Anisotropy in the dimensional and elastic parameters of confined macromolecules

Using lattice simulations the effect of confinement on the size, orientation and elastic properties of athermal chains was investigated. For chains confined in a slit or in a “cylinder” with square profile a minimum was observed in the dependence of the mean‐square end‐to‐end distance 〈R²〉 on the plate distance D. However, the components of the mean chain dimensions perpendicular and parallel to the walls, 〈R²_⟂〉 and 〈R²_∥〉, steadily diverge with reduction of the pore size. In a slit the distribution functions of the chain vector perpendicular and parallel to the plates, W〈R²_⟂ 〉 and W〈R²_∥〉, respectively, were computed. The marked difference between these distribution functions is interpreted as a sign of enhanced alignment of chains of the shape of elongated ellipsoids along the pore walls. A major part of the free energy of confinement ΔA_cf stems from this mechanism of pore‐induced macromolecular orientation. A striking anisotropy was observed in the elastic free energies A^el_⟂ and A^el_∥ of chains deformed in the direction perpendicular and parallel to the walls and in the corresponding force‐displacement functions. Finally, the relation between the elastic free energy A^el and the free energy of confinement ΔA_cf and between the forces f and f_solv derived thereof is analysed.     

Monte Carlo Simulations of the Morphologies and Conformations of Triblock Copolymer Thin Films

Summary: The morphologies and conformations of triblock copolymer (ABA and ABC) thin films confined between two identical walls were investigated by Monte Carlo simulation using bond length fluctuation and cavity diffusion algorithm on cubic lattice. Effects of the wall‐block interactions, copolymer chain composition and film thickness on morphologies, as well as on the fraction of chain “bridge” conformation f_bridge are presented in detail. In ABA thin film, column, parallel, perforated and perpendicular lamellas were discriminated, furthermore, the transition of morphology and the variation of f_bridge of ABA film along with the increase of thickness were revealed. In ABC thin film, lamella especially perpendicular lamella morphologies are predominant in varying the wall‐block interactions and the thickness. The results are consistent with some theoretical predictions such as DDFT and simulations reported in literature.

Isodensity profile of A₅B₅A₅ thin film.     

Orientation of the Azobenzene Spacer of Carboxylic Methyl Ester Gemini Surfactants in Langmuir Monolayer

The Langmuir monolayer of carboxylic methyl ester Gemini surfactants with the azobenzene spacer, referred to as MC_m(azo)MC_m, was prepared and the π‐A isotherms were measured. The result revealed an orientational picture of the azobenzene spacer at the air/water interface. Before irradiation, the planar trans‐azobenzene group adopted an approximate configuration parallel to the interface and lay on the air/water interface. After UV‐light irradiation, the spacer became the twisted cis‐one. Because of the location of the polar headgroups at the air/water interface, the two phenyl rings were also forced to take a near‐parallel orientation with the interface to reduce the free energy. As a result, the spacer thin‐layer was "thickened", which caused an elevation in collapse pressure.     

AxBAx‐Type Block–Graft Polymers with Soft Methacrylate Middle Segments and Hard Styrene Outer Grafts: Synthesis,Morphology, and Mechanical Properties

Novel copolymers with controlled architectures can function as new building blocks for well‐defined nanostructures on the basis of microphase separation, unlike conventional ABA triblock copolymers. A series of well‐defined A_xBA_x‐type block–graft copolymers consisting of soft middle segments (dodecyl methacrylate (DMA)) and hard outer graft chains (styrene (St)) were synthesized by ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical block and graft polymerization. NMR spectroscopy and size‐exclusion chromatography combined with multiangle laser light scattering confirmed the well‐defined structure of the A_xBA_x block–graft copolymers with backbones and graft chains of controlled lengths. Transmission electron microscopy and transmission electron microtomography revealed a series of morphologies for the copolymers. Morphological changes were observed from PSt “honeycomb” cylinders to lamellae and poly(DMA) cylinders with increasing PSt‐graft content, whereby the phase diagram was shifted significantly to lower volume fractions of the larger‐number component (St) relative to those of the corresponding ABA triblock copolymers. More specifically, poly(DMA) cylinders were observed even before the St content reached 50 wt %. The A_xBA_x and ABA copolymers with 17–30 wt % of St exhibited characteristics of a thermoplastic elastomer with tensile strengths of 1–6 MPa and elongations at break of 70–300 %. These mechanical properties can be related well to the microphase structures of the A_xBA_x and ABA copolymers.     

