced species of a Ru(ii)–Re(i) supramolecular photocatalyst with a carbonate ester ligand, were investigated in detail.     

Preparation and drug release property of CO2 stimulus-sensitive poly(N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene nanoparticles

The CO₂ stimulus-sensitive nanoparticles based on poly(N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-poly styrene (PDMAEMA-b-PS) were prepared via surfactant-free miniemulsion reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The as-prepared nanoparticles exhibited core–shell structure with about 120 nm in diameter. Their dispersion/aggregation in water can be adjusted by alternatively bubbling of CO₂ and N₂. Drug release from these nanoparticles can be accelerated (or delayed) by bubbling (or removing) of CO₂.     

Synthesis,pH‐ and temperature‐induced micellization and gelation of doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer of poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate) in aqueous solutions

A doubly hydrophilic triblock copolymer of poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate)‐b‐Poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA‐b‐PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA) with well‐defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.21) was synthesized in aqueous medium via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) initiated by the PEG macroinitiator. The macroinitiator and triblock copolymer were characterized with ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DSL), transmittance measurement, and rheological characterization were applied to investigate pH‐ and temperature‐induced micellization in the dilute solution of 1 mg/mL when pH > 13 and gelation in the concentrated solution of 25 wt % at pH = 14 and temperatures beyond 80 °C. The unimer of R_h = 3.7 ± 0.8 nm coexisted with micelle of R_h = 45.6 ± 6.5 nm at pH 14. Phase separation occurred in dilute aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer of 1 mg/mL at about 50 °C. Large aggregates with R_h = 300–450 nm were formed after phase separation, which became even larger as R_h = 750–1000 nm with increasing temperature. The gelation temperature determined by rheology measurement was about 80 °C at pH 14 for the 25 wt % aqueous solution of the triblock copolymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5869–5878, 2008     

Alkene insertion reactions of nitrogen-coordinated acylpalladium(II) complexes. The crystal structure of the dicyclopentadiene insertion product [Pd(C10H12COMe)(bpy)]SO3CF3

The new acylpalladium(II) complex [PdI(COMe)(bpy)] (2b, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl) has been obtained by two routes; (i) by insertion of carbon monoxide into the PdC bond of [PdIMe(bpy)] (1b), and (ii) by ligand exchange from [PdI(COMe)(tmeda)] (2a, tmeda = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethanediamine). The cationic species obtained by reaction of 2a and 2b with AgOSO₂CF₃ both undergo alkene insertions into the PdC acyl bond that lead to remarkably stable products. The X-ray structure of the dicyclopentadiene insertion product [Pd(C₁₀H₁₂COMe)(bpy)]SO₃CF₃ (4b) shows the oxygen atom of the carbonyl group to be coordinated to the metal center (PdO = 2.026(3) Å).     

Organometallic coordination polymers based on silver carboxylates: [AgCF<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(2,3-Et<Subscript>2</Subscript>Pyz)] and [AgCF<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Bpeta)]

Coordination polymers [AgCF₃CO₂(2,3-Et₂Pyz)](I)(2,3-Et₂Pyz-C₈H₁₂N₂) and [AgCF₃CO₂(Bpeta)] (II) (Bpeta is 4′4-bipyridylethane, C₁₂H₁₂N₂) are synthesized. Their structures are determined. The crystals of compound I are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 7.185(1), b = 14.754(1), c = 12.317(1)Å, β = 97.09(1)°, V = 1295.7(2) ų, ρ_calcd = 1.831 g/cm³, Z = 4. Structure I consists of infinite chains of doubled polymeric chains joined by silver carboxylate dimers [[Ag₂(CF₃CO₂)₂(Et₂Pyz)₂]_∞. The coordination polyhedron of Ag⁺ is a distorted tetrahedron. The crystals of compound II are orthorhombic, space group Pbca, a = 13.555(3), b = 13.991(3), c = 16.449(3) Å, V = 3119.5(11) ų, ρ_calcd = 1.725 g/cm³, Z = 8. Doubled polymeric chains with the Ag…Ag bond (3.16 Å) are also formed in structure II. Supramolecular layers are formed in the structure due to the weak π-π-stacking interaction between the aromatic groups of chains. The CF₃CO ₂ ^? anion is weakly bound to Ag⁺ (Ag-O_avg 2.790 Å).     

Novel block ionomers II. Synthesis and characterization of polyisobutylene‐based block cationomers

Various novel block cationomers consisting of polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) segments were synthesized and characterized. The specific targets were various molecular weight diblocks (PIB‐b‐PDMAEMA⁺) and triblocks (PDMAEMA⁺‐b‐PIB‐b‐PDMAEMA⁺), with the PIB blocks in the DP_n = 50–200 range (number‐average molecular weight = 3,000–9000 g/mol) connected to blocks of PDMAEMA⁺ cations in the DP_n = 5–20 range (where DP is the number‐average degree of polymerization). The overall synthetic strategy for the preparation of these block cationomers had four steps: (1) synthesis by living cationic polymerization of mono‐ and diallyltelechelic polyisobutylenes, (2) end‐group transformation to obtain PIBs fitted with termini capable of mediating the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of DMAEMA, (3) ATRP of DMAEMA, and (4) quaternization of PDMAEMA to PDMAEMA ⁺I^? by CH₃I. Scheme 1 shows the microarchitecture and outlines the synthesis route. Kinetic and model experiments provided guidance for developing convenient synthesis methods. The microarchitecture of PIB–PDMAEMA di‐ and triblocks and the corresponding block cationomers were confirmed by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and solubility studies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3679–3691, 2002     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and luminescence properties of a novel europium(III) complex

