A fluoroalkyl end-capped <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer/silica gel nanocomposite with no weight loss even at 800 °C equal to an original silica gel

Fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer [R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F]/silica gel nanocomposite, which was prepared by reaction of the corresponding fluorinated oligomer with tetraethoxysilane and silica gel nanoparticles under alkaline conditions, exhibited no weight loss even at 800 °C equal to the original silica gel, although the corresponding parent R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F oligomer was completely degraded at 600 °C. Thermogravimetric analyses/mass spectra of fluorinated nanocomposite showed that this nanocomposite decomposed around 280 °C to afford CO₂ and H₂O as the major evolved gaseous products including some minor fluoro- and hydrocarbons. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses also showed that the contents of C, F, and Si atoms in R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposite after the calcination at 800 °C were similar to those before the calcination. These findings suggest that the evolved gaseous products should be encapsulated quantitatively into nanometer-size-controlled silica matrices to give the fluorinated silica gel nanocomposite with no weight loss even at 800 °C equal to the original silica gel.     

Low molecular weight aromatic compounds possessing a nonflammable characteristic in fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer/silica nanocomposite matrices after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer [R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F] reacted with tetraethoxysilane and silica nanoparticles in the presence of low molecular weight aromatic compounds [ Ar‐H ] such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and bisphenol AF under alkaline conditions to afford R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites‐encapsulated Ar‐H in 47–94% isolated yields. These fluorinated silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated Ar‐H can exhibit no weight loss behavior corresponding to the contents of Ar‐H after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions, although fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer in the nanocomposites decomposed completely under similar conditions. UV‐vis spectra of well‐dispersed methanol solutions of R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂/CPC nanocomposites before calcination show that CPC can be encapsulated into fluorinated silica nanocomposites with encapsulated ratios: 23–43%. The fluorinated nanocomposites after calcination was found to exhibit a higher antibacterial activity related to the presence of CPC in the composites. Encapsulated bisphenol AF into R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites before and after calcination at 800 °C can exhibit a good releasing ability toward methanol with released ratios: 48 and 26%, respectively. ¹H MAS NMR, HPLC analysis, and LC‐MS spectra of R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated bisphenol AF also showed the presence of bisphenol AF in the nanocomposites even after calcination at 800 °C under atmospheric conditions. These findings suggest that CPC and bisphenol AF can exhibit a nonflammable characteristic in the fluorinated silica nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Preparation and thermal stability of fluoroalkyl end‐capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric silica/boric acid nanocomposites‐encapsulated a variety of low molecular weight organic compounds

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F‐(VM)_n‐R_F] reacted with boric acid to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica/boric acid nanocomposite [R_F‐(VM? SiO₂)_n‐R_F/B(OH)₃] fine particles with mean diameter: 36–105 nm. The obtained R_F‐(VM? SiO₂)_n‐R_F/B(OH)₃ nanocomposites were applied to the encapsulation of low molecular weight organic compounds such as diphenylsilanediol, 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol, 4,4′‐biphenol, bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol AF, biphenyl, dibenzyl, and pentaerythritol into these nanocomposite cores to provide the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica/boric acid nanocomposites—encapsulated these organic molecules. Interestingly, the obtained nanocomposites were found to exhibit no weight loss behavior corresponding to the contents of these guest molecules even after calcination at 800 °C, although these nanocomposites were isolated through no purification process. The R_F‐(VM? SiO₂)_n‐R_F nanocomposites—encapsulated these organic guest molecules were prepared under similar conditions. However, it was demonstrated that these nanocomposites can provide the clear weight loss corresponding to the contents of these guest molecules in the nanocomposites after calcination at 800 °C. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3835–3845     

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers possessing nonflammable characteristic in calcium carbonate nanocomposites

