Electrospinning: a fascinating method for the preparation of ultrathin fibers

Electrospinning is a highly versatile method to process solutions or melts, mainly of polymers, into continuous fibers with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to a few nanometers. This technique is applicable to virtually every soluble or fusible polymer. The polymers can be chemically modified and can also be tailored with additives ranging from simple carbon-black particles to complex species such as enzymes, viruses, and bacteria. Electrospinning appears to be straightforward, but is a rather intricate process that depends on a multitude of molecular, process, and technical parameters. The method provides access to entirely new materials, which may have complex chemical structures. Electrospinning is not only a focus of intense academic investigation; the technique is already being applied in many technological areas.     

原位探测防污高分子材料与液体界面的分子结构

Marine organisms such as plants, algae or small animals can adhere to surfaces of materials that are submerged in ocean. The accumulation of these organisms on surfaces is a marine biofouling process that has considerable adverse effects. Marine biofouling on ship hulls can cause severe fuel consumption increase. Investigations on antifouling polymers are therefore becoming important research topics for marine vessel operations. Antifouling polymers can be applied as coating layers on the ship hull, protecting it against the settlement and growth of sea organisms. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a hydrophilic polymer that can effectively resist the accumulation of marine organisms. PEG-based antifouling coatings have therefore been extensively researched and developed. However, the inferior stability of PEG makes it subject to degradation, rendering it ineffective for long-term services. Zwitterionic polymers have also emerged as promising antifouling materials in recent years. These polymers consist of both positively charged and negatively charged functional groups. Various zwitterionic polymers have been demonstrated to exhibit exceptional antifouling properties. Previously, surface characterizations of zwitterionic polymers have revealed that strong surface hydration is critical for their antifouling properties. In addition to these hydrophilic polymers, amphiphilic materials have also been developed as potential antifouling coatings. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic functional groups are incorporated into the backbones or sidechains of these polymers. It has been demonstrated that the antifouling performance can be enhanced by precisely controlling the sequence of the hydrophobic-hydrophilic functionalities. Since biofouling generally occurs at the outer surface of the coatings, the antifouling properties of these coatings are closely related to their surface characteristics in water. Therefore, understanding of the surface molecular structures of antifouling materials is imperative for their future developments. In this review, we will summarize our recent advancements of antifouling material surface analysis using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. SFG is a surface-sensitive technique which can provide molecular information of water and polymer structures at interfaces in situ in real time. The antifouling polymers we will review include zwitterionic polymer brushes, mixed charged polymers, and amphiphilic polypeptoids. Interfacial hydration studies of these polymers by SFG will be presented. The salt effect on antifouling polymer surface hydration will also be discussed. In addition, the interactions between antifouling materials and protein molecules as well as algae will be reviewed. The above research clearly established strong correlations between strong surface hydration and good antifouling properties. It also demonstrated that SFG is a powerful technique to provide molecular level understanding of polymer antifouling mechanisms.     

Plasmochemical modification of fluorocarbon polymers for creation of new hemocompatible materials

The various plasmochemical technique for the surface functionalization and regulation of the biological characteristics of fluorocarbon polymers aimed at the enhance their blood compatibility are described. The plasmochemical treatment in oxygen and nitrogen containing gases has been used to increase of surface energy and hydrophoby of fluorocarbon polymers. Modification of the surface morphology and chemical structure to improve thromboresistive properties of polymers by plasma etching and deposition of biocompatible materials was demonstrated and discussed. Plasma-assisted immobilization of proteins in combination with other plasma modification methods provides a promising technique for engineering of a new generation of hemocompatible materials.     

智能水凝胶在生物医学领域中的研究进展

水凝胶是最常用的生物材料之一。它们在化学和结构上的多样性使其能够在广泛的场景中使用,目前 水凝胶材料在生物医药领域主要用于药物输送、癌症治疗和伤口愈合等。聚合物网络是水凝胶的核心组成部分,赋予水凝胶最独特的功能和性质。在分子层面上可以控制水凝胶的连接方式和聚合物的网络结构。因此,在材料研发的初期,了解聚合物网络的连接方式、结构、功能和特性,选择合适的聚合物对于制备特定功能的水凝胶至关重要。本文首先概述了水凝胶的凝胶机理和影响凝胶的因素,在分子层面上可以控制聚合物网络的形成,从而制备临床上需要的水凝胶。最后介绍了水凝胶在临床医学上的应用,展望了水凝胶材料的未来发展趋势。     

