Molecular dynamics in nanostructured polyimide–silica hybrid materials and their thermal stability

Molecular motion and thermal stability in two series of nanophase‐separated polyimide–silica (PI–SiO₂) hybrid materials with chemically bound components were studied. The hybrids were synthesized from p‐aminophenyltrimethoxysilane‐terminated poly(amic acid)s as PI precursors and tetramethoxysilane as a silica precursor via a sol–gel process. The hybrids differed in their PI chemical structure and chain length (number‐average molecular weight = 5.000, 7.500, or 10.000) and in their SiO₂ content, which ranged from 0 to 50 wt %. Differential scanning calorimetry, laser‐interferometric creep rate spectroscopy, and thermally stimulated depolarization current techniques were used for studying the dynamics from 100 to 650 K and from 10^?3 to 10^?2 Hz. Comparative thermogravimetric measurements were also carried out from 300 to 900 K. Silica nano‐ or submicrodomains that formed affected PI dynamics in two opposite directions. Because of the loosening of the molecular packing of PI chains confined to nanometer‐scale spaces between silica constraints, an enhancement of small‐scale motion, mostly at temperatures below the β‐relaxation region, occurred. However, a partial or total suppression of segmental motion could be observed above the β‐relaxation temperature, drastically so for the shortest PI chains at elevated silica contents and within or close to the glass‐transition range, because of the covalent anchoring of chain ends to silica domains. Large changes in thermal stability, including a 2.5‐fold increase in the apparent activation energy of degradation, were observed in the hybrids studied. A greater than 100 °C rise in long‐term thermal stability could be predicted for some hybrids with respect to pure PI. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1056–1069, 2002     

Studies of solution dynamics of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) and its iodine adduct

Carbon-13 NMR spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and PVP-iodine have been studied in several solvents and at different temperatures. Three kinds of motion can be identified from the T₁ data: segmental motion, ring rotation, and ring puckering. The effective correlation time for segmental motion is calculated to be 1 × 10^?9s, in good agreement with published proton NMR data. Another solvent, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, behaves like D₂O, the segmental correlation time being 3 × 10^?9s. In benzene, however, the linewidths are very broad and tend to narrow with increasing temperature, but the T₁s are not very different from those of PVP in D₂O. The results suggest association of pyrrolidone rings in benzene that reduces chain dimensions and also restricts chain mobility. As for PVP-iodine in water, again broad resonances are observed which sharpen considerably at higher temperatures. The result agrees with previous suggestions of specific interactions between the pyrrolidone group and iodine.     

Studies of micro-brownian motion of a polymer chain by the fluorescence polarization method. I. Fluorescent conjugates of polyacrylamide

Polyacrylamide having a fluorescent residue at the chain end was prepared by polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of a fluorescent dye. The segmental motion of the chain end in dilute solution was studied by the fluorescence polarization method on the fluorescent polyacrylamide conjugates thus obtained. The linear relation between 1/p and T/η₀ held for every sample studied in aqueous media, where p is the degree of polarization of the fluorescence, T is the absolute temperature, and η₀ is the viscosity of the medium. The mean relaxation time 〈ρ〉 of the conjugate was evaluated from these data as a function of the molecular weight of the conjugate. The value of 〈ρ〉 increased slightly with molecular weight, varying from 3.3 × 10^?9 to 7 × 10^?9 sec. The absolute values of 〈ρ〉 and its molecular weight dependence suggest that 〈ρ〉 represents the mean rotational relaxation time for the cooperative motion of about ten monomeric units at the chain end. The effect of the mean extension of polymer chain on the segmental motion was found to be negligible.     

Dynamics in disordered block copolymers and miscible blends composed of poly(vinyl ethylene) and polyisoprene

We investigated the segmental and terminal relaxation dynamics of a well‐characterized disordered diblock copolymer, poly(isoprene‐b‐vinyl ethylene) (PI‐PVE), and miscible blends of polyisoprene (PI)/poly(vinyl ethylene) (PVE), using dielectric and viscoelastic spectroscopies. Generally, the concentration fluctuation (CF) amplitude of a disordered diblock copolymer is smaller than that of the miscible blend, especially in a length scale longer than the size of the whole block chain. To test whether the difference in the CF amplitudes causes the difference in the segmental relaxation spectra, we compared the shape of the dielectric loss curves between PI‐PVE and PI/PVE with the same composition (PI/PVE ratio = 17:83). However, no appreciable difference was observed, indicating that the CF amplitudes in PI‐PVE and PI/PVE are not so different in the length scale of the segmental motions. We also examined the effect of distinct friction coefficients of the PI and PVE chains on the terminal relaxation dynamics by comparisons of the viscoelastic and dielectric normal mode relaxations in PI‐PVE. The former probes the whole chain motion and the latter probes motions of the PI block. Shift factors (a_T) for the viscoelastic and dielectric relaxations were compared. The dielectric normal mode a_T was found to have weaker temperature dependence than the viscoelastic a_T, which indicates that the friction for the PI block chain is lower than the average friction for the PI‐PVE chain. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4084–4094, 2004     

