Synthesis,one‐ and two‐photon properties of poly[9,10‐bis(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl‐oxy)phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinylene‐alt‐N‐octyl‐3,6‐/2,7‐carbazolevinylene]

The synthesis, one‐ and two‐photon absorption (TPA) and emission properties of two novel 2,6‐anthracenevinylene‐based copolymers, poly[9,10‐bis(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinylene‐alt‐N‐octyl‐3,6‐carbazolevinyl‐ene] ( P1 ) and poly[9,10‐bis(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinyl‐ene‐alt‐N‐octyl‐2,7‐carbazolevinylene] ( P2 ) were reported. The as‐synthesized polymers have the number‐average molecular weights of 1.56 × 10⁴ for P1 and 1.85 × 10⁴ g mol^?1 for P2 and are readily soluble in common organic solvents. They emit strong bluish‐green one‐ and two‐photon excitation fluorescence in dilute toluene solution (? _P1 = 0.85, ? _P2 = 0.78, λ_em( P1 ) = 491 nm, λ_em( P2 ) = 483 nm). The maximal TPA cross‐sections of P1 and P2 measured by the two‐photon‐induced fluorescence method using femtosecond laser pulses in toluene are 840 and 490 GM per repeating unit, respectively, which are obviously larger than that (210 GM) of poly[9,10‐bis‐(3,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy) phenyl)‐2,6‐anthracenevinylene], indicating that the poly(2,6‐anthracenevinylene) derivatives with large TPA cross‐sections can be obtained by inserting electron‐donating moieties into the polymer backbone. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 463–470, 2010     

New Strategy to Access Dual‐Stimuli‐Responsive Triple‐Shape‐Memory Effect in a Non‐overlapping Pattern

Multistimuli‐responsive shape‐memory polymers are highly desirable in various applications, and numerous modes have been developed in recent years. However, most of them need to reprogram before they are ready to respond to another stimulus while one is triggered. Here, a new strategy is developed to achieve dual‐stimuli‐responsive triple‐shape memory with non‐overlapping effect in one programming cycle. Here, a series of poly(l ‐lactide)‐poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol copolymers (PLA‐PTMEG‐A) is prepared by selected dangling photoresponsive anthracene moieties on the crystalline PTMEG backbone. The architectures of the copolymers are well‐controlled in order to keep a good balance between the crystallinity of the soft segment and the mobility of the anthracene moieties. Thus, PLA‐PTMEG‐A's can respond to heat and light with non‐overlapping effect. The thermally‐induced shape‐memory effect (TSME) is realized by the crystallization–melting transition of PTMEG soft segments, while the light‐induced shape‐memory effect (LSME) is achieved by the reversible photodimerization of anthracene groups. In view of the non‐overlapping effect of TSME and LSME in the copolymers, a triple‐shape‐memory effect triggered by dual‐stimuli is realized in one programming and recovery cycle.

     

Energy transfer from fluorene‐based conjugated polyelectrolytes to on‐chain and self‐assembled porphyrin units

A new water soluble fluorene‐based polyelectrolyte containing on‐chain porphyrin units has been synthesized via Suzuki coupling, for use in optoelectronic devices. The material consist of a random copolymer of poly{1,4‐phenylene‐[9,9‐bis(4‐phenoxy butylsulfonate)]fluorene‐2,7‐diyl} (PBS‐PFP) and a 5,15‐diphenylporphyrin (DPP). The energy transfer process between the PBS‐PFP units and the porphyrin has been investigated through steady state and time‐resolved measurements. The copolymer PBS‐PFP‐DPP displays two different emissions one located in the blue region of the spectra, corresponding to the fluorene part and another in the red due to fluorescent DPP units either formed directly or by exciton transfer. However, relatively inefficient energy transfer from the PFP to the on‐chain porphyrin units was observed. We compare this with a system involving an anionic blue light‐emitting donor PBS‐PFP and a anionic red light‐emitting energy acceptor meso‐tetrakisphenylporphyrinsulfonate (TPPS), self‐assembled by electrostatic attraction induced by Ca²⁺. Based on previous studies related to chain aggregation of the anionic copolymer PBS‐PFP, two different solvent media were chosen to further explore the possibilities of the self‐assembled system: dioxane–water and aqueous nonionic surfactant n‐dodecylpentaoxyethylene glycol ether (C₁₂E₅). In contrast, with the on‐chain PBS‐PFP‐DPP system the strong overlap of the 0‐0 emission peak of the PBS‐PFP and the Soret absorption band of the TPPS results in an efficient Förster transfer. This is strongly dependent on the solvent medium used. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

