Synthesis and properties of polysiloxane xerogels containing tetrasulfide groups

Polysiloxane xerogels with a functional group content of 1.1?C1.9 mmol/g have been obtained by the hydrolytic condensation of the alkoxysilanes Si(OC₂H₅)₄ and [(C₂H₅O)₃Si(CH₂)₃S₂]₂ in the 2 : 1, 4 : 1, and 8 : 1 ratios. It has been demonstrated by ¹³C and ²⁹Si CPMAS NMR spectroscopy that the xerogels have a polysiloxane framework with dipropyl tetrasulfide bridges, silanol groups, unhydrolyzed ethoxyl groups, and hydrogen-bonded water molecules on the surface. The xerogels have a porous structure. As the molar ratio of the reacting alkoxysilanes is increased in the above-specified range, the specific surface area of the xerogel increases (from 89 to 312 m²/kg) and the same is valid for other structure-adsorption characteristics. The synthesized polysiloxane xerogels readily sorb Hg²⁺ from acidified solutions. Their static sorption capacity can be as high as 1.5 g Hg per gram of sorbent. However, in the course of time, the 1 : 1 complexes forming on the xerogel surface undergo transformations accompanied by the release of mercury sulfide and/or Hg²⁺ reduction to mercury metal.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated polyurethane with fluorine-containing pendent groups

A novel fluorinated polyurethane （FPU） with fluorine-containing pendent groups was prepared by using fluorinated polyether glycol （PTMG-g-HFP） as a soft segment, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate （HDI） or toluene diisocyanate （TD1） as a hard segment and 1,4-butanodiol （BDO） as a chain extender. FTIR, ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR and GPC were used to characterize the structure of the fluorinated polyurethane. Thermal stabilities of the fluorinated polyurethane and the corresponding hydrogenated polyurethane were studied by TGA. XPS analysis at two different sampling depths for the fluorinated polyurethane was used to investigate the surface compositions of FPU. The results showed the fluorine enrichment on the surface of FPU.     

Synthesis,UV-curing behavior and surface properties of fluorine-containing vinyl ether polymers

Five fluorine-containing vinyl ether monomers were prepared by the reaction between 2-vinyloxy ethanol, a fluorinated alcohol and hexafluorobenzene in the presence of sodium hydride in dimethylformamide. Two representative properties of these monomers, UV-curing behavior initiated by a cationic photo-initiator PAG 201 and surface free energy of coating films, were investigated. Photo-polymerization proceeded both rapidly and completely with a high double-bond conversion （〉 90%） and a fast curing rate （maximum curing time 〈 21 s） for three monomers. The surface energies of the monomers and the resulting polymer films were then investigated. The minimum surface free energy of the UV-cured homopolymer films reaches 7.1 mJ/m2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data show that the low surthce tension is influenced by fluorine content in the soft segments and fluorinated chains＇ migration to the surface. The five monomers exhibit low viscosity, low surface energy, good thermal stability and good photo-polymerization properties, which make them great candidates for UV coating and photoresist applications.     

Synthesis and surface properties of polyurethane modified by polysiloxane

A series of polyurethanes modified by polysiloxane (Si-PU) were synthesized based on 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), dihydroxybutyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (DHPDMS), polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that DHPDMS had been incorporated into the polyurethane chains. With the increase of DHPDMS content, the water contact angle increased while the surface tension decreased. As the DHPDMS content increases above 5%, both the contact angle and the surface tension tend to approach a constant. The contact angle increases with increasing temperature, and it tends to approach a constant when the temperature is higher than 50°C. The result indicates that Si-PU exhibits good surface and mechanical properties when the DHPDMS content is 5%. __________ Translated from Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, 2007, 23(3): 47–50 [译自: 高分子科学与工程]     

Synthesis and structure-related adsorption characteristics of bifunctional polysiloxane xerogels with methyl and 3-mercaptopropyl groups