Calcium chloride reacted with sodium carbonate in the presence of a variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers such as fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid oligomer (R_F‐[ACA]_n‐R_F), 2‐methacryloyloxyethanesulfonic acid oligomer (R_F‐[MES]_n‐R_F), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer (R_F‐[DMAA]_n‐R_F) and acryloylmorpholine oligomer (R_F‐[ACMO]_n‐R_F) to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomers/calcium carbonate composites. Each fluorinated oligomer/calcium carbonate composite thus obtained is nanometer size‐controlled very fine particles (25–114 nm) possessing a good dispersibility and stability in a variety of solvents including water. Thermal stability of these fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites was studied by thermogravimetic analyses measurements. Fluorinated oligomes, in which the theoretical oligomer content in the composites is 19%, were able to give no weight loss corresponding to the content of oligomer in each case even after calcination at 800 °C. On the other hand, a slight weight loss corresponding to the contents of oligomers in the composites after calcination at 800 °C was observed in R_F‐(MES)_n‐R_F/, R_F‐(DMAA)_n‐R_F/ and R_F‐(ACMO)_n‐R_F/calcium carbonate nanocomposites, in which the theoretical contents of the oligomers were 36–53%, although R_F‐(ACA)_n‐R_F/calcium carbonate nanocomposites gave a clear weight loss corresponding to the contents of oligomer under similar conditions. Fluorinated oligomers/calcium carbonate nanocomposites possessing no weight loss at 800 °C were applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorines on the surfaces. Interestingly, these fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites after calcination at 800 °C were found to exhibit the similar oleophobic characteristic on the modified PMMA surfaces as well as that of the nanocomposites before calcination. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

UV resistance of encapsulated low molecular weight aromatic compounds in fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer/silica nanocomposites

Sol–gel reactions of fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer in the presence of low molecular weight aromatic compounds (ArH) such as 1,1′‐bi(2‐naphthol) (BINOL) and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxy benzophenone (HMB) were found to proceed smoothly under alkaline conditions at room temperature to give the corresponding fluorinated oligomeric silica nanocomposites‐encapsulated aromatic compounds (BINOL and HMB) [R_F‐(VM‐SiO₂)_n‐R_F/ArH nanocomposites]. UV light irradiation (λ_max: 254 nm) toward R_F‐(VM‐SiO₂)_n‐R_F/ArH nanocomposites showed that photodegradation of encapsulated ArH was not observed at all in the fluorinated nanocomposites cores, although the parent ArH can exhibit an effective photodegradation behavior under similar conditions. Especially, encapsulated ArH can exhibit no weight loss corresponding to the contents of the aromatic compounds in the fluorinated nanocomposites even after calcination at 800°C. Therefore, fluoroalkyl end‐capped trimethoxyvinylsilane oligomer has high potential for not only the thermal resistance but also the UV resistance fluorinated polymeric materials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Homoaldol condensation of aromatic ketones in fluoroalkyl end‐capped 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomeric gel network cores

Aromatic ketones such as 4′‐methoxyacetophenone (MAP), acetophenone (AP), 4‐acetylbiphenyl (ABP), and 2‐acetyl‐6‐methoxynapthalene (AMN) interacted with fluoroalkyl end‐capped 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomer [R_F‐(AMPS)_n‐R_F] at 80°C for 3 h to give the corresponding fluorinated oligomer/aromatic ketones composites. In these composites, the R_F‐(AMPS)_n‐R_F/MAP and /AP composites were found to give the homoaldol condensation products of MAP and AP, respectively. In contrast, the corresponding non‐fluorinated AMPS oligomer/MAP and sulfuric acid/MAP composites could not give the homoaldol product at all under similar conditions. This suggests that the R_F‐(AMPS)_n‐R_F oligomer could provide the suitable fluorinated oligomeric gel newtwok cores to interact with MAP or AP as a guest molecule, and the homoaldol condensation of encapsulated MAP and AP should proceed smoothly in the fluorinated oligomeric gel network cores. The R_F‐(AMPS)_n‐R_F/ABP and /AMN composites could not give the homoaldol products at all under similar conditions, indicating that the more bulky aromotic ketones than MAP or AP are not likely to be encapasulated as guest molecules into the fluorinated AMPS oligomeric gel netwok cores. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coloring–decoloring behavior of fluoroalkyl end‐capped 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomer/acetone composite in methanol

A reddish‐brown fluoroalkyl end‐capped 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) oligomer/acetone composite was prepared by heating the white oligomer powder with acetone at 80 °C for 3 h. The color was not observed in the corresponding non‐fluorinated AMPS oligomer/acetone composite, which was prepared under similar conditions. The coloring was probably caused by the formation of acetone polyaldol condensation products in the fluorinated oligomeric gel network cores. The colored R_F‐(AMPS)_n‐R_F/acetone composite powders were stable and did not exhibit any color change after 2 years in natural light at room temperature. The colored composite powders dissolved in methanol to give a reddish‐brown solution at room temperature. However, the retro‐polyaldol condensation decolored the solution after 1 day at room temperature. This is the first example of the retro‐aldol polycondensation of acetone under mild conditions. The decoloration increased by between 38‐ and 70‐fold under UV irradiation, compared with that in dark conditions. The coloring–decoloring behavior was consistent and repeatable; therefore our fluorinated oligomer/acetone composites are promising candidates for new fluorinated coloring materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2555–2564     