2,6‐Diaminopyridine and Acrylamide‐Based Copolymers with Upper Critical Solution Temperature‐type Behavior in Aqueous Solution

A novel copolymer based on supramolecular motif 2,6‐diaminopyridine and water‐soluble acrylamide, poly[N‐(6‐acetamidopyridin‐2‐yl) acrylamide‐co‐acrylamide], was synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with various monomer compositions. The thermoresponsive behavior of the copolymers was studied by turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The obtained copolymers showed an upper critical solution temperature (UCST)‐type phase transition behavior in water and electrolyte solution. The phase transition temperature was found to increase with decreasing amount of acrylamide in the copolymer and increasing concentration of the solution. Furthermore, the phase transition temperature varied in aqueous solutions of electrolytes according to the nature and concentration of the electrolyte in accordance with the Hoffmeister series. A dramatic solvent isotope effect on the transition temperature was observed in this study, as the transition temperature was almost 10–12 °C higher in D₂O than in H₂O at the same concentration and acrylamide composition. The size of the aggregates below the transition temperature was larger in D₂O compared to that in H₂O that can be explained by deuterium isotope effect. The thermoresponsive behavior of the copolymers was also investigated in different cell medium and found to be exhibited UCST‐type phase transition behavior in different cell medium. Such behavior of the copolymers can be useful in many applications including biomedical, microfluidics, optical materials, and in drug delivery. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2064–2073     

Poly(ProDOT‐Et2): A High‐Contrast,High‐Coloration Efficiency Electrochromic Polymer

The synthesis and electrochemical polymerization of 3,3‐diethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐thieno‐[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxepine (ProDOT‐Et₂) was performed resulting in a stable electrochromic polymer capable of switching between an absorbing blue neutral state and a highly transmissive sky‐blue oxidized state in sub‐second time frames. High optical switching contrast ratios (up to 75% at λ_max) and high composite coloration efficiencies (505 cm²/C) were measured.     

Anion Responsive Imidazolium‐Based Polymers

Stimuli responsiveness in polymer design is providing basis for diversely new and advanced materials that exhibit switchable porosity in membranes and coatings, switchable particle formation and thermodynamically stable nanoparticle dispersions, polymers that provide directed mechanical stress in response to intensive fields, and switchable compatibility of nanomaterials in changing environments. The incorporation of ionic liquid monomers has resulted in many new polymers based on the imidazolium group. These polymers exhibit all of the above‐articulated material properties. Some insight into how these anion responsive polymers function has become empirically available. Much opportunity remains for extending our understanding as well as for designing more refined stimuli‐responsive materials.     

Oxidation polymerization of a charge‐transfer complex of 2,6‐bis(2‐thienyl)‐1,4‐dithiafulvene with 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane

A π‐conjugated poly(α‐dithienylen‐dithiafulvene) ( 2 ) was obtained by the oxidation polymerization of 2,6‐bis(2‐thienyl)‐1,4‐dithiafulvene ( 1 ) as a dithiafulvene monomer derived from 4‐(2‐thienyl)‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole. When a solution of 1 in CHCl₃ was added to a stirred solution of FeCl₃ in CHCl₃, only the low‐molecular‐weight product 2 was obtained. The mixture was stirred for 15 h with an N₂ flow. The polymerization at higher temperatures resulted in polymers with large insoluble fractions. A higher molecular weight polymer was obtained by the oxidation polymerization of a charge‐transfer complex of 1 with 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (compound 3 ). In contrast to 2 , polymer 4 was readily soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and acetone and partially soluble in tetrahydrofuran and methanol and had a larger molecular weight (peak top molecular weight = 37,000). The conductivity of polymer 4 was 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of polymer 2 . © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6592–6598, 2005     