Recent progress in EPR study of spin labeled polymers and spin probed polymer systems

The EPR technique is commonly used for the detection and characterization of paramagnetic centers in chemical science. This method can provides a lot of information, such as identity, structure, dynamics, interaction, orientation, glass transition temperature, adsorption behavior, functionality, phase behavior, nano-inhomogeneities, and conformation of the free-radical portion of the polymer chain. Most polymers intrinsically possess diamagnetic properties, so in order to study polymers with EPR, paramagnetic centers need to be incorporated into the polymer systems. Spin labeling and spin probing are main methods of covalently attaching paramagnetic centers to polymer chains or embedding them in polymer matrices through non-covalent interactions, respectively. Spin labeling and spin probing techniques for polymers and polymer systems (especially with nitroxide radicals) have also been studied, which have a profound impact on polymer science. This review focuses on the continuous wave EPR technique and introduces the recent advances in spin labeled polymers and spin probed polymer systems in EPR research.     

Thermal desorption characterisation of molecularly imprinted polymers. Part I: a novel study using direct-probe GC-MS analysis

A novel thermal desorption technique using a direct-probe device (Chromatoprobe) attached to a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer is presented for the thermal pretreatment, characterisation and analysis of molecularly imprinted polymers. The technique is demonstrated as effective for the removal of volatile materials, including template and unreacted monomers, from methacrylic acid–ethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymers imprinted with 2-aminopyridine. Mass spectrometry is a powerful technique for polymer bleed characterisation. Thermal desorption studies on reloaded template and related compounds are reported as a means of assessing polymer morphology, specific binding by imprinted polymers compared with reference non-imprinted polymers and selective binding by an imprinted polymer for its template. Calibration studies on the thermal desorption technique using an internal standard are presented with R ² > 0.999. The technique provides a novel method for assessment of polymer thermal stability, composition and morphology.     

Weighing synthetic polymers of ultra‐high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials: What can we learn from charge detection mass spectrometry?

Advances in soft ionization techniques for mass spectrometry (MS) of polymeric materials make it possible to determine the masses of intact molecular ions exceeding megadaltons. Interfacing MS with separation and fragmentation methods has additionally led to impressive advances in the ability to structurally characterize polymers. Even if the gap to the megadalton range has been bridged by MS for polymers standards, the MS‐based analysis for more complex polymeric materials is still challenging. Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is a single‐molecule method where the mass and the charge of each ion are directly determined from individual measurements. The entire molecular mass distribution of a polymer sample can be thus accurately measured. Described in this perspective paper is how molecular weight distribution as well as charge distribution can provide new insights into the structural and compositional studies of synthetic polymers and polymeric nanomaterials in the megadalton to gigadalton range of molecular weight. The recent multidimensional CDMS studies involving couplings with separation and dissociation techniques will be presented. And, finally, an outlook for the future avenues of the CDMS technique in the field of synthetic polymers of ultra‐high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials will be provided.     

Polymer decoration on carbon nanotubes via physical vapor deposition

The polymer decoration technique has been widely used to study the chain folding behavior of polymer single crystals. In this article, we demonstrate that this method can be successfully adopted to pattern a variety of polymers on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The resulting structure is a two-dimensional nanohybrid shish kebab (2D NHSK), wherein the CNT forms the shish and the polymer crystals form the kebabs. 2D NHSKs consisting of CNTs and polymers such as polyethylene, nylon 66, polyvinylidene fluoride and poly(L-lysine) have been achieved. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to study the nanoscale morphology of these hybrid materials. Relatively periodic decoration of polymers on both single-walled and multi-walled CNTs was observed. It is envisaged that this unique method offers a facile means to achieve patterned CNTs for nanodevice applications.     