Preparation of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomeric nanoparticles-encapsulated hibitane

Fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer [R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F] reacted with hibitane in methanol at 90 °C to afford R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F oligomeric nanoparticles-encapsulated hibitane in good isolated yields. These fluorinated oligomeric particles-encapsulated hibitane were nanometer size-controlled very fine particles, and were found to exhibit a good dispersibility and stability in a wide variety of traditional organic solvents including fluorinated aliphatic solvents. Each dispersed solution with fluorinated nanoparticles afforded transparent colorless solution. These fluorinated nanoparticles were also found to exhibit a good antibacterial activity, and were applied to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate).     

Preparation of colloidal stable fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomer/silver nanocomposites––application to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers with these nanocomposites

A variety of fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/silver nanocomposites were prepared by the reactions of silver ions with poly(methylhydrosiloxane) in the presence of fluoroalkyl end‐capped N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer, N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer, N,N‐dimethylacrylamide cooligomer containing poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments in organic media such as toluene and 1,2‐ dichloroethane. These fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites thus obtained were found to exhibit clear plasmon absorption bands around 420 nm related to the formation of silver nanoparticles. In particular, these composites could display narrow plasmon absorptions around 420 nm in toluene by the addition of trioctylamine (TOA). On the other hand, the corresponding non‐fluorinated N‐(1,1‐ dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer was not able to afford such a plasmon absorption under similar conditions. These fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites in organic media have been found to be stable for more than 10 days. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed that silver nanoparticles could be effectively encapsulated into fluorinated oligomeric aggregate cores to afford colloidal stable fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites. Fluorinated oligomers/silver nanocomposites were also applied to the surface modification of traditional organic polymers such as polystyrene (PSt) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit not only a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine but also a higher surface antibacterial activity related to the silver nanoparticles on their surface. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile one-pot preparation of gold nanoparticles in the presence of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers,fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/silica nanocomposites,and fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/polyaniline nanocomposites

A variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers, such as fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid oligomer [R_F-(ACA) _n -R_F], acryloylmorpholine oligomer [R_F-(ACMO) _n -R_F], 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid oligomer [R_F-(AMPS) _n -R_F], 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethanesulfonic acid oligomer [R_F-(MES) _n -R_F], and N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomer [R_F-(DMAA) _n -R_F], were applied to the autoreduction of gold ions to give the corresponding oligomers/gold nanocomposites, of whose sharp plasmon absorption bands are observed around 535 nm. In these fluorinated oligomers, R_F-(ACA) _n -R_F oligomer and R_F-(ACMO) _n -R_F were effective for the one-pot preparation of the gold nanoparticles under very mild conditions; although the other fluorinated oligomers and the corresponding non-fluorinated–(ACMO) _n -oligomer were unable to afford the gold nanoparticles. R_F-(ACA) _n -R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites and R_F-(ACMO) _n -R_F/SiO₂ nanocomposites, which were prepared by the sol–gel reactions of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of silica nanoparticles and the corresponding oligomers under alkaline conditions, were also applied to the encapsulation of gold nanoparticles into these fluorinated nanocomposite cores through the autoreduction of gold ions at room temperature. Interestingly, these fluorinated oligomers/silica nanocomposite-encapsulated gold nanocomposites before and after calcination at 800 °C were found to exhibit the same plasmon absorption band around 525 nm. R_F-(MES) _n -R_F oligomer and R_F-(AMPS) _n -R_F oligomer are not suitable for the autoreduction of gold ions; however, R_F-(MES)_n-R_F[or R_F-(AMPS) _n -R_F]/polyaniline [PAn] nanocomposites, which were prepared by the polymerization of aniline initiated by ammonium persulfate in the presence of the corresponding oligomer, enabled the formation of gold nanoparticles through the oxidation of PAn in the composites at room temperature. The reversible conformational change of PAn in the nanocomposites from the polyemeraldine salt to the oxidized pernigraniline base was observed during such oxidation process. Graphical abstract

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Preparation and photocatalytic activity of fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/anatase titanium oxide nanocomposite-encapsulated low molecular weight aromatic compounds