Thermally Cross‐Linkable Hole Transport Polymers for Solution‐Based Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

Two thermally cross‐linkable hole transport polymers that contain phenoxazine and triphenylamine moieties, X‐P1 and X‐P2, are developed for use in solution‐processed multi‐stack organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Both X‐P1 and X‐P2 exhibit satisfactory cross‐linking and optoelectronic properties. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels of X‐P1 and X‐P2 are −5.24 and −5.16 eV, respectively. Solution‐processed super yellow polymer devices (ITO/X‐P1 or X‐P2/PDY‐132/LiF/Al) with X‐P1 or X‐P2 hole transport layers of various thicknesses are fabricated with the aim of optimizing the device characteristics. The fabricated multi‐stack yellow devices containing the newly synthesized hole transport polymers exhibit satisfactory currents and power efficiencies. The optimized X‐P2 device exhibits a device efficiency that is dramatically improved by more than 66% over that of a reference device without an HTL.

     

High‐efficiency blue light‐emitting polymers based on 3,6‐silafluorene and 2,7‐silafluorene

A novel blue‐emitting polymer based on 3,6‐silafluorene and 2,7‐silafluorene was synthesized via the Suzuki polycondensation. The resulting polymers are readily soluble in common organic solvents, such as toluene, xylene, THF, and chloroform. The thermal, electrochemical, photophysical, and electroluminescence properties of the resulting polymers were investigated. The device fabricated from the copolymer with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK/polymer/Ba/Al exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 1.95%, a luminous efficiency of 1.69 cd A^?1 and a maximal brightness of 6000 cd m^?2. It has been found that the incorporation of the 3,6‐silafluorene unit into the poly(2,7‐silafluorene) main chain can not only improve the color purity of the devices from the resulting copolymer but also enhance its device efficiency. Moreover, no undesired long‐wavelength green emission was observed in the PL spectra of P36‐27SiF90 compared to that of PFO with a dominating emission at 500–600 nm after thermal annealing at 200 °C for 8 h. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4941–4949, 2007     

Liquid‐crystalline azobenzene‐containing ferrocene‐based polymers: study on synthesis and properties of main‐chain ferrocene‐based polyesters with azobenzene in the side chain

Ferrocene‐based polymers are characterized by their electrochemical activity, good redox properties, thermal, photochemical stability, and liquid crystallinity, and thus they have various applications in different fields. A comprehensive investigation on the synthesis and properties of three novel main‐chain ferrocene‐based polyesters with azobenzene in the side chain (MFPAS) was carried out. The main‐chain ferrocene‐based polyester, poly(N‐phenyldiethanolamine 1,1′‐ferrocene dicarboxylate (PPFD), was synthesized via the solution polycondensation reaction of 1,1′‐ferrocenedicarbonyl chloride with phenyldiethanolamine (PDE). The novel MFPAS were synthesized via the post‐polymerization azo‐coupling reaction of PPFD with three different 4‐substituted anilines including 4‐nitroaniline, 4‐aminobenzoic acid, and 4‐aminobenzonitrile to produce 4‐nitrophenylazo‐functionalized‐PPFD (PPFD‐NT), 4‐carboxyphenylazo‐functionalized‐PPFD (PPFD‐CA), and 4‐cyanophenylazo‐functionalized‐PPFD (PPFD‐CN), respectively. All the synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–visible spectroscopy. In addition, powder X‐ray diffraction patterns were measured for the synthesized polymers. The photoisomerization of the MFPAS was studied. The thermal properties of the MFPAS were studied using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. PPFD‐CA and PPFD‐CN were found to be more thermally stable than PPFD‐NT. Finally, the liquid‐crystalline properties of PPFD and the MFPAS were examined using polarized optical microscope. It was found that all the polymers possessed nematic phases and exhibited textures with schlieren disclinations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3‐Ethylated N‐Vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone with LCST Properties in Water

The monomer 3‐ethyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone ( 3 ) and the homopolymer poly(3‐ethyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) ( 5 ) have been synthesized. Polymer 5 is soluble in water and shows a critical temperature (T_c) of 27 °C. The presence of cyclodextrin causes a slight shift of the T_c. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) could be varied between 27 and 40 °C by copolymerization with N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone. A linear correlation between the T_c and the copolymer composition is observed.