Polysiloxane xerogels containing 3-mercaptopropyl and methyl groups in the surface layer were synthesized by the sol-gel method with ethanol used as a solvent and fluoride ion used as a catalyst. It is established that an increase in the relative content of methyltriethoxysilane in the initial reaction mixture results in formation of xerogels with a developed porous structure. The tendency for an increase in other characteristics of porous structure, the sorption volume and pore size, is also observed. The analogous effect is found upon increasing relative content of tetraethoxysilane with a constant ratio between two trifunctional silanes. By means of atomic force microscopy, it is shown that the xerogels are composed of aggregated particles with mean sizes of 35–45 nm. These results correlate with the data of scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of the data of IR spectroscopy and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy, it is concluded that the surface layers contain not only 3-mercaptopropyl and methyl groups but also silanol groups, a part of the unhydrolyzed alkoxy groups, and water molecules involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds. The results obtained by ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy testify that, in synthesized xerogels, the structural units of T¹ type [(≡SiO)Si(OR′)₂CH₃ and/or (≡SiO)Si(OR′)₂(CH₂)₃SH, R′ = H, OCH₃ or OC₂H₅] are absent and the structural units of T³ type [(≡SiO)₃SiCH₃ and (≡SiO)₃Si(CH₂)₃SH] dominate compared to the units of T² type [(≡SiO)₂Si(OR′)CH₃ and (≡SiO)₂Si(OR′)(CH₂)₃SH]. These results are an indirect indication of enhanced hydrolytic stability of surface layers in such xerogels.     

Synthesis of silica xerogels with highly distinct morphologies in the presence of imidazolium ionic liquids

This article describes the preparation of silica xerogels by the sol–gel technique, using tetraethoxysilane as precursor and hydrofluoric acid as catalyst, in the presence of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs). The applied ILs 1–3 contained the 1-monoethylene glycol monomethyl ether-3-methylimidazolium cation in combination with the methanesulfonate (1), tetrafluoroborate (2) and hexafluorophosphate (3) anions, respectively. Characterization of these materials was performed by photography, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The IL anion was identified as a powerful morphology controller. The methanesulfonate anion of IL 1 induced the formation of a compact lamellar monolith with an interlamellar distance of 1.5 nm and a flat surface. A free flowing powder of aggregated spherical particles was obtained in the presence of tetrafluoroborate IL 2, and the hexafluorophosphate anion of IL 3 induced the formation of porcelain like aggregates with honeycomb shapes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The preparation of polysiloxane xerogels containing amide derivatives of phosphonic and thiophosphonic acids in the surface layer

Xerogels containing residues of amide derivatives of phosphonic and thiophosphonic acids, ≡Si(CH₂)₃NHP(S, O)(OC₂H₅)₂ (functional group concentration of 1.3–2.2 mmol/g) have been prepared by a sol-gel method. It has been shown that xerogels having a developed porous structure (with specific surface areas of 240–485 m²/g, pore volumes of 0.20–0.50 cm³/g, and pore diameters of 3.6–6.5 nm) are formed at tetraethoxysilane-to-trifunctional silane ratios of 4: 1 (and above) and 6: 1 (and above) for the derivatives of phosphonic and thiophosphonic acids, respectively. The IR and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy data have demonstrated that the surface layer of the xerogels contains not only (thio)phosphonic acid residues, but also silanol groups and water molecules participating in hydrogen bonding. The ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy data have indicated that structural groups are, for the most part, contained in structural units T³ [(≡SiO)₃Si(CH₂)₃NHP(O, S)(OC₂H₅)₂] and T² [(≡SiO)₂Si(OR)[(CH₂)₃NHP(O, S)(OC₂H₅)₂] (R = H or C₂H₅).     

Synthesis of aliphatic diamine and polyetherimide with long perfluoroalkyl side chain

The monomer, 2-(perfluorohexylmethyl)butan-1,4-diamine (TFD), was prepared from itaconic acid dimethyl ester via the addition of perfluorohexyl iodide followed by the gradual transformation of ester groups into amino groups. The polymerization of bisphenol-A diphthalic anhydride (BAPA) with TFD led to hydrophobic fluorinated polyetherimide (FPEI) with R_F=C₆F₁₃ side chain. This polymer makes it possible to cast films.     