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/anatase titanium oxide nanocomposite-encapsulated low molecular weight aromatic compounds [R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/an-TiO₂/Ar-H] were prepared by the sol–gel reactions of the corresponding oligomer in the presence of anatase titanium oxide nanoparticles (an-TiO₂) and the aromatic compounds such as bisphenol A [BPA], 1,1′-bi(2-naphthol) [BINOL], and fullerene under alkaline conditions. Thermogravimetric analyses measurements show that R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/an-TiO₂ nanocomposite-encapsulated BPA and BINOL, in which the theoretical contents in the composites are 25?～?32 %, were found to give no weight loss corresponding to the contents of these aromatic compounds even after calcination at 800 °C. On the other hand, the corresponding nanocomposite-encapsulated fullerene exhibited weight loss behavior related to the presence of fullerene under similar conditions; however, UV–vis spectra showed the presence of the residual fullerene in the composites even after calcination. An-TiO₂ in these fluorinated nanocomposites can keep its crystalline structure without phase transformation into rutile even after calcination at 1,000 °C, although the parent an-TiO₂ nanoparticles underwent a complete phase transformation into rutile under similar conditions. Notably, R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/an-TiO₂/Ar-H nanocomposites can give a good photocatalytic activity even after calcination at 1,000 °C for the decolorization of methylene blue under UV light irradiation. More interestingly, these fluorinated nanocomposites before and after calcination were found to exhibit a higher photocatalytic activity at the initial UV light irradiation from 1 to 3 min than that of the corresponding R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/an-TiO₂ nanocomposites under similar conditions.

Biphenylene units possessing flammable and nonflammable characteristics in fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric silica gel matrices after calcination at 800 °C

Two kinds of fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(VM) _n -R_F] silica nanocomposites containing biphenylene units were prepared by the sol-gel reactions of the corresponding oligomer with biphenylene-bridged ethoxysilanes or 4,4′-biphenol under alkaline conditions, respectively. One is the fluorinated oligomer/silica nanocomposites containing biphenylene units [R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Ar-SiO ₂ ], of whose biphenylene units were incorporated into nanocomposite cores through the siloxane bondings, and the other is the fluorinated oligomer/silica nanocomposites containing biphenylene units [R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Biphenol], of whose biphenylene units were directly encapsulated into nanocomposite cores through the sol–gel process. Interestingly, the shape of R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Ar-SiO ₂ nanocomposites is morphologically controlled cubic particles; although the shape of R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Biphenol nanocomposites is spherically fine particles. Thermogravimetric analyses ²H magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, Ultraviolet visible, and fluorescent spectra showed that biphenylene units in R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Ar-SiO ₂ nanocomposites have a flammable characteristic after calcinations at 800 °C; in contrast, biphenylene units in R_F-(VM-SiO₂) _n –R_F/Biphenol nanocomposites have a nonflammable characteristic even after calcination at 800 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of these two kinds of fluorinated nanocomposites showed that nonflammable characteristic toward biphenylene units in the silica gel matrices is due to the formation of ammonium hexafluorosilicate during the sol–gel process.     

Preparation and properties of novel cross-linked fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomeric nanoparticles possessing double decker-type aromatic silsesquioxane segments as core units

Cross-linked fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomers possessing double decker-type aromatic silsesquioxane segments as core units [R_F-(Ar-SiSQ) _x -(Co-M) _y -R_F] were prepared under mild conditions by the cooligomerizations of fluoroalkanoyl peroxide with the corresponding aromatic silsesquioxane possessing bifunctional vinyl groups (Ar-SiSQ) and comonomers (Co-M) such as acryloylmorpholine (ACMO), N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide (DOBAA). Interestingly, these cross-linked fluorinated cooligomers thus obtained were found to form the nanometer size-controlled nanoparticles with a good dispersibility in a variety of solvents including fluorinated aliphatic solvents. These fluorinated cooligomeric nanoparticles were demonstrated to have red-shifted fluorescent emissions related to the presence of aromatic silsesquioxane segments, compared with that of parent aromatic silsesquioxane, indicating that each aromatic moiety in these nanoparticles can interact effectively with each other through the π–π stacking between the aromatic moieties to afford the red-shifted fluorescent emissions. These fluorinated nanoparticles were also applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit not only a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine but also a fluorescent emission behavior related to aromatic silsesquioxane segments in nanoparticles on the modified PMMA surface. More interestingly, cross-linked R_F-(Ar-SiSQ) _x -(DOBAA) _y -R_F cooligomeric nanoparticles interacted with fluorescein to give the corresponding fluorinated cooligomeric particles/fluorescein nanocomposites in methanol. These fluorinated fluorescein nanocomposites were found to afford an extraordinarily enhanced light absorption (λ _max = 441 nm), compared with that of fluoroalkyl end-capped DOBAA oligomer [R_F-(DOBAA) _n -R_F] possessing no aromatic silsesquioxane segments.     

Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/polyimide/silica nanocomposites

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped acrylic acid, N,N‐dimethylacrylamide, N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide and vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomers reacted with polyamic acid possessing trimethoxysilyl groups under alkaline conditions to yield the corresponding fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/polyamic acid/silica nanocomposites. These isolated fluorinated composite powders were found to afford nanometer size‐controlled fine particles with a good dispersibility and stability in water and traditional organic solvents. We succeeded in preparing new fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomers/polyimide/silica nanocomposites by the imidization of fluorinated polyamic acid silica nanocomposites through the stepwise heating at 110 and 270°C under air atmosphere conditions. These fluorinated polyimide/silica nanocomposites thus obtained were applied to the surface modification of glass and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to exhibit good hydro‐ and oleo‐phobic characteristics imparted by fluoroalkyl groups in the composites on their surface. In addition, the surface morphology of the modified glass treated with these fluorinated nanocomposites were analyzed by using FE‐SEM and DFM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and properties of fluorinated carboxylic acid/silica nanocomposite-encapsulated low molecular weight compounds

Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid/silica nanocomposites [R_F-CO₂H/SiO₂] were prepared by the sol–gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of silica nanoparticles and the corresponding fluorinated carboxylic acid under alkaline conditions. R_F-CO₂H/SiO₂ nanocomposites were found to exhibit no weight loss in proportion to the contents of fluorinated carboxylic acid in the composites even after calcination at 800 °C. The modified glass surface treated with the R_F-CO₂H/SiO₂ nanocomposites was shown to give a good oleophobicity with superhydrophilicity imparted by fluorinated carboxylic acid in the composites. R_F-CO₂H/SiO₂ nanocomposites were also applied to the encapsulation of a variety of low molecular weight aromatic and aliphatic compounds such as bisphenol AF [BPAF], bisphenol A [BPA], 4,4′-biphenol [BPOH], octafluoro-4,4′-biphenol [FBPOH], 4,4′-bis(triethoxysilyl)-1,1′-biphenyl [BTSBP], 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propane-1-sulfonic acid [THSP], α-cyclodextrin (α-CD), β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). Encapsulated aromatic compounds possessing acidic hydroxyl groups such as BPAF, BPA, and FBPOH in the R_F-COOH/SiO₂ nanocomposites were found to exhibit no weight loss corresponding to the contents of aromatic compounds in the composites even after calcination at 800 °C. On the other hand, encapsulated aromatic compounds possessing no acidic hydroxyl groups such as BTSBP and aliphatic compounds (THSP, α-, β-, and γ-CD) gave a clear weight loss corresponding to the contents of these compounds in the composites after calcination. In addition, the fluorinated silica nanocomposite-encapsulated these compounds were applied to the surface modification of glass to exhibit a good oleophobicity with superhydrophilicity imparted by fluorinated carboxylic acid on the surface.

Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylamide oligomers/polythiophene nanocomposites

Thiophene monomer reacted with ferric chloride in the presence of a variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomers [R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F] to afford nanometer size-controlled R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F oligomers-polythiophene composites [R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F/PTh]. R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F/PTh nanocomposites thus obtained were demonstrated to have a good dispersibility and stability in methanol to give a transparent brown solution. In addition, these fluorinated nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of common organic polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate), and were dispersed regularly above the polymer surface.     