     

Synthesis of pH‐ and thermoresponsive poly(2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazoline) based copolymers

Polymers that possess lower critical solution temperature behavior such as poly(2‐alkyl‐2‐oxazoline)s (PAOx) are interesting for their application as stimulus‐responsive materials, for example in the biomedical field. In this work, we discuss the scalable and controlled synthesis of a library of pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive 2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazoline P(nPropOx) based copolymers containing amine and carboxylic acid functionalized side chains by cationic ring opening polymerization and postpolymerization functionalization strategies. Using turbidimetry, we found that the cloud point temperature (CP) is strongly dependent on both the polymer concentration and the polymer charge (as a function of pH). Furthermore, we observed that the CP decreased with increasing salt concentration, whereas the CP increased linearly with increasing amount of carboxylic acid groups. Finally, turbidimetry studies in PBS‐buffer indicate that CPs of these polymers are close to body temperature at biologically relevant polymer concentrations, which demonstrates the potential of P(nPropOx) as stimulus‐responsive polymeric systems in, for example, drug delivery applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1573–1582     

Synthesis,Characterization, and thermoresponsive properties of Helical Polypeptides Derivatized from Poly(γ−4‐(3‐chloropropoxycarbonyl)benzyl‐L‐glutamate)

A series of side‐chain‐functionalized α‐helical polypeptides, i.e., poly(γ‐4‐(3‐chloropropoxycarbonyl)benzyl‐_L‐glutamate) (6) have been prepared from n‐butylamine initiated ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of γ‐4‐(3‐chloropropoxycarbonyl)benzyl‐_L‐glutamic acid‐based N‐carboxyanhydride. Polypeptides bearing oligo‐ethylene‐glycol (OEG) groups or 1‐butylimidazolium salts were prepared from 6 via copper‐mediated [2+3] alkyne‐azide 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition or nuleophilic substitution, respectively. CD and FTIR analysis revealed that the polymers adopt α‐helical conformations both in solution and the solid state. Polymers bearing OEG (m = 3) side‐chains showed reversible LCST‐type phase transition behaviors in water while polymers bearing 1‐butylimidazolium and I^? counter‐anions exhibited reversible UCST‐type transitions in water. Variable‐temperature UV‐vis analysis revealed that the phase transition temperatures (T_pts) were dependent on the main‐chain length and polymeric concentration. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2469–2480     

Zwitterionic shell‐crosslinked micelles from block‐comb copolymer of PtBA‐b‐P(PEGMEMA‐co‐DMAEMA)

Through reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of t‐butyl acrylate (tBA) and RAFT copolymerization of 2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA), block‐comb copolymer of PtBA‐b‐P(PEGMEMA‐co‐DMAEMA) was prepared. After the self‐assembly of PtBA‐b‐P(PEGMEMA‐co‐DMAEMA) into core‐shell spherical micelles, P(PEGMEMA‐co‐DMAEMA) segments of the shell was crosslinked with 1,2‐bis(2‐iodoethoxy)ethane and the core of PtBA was selectively hydrolysized with trifluoroacetic acid. Thus, zwitterionic shell‐crosslinked micelles with positively charged outer shell and negatively charged inner core were obtained. Dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope, Zeta potential measurement, and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to confirm the formation of the zwitterionic shell‐crosslinked micelles. They showed the excellent resistance to the variation of pH value and possessed the positive values throughout the whole range of pH range even if the carboxylic groups of the micelles was much more than ammonium groups. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and characterization of highly conjugated side‐group‐substituted benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐based copolymer for use in organic solar cells