Synthesis and physicochemical properties of polysiloxane functionalized with aminoacetic acid groups

Polysiloxane functionalized with aminoacetic acid groups was synthesized using sol–gel technology. Elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy were used to determine the composition of the polysiloxane show that it is a mesoporous material with a developed surface (109.4 m2/g). It was found that the selective properties of carboxymethylated polysiloxane towards transition metal ions simultaneously present in an ammonium acetate solution change in the order Zn < Cu > Ni > Co > Pb > Cd. It was shown that the sorption of copper(II) ions by carboxymethylated aminopropylpolysiloxane with particle sizes of 50–71 μm reaches its maximum level within 2 h; the rate-limiting step of the process is the chemical reaction between the ions and the polysiloxane functional groups; and the pseudo-second-order model is the best way of describing sorption.     

Synthesis and monolayer properties of double-chained phosphatidylcholines containing perfluoroalkyl groups of different length

A series of double-chained phosphatidylcholines (PCs), 1,2-dioctadec-9′-ynoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine analogs containing perfluoroalkyl moieties (CF₃, C₂F₅, n-C₄F₉ or n-C₈F₁₇) as the terminal segment in two hydrophobic chains, 1a-d, were synthesized. Equilibrium spreading pressures of these fluorinated PCs at the air-water interface were measured as an indication of monolayer stability, in order to obtain the minimal fluorine content in PC molecule efficient to exhibit monolayer stabilizing effect. The monolayer stability sigmoidally increased with the fluorine content in PC molecule and subsequently leveled off above a certain fluorine content, i.e., n-C₄F₉ moiety, at 25 °C. Under this condition, the replacement of at least five hydrogen atoms at the terminal hydrophobic segment in double-chained PC molecule by fluorine atoms, i.e., CF₃CF₂ moiety, is required to exhibit the monolayer stabilizing effect, whereas further fluorination of double-chained PC (F(CF₂)_n; n > 4) has a minor effect on the monolayer stability.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel UV-curable Fluorinated Polyurethane-acrylate Copolymer

A series of UV-curable fluorinated polyurethane-acrylate(PUA) has been developed by incorporating octafluoropentyl alcohol into the segment of UV-curable polyurethane-acrylate to improve the thermal property and surface property of the copolymer material. The structures of the synthesized polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectrometry. In order to find out the effect of incorporated fluorine on the UV-cured films, the properties of the UV-cured films were tested through contact angle, water absorption, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The fractured-surface morphologies of the UV-cured coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). With increasing the content of fluorine segments, the contact angle of the UV-cured films increased and the water absorption decreased, suggesting the fluorine segments migrated and formed a fluorine-covered surface to avoid water penetration. The observation of the fractured-surface morphology through SEM test showed that the fluorinated UV-cured films gained rough fractured-surface compared with the pure UV-cured polyacrylate film, demonstrating the migrating of the fluorine segments. The TGA curves show that the fluorinated UV-cured films gained higher thermal degradation temperature than the virgin UV-cured polyacrylate film. And as increasing the fluorine content, the thermal degradation temperature increased. These phenomena could be reasonably explained by the enrichment of fluorinecontained segment on the surface of the film and the high thermal property due to fluorine atom.     

Synthesis and surface activities of organic solvent-soluble fluorinated surfactants

