Conjugated Polymers Atypically Prepared in Water

Processability remains a fundamental issue for the implementation of conducting polymer technology. A simple synthetic route towards processable precursors to conducting polymers (main chain