Dielectric relaxation analysis of cellulose oligomers and polymers in dependency on their chain length

For all cellulose‐like oligo‐ and polyglucans, beginning with the dimer cellobiose, a broad relaxation process at low temperatures is observed using the dielectric relaxation spectroscopy method. This relaxation has its molecular origin in orientational motions of the sugar rings via the glucosidic linkages. We investigated the dynamics of this main chain motion for β(1‐4) oligoglucans with 2, 3, 4, or 5 anhydroglucose units (AGUs), as well as for β(1‐4) polyglucans having a degree of polymerization molecular weight averages (DP_w) of 23, 37, 50, and 140 up to 3000. As a result we found that the activation energy (E_a) of the segmental chain motion has the lowest value (32 ± 1 kJ/mol) for cellobiose, followed by passing through a maximum for a DP between 7 and 15 with E_a = 51 ± 1 kJ/mol. Subsequently, the activation energy is decreased at a value around 44.8 ± 1.2 kJ/mol for chains containing more than 100 AGUs. Obviously, from a distinctly molecular dimension (DP_w ～ 100) the mean number of AGUs that take part in the local chain motions and cross‐correlation between the motions of neighboring AGUs are nearly the same and the chain length has no influence on the segmental motion. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2491–2500, 2001     

A two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopic study on the thermal degradation of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate)-co-methyl methacrylate/SiO2 nanohybrids

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) correlation spectroscopy was applied to study the structural changes occurring in the decomposition of PHEA-co-MMA/SiO₂. Complicated absorption spectral changes were observed in the heating process. 2D IR analysis indicates that during heating, covalent bonds, (Si-O-C), between the polymer and the inorganic moiety were formed, which was the main factor in the improvement in thermal properties of the hybrids such as the decomposition temperatures (T_d). The thermal stability of the hybrids was also studied by solid-state ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy and TGA tests. Their results complemented each other well.     

catena‐Poly[[(N,N‐dimethyl­formamide‐κO)(nitrato‐κO)silver(I)]‐μ‐1,2‐bis­(diphenyl­phosphino)ethane‐κ2P:P′] at 100 and 293 K: temperature effects on the volume of the solvent pocket

In the title chain compound, [Ag(NO₃)(C₃H₇NO)(C₂₆H₂₄P₂)]_n, the bis­(diphenyl­phosphino)ethane (dppe) components lie across centres of inversion. The dppe units link the Ag⁺ ions into chains along [100]. A nitrate anion is coordinated to the Ag atom, together with one mol­ecule of N,N‐dimethyl­formamide (DMF) solvent. At room temperature, the coordinated DMF shows a long Ag—O distance [2.620 (3) Å] and relatively large thermal motion, while at 100 K the Ag—O distance is shorter [2.5588 (19) Å] and the thermal motion is similar to that of the rest of the complex. The behaviour of the DMF mol­ecule is related to the size of the solvent pocket, viz. 146 ų at 293 K and 131 ų at 100 K.     

Thermal degradation studies of alkyl-imidazolium salts and their application in nanocomposites

Increasing the thermal stability of organically-modified layered silicates is one of the key points in the successful technical application of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites on the industrial scale. To circumvent the detrimental effect of the lower thermal stability of alkyl ammonium-treated montmorillonite, a series of alkyl-imidazolium molten salts were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetry (TGA) and thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDMS). The effect of counter ion, alkyl chain length and structural isomerism on the thermal stability of the imidazolium salts was investigated. Alkyl-imidazolium-treated montmorillonite clays were prepared by ion exchange of the imidazolium salts with Na-montmorillonite. These organically-modified clays were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), TDMS and thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR), and compared to the conventional quaternary alkyl ammonium montmorillonite. Results indicate that the counter ion has an effect on the thermal stability of the imidazolium salts, and that imidazolium salts with PF₆⁻, N(SO₂CF₃)₂⁻ and BF₄⁻ anions are thermally more stable than the halide salts. A relationship was observed between the chain length of the alkyl group and the thermo-oxidative stability; as the chain length increased from propyl, butyl, decyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl to eicosyl, the stability decreased. The results also show that the imidazolium-treated montmorillonite has greater thermal stability compared to the imidazolium halide. Analysis of the decomposition products by FTIR provides an insight about the decomposition products which are water, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons.     