Novel drug‐based Fe(III) heterochelates: synthetic,spectroscopic, thermal and in‐vitro antibacterial significance

A series of novel heterochelates of the type [Fe(Aⁿ)(L)(H₂O)₂]^?mH₂O [where H₂Aⁿ = 4,4′‐(arylmethylene)bis(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐ol); aryl = 4‐nitrophenyl, m = 1 (H₂A¹); 4‐chlorophenyl, m = 2 (H₂A²); phenyl, m = 2 (H₂A³); 4‐hydroxyphenyl, m = 2 (H₂A⁴); 4‐methoxyphenyl, m = 2 (H₂A⁵); 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl, m = 1.5 (H₂A⁶); 2‐nitrophenyl, m = 1.5 (H₂A⁷); 3‐nitrophenyl, m = 0.5 (H₂A⁸); p‐tolyl, m = 1 (H₂A⁹) and HL = 1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐1‐yl)‐1,4‐dihydroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid] were investigated. They were characterized by elemental analysis (FT‐IR, ¹H‐ & ¹³C‐NMR, and electronic) spectra, magnetic measurements and thermal studies. The FAB‐mass spectrum of [Fe(A³)(L)(H₂O)₂]^?2H₂O was determined. Magnetic moment and reflectance spectral studies revealed that an octahedral geometry could be assigned to all the prepared heterochelates. Ligands (H₂Aⁿ) and their heterochelates were screened for their in‐vitro antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens bacterial strains. The kinetic parameters such as order of reaction (n), the energy of activation (E_a), the pre‐exponential factor (A), the activation entropy (ΔS^#), the activation enthalpy (ΔH^#) and the free energy of activation (ΔG^#) are reported. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hierarchical Structure‐Within‐Structure Morphologies in A2‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) Molecules

We employ dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to examine the self‐assembly behavior of A₂‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) molecules. We successfully observe various types of hierarchical structure‐within‐structures, such as A‐formed spheres in the matrix formed by B and C alternating layers, hexagonally packed A‐formed cylinders in the matrix with B and C segregated layers, B and C alternating layers‐within‐lamellae, coaxial B and C alternating domains within hexagonally packed BC‐formed cylinders in the A‐matrix, and co‐centric BC‐alternating domains within BC‐formed spheres in the A‐matrix, by increasing the A composition. Generally speaking, the small length‐scale B and C segregated domains are in parallel to the large length‐scale structures. This hierarchical periodicity along the same axis as well as the various characteristic structures, that the A₂‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) copolymers display, are quite different from those in A‐block‐(B‐graft‐C) coil‐comb copolymers. Moreover, it is interesting to find that when the copolymer chain length increases, though the hierarchical structure type is maintained, the number of small length‐scale lamellae that can form within the large length‐scale structure increases. These hierarchical structures under various compositions are reported theoretically for the first time in the copolymer systems consisting of the alternating blocks, and are in good agreement with the most recent experimental work by Matsushita and co‐workers (Macromolecules 2007 , 40, 4023).     

Ag3.5Bi7.5S13, a new member (N = 8) of the homologous series [Bi2S3]2·[AgBiS2](N−1)/2

The silver bismuth trideca­sulfide Ag_3.5Bi_7.5S₁₃ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m. Its structure is built up of two alternating kinds of layered modules parallel to (001). In the module denoted A, octa­hedra around the metal positions (M = Ag/Bi, M2 and an S atom on 2/m, other atoms on m) alternate with paired monocapped trigonal prisms around Bi. The NaCl‐type module B is composed of parallel eight‐membered chains of edge‐sharing octa­hedra running dia­gonally across it. Ag_3.5Bi_7.5S₁₃ is the member with N = 8 of the pavonite homologous series ^NP of ternary compounds with the general formula [Bi₂S₃]₂·[AgBiS₂]_(N−1)/2.     