A new donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated copolymer based on benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (BDT) and thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD) was synthesized via a Stille cross‐coupling reaction. A highly conjugated thiophene‐based side group, tris(thienylenevinylene) (TTV), was incorporated into each BDT unit to generate the two‐dimensional D–A copolymer (PBDT‐TTV). An alkoxy‐substituted BDT‐based TPD copolymer (PBDT‐OR) was synthesized using the same polymerization method for comparison. PBDT‐TTV thin films produced two distinct absorption peaks. The shorter wavelength absorption (458 nm) was attributed to the BDT units containing the TTV group, and the longer wavelength band (567–616 nm) was attributed to intramolecular charge transfer between the BDT donor and the TPD acceptor. The highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels of PBDT‐OR and PBDT‐TTV were calculated to be −5.53 and −5.61 eV, respectively. PBDT‐TTV thin films harvested a broad solar spectrum covering the range 300–700 nm. A comparison with the PBDT‐OR films revealed stronger interchain π–π interactions in the PBDT‐TTV films and, thus, a higher hole mobility. A polymer solar cell device prepared using PBDT‐TTV as the active layer was found to exhibit a higher power conversion efficiency than a device prepared using PBDT‐OR under AM 1.5 G (100 mW/cm²) conditions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 653–660     

Poly(1,4‐diketo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐alt−3,6‐carbazole/2,7‐fluorene) as high‐performance two‐photon dyes

This article reports the synthesis, one‐ and two‐photon absorption, and excited fluorescence properties of poly(1,4‐diketo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐alt‐N‐octyl‐3,6‐carbazole/2,7‐fluorene) ( PDCZ / PDFL ). PDCZ and PDFL are synthesized by the Suzuki cross‐coupling of 2,5‐dioctyl‐1,4‐diketo‐3,6‐bis(p‐bromophenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole and N‐octyl‐3,6‐bis(3,3‐dimethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)carbazole or 2,7‐bis(3,3‐dimethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)fluorene and have number‐average molecular weights of 8.5 × 10³ and 1.14 × 10⁴ g/mol and polydispersities of 2.06 and 1.83, respectively. They are highly soluble in common organic solvents and emit strong orange one‐ and two‐photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) in THF solution and exhibit high light and heat stability. The maximal two‐photon absorption cross‐sections (δ) measured in THF solution by the 2PEF method using femtosecond laser pulses are 970 and 900 GM per repeating unit for PDCZ and PDFL , respectively. These 1,4‐diketo‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐containing polymers with full aromatic structure and large δ will be promising high‐performance 2PA dyes applicable in two‐photon science and technology. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 944–951     

Steric hindrance effect on thermo‐responsive behaviors of well‐defined water‐soluble semi‐rigid polymers

Three series of water‐soluble semi‐rigid thermo‐responsive polymers with well‐defined molecular weights based on mesogen‐jacketed liquid crystal polymers, poly[bis(N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl) pyrrolidone) 2‐vinylterephthalate] [P(2‐HPPVTA)], poly[bis(N‐(1‐methyl‐2‐hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidone) 2‐vinylterephthalate] [P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA)] and poly[bis(N‐hydroxypropyl pyrrolidone) 2‐vinylterephthalate] (PHPPVTA) have been synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The steric hindrance effects on liquid crystalline property and thermo‐responsive behaviors of semi‐rigid water‐soluble polymers (P(2‐HPPVTA), P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA), and PHPPVTA) were carefully investigated. From molecular structure, the steric hindrance of P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA) is stronger than that of P(2‐HPPVTA). Polarized light microscope and one‐dimensional wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction revealed that both the P(2‐HPPVTA) and P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA) display a columnar nematic phase, indicating that the steric hindrance effect do not affect liquid crystalline behavior of the polymers. The dynamic light scattering results demonstrated that P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA) exhibited lower cloud point compared with that of P(2‐HPPVTA) at the same mass concentration and the same molecular weight. The more significant molecular weight and concentration dependence on cloud point have been observed in P(2‐HPPVTA) solution than in P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA) solution. We also discovered that the cloud points of both P(2‐HPPVTA) and P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA) solution are lower in D₂O than in H₂O. It is noted that the cloud point of PM‐2 is 9.9 °C lower in D₂O than in H₂O, much less pronounced than the cloud point difference of PH‐2. The differences of thermo‐responsive behaviors between P(2‐HPPVTA) and P(1‐M‐2‐HEPVTA) were resulted from the steric hindrance effect existed in their side groups. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3429–3438     