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.     

Synthesis of POSS–polyurethane hybrids using octakis(m‐isoprenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzylisocyanato dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (Q8M8TMI) as a crosslinking agent

A series of polyurethane hybrid networks have been synthesized using octakis(m‐isoprenyl‐α,α′‐dimethylbenzylisocyanato dimethylsiloxy) octasilsesquioxane (Q₈M₈^TMI) as a crosslinking agent. The formation of the urethane linkages within the polyurethane hybrids was confirmed by photoacoustic FTIR spectroscopy. The TGA and DSC studies demonstrated that the incorporation of the POSS crosslinking agents altered the thermal properties of the polyurethanes, and that this was dependent on the length of the polyethylene glycol chain. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5038–5045     

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials. I. Characterization and degradation of poly(imide–silica) hybrids

Poly(imide–silica) hybrid materials with covalent bonds were prepared by (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane (APrMDEOS) terminated amic acid, water, and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) via a sol–gel technique. Infrared (IR), ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP/MAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to study hybrids containing various proportions of TMOS and hydrolysis ratios. The microstructure and chain mobility of hybrids were investigated by proton spin–spin relaxation T₂ measurements. The apparent activation energy E_a for degradation of hybrids in air was studied by the van Krevelen method. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2275–2284, 1999     

Dielectric relaxation and aging effect in interpenetrating network polymers of poly(urethane)-poly(methyl methacrylate)

The permittivity and loss of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) network crosslinked with trimethylol-1,1,1 propane and its interpenetrating network polymers with 10, 34, and 50% (by weight) poly(urethane) have been measured from 100 to 400 K over a frequency range of 12 to 1 × 10⁵ Hz. Two relaxation processes, γ and β, are observed in the PMMA network, and a third process, α_pu, in the 10% poly(urethane) IPN. At higher concentrations of poly(urethane), the γ process is removed from the temperature-frequency range of our study. Crosslinking in pure PMMA slows the segmental motions involved in the β process and raises its activation energy. Physical aging of the 10 wt% poly(urethane)-PMMA causes its γ process to become indiscernible and the α_pu process to become better resolved. A discussion of these results in terms of local regions of segmental motion is provided.     

Synthesis and properties of a second‐order nonlinear optical side‐chain polyimide

A thermal stable aromatic polyimide (PI) with side‐chain second‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores has been developed. The PI was prepared by the ring‐opening polyaddition of 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride with a new diamine having two N‐ethyl‐N‐[4‐[(6‐chlorobenzothiazol‐2‐yl)diazenyl]phenyl]‐2‐aminoethanol units as the NLO chromophore, followed by poling during or after the thermal imidization process. The resulting PI had number and weight‐average molecular weights (M_n, M_w) of 25,000 and 80,000, respectively, and a relatively high glass transition temperature of 180°C. The second harmonic coefficient (d₃₃) of PI at the wavelength of 1.064 μm was 138 pm/V (329.6 × 10⁻⁹ esu) and remained unchanged at elevated temperatures. The corona poling process of the NLO‐substituted poly(amic acid) to the PI was also studied in detail by measuring the second harmonic generation (SHG) from the polymer films. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1321–1329, 1999     

Ruthenium–Indenylidene Olefin Metathesis Catalyst with Enhanced Thermal Stability

Two new ruthenium complexes bearing a bidentate (κ²O,C)‐isopropoxy–indenylidene ligand and a PPh₃ ( 9 ) or PCy₃ ( 10 , Cy=cyclohexyl) ligand have been synthesized and fully characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. Complex 10 displays a very high thermal stability with a half life of six days at 110 °C in [D₈]toluene. Complex 10 was evaluated in various ring‐closing metathesis reactions and ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene, in which it showed a latent behavior with low activity at room temperature and high activity upon thermal activation.     

