Synthesis and characterization of bismuth single-crystalline nanowires and nanospheres

A facile solution-phase process has been demonstrated for the selective preparation of single-crystalline bismuth nanowires and nanospheres by reducing sodium bismuthate with ethylene glycol in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) or acetone. Bismuth nanobelts and Bi/Bi(2)O(3) nanocables could be also obtained by changing some reaction parameters. Various techniques such as XRD, EDXA, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, and FT-IR have been used to investigate the physical characteristics of these low-dimensional bismuth nanostructures.     

Effect of temperature on the intrinsic viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends in aqueous solutions

In this work the intrinsic viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends in aqueous solutions were measured at 283.1–313.1 K. The expansion factor of polymer chain was calculated by use of the intrinsic viscosities data. The thermodynamic parameters of polymer solution (the entropy of dilution parameter, the heat of dilution parameter, theta temperature, polymer–solvent interaction parameter and second osmotic virial coefficient) were evaluated by temperature dependence of polymer chain expansion factor. The obtained thermodynamic parameters indicate that quality of water was decreased for solutions of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends by increasing temperature. Compatibility of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends were explained in terms of difference between experimental and ideal intrinsic viscosity and solvent–polymer interaction parameter. The results indicate that the poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends were incompatible.     

Thermal,structural and morphological assessment of PVP/HA composites

Composites of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/hydroxyapatite (PVP/HA), at variable proportions (100/0; 80/20; 50/50; 20/80 wt%) were prepared and characterized by Fourier transformer-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). PVP carbonyl stretching was slightly shifted to lower frequency in composites indicating the formation of hydrogen bonding with HA hydroxyl groups. At the first cycle of heating, the calorimetric curves revealed a broad peak the intensity of which was reduced insofar as the amount of PVP decreased in the composites. This peak was attributed to the PVP enthalpy relaxation. According to the TG/DTG curves, PVP degraded into two steps sharply perceivable in the composites. The first decay was ascribed to the release of the pyrrolidone pendant groups and the following one concerned the burning of the hydrocarbon chains. The HA molecules seem to exert a catalytic action on the PVP degradation.     

Investigations on electrical properties of PVP:KIO4 polymer electrolyte films

Solid polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) complexed with potassium periodide (KIO₄) salt at different weight percent ratios were prepared using solution-cast technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the amorphous nature of PVP polymer matrix increased with the increase of KIO₄ salt concentration. The complexation of the salt with the polymer was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies. The ionic conductivity was found to increase with the increase of temperature as well as dopant concentration. The maximum ionic conductivity (1.421 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹) was obtained for 15 wt% KIO₄ doped polymer electrolyte at room temperature. The variation of ac conductivity with frequency obeyed Jonscher power law. The dynamical aspects of electrical transport process in the electrolyte were analyzed using complex electrical modulus. The peaks found in the electric modulus plots have been characterized in terms of the stretched exponential parameter. Optical absorption studies were performed in the wavelength range 200–600 nm and the absorption band energies (direct band gap and indirect band gap) values were evaluated. Using these polymer electrolyte films electrochemical cells were fabricated and their discharge characteristics were studied.     

聚乙烯醇/聚乙烯基吡咯烷酮共混体系相容性研究

用DSC、FTIR、SAXS和测定Flory-Huggins相互作用参数等方法对聚乙二醇(PVA1)/聚乙烯基吡咯烷酮(PVP)共混体系的研究。结果表明,该体系具有完全互容的性质。共混物只有一个玻璃化转变温度。用DMSO作溶剂浇铸的膜光学透明。PVA1的长周期和片晶厚度均随PVP含量增加而增大,但后者增大的幅度比前者小得多,表明PVP和PVA1的非晶部分形成均相并夹入到球晶内部。共混物中PVP羰基吸收峰和PVA1的羟基吸收峰与相应均聚物相比,在红外光谱图中皆向低频方向迁移,迁移波数随第二组分含量的增加而增大。表明二者间有氢键生成。用平衡熔点计算的Flory-Huggins相互作用参数为-0.88。     