A novel europium(III) complex, [Eu(C₇H₅O₂)₂(C₇H₆O₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂Cl], was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray determination. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group Cc with a = 17.2814(16), b = 17.9421(17), c = 14.9971(14) Å, β = 101.6510(10)°, Z = 4, ρ _c = 1.508 g/cm³, μ = 1.496 mm^?1, the final R = 0.0516 and wR = 0.1267 for 6435 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). Structural analysis shows that the Eu(III) atom is nine-coordinated by one chlorine atom, four N atoms of two 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) ligands, and four O atoms from four carboxybenzene ligands, to form a distorted tricapped trigonal prism. The luminescence spectrum of the complex indicates that the intensity of the emission wavelength at 612 nm is strongest among all emission wavelengths and the second phen ligand shows an enhancement effect on the luminescence of the complex.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dimethylbiguanidinium hexafluorosilicate

The complex [(CH₃)₂NC(NH₂)NHC(NH₂)NH₂]SiF₆ (I) was synthesized and its structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystals are monoclinic: a = 7.4346(10) Å, b = 12.7628(10) Å, c = 11.0828(10) Å, β 104.080(10)°, V = 1020.01(18) ų, ρ_calc = 1.780 g/cm³, μ(MoK _α) = 0.302 mm^?1, Z = 4, space group P2₁/c. The crystals of I are composed of SiF ₆ ^2? anions (Si-F, 1.657(2)–1.699(2) Å) and N,N-dimethylbiguanidinium (H₂L²⁺) cations combined in a framework by interionic H-bonds NH···F. In the cations, protonation sites are the terminal imide groups.     

Ionisation of small molecules by state-selected Ne* (3P0, 3P2) metastable atoms in the 0.06 < E < 6 eV energy range

The velocity dependence and absolute values of the total ionisation cross section for the molecules H₂, N₂, O₂, NO, CO, N₂O, CO₂, and CH₄ by metastable Ne* (³P₀) and Ne* (³P₂) atoms at collision energies ranging from 0.06 to 6.0 eV have been measured in a crossed beam experiment. State selection of the two metastable states of Ne* was obtained by optical pumping with a cw dye laser. We observe a strongly different velocity dependence at collision energies below about 1 eV for the ionisation cross section of the systems Ne*H₂, N₂, CO, and CH₄, and the systems Ne*O₂, NO, CO₂, and N₂O, respectively. The first group shows an increasing cross section in this energy range, similar to the Ne*Ar system, while the second group shows a very flat behaviour. This behaviour correlates with the difference in character (π or σ^b) of the orbital of the electron that is removed from the target molecule. For the molecules H₂, N₂, CO, and CH₄ an electron from a σ^b orbital is removed from the molecule, whereas for O₂, NO, N₂O, and CO₂ an outer π-ortibal electron is involved. For the systems Ne* (³P₀, ³P₂)H₂ we have derived the imaginary part of the optical potential by assuming a real potential similar to the theoretically calculated ground state NaH₂ potential of Botschwina et al. The resonance width Γ(r) as a function of the internuclear distance r shows a saturation at small r (r < 2.8 Å) for both the Ne*(³P₀)H₂ and the Ne*(³P₂)H₂ interaction. This supports previous conclusions of Verheijen et al. and Kroon et al. Reliable values for the absolute value of the total ionisation cross section have been obtained by performing a careful calibration of the density—length product of the supersonic secondary beam. The results are in good agreement with the values of West et al. for experiments without state selection. The total ionisation cross sections for molecules with π-type ionisation orbitals, with their larger spatial extent, in general are larger than those for molecules with σ^b-type ionisation orbitals.     

HPW/PDMAEMA‐b‐PMAA/ZIF‐8 Ternary Lamellar Composite and the Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

PDMAEMA‐b‐PMAA block copolymers were prepared by the sequential RAFT polymerization of DMAEMA and tBMA, followed by hydrolysis. Phosphotungstic acid (HPW) was anchored to the PDMAEMA blocks through electrostatic interactions and the as‐obtained HPW/PDMAEMA‐b‐PMAA was added to the synthesis of ZIF‐8. During the formation of ZIF‐8, the PMAA blocks coordinated to the Zn²⁺ ions through their carboxy groups, along with the HPW groups that were anchored to the PDMAEMA blocks. In this way, the block copolymer could consolidate the interactions between HPW and ZIF‐8 and prevent the leakage of HPW. Finally, the HPW/PDMAEMA‐b‐PMAA/ZIF‐8 ternary lamellar composite was obtained and the structure of the HPW/PDMAEMA‐b‐PMAA/ZIF‐8 hybrid material was characterized by using powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a photocatalyst, the HPW/PDMAEMA‐b‐PMAA/ZIF‐8 ternary lamellar composite showed excellent photoactivity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The rate of degradation of MB was 0.0240 min^?1, which was 7.5‐times higher than that of commercially available P25 (0.0032 min^?1). In the presence of H₂O₂, the kinetic degradation parameters of the composite reached 0.0634 min^?1, which was about 19.8‐times higher than that of P25.