Soluble,saturated‐red‐light‐emitting poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) containing triphenylamine units and cyano groups

A conjugated poly(p‐CN‐phenylenevinylene) (PCNPV) containing both electron‐donating triphenylamine units and electron‐withdrawing cyano groups was prepared via Knoevenagel condensation in a good yield. Gel permeation chromatography suggested that the soluble polymer had a very high weight‐average molecular weight of 309,000. A bright and saturated red emission was observed under UV excitation in solution and film. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the polymer presented quasi‐reversible oxidation with a relatively low potential because of the triphenylamine unit. A single‐layer indium tin oxide/PCNPV/Mg–Ag device emitted a bright red light (633 nm). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3947–3953, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble polyimides containing trifluoromethyl groups in their backbone

A series of polyimides were synthesized from 2,2‐Bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane, 2,2‐bis(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐hexafluoropropane, and 4,4′‐oxydianiline by chemical imidization. The effects of the diamine ratios on the properties of the films were evaluated through the study of their thermal, electrical, and morphological properties. All the polymers exhibited better solubility in most of the organic solvents and hence were easily processable. Polyimides with more 2,2‐bis(3‐amino‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐hexafluoropropane exhibited better solubility and a low refractive index, which is highly desired for microelectronic applications. The dielectric constant and birefringence were strongly dependent on the fluorine content. With an increase in the fluorine substitution, both the dielectric constant and birefringence decreased. All the polymers exhibited high thermal stability (>400 °C). The absence of crystalline melting in differential scanning calorimetry and broad wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed the amorphous nature of the polymers, which was due to the presence of bulky CF₃ groups and hinged ether linkages of the diamine component. The residual stress values decreased with an increase in the 4,4′‐oxydianiline content, and the results were in agreement with the dielectric constant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4303–4312, 2004     

Ionic conductivity of multiarm star polymer/LiClO4 electrolytes

A series of polymer electrolytes based on multiarm polymers and lithium salt complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and impedance measurement. The relationships of conductivity with salt concentration, temperature, and arm numbers are discussed. It is suggested that the star polymer has a higher solvency and ion transfer ability on lithium salts than on linear polymers. The conductivity maximum appeared at a higher salt concentration ([EO]/[Li] = 4). Impedance measurement suggested that the optimum conductivity was 2 × 10^?4 s · cm^?1. The conductivity increased with temperature and the dependence of ionic conductivity on temperature fits the Arrhenius equation. Among the studied systems, the star polymer with a five arm number performs better than other structures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4195–4198, 2004     

Influence of solvents on the formation of ultrathin uniform poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanofibers with electrospinning

Although there have been many reports on the preparation and applications of various polymer nanofibers with the electrospinning technique, the understanding of synthetic parameters in electrospinning remains limited. In this article, we investigate experimentally the influence of solvents on the morphology of the poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) micro/nanofibers prepared by electrospinning PVP solution in different solvents, including ethanol, dichloromethane (MC) and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF). Using 4 wt % PVP solutions, the PVP fibers prepared from MC and DMF solvents had a shape like a bead‐on‐a‐string. In contrast, smooth PVP nanofibers were obtained with ethanol as a solvent although the size distribution of the fibers was somewhat broadened. In an effort to prepare PVP nanofibers with small diameters and narrow size distributions, we developed a strategy of using mixed solvents. The experimental results showed that when the ratio of DMF to ethanol was 50:50 (w/w), regular cylindrical PVP nanofibers with a diameter of 20 nm were successfully prepared. The formation of these thinnest nanofibers could be attributed to the combined effects of ethanol and DMF solvents that optimize the solution viscosity and charge density of the polymer jet. In addition, an interesting helical‐shaped fiber was obtained from 20 wt % PVP solution in a 50:50 (w/w) mixed ethanol/DMF solvent. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3721–3726, 2004     

Viscosity,particle size distribution,and structural investigation of tetramethyloxysilane/2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate sols during the sol–gel process with acid and base catalysts

The tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)/2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hybrid gels were synthesized with acid and base catalysts, via the in situ polymerization of HEMA, with and without the cosolvent methanol. With methanol in the TMOS/HEMA sol, the enhanced esterification and depolymerization reactions of the silanols resulted in a slower growth of silica particles. The silica particles that were synthesized with an acid catalyst were less than 40 nm. The thermal resistance of the poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) chains was enhanced by the addition of colloidal silica. The Fourier transform infrared characterizations and the exothermal peaks on the differential scanning calorimetry traces of these hybrid gels indicated chemical hybridization occurring as a result of condensation of the colloid silica and PHEMA at higher temperatures. Hence, the residual weight content of the hybrid gel after its synthesis with the base catalyst was even higher than the content of TMOS in the hybrid sol. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3476–3486, 2004     

Resonance-stabilized phenoxy-like radicals formed by NO-mediated mono-nitration of coumarins containing a hydroxy group

Stable aminoxyls and an iminoxyl were observed by spin trapping and EPR techniques during the nitration of coumarins containing a hydroxy group by nitric oxide. The trapped free radicals are deduced to be the resonance stabilized phenoxy-like radicals. The mechanisms for the nitrations are suggested.     