Flux growth and structure of two compounds with the EuIn2P2 structure type,AIn2P2 (A = Ca and Sr), and a new structure type,BaIn2P2

Single crystals of the new Zintl phases AIn₂P₂ [A = Ca (calcium indium phosphide), Sr (strontium indium phosphide) and Ba (barium indium phosphide)] have been synthesized from a reactive indium flux. CaIn₂P₂ and SrIn₂P₂ are isostructural with EuIn₂P₂ and crystallize in the space group P6₃/mmc. The alkaline earth cations A are located at a site with m symmetry; In and P are located at sites with 3m symmetry. The structure type consists of layers of A²⁺ cations separated by [In₂P₂]²⁻ anions that contain [In₂P₆] eclipsed ethane‐like units that are further connected by shared P atoms. This yields a double layer of six‐membered rings in which the In—In bonds are parallel to the c axis and to one another. BaIn₂P₂ crystallizes in a new structure type in the space group P2₁/m with Z = 4, with all atoms residing on sites of mirror symmetry. The structure contains layers of Ba²⁺ cations separated by [In₂P₂]²⁻ layers of staggered [In₂P₆] units that form a mixture of four‐, five‐ and six‐membered rings. As a consequence of this more complicated layered structure, both the steric and electronic requirements of the large Ba²⁺ cation are met.     

Three Inter‐Alkali Metal Acetylides: KNaC2, KRbC2, and NaRbC2: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Structural Systematics

Three alkali metal acetylides, namely KNaC₂, KRbC₂, and NaRbC₂, were synthesized and characterized by means of X‐ray powder diffraction. KNaC₂ and KRbC₂ crystallize as a variant of the anti‐PbCl₂‐type structure (Pnma, Z = 4), whereas NaRbC₂ crystallizes as a variant of the anti‐PbFCl‐type structure (Pmmn, Z = 2). Based on a simple systematic approach developed by Sabrowsky et al. for inter‐alkali metal chalcogenides all known inter‐alkali metal acetylides can be classified into two classes: variants of the anti‐PbCl₂ type structure and variants of the anti‐PbFCl type structure. Acetylides with Q(ABC₂) ≤ 1.45 crystallize in the anti‐PbCl₂‐type structure, whereas for Q(ABC₂) > 1.45 the anti‐PbFCl‐type structure is found (Q(ABC₂) = V_m(A₂C₂)/V_m(B₂C₂) with V_m(A₂C₂) > V_m(B₂C₂); V_m: molar volume, A, B = alkali metals).     

Morphology and Conformation Analysis of Self‐Assembled Triblock Copolymer Melts

Summary: We used the dissipative particle dynamics method to simulate the self‐assembly of symmetric triblock copolymers of the type ABA. Depending on the volume fraction of the end blocks f_A, several mesophases including lamellar, perforated lamellar, gyroid, hexagonal cylinders and bcc spherical micelles were obtained. The order‐disorder transition (ODT) at f_A = 0.5 was found to be about χN = 19.8. The ODT for the cylindrical mesophase at symmetrical points on the phase diagram had different values, indicating asymmetry in the phase diagram. We were also able to estimate the bridge fraction in the different mesophases. They range from about 0.44 for the lamellar mesophase to about 0.75 for the spherical micelles. Our simulation results are in good agreement with previously reported theoretical calculations and experimental observations.

The hexagonal cylinders generated with the A₆B₄A₆ copolymer.     