A variety of fluorinated surfactants soluble in organic solvent were prepared, including C₈F₁₇SO₂NHC_nH_2n+1 (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), C₈F₁₇SO₂NHR (R = C₆H₁₁, C₆H₅), C₈F₁₇SO₂N(C_nH_2n+1)₂ (n = 1, 2, 3, 4) and C₈F₁₇SO₂NH(CH₂)_nNHO₂SC₈F₁₇ (n = 6, 10). Their surface activities in various organic solvents were determined by surface tension measurement. The results showed that these fluorinated surfactants can reduce the surface tension of both polar and non-polar organic solvents. In general, organic solvents with strong polarity or long alkyl chain are beneficial to increase the surface activity of these polar fluorinated surfactants. By comparing fluorinated surfactants with the same fluorocarbon segment and connecting group, C₈F₁₇SO₂N(C_nH_2n+1)₂ (n = 1, 2, 3, 4) showed lower surface activity in organic solvents than C₈F₁₇SO₂NHC_nH_2n+1 (n = 2, 4, 6, 8) with an equal carbon number of the solvophilic group. Through surface tension vs. concentration curves given for N-octyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide in various organic solvents, a break point like the critical micelle concentration of ordinary surfactants in aqueous solutions was observed, and the effect of the different types of organic solvents on adsorption and aggregation behavior was also studied.     

Synthesis of caffeic acid molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres and high-performance liquid chromatography evaluation of their sorption properties

In the current work, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been synthesised and used to enable the extraction of a naturally-occurring antioxidant from complex media. More specifically, we describe the first example of a caffeic acid (CA) MIP which has been synthesised in the form of well-defined polymer microspheres, and its use for the extraction of CA from fruit juice sample. The CA MIP was synthesised by precipitation polymerisation using 4-vinylpyridine as functional monomer, divinylbenzene-80 as crosslinker and acetonitrile:toluene (75/25, v/v) as porogen. The particle sizing and morphological characterisation of the polymers was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy (narrow particle size distribution; ～5 and 1.5 μm particle diameters for the MIP and NIP [non-imprinted polymer], respectively) and nitrogen sorption porosimetry (specific surface areas of 340 and 350 m(2)g(-1), and specific pore volumes of 0.17 and 0.19 cm(3)g(-1) for the MIP and NIP, respectively). The polymers were evaluated further by batch rebinding experiments, and from the derived isotherms their binding capacity and binding strength were determined (number of binding sites (N(K))=0.6 and 0.3 mmol g(-1) for the MIP and NIP, respectively, and apparent average adsorption constant (K(N))=10.0 and 1.6L mmol(-1) for the MIP and NIP, respectively). To evaluate the molecular recognition character of the MIP it was packed into a stainless steel column (50 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.) and evaluated as an HPLC-stationary phase. The mobile phase composition, flow rate, and the elution profile were then optimised in order to improve the peak shape without negatively affecting the imprinting factor (IF). Very interesting, promising properties were revealed. The imprinting factor (IF) under the optimised conditions was 11.9. Finally, when the imprinted LC column was used for the selective recognition of CA over eight related compounds, very good selectivity was obtained. This outcome enabled the direct extraction of CA in commercial apple juice samples with recoveries in excess of 81% and, rather significantly, without any need for a clean-up step prior to the extraction.     

Synthesis and surface properties of fluorinated block copolymers containing sulfonic groups

A series of fluorinated block copolymers with different fluorinated block lengths and compositions were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and then the block copolymers containing sulfonic groups with various sulfonation levels were successfully prepared further via a sulfonation reaction. These well‐defined block copolymers were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The surface activities of the fluorinated block copolymers containing sulfonic groups in N‐methyl pyrrolidone solution and the surface properties of the films prepared from such a solution were examined, and the experimental results showed that the fluorinated block copolymers exhibited a high surface activity in solution and quite a low solid surface energy of films, even though they contain hydrophilic sulfonic groups. The critical surface tensions of these copolymers were estimated and were comparable to that of polytetrafluoroethylene. Even more interestingly, the surface activities of the block copolymers containing sulfonic groups or sodium sulfonate groups in aqueous solution were also measured. It was found that the surface activity in aqueous solution was weaker than that in N‐methyl pyrrolidone solution and depended on both the length of the fluorinated block and the sulfonation level of the block copolymers. The surface properties of the films prepared from the block copolymers in aqueous solution were tested, and most of these films exhibited a hydrophilic surface property. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4809–4819, 2004     

Adsorption of toxic organic compounds from water with hydrophobic silica aerogels