燃料电池用聚乙烯醇基碱性聚合物电解质膜的制备及其性能

通过在不同浓度KOH溶液中进行掺杂,制备出了聚乙烯醇(PVA)、聚乙烯醇/聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVA/PVP)和聚乙烯醇/聚乙二醇二甲醚(PVA/PEGDE)碱性聚合物电解质膜详细考察了膜的外观形貌、微观结构、热稳定性、离子电导率和化学稳定性等.结果表明,PVA与PVP以及PEGDE具有很好的相容性,所制备的复合膜断面致密...     

Resonance Rayleigh scattering method for the determination of polyvinylpyrrolidone using eosin Y as the probe

The intensities of resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) of poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and of eosin Y (EY) are weak in solutions of pH 2.9 to 3.4. If reacted with each other, the intensities of RRS are largely enhanced and new RRS bands appear at 276 nm and 320 nm. The intensity at 276 nm is linearly related to the concentration of PVP in the range from 0.10 to 1.6 μg mL^-1. The correlation coefficient is 0.9987, and the detection limit is 28.7 ng mL^-1. The binding mode between PVP and EY was studied by RRS, and by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The optimum reaction conditions and some potential interferences were investigated. The method displays good selectivity and was applied to the determination of PVP in beer.     

Comparison of surface segregation and anticoagulant property in block copolymer blended evaporation and phase inversion membranes

In our recent study, an ABA amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PVP) was synthesized and directly blended with polyethersulfone (PES) to prepare membranes. To further investigate the effects of surface energy and miscibility on the near‐surface composition profile of the membranes, evaporation membrane and phase inversion membrane of PES/PVP‐b‐PMMA‐b‐PVP were prepared by evaporating the solvent in a vacuum oven, and by a liquid–liquid phase separation technique, respectively. The surface composition and morphology of the membranes were investigated using XPS and tapping mode atomic force microscopy, and the surface segregations of the membranes were compared and discussed. For the evaporation membrane, PVP blocks were buried below the lower surface energy PMMA blocks and PES substrate at the airside surface. For the phase inversion membrane, however, the hydrophilicity of PVP blocks were the biggest driving force because of the high speed exchange between water and solvent, and present at the membrane surface. Thus, the modified PES membrane prepared by using phase inversion method has a layer of PVP block brushes on its surface and has the better anticoagulant property, which might improve the blood compatibility of the membrane and has potential to be used in blood purification. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrospinning of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-iodine complex and poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-iodine complex - a prospective route to antimicrobial wound dressing materials

New nanofibers containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-iodine complex (PVP-iodine) were obtained by electrospinning in order to prepare materials suitable for wound dressings. Different approaches were used: a one-step method based on electrospinning of PVP-iodine or poly(ethylene oxide)/PVP-iodine solutions and a three-step method based on electrospinning of PVP or poly(ethylene oxide)/PVP mixed solutions followed by photo-mediated crosslinking of the obtained nanofibers and subsequent complexation with iodine. The average diameters of the fibers were in the range 150-470 nm depending on the composition and on the applied field strength (AFS) and increased with increasing the amount of PEO in the spinning solutions. Higher AFS resulted in greater fiber diameter and in size distribution broadening. Photo-mediated crosslinking in the presence of 4,4′-diazidostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid disodium salt successfully stabilized the electrospun PVP and PEO/PVP nanofibers against water and water vapor.     

Preparation of poly(vinyl pivalate) microspheres by dispersion polymerization in an ionic liquid and saponification for the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) with high syndiotacticity

We report here a successful free-radical dispersion polymerization of vinyl pivalate (VPi) in an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][TFSI]) using poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a stabilizer. Morphological analysis by FE-SEM revealed that poly(vinyl pivalate) (PVPi) obtained from dispersion polymerizations were in the form of spherical particles. Micron-sized, PVPi particles with a number-average molecular weight (M_n) of 166,400 g/mol could be obtained using 5% stabilizer (w/w to monomer) at 65 °C for 20 h. The effects of varying concentration of stabilizer, initiator and monomer upon polymer yield, molecular weight, and morphology of PVPi were also investigated. Analogous polymerizations in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and bulk served as references. In addition, the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by saponification of the resultant PVPi was described.     