Dispersion of silica nanoparticles bearing perfluorohexyl units into fluorinated copolymers

This study aims at determining the compatibility behavior of nanoparticles surface with fluorinated matrices to obtain a homogenous dispersion and better composites properties. First, modified silica nanoparticles by C₆F₁₃I and C₆F₁₃‐C₂H₄‐SH led to various fluorinated silica of different massic concentrations and grafting rates. The dispersion of these nanoparticles (in 5 wt %) into molten poly(VDF‐co‐HFP) and poly(TFE‐co‐HFP) matrices were studied as well as the hydrophobic, mechanical, and thermal properties of both fluorinated copolymers and resulting composites. In both series, the storage modulus of nanocomposites increased while the melting (T_m) and decomposition (T_10%) temperatures varied with the polymer matrix. They increased for poly(VDF‐co‐HFP) composites (T_m= 134 to 144 °C and T_10%= 441 to 464 °C) but decreased for poly(TFE‐co‐HFP) nanocomposites (T_m= 276 to 268 °C and T_10%= 488 to 477 °C). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1512–1522     

Preparation and applications of novel cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomeric nanocomposites possessing aromatic siloxane segments as core units

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped N,N‐dimethylacrylamide oligomer and N‐(1,1‐dimethyl‐3‐oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer were reacted with phenylene‐ and biphenylene‐bridged ethoxysilanes under alkaline conditions to yield cross‐linked fluoroalkyl end‐capped oligomeric composites possessing aromatic siloxane segments as core units. These isolated fluorinated composite powders were found to be nanometer size‐controlled fine particles with a good dispersibility and stability in water and organic solvents. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms confirmed the presence of micropores in these nanocomposites; the micropore size estimated by the HK method was 0.7–0.8 nm. Interestingly, fluorinated nanocomposites possessing a higher micropore volume ratio were found to exhibit a selective encapsulation ability of fullerene into their composite cores. These fluorinated nanocomposites were also applied to the surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) film, resulting in a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine on the surface. In addition, fluorescence emission was visibly observed only from the modified PMMA film surface treated with fluorinated nanocomposites possessing biphenylene units when irradiated by light. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/anatase titanium oxide nanocomposites possessing photocatalytic activity even after calcination at 1000 °C

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer [R_F-(VM)_n-R_F] underwent the sol-gel reaction under alkaline conditions in the presence of anatase titanium oxide nanoparticles (an-TiO₂) in tetrahydrofuran to give the corresponding fluorinated oligomer/anatase titanium oxide nanocomposites [R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/an-TiO₂]. Crystalline structure of an-TiO₂ in the nanocomposites thus obtained was found to keep completely its structure without phase transformation to rutile even after calcination at 1000 °C, although crystalline structure of the original an-TiO₂ nanoparticles underwent a complete phase transformation to the rutile under similar conditions. Interestingly, R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/an-TiO₂ nanocomposites before and after calcination at 1000 °C exhibited the similar photocatalytic activity for the decolorization of methylene blue under UV light irradiation.     

Preparation of perfluoro‐1,3‐propanedisulfonic acid/Nafion/silica hybrid nanoparticles—thermally stable Nafion in these silica hybrid nanoparticles even after calcination at 800 °C

Perfluoro‐1,3‐propanedisulfonic acid (PFPS)/Nafion/silica hybrid particles were prepared by the sol–gel reactions of PFPS with tetraethoxysilane and silica nanoparticles in the presence of Nafion under alkaline conditions. These obtained composites exhibited a good dispersibility and stability in not only water but also traditional organic media such as methanol, ethanol, 1,2‐dichloroethane, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Dynamic light scattering measurements and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy show that these hybrid particles are nanometer size‐controlled fine particles before and even after calcination at 800 °C. Nafion/silica hybrid nanoparticles were also prepared in the absence of PFPS under similar conditions. The weight of original Nafion markedly dropped around 350 °C and decomposed gradually, reaching 0% around 450 °C, and Nafion in the Nafion/silica nanocomposites exhibited a similar weight loss behavior to that of the original one. However, Nafion/PFPS/silica hybrid nanoparticles were found to exhibit no weight loss corresponding to the contents of Nafion and PFPS in the silica gel matrices even after calcination at 800 °C. It was demonstrated that the pH value (3.77 at 25 °C) of Nafion/PFPS/silica hybrid nanoparticles after calcination is smaller than that (5.66 at 25 °C) before calcination, and this hybrid nanoparticles exhibited a higher proton conductivity (5.8 × 10^?3 S/cm at 85 °C) than that (4.1 × 10^?3 S/cm at 85 °C) before calcination. In addition, Nafion/PFPS/silica hybrid nanoparticles after calcination at 800 °C were applied to the Friedel‐Crafts acylation of thiophene with acetic anhydride to give the expected 2‐acetylthiophene, of whose yield was similar to that before calcination under similar conditions. These findings suggest that Nafion in PFPS/silica hybrid nanoparticle cores should exhibit a nonflammable characteristic even after calcination at 800 °C to act as an effective acid catalyst. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1869–1877