Human Serum Albumin Nanotubes with Esterase Activity

A nanocylindrical wall structure was obtained by layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly of poly‐L ‐arginine (PLA) and human serum albumin (HSA) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning force microscopy (SFM), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐TEM). SEM and SFM measurements of a lyophilized powder of (PLA/HSA)₃ nanotubes yielded images of round, chimney‐like architectures with approximately 100 nm wall thickness. Cryo‐TEM images of the hydrated sample revealed that the tube walls are composed of densely packed HSA molecules. Moreover, when small‐angle X‐ray scattering was used to characterize the individual PLA and HSA components in aqueous solutions, maximum diameters of approximately 28 nm and 8 nm were obtained, respectively. These values indicate the minimum thickness of wall layers consisting of PLA and HSA. It can also be concluded from SEM as well as from cryo‐TEM images that the protein cylinders are considerably swollen in the presence of water. Furthermore, HSA retains esterase activity if assembled in nanotubes, as indicated by measurements of para‐nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis under semi‐physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 22 °C). The enzyme activity parameters (Michaelis constant, K_m, and catalytic constant, k_cat) were comparable to those of free HSA.     

Amphiphilic liquid‐crystalline 4‐miktoarm star copolymers with a siloxane junction leading to cylindrically nanostructured templates for a siloxane‐based nanodot array

Well‐defined A₃B‐, A₂B₂‐, and AB₃‐type 4‐miktoarm star copolymers (M_n = 10,500–16,200, M_w/M_n = 1.16–1.18) consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polymethacrylate bearing an azobenzene mesogen (PMA(Az)) as the arms and cyclotetrasiloxane as the core unit were synthesized using a combined route composed of a thiol‐ene click reaction and atom transfer radical polymerization. Microphase‐separated structures of the star copolymers in thin films with a thickness of approximately 100 nm were investigated by GISAXS and TEM. The A₃B‐type star‐(PEO)₃[PMA(Az)]₁ copolymer formed a more highly ordered PEO cylinder array with perpendicular alignment in the PMA(Az) matrix than that of the corresponding linear‐type block copolymer. The center‐to‐center distance of the PEO cylinders and the cylinder diameter were 13 and 4 nm, respectively. The highly ordered star‐(PEO)₃[PMA(Az)]₁ thin film was directly transferred to a siloxane‐based nanodot array by oxygen reactive ion etching. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1175–1188     

Hamiltonian Paths and Self‐Avoiding Walks of Lesser Length on Various Surfaces: A Monte Carlo Estimate

Given some lattice, the number Z_HP of Hamiltonian paths and also the number Z_N of N‐step shorter self‐avoiding walks on the surface of cylinders, cones, tori, and spheres has been Monte Carlo estimated. The procedure is an extension of the technique used in a previous paper for plane squares and rectangles, which is based on the Rosenbluth‐Rosenbluth chain‐generation procedure. Starting from a rectangle having m lines and n columns, and thus m×n lattice sites, one may obtain cylindrical, conical, toroidal and spherical surfaces through continuous deformations, which respect the topology. Then a correspondence is established between a plane figure of the ‘polar’ coordinates kind and the topology of the above surfaces. Using this topological equivalence, and thus operating exclusively on the plane ‘polar’ figure, Monte Carlo simulations show that for given m and n, Z_HP and Z_N increase when going from the plane rectangle to the cylinder and then to the cone and the torus. The number Z_NC of N‐step cycles (closed configurations) has also been Monte Carlo estimated. The Monte Carlo results for the surfaces studied here have been condensed in fifth degree polynomials in Φ, where Φ is the fraction of available lattice sites on the surface which are occupied by the N‐step self‐avoiding walk. The variation of the ratio Z_NC /Z_N with m and n has been estimated for cylindrical and conical surfaces. Finally, an effective coordination number q_eff has been introduced for finite surfaces, and its variation with Φ studied.     