聚乙烯醇/聚乙烯吡咯烷酮碱性复合膜的制备及其性能

通过在不同浓度KOH溶液中进行掺杂,制备出了聚乙烯醇/聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVA/PVP)碱性聚合物电解质膜.详尽考察了膜的组成、微观结构、热稳定性、离子电导率和甲醇吸收率.结果表明,PVA与PVP两者具有较好的相容性,当m(PVA)∶m(PVP)=1∶0.5时,膜断面致密、均匀,未发生大尺度相分离.PVP的混入可以极大提高复合膜的电导率和热稳定性.当m(PVA)∶m(PVP)=1∶1时,复合膜的电导率可达2.01×10-3 S.cm-1.PVA/PVP/KOH膜的甲醇吸收率随温度的升高没有明显变化,100℃时其甲醇吸收率仅为同条件下Nafion 115膜的1/4.这表明该复合膜有望作为一种新型的碱性直接甲醇燃料电池用固体电解质膜且可提高膜的使用温度.     

Chemical treatment of membranes of a polymer blend: Mechanism of the reaction of hypochlorite with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)

Sodium hypochlorite solutions are used to treat membranes prepared from a polymeric blend containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) to increase their water permeability. Sodium hypochlorite affects the membrane material in such a way that PVP is selectively removed from the membrane matrix. The mechanism of the reaction between hypochlorite and PVP is investigated by several chemical analysis techniques of the reaction products. Strong indications are found that the reaction involves chain scission of PVP according to a radical mechanism. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stabilization of small unilamellar DMPC-liposomes by uncharged polymers

 Polymer-free and polymer-bearing small unilamellar (SUV) liposomes from dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) were prepared under standardized conditions. Polymer-bearing liposomes were formed by incorporating an uncharged polymer [hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinylacetal) (PVA-Al), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl propional) (PVA-Prol) poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl butiral) (PVA-Bul) copolymer or poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)] into the membrane bilayer of vesicles. The kinetic (long-term) stability of the liposome dispersions stored in distilled water, in physiological NaCl solution and at various pH values, respectively, were studied. The physical stability of vesicles was tested by measuring the size and the zeta potential of liposomes by means of a Malvern Zetasizer 4 apparatus. It was shown that most of these polymers are effective steric stabilizers for the DMPC-liposomes. Among the polymers, the PVA-Bul and PVA-Prol copolymers and the PVP of high molecular mass exhibited the most efficient stabilizing effect at each pH studied, indicating that the formation of a relatively thick polymer layer around the lipid bilayers ensures an enhanced and prolonged physical stability of liposomes. Also, the butiral or propional side chain in the PVA-based copolymers presumably promotes the anchoring of macromolecules to the vesicles. Using these macromolecules, the colloidal interactions between vesicles can be modified and so the physical stability of liposomes and the kinetic stability of liposome dispersions can also be controlled. Received: 20 May 1997 Accepted: 03 September 1997     

Facile synthesis of micrometer FeS/PVP architectures with the aid of thiourea

Micrometer-sized flowerlike FeS/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)(PVP) architectures were synthesized by solvothermal process with the aid of thiourea, in which PVP may serve as soft templates. The FeS/PVP flowers have uniform morphologies with an average diameter of 5 μm, made of several nanopetals. The formation of FeS/PVP flowers is a new kinetic control process. In this process, thiourea molecules would be decomposed to produce “gas bubble”, and the “gas bubble” could make PVP chain segment rearrange along exterior force, resulting in the morphology evolution. The higher “gas bubble” pressure would produce 3D flowers, and the lower pressure would give a hollow structure. The evolution process from particles to 3D flowers is observed for the first time. In addition, the hollow FeS/PVP and Cu₂S/PVP spheres are also obtained by this technique.     