Silica monolith aerogels with different degrees of hydrophobicity were prepared by incorporating methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) or trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) in standard sol-gel synthesis followed by supercritical drying of gels with carbon dioxide (CO(2)) at 40 degrees C and 100 bar. The hydrophobicity of the aerogels was tested by measuring the contact angle (theta). The aerogels were also characterised by FTIR, DSC, and porosity measurements. Adsorption capacity measurements show that such modified hydrophobic silica aerogels are excellent adsorbents for different toxic organic compounds from water. In comparison to granulated active carbon (GAC) they exhibit capacities which are from 15 to 400 times higher for all tested compounds. Adsorption properties of hydrophobic silica aerogel remain stable even after 20 adsorption/desorption cycles.     

On the modification of solid adsorbents with volatile organics II. The role of the layer adsorbed

Summary This paper presents a continuation of our research dedicated to solid-adsorbent surface modification with what are commonly regarded as volatile and easily eluted organic compounds. Two porous adsorbents were used: natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) and alumina, while the adsorbates employed were n-hepatane and benzene. The results show that a simple injection of volatile adsorbate greatly alters the solid surface adsorption properties. The consequences of volatile modifier application are discussed on the grounds of adsorption isotherms determined at 313K. Possible implications to the tailor made adsorbents are outlined as well.Part I, J. Chromatogr.442, 105 (1988)     

A new approach to control the dispersion of platinum nanoparticles in a metal oxide coating

The present work shows the feasibility of preparing transparent titania coatings being doped with platinum nanoparticles by sol–gel processing. The used platinum nanoparticles are modified by two different functional thiol ligands, mercaptoethanol and mercaptopropionic acid. The functional ligands are used to create a nanoparticle network and they can also promote anchorage of titanium alkoxides as sol–gel precursors, ensuring a regular distribution of the metal nanoparticles within the coating as well as a good stability to the film.     

Cationic and anionic environments in LiTFSI-doped di-ureasils with application in solid-state electrochromic devices

Fourier Transform mid-infrared and Raman spectroscopies were used to investigate the cation/polymer, cation/urea bridge, cation/anion and hydrogen bonding interactions in poly(oxyethylene) (POE)/siloxane di-ureasil networks prepared by the sol–gel route and doped with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Materials with compositions 200 ?n ? 5 (where n expresses the molar ratio OCH₂CH₂/Li⁺) were studied. The Li⁺ ions coordinate to the urea carbonyl oxygen atoms over the whole range of salt concentration considered. Bonding to the ether oxygen atoms of the POE chains occurs at n ? 40, although a significant fraction of the POE chains remain non-coordinated. In these high salt content samples, the cations interact with the anions forming contact ion pairs. “Free” ions are probably the main charge carriers at the room temperature conductivity maximum of these ormolytes.     

Synthesis of fluorine-containing tetraketones and diketo esters and luminescence-spectral properties of their complexes with lanthanide ions

The Claisen condensation of diesters of fluorinated dicarboxylic acids with 2-acetyl-naphthalene affords the corresponding naphthyl-containing tetraketones and diketo esters. The luminescence-spectral properties and stability constants of complexes of these compounds with Eu³⁺ ions were estimated. The characteristics of the complexes are comparable with those of fluorinated β-diketones containing chromophoric substituents, which are widely used in luminescence analysis. The synthesized naphthyl-containing diketo esters are efficiently conjugated with proteins and can be used for detection of biospecific interactions. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 269—273, February, 2006.     

Synthesis and interfacial properties of amphiphilic β-cyclodextrins and their substitution at the O-6 position with a mono bio-recognisable galactosyl antenna

The synthesis of a mono-galactosylated amphiphilic β-cyclodextrin, in five steps from mono-6-azido-6-deoxy-β-cyclodextrin, via coupling to a N-β-d-galactopyranosylamino-antenna is described. Both characterization by electrospray mass spectrometry and NMR show the presence of only the mono-substituted product. The Langmuir isotherms of the final product and intermediates are described.