Comprehensive understanding of size‐, shape‐, and composition‐dependent polarizabilities of SimCn (m,n = 1–4) clusters

We performed a comprehensive study of the size‐, shape‐, and composition‐dependent polarizabilities of Si_mC_n (m, n = 1–4) clusters on the basis of the density‐functional‐based coupled perturbed Hartree–Fock calculations. We found better correlations between the polarizabilities and both the binding energies (E_b) and change in charge distribution (Δq) than the energy gaps. The α values exhibit overall decreasing and increasing trends with increases in the E_b and Δq values, respectively. For isomers with the same E_b values and different polarizabilities, Δq can well explain the difference in polarizabilities. The π‐electron delocalization effect is the best factor for understanding the shape‐dependence. For a given m/n value, the linear clusters have an obviously larger polarizability than both the prolate and compact clusters, irrespective of the cluster size. We fit a quantitative expression [α = A ? (A ? B) × exp(?k(m/n))] to describe the composition‐dependent polarizabilities. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A new layered perovskite,KSrNb2O6F,by powder neutron diffraction

The structure of a new layered oxyfluoride, viz. potassium strontium diniobium hexaoxide fluoride, KSrNb₂O₆F, was refined from powder neutron diffraction data in the orthorhombic space group Immm. The oxyfluoride compound is an n = 2 member of the Dion–Jacobson‐type family of general formula A[A′_n−1B_nX_3n+1], which consists of double layered perovskite slabs, [SrNb₂O₆F]⁻, between which K⁺ ions are located. Within the perovskite slabs, the NbO₅F octahedra are significantly distorted and tilted about the a axis. A bond‐valence‐sum calculation gives evidence for O/F ordering in KSrNb₂O₆F, with the F⁻ ions located in the central sites of the corner‐sharing NbO₅F octahedra along the b axis. All atoms lie on special positions, namely Nb on m, Sr on mmm, K on m2m, F on mm2, and O on sites of symmetry m and m2m.     

Monte Carlo simulation for the adsorption of symmetric triblock copolymers I. Configuration distribution and density profiles of adsorbed chains

Monte Carlo simulations for the adsorption of symmetric triblock copolymers from a nonselective solvent at a solid-liquid interface have been performed on a lattice model. In simulations, triblock copolymer molecules are modeled as self-avoiding linear chains composed of m segments of A and n segments of B arranged as A_m/2B_nA_m/2. Either segment A or segment B is attractive, while the other is non-attractive to the surface. The microstructure of the adsorbed layers, including the segment-density profiles and the size distribution of loops, tails and trains are presented. The effect of the adsorption energy, the bulk concentration, the chain composition, as well as the chain length on various adsorption properties has been studied. The results have shown that the size distribution of various configurations is dependent of the adsorption energy, the chain composition and the chain length. The mean length of the loops, trains and tails is insensitive to the bulk concentration. The mean length of the trains increases and that of the tails decreases as the adsorption energy and the length of the attractive segments increase. The mean length of the loops for the end-adsorbed copolymers appears a maximum and that for middle-adsorbed copolymers appears a minimum as the length of attractive segments increases. The length of the non-attractive segments affects mostly the size distribution of the tails. The longer the chain is, the larger the tail appears. The mean length of the tails and loops increases linearly as the length of the non-attractive segments increases, but that of the trains approximately is unchanged.     

Bis(oxofluorenediyl)oxacyclophanes: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Complexation with Paraquat in the Gas Phase