One-step process to fabricate Ag-polypyrrole coaxial nanocables

Ag-polypyrrole nanocables were fabricated in aqueous solution at room temperature through a redox reaction between silver nitrite and pyrrole, using poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)(PVP) as assistant agent.     

Room-temperature controllable fabrication of silver nanoplates reduced by aniline

Ag nanoplates are the first generated by the reductant aniline in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) at room temperature without stirring in the reaction process.     

Characterization of MoO3 nanorods for lithium battery using PVP as a surfactant

We synthesized MoO₃ nanorods using poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a surfactant through the hydrothermal route for making a cathode for a lithium battery. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal the structures to have dimensions on the order of 1–10 μm in length and 50–200 nm in diameter. Analytical techniques such as X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the nanorods. The measured specific charge of MoO₃ nanorods prepared through a 15-day hydrothermal reaction was 156 mAhg⁻¹ during the initial discharge process.     

FT-RAMAN SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE FORMATION OF POLYENES DURING THERMAL DEGRADATION OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) AND POLY (N-VINYL-2-PYRROLIDONE) BLENDS

In situ degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly (N-vinyl-2- pyrrolidone) (PVC/PVP) blends has been studied by Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy. PVP acts as a destabilizer in the thermal degradation of PVC as manifested by the reduction of temperature for the onset of degradation and the time the polymer is held at a particular temperature for this onset. Increasing the amount of PVP in the blends decreases the dehydrochlorination temperature and time. In blends containing high PVP concentrations, polyene bands dominate over nondegraded PVC bands. Maximum polyene lengths of around 35 were achieved. High PVP ratios and prolonged degradation at higher temperatures resulted in a decrease in mean polyene length due to crosslinking and oxidative scission.     

Nonlinear Effects on the Ionic Conductivity of Polyethylene Oxide)/Uthium Perchlorate Complexes Caused by the Blending of Polyvinyl Acetate)

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/LiClO₄/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and PEO/LiClO₄/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) complexes were prepared with various weight ratios of PVAc and PVP to PEO. The conductivity (σ) of the PEO/LiClO₄ complex was increased in a nonlinear fashion by the presence of up to 60 wt% PVAc. PEO/LiClO₄/PVAc complexes with weight percents of PVAc greater than 60 had σ's less than that of PEO/LiClO₄. The σ of PEO/LiClO₄ was decreased by the presence of any PVP.     

Fabrication and cytocompatibility evaluation for blood‐compatible polyethersulfone membrane modified by a synthesized poly (vinyl pyrrolidone)‐block‐poly (acrylate‐graft‐poly(methyl methacrylate))‐block‐poly‐(vinyl pyrrolidone)

Polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, one of the most important polymeric materials because of its good chemical resistance, thermal stability, mechanical, and film‐forming properties, has already been used in hemodialysis, tissue engineering, and artificial organs. In order to improve the blood compatibility of PES membrane, many amphiphilic block copolymers have been synthesized and used as additives for surface modification. The object of this study is to develop a hydrophilic PES membrane by blending a comblike amphiphilic block copolymer poly (vinyl pyrrolidone)‐block‐poly [acrylate‐graft‐poly (methyl methacrylate)]‐block‐poly‐(vinyl pyrrolidone) [PVP‐b‐P (AE‐g‐PMMA)‐b‐PVP] synthesized by RAFT polymerization. The cytocompatibility performance of PVP‐b‐P (AE‐g‐PMMA)‐b‐PVP modified PES membrane was evaluated, which showed better cytocompatibility compared with that of pristine PES membrane. Endothelial cells cultured on the modified membranes present improved growth in terms of scanning electron microscope observation, MTT assay, and confocal laser scanning microscope observation. These results indicate that the modified membrane has great potential application in blood‐contact fields such as hemodialysis and bio‐artificial liver supports. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.