Inorganic-Organic Polymers as Migration Barriers Against Liquid and Volatile Compounds

In addition to the barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen, inorganic-organic polymers can also function as protection layers against unwanted migration of chemical substances in two ways. First, hybrid polymers prevent components from migrating out of polymer substrates. This is of special interest for polymeric materials containing substances like plasticizing agents, unreacted monomers or catalysts. Thus the olfactory nuisance and the toxicological emission are decreased. The plastics are also prevented from becoming prematurely brittle. Second, the coated materials are also protected against the interaction of dyes or dirt staining the material.These functions can be achieved by thermally or UV curable coating materials, synthesized by the sol-gel technique. Since several polymer materials show only a low heat resistance (e.g. PVC, polyolefines), this publication is focussed on the development of new migration barriers based on photochemically curable sols.Another advantage of the UV process in comparison to thermal treatments are the short curing times and low power consumption which make this process even more attractive for industrial applications. The coatings were characterized by IR and solid state NMR spectroscopy. The migration barrier properties were tested according to industrial standards.Due to the choice of specific functional groups, these hybrid polymers can be further modified in order to combine the migration barrier function with additional properties: scratch and abrasion resistance, hydrophobicity, antistatic effects. Examples of feasible combinations of properties are also given.     

Time‐resolved Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection spectroscopy for the measurement of molecular diffusion in polymers

Over the past 2 decades, the use of time‐resolved Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy for the measurement of diffusion in polymers has grown. ATR is a powerful technique for the measurement of diffusion in polymers because it is an in situ technique that is relatively inexpensive, provides reliable short‐time data, and provides a wealth of information at the molecular level. This article highlights the technique and its application to numerous studies, ranging from the diffusion of drugs in human skin to chemical warfare agents in barrier materials. In addition to these topics, recent studies with ATR to quantify and model molecular interactions during the diffusion process are reviewed. In the future, the ATR technique may have an impact on a variety of emerging fields in which diffusion in polymers plays an important role, such as fuel cells, membrane separation, sensors, and drug delivery. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2794–2807, 2003     

导电高分子的最近进展

因为导电高分子结合了金属与塑料的优点,他们一直受到很大的关注。但是他们的应用受到一些因素的影响,包括他们的电学性质,稳定性和可加工性。近来,导电高分子的性能得到很大的提高。他们在许多领域的重要应用被论证,比如透明电极,可拉伸电极,神经界面,热电转换和能量储存。这篇文章简单综述了导电高分子的电导提高和它们在热电转换,超级电容器和电池的应用。     

Pulsed radiofrequency glow discharge time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for molecular depth profiling of polymer‐based films

We demonstrate the potential of an innovative technique, pulsed radiofrequency glow discharge time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, for the molecular depth profiling of polymer materials. The technique benefits from the presence, in the afterglow of the pulsed glow discharge, of fragment ions that can be related to the structures of the polymers under study. Thin films of different polymers (PMMA, PET, PAMS, PS) were successfully profiled with retention of molecular information along the profile. Multilayered structures of the above polymers were also profiled, and it was possible to discriminate among layers having similar elemental composition but different polymer structure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depolarized light and differential thermal analyses of some polyolefin transitions

The depolarized light intensity (DLI) technique detec's transitions in birefringent materials by simultaneously measuring sample temperature and intensity of polarized light roatated by the sample. Most polyolefins in the solid state rotate 30–40% of the polarized light. At any temperature at which the sample exhibits an ordered state, some rotation occurs. Temperatures of transitions and changes in refractive index can be determined in this way. Many of these transitions can also be followed by the well-known method of differential thermal analysis (DTA). A comparison of DLI and DTA curves of polyethylene, polypropylene, mixtures of these polymers, and block copolymers of ethylene and propylene shows the two techniques to be complementary and of use in determining the physical behavior of these polymers. Instrumentation and system variables of the DLI technique are discussed.     

Nanoporous thermosetting polymers

Potential applications of nanoporous thermosetting polymers include polyelectrolytes in fuel cells, separation membranes, adsorption media, and sensors. Design of nanoporous polymers for such applications entails controlling permeability by tailoring pore size, structure, and interface chemistry. Nanoporous thermosetting polymers are often synthesized via free radical mechanisms using solvents that phase separate during polymerization. In this work, a novel technique for the synthesis of nanoporous thermosets is presented that is based on the reactive encapsulation of an inert solvent using step-growth cross-linking polymerization without micro/macroscopic phase separation. The criteria for selecting such a monomer-polymer-solvent system are discussed based on FTIR analysis, observed micro/macroscopic phase separation, and thermodynamics of swelling. Investigation of resulting network pore structures by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering following extraction and supercritical drying using carbon dioxide showed that nanoporous polymeric materials with pore sizes ranging from 1 to 50 nm can be synthesized by varying the solvent content. The differences in the porous morphology of these materials compared to more common free radically polymerized analogues that exhibit phase separation were evident from SEM imaging. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the chemical activity of the nanoporous materials obtained by our method could be tailored by grafting appropriate functional groups at the pore interface.     

Polymeric liquid crystals: structural basis for ferroelectric and nonlinear optical properties

This paper describes the rational design and structure–property relations in three different types of polar LC polymers with interesting material properties, as follows. (i) Chiral LC polymers, which are functionalized with crosslinkable groups, can be converted into LC elastomers with chiral smectic C^* phases. The mechanical orientability of these elastomers leads to new piezoelectric materials. (ii) The curing (dense crosslinking) of a polymer matrix provides one possibility of stabilizing the polar order of dye molecules, which is necessary for frequency doubling. Additionally, LC phases can help to stabilize this polar structure, which leads to large and stable nonlinear optical coefficients. (iii) Polymer analogous esterifications offer a convenient method for the synthesis of chiral smectic C^* polymers with large ferrolectric polarizations.     

超高效聚合物色谱法测定酚化解聚木质素的相对分子质量

超高效聚合物色谱法(APC)是一种新开发的高分辨聚合物表征技术,能在10 min内完成聚合物的高效分辨分离,同时获得聚合物的平均相对分子质量及其分布参数。实验以水溶性热酚化解聚木质素为研究对象,探索了APC测试水性体系高分子相对分子质量及其分布参数的条件。在以弱碱性磷酸盐缓冲液为流动相,采用Waters水溶性ACQUITY APC AQ 450 Å、200 Å、45 Å 3根色谱柱串联,进样量为10 μL,流速为0.5 mL/min的条件下,获得了复杂水相体系木质素磺酸盐解聚产物的平均相对分子质量及其分布参数,且相对标准偏差(RSD)低于1%。结果表明,与传统的凝胶渗透色谱相比,APC方法具有分辨率高、重现性强的优点。本实验为高性能天然高分子的高效分离、结构分析提供了新的方法和途径,同时为木质素的解聚和液化产物调控机理的研究提供了可行的方法。     

甲壳型液晶高分子的构筑、自组装及其功能化

甲壳型液晶高分子的发展很大程度上依赖于聚合物自组装的发展,而各种可设计、可预测、可调控的自组装策略的涌现,将甲壳型液晶高分子研究推向前所未有的高度,同时也极大地丰富了高分子化学与物理的内容,提升了研究水准.研究表明,侧链"甲壳效应"在调控甲壳型液晶高分子有序结构等方面有着重要作用.本综述从甲壳型液晶高分子设计合成、液晶相态调控、嵌段共聚物自组装和功能化应用等方面,总结和评述了近年来该领域国内的最新研究进展.最后,本综述总结了甲壳型液晶高分子在发展中所面临的主要问题,并对其发展趋势进行了展望.     

Analysis of volatile organic compounds in polymers by dynamic headspace and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

An experimental method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in polymers is described. The technique involves dynamic headspace sampling, collection, and concentration of the volatiles in a cold trap, followed by capillary column gas chromatography/mass spectometry. Flow switching is carried out by the Deans switching technique. Four technical polymers used as pharmaceutical packaging materials have been analyzed in order to demonstrate the method.     

Highly Luminescent Thin Films of the Dense Framework 3∞[EuIm2] with Switchable Transparency Formed by Scanning Femtosecond‐Pulse Laser Deposition

Highly luminescent switchable thin films of the dense framework ³_∞[EuIm₂] were deposited by a scanning laser ablation technique using a femtosecond laser. The films can be controlled in terms of film thickness and amount of material deposited such that the material properties of the bulk material are retained on the nanometer scale. Polycrystalline films are formed that can be switched between transparent at visible light and nontransparent at UV light due to the intrinsic luminescence of the hybrid material, expanding the concept of smart films. The new femtosecond pulsed laser deposition method also provides a novel approach for coatings with framework compounds and coordination polymers.