The first three representatives of the new family of oxacyclophanes incorporating two 2,7‐dioxyfluorenone fragments, connected by [‐CH₂CH₂O‐]_m spacers (m=2–4), have been synthesized. The yield of the smallest oxacyclophane (m=2) is considerably higher with respect to the larger ones (m=3 and m=4), which are formed in comparable yields. Molecular modeling and NMR spectra analysis of the model compounds suggest that an essential difference in oxacyclophanes yields is caused by formation of quasi‐cyclic intermediates, which are preorganized for macrocyclization owing to intramolecular π–π stacking interactions between the fluorenone units. The solid‐state structures of these oxacyclophanes exhibit intra‐ and intermolecular π–π stacking interactions that dictate their rectangular shape in the fluorenone backbone and crystal packing of the molecules with the parallel or T‐shape arrangement. The crystal packing in all cases is also sustained by weak C? H ??? O hydrogen bonds. FAB mass spectral analysis of mixtures of the larger oxacyclophanes (m=3 and m=4) and a paraquat moiety revealed peaks corresponding to the loss of one and two PF₆^? counterions from the 1:1 complexes formed. However, no signals were observed for complexes of the paraquat moiety with the smaller oxacyclophane (m=2). Computer molecular modeling of complexes revealed a pseudorotaxane‐like incorporation of the paraquat unit, sandwiched within a macrocyclic cavity between the almost parallel‐aligned fluorenone rings of the larger oxacyclophanes (m=3 and m=4). In contrast to this, only external complexes of the smallest oxacyclophane (m=2) with a paraquat unit have been found in the energy window of 10 kcal mol^?1.     

Micellar liquid chromatography for lipophilicity determination of new biologically active 1,3‐purinodiones

A series of newly synthesized 1,3‐purinodiones with potential anticonvulsant activity, exhibiting affinity to adenosine A₁ and/or A_2A receptors, were subjected to micellar LC (MLC) with SDS as micelle‐forming agent and n‐propanol as organic modifier. Two C18 silica‐based columns were employed in MLC: a particle one and a monolithic. In parallel, those derivatives were also analyzed in RP‐LC on four silica‐based columns and on an immobilized artificial membrane column. The correlations between the relevant logarithms of the retention factors of analytes obtained in MLC, immobilized artificial membrane and RP‐LC systems on the one hand, and the calculated log P (clog P) and log D values (clog D) on the other, were examined. The level of the correlations of retention data from MLC and RP‐LC systems with clog P and clog D obtained is similar but it could be stressed that MLC allows increasing the speed of analysis and using only one mobile phase. Moreover, there is no need of applying an extrapolation procedure in lipophilicity determination. Therefore, the MLC systems, providing chromatographic data in a fast and efficient manner, were demonstrated as promising alternatives to the classical RP‐LC systems to estimate the lipophilicity of drugs and drug candidates.     

Monte Carlo simulation of AB diblock copolymer between surface and substrate and comparison of experimental results

The morphologies of AB diblock copolymer film between the substrate and surface were investigated via Monte Carlo simulations on simple cubic lattices. The morphological dependence of the diblock copolymer thin film on the thickness, as well as the composition and interactive intensity has been mainly studied. With the increase of A‐segments fraction, various microdomain morphologies including regular parallel stripe‐like, mesh‐like, and normal lamella near the region of the surface were generated in this work. The morphology of thin films of asymmetric diblock copolymer was found to form cylinders in a bulk system when L_z was equal to 30. The morphologies of PS‐b‐PDMS diblock copolymer films have been studied via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transition electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The surface morphology of the PS‐b‐PDMS copolymer thin film shows a mesh‐like microphase separated structure, and PDMS continuous phase protruded on the PS dispersed phase. The surface composition of PS‐b‐PDMS copolymer thin films was measured by means of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ATR‐IR. The comparison results show that the experimental observations are in good agreement with the simulation results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1835–1845, 2006     

A New Approach to Prepare Efficient Blue AIE Emitters for Undoped OLEDs

Two aggregation‐induced emission active luminogens (TPE–pTPA and TPE–mTPA) were successfully synthesized. For comparison, another six similar compounds were prepared. Because of the introduced hole‐dominated triphenylamine (TPA), fluorene groups with high luminous efficiency, and unconjugated linkages, the π conjugation length of the obtained luminogens is effectively restricted to ensure their blue emission. The undoped organic light‐emitting diodes based on TPE–pTPA and TPE–mTPA exhibited blue or deep‐blue emissions, low turn‐on voltages (3 V), and high electroluminescence efficiencies with L_max, η_C,max, and η_P,max values of up to 26 697 cd m^?2, 3.37 cd A^?1, and 2.40 Lm W^?1.