Ferritin immunosensing on microfabricated electrodes based on the integration of immunoprecipitation and electrochemical signaling reactions.

A signal registration strategy from micropatterned immunosensors that converts antigen-antibody binding reactions into electrochemical signals was demonstrated. An array-type micropatterned gold electrode on a silicon wafer was fabricated, containing two electrode geometries of rectangular (100 microm x 500 microm) and circular (r. 50 microm) types, exhibiting electrochemical characteristics of bulk and micro-electrodes, respectively. Ferritin was employed as a model analyte for immunosensing because it has an advantageous molecular structure for functionalization to the sensing interface, and is regarded as a general marker protein for tumors and cancer recurrence. With the fabricated and ferritin-functionalized immunosensors, biospecific interactions were performed with antiferritin antiserum and secondary antibody samples, followed by electrochemical signaling via an immunoprecipitation reaction by the label enzyme. Under the optimized affinity-surface construction steps and reaction conditions, both types of microfabricated electrodes exhibited well-defined calibration results as a function of the protein concentration in antiserum samples. Furthermore, circular-type micropatterned immunoelectrodes exhibited voltammetric characteristics of microelectrodes, which is advantageous in terms of sensor operation under a fixed potential and low signal drift during the signaling reaction compared with the bulk-type electrodes. The results support that the employed signaling method with the proposed immunosensor configuration is fit for sensor miniaturization and integration to future biomicrosystems.     

Fluorescent-based single-strand conformation polymorphism/heteroduplex capillary electrophoretic mutation analysis of the P53 gene.

Fluorescent-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (F-SSCP) analysis with capillary electrophoresis (CE) is the most common method for the detection of mutation because of its high sensitivity and resolution. In this study, we prepared an inexpensive linear polyacrylamide (LPA), and successfully applied it to CE-SSCP analysis and tandem CE-SSCP/heteroduplex analysis (HA) of the P53 gene on an ABI capillary genetic analyzer. A comparison of the sieving capabilities of a homemade LPA and commercial polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) demonstrates that the homemade LPA has a higher resolution, a shorter analysis time, and is more suitable for tandem SSCP/HA than commercial PDMA. To show the usefulness, mutations of P53 gene exon 7 - 8 in 37 tumor samples were investigated by using homemade LPA. The results indicate that 10 mutations were found in 9 of 37 cases; the majority of P53 mutations were missense mutations, and 70% were located in exon 7, which plays an important role in neoplastic progression in human tumorigenesis.     

Sol–Gel-Derived Corrosion-Protection Coatings

There is a current need for alternative coatings that can provide corrosion resistance to metals or alloy surfaces due to the environmental hazards posed by conventional coatings. Herein, we report on novel organically-modified sol–gel coatings for the protection of metal and alloy surfaces. The basic concept of chemical conversion of metal surfaces is based on deposition of a hydrophobic, nonporous sol–gel barrier layer for surface protection and corrosion prevention. The properties of these organosilica coatings can be tuned by varying the composition of precursors. The evaluation of hydrophobicity, adhesive strength, and anticorrosion properties of organically-modified sol–gel derived coatings suggests their potential utility as technologically-compatible alternatives to conventional coatings.     

Yb3+掺杂铝氟磷酸盐玻璃的光谱和激光性能

研究了Yb3 掺杂铝氟磷酸盐 (AFP)玻璃的吸收光谱、荧光光谱 ,测量了Yb3 离子的荧光有效线宽 (Δλeff>5 5nm)以及2 F5 2 能级的荧光寿命 (τmax=2ms)及随掺杂浓度的变化 .应用倒易法计算了Yb3 的发射截面 ,其发射截面可达 0 6 6 82 3pm2 ,且激光增益系数τfσemi达 1 2 89ms.pm2 .评估了Yb3 在AFP玻璃中的激光性能 ,发现其具有较理想的激发态最小粒子数 (0 15 )、饱和抽运强度 (8 3kW cm2 )和最小抽运强度 (1 2 4 5kW cm2 )值及良好的热稳定性 .研究结果表明掺Yb3 氟磷酸盐玻璃是实现高功率超短可调谐激光器的理想增益介质 .