Composite spectral density functions for the interpretation of the 13C NMR relaxation behavior of polymers containing hydrocarbon side chains. Free and restricted side chain motion

¹³C NMR NT₁ and NOE have been calculated by using composite spectral density functions describing polymer chain segmental motion and internal rotation of a hydrocarbon side chain attached to the polymer backbone. Numerical results at two magnetic fields are presented as a function of the various motional parameters characterizing the various models. NT₁ and NOE relaxation parameters are well behaved and appear to have practical value for describing the dynamics of these systems. The models have been applied to the relaxation data of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) in toluene solutions. The dynamics of the two polymers are characterized by a very localized backbone motion and restricted internal rotation about successive C? C bonds of the side chains. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

DNA binding ad photocleavage properties of cationic porphyrin-polypyridyl ruthenium(II) hybrids

Three cationic porphyrin-polypyridyl ruthenium(II) hybrids, differing in the planar areas of the polypyridyl moieties, were synthesized and their interactions with DNA investigated using absorption and fluorescence titration, induced circular dichroism spectra, thermal DNA denaturation measurements, as well as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Ethidium bromide competition experiments determined the binding affinity constants (K_b) of these compounds for CT DNA. DNA photocleavage experiments indicated that these hybrids have a broader cleaving wavelength range than traditional drugs and ¹O₂ is the reactive species responsible for the cleavage. The proper planar area was proved to be responsible for the larger K_b and higher DNA photocleavage efficiency.     

Effect of Inorganic Components on Thermal Stability of Methylsiloxane-Based Inorganic/Orgnaic Hybrids

The thermal decomposition behavior of methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids containing an inorganic component derived from metal alkoxides such as Si(OCH₃)₄, Al(O^sC₄H₉)₃, Ti(OⁱC₃H₇)₄ and Nb(OC₂H₅)₅ was investigated by means of thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The decomposition temperature of methyl groups in methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids containing an inorganic component derived from metal alkoxides was higher than that in the methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrid prepared from only CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃. In particular, when incorporating Nb and Ti inorganic components, methyl groups in methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids decomposed at about 100 and 200^∘C higher temperatures, respectively, than those in the methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrid prepared from only CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃. The incorporation of an inorganic component other than siloxane into methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids was found to thermally stabilize the methyl groups of methylsiloxane networks.     

Preparation and properties of n6-tricarbonylchromium-complexed arylenesiloxane polymers

Polytetramethyl-p-silphenylenesiloxane (I) and polymethylphenylsiloxane (II) were prepared and subsequently reacted with hexacarbonylchromium to generate their n⁶-Cr(CO)₃ complexed analogs, III and IV, respectively. During the complexation reaction, completing decomposition to chromium salts took place. Furthermore a competing chain scission reaction took place resulting in lower molecular weights for the complexed polymers. Heating III and IV resulted in carbon monoxide evolution and the presence of n⁶-Cr(CO)₃ moieties lowered the thermal stability of the polymers.     

Synthesis of graft polymers with poly(isoprene) as main chain by living anionic polymerization mechanism

The graft polymers [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(styrene)] (PI‐g‐PS), [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐poly(isoprene)] (PI‐g‐PI), [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(isoprene)‐block‐poly(styrene))] PI‐g‐(PI‐b‐PS), and [poly(isoprene)‐graft‐(poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(isoprene))] PI‐g‐(PS‐b‐PI) with PI as main chain were synthesized through living anionic polymerization (LAP) mechanism and the efficient coupling reaction. First, the PI was synthesized by LAP mechanism and epoxidized in H₂O₂/HCOOH system for epoxidized PI (EPI). Then, the graft polymers with controlled molecular weight of main chain and side chains, and grafting ratios were obtained by coupling reaction between PI^?Li⁺, PS^?Li⁺, PS‐b‐PI^?Li⁺, or PI‐b‐PS^?Li⁺ macroanions and the epoxide on EPI. The target polymers and all intermediates were well characterized by SEC,¹H NMR, as well as their thermal properties were also evaluated by DSC. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Ultraviolet-Cured Semi-Interpenetrating Network Polymer Electrolytes for High-Performance Quasi-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes with relatively low ionic conductivity at room temperature and poor mechanical strength greatly restrict their practical applications. Herein, we design semi-interpenetrating network polymer (SNP) electrolyte composed of an ultraviolet-crosslinked polymer network (ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate), linear polymer chains (polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and lithium salt solution to satisfy the demand of high ionic conductivity, good mechanical flexibility, and electrochemical stability for lithium metal batteries. The semi-interpenetrating network has a pivotal effect in improving chain relaxation, facilitating the local segmental motion of polymer chains and reducing the polymer crystallinity. Thanks to these advantages, the SNP electrolyte shows a high ionic conductivity (1.12 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C), wide electrochemical stability window (4.6 V vs. Li⁺/Li), good bendability and shape versatility. The promoted ion transport combined with suppressed impedance growth during cycling contribute to good cell performance. The assembled quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries (LiFePO₄/SNP/Li) exhibit good cycling stability and rate capability at room temperature.