Dual‐responsive copolymer poly(2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] synthesized via photoATRP for surface with tunable wettability

In this work, a series of block copolymers of poly(2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PHFBMA‐b‐PDMAEMA) were synthesized via photo‐induced atom transfer radical polymerization (photoATRP) at room temperature. By the introduction of PDMAEMA segment, the hydrophilicity of the silicon wafer surface spin‐coated with PHFBMA homopolymer was improved. Furthermore, the study of tunable surface wettability showed that the surface wettability was pH‐dependent and thermal‐independent at pH 2 and 10. The as‐fabricated surface coated with PHFBMA₁₁₀‐b‐PDMAEMA₁₈₇ showed switchable water contact angle from 85.4° at pH > 4 to 55.0° at pH 2 due to the protonation and deprotonation of tertiary amine groups of PDMAEMA. However, because of the ascendancy of protonated PDMAEMA at pH 2 and the decreased LCST at pH 10, the wettability of the as‐prepared surfaces was thermal‐insensitive. Finally, surface morphology and composition investigation showed that the property of wettability‐controllable surface was not only influenced by surface composition, but also affected by chain conformation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3868–3877     

High‐performance field‐effect transistors based on furan‐containing diketopyrrolopyrrole copolymer under a mild annealing temperature

Two furan‐flanked polymers poly{3,6‐difuran‐2‐yl‐2,5‐di(2‐octyldodecyl)‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4‐dione‐alt‐thienylenevinylene} (PDVFs), with a highly π‐extended diketopyrrolopyrrole backbone, are developed for solution‐processed high‐performance polymer field‐effect transistors (FETs). Atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence X‐ray scattering analyses indicate that PDVF‐8 and PDVF‐10 films exhibit a similar nodular morphology with the ultrasmall lamellar distances of 16.84 and 18.98 Å, respectively. When compared with the reported polymers with the same alkyl substitutes, this is the smallest d‐spacing value observed to date. This closed lamellar crystallinity facilitates charge carrier transport. Therefore, polymer thin‐film transistors fabricated from as‐spun PDVF‐8 films exhibit a high hole mobility exceeding 1.0 cm² V^?1 s^?1 with a current on/off ratio above 10⁶. After annealing treatment at 100 °C in air, the highest hole mobility of PDVF‐8‐based FETs was significantly improved to 1.90 cm² V^?1 s^?1, which is among the highest values of the reported FET devices fabricated from polymer thin films based on this mild annealing temperature. In contrast, long alkyl‐substituted PDVF‐10 exhibited a relatively low hole mobility of 1.65 cm² V^?1 s^?1 mainly resulting from low molecular weight. This work demonstrated that PDVFs would be promising semiconductors for developing cost‐effective and large‐scale production of flexible organic electronics. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1970–1977     

Thermo‐Switchable Antibacterial Activity

A copolymer system of 2‐aminoethyl methacrylate and N‐isopropylacrylamide comprises novel properties: changes in conformation and hydrophilicity upon heating influence the antibacterial activity and result in a switchable biocidal effect. The copolymers are characterized via NMR, MALDI‐ToF MS, phase transition behavior, and antibacterial tests with E. coli or B. subtilis. MIC and MBC are determined using standard dilution methods, temperature‐dependence via incubation at different temperatures and cytotoxicity by MTT tests. The copolymers exhibit lower MIC in globule than coil conformation, crosslinking on cotton results in non‐leaching materials with better antibacterial activity above than below the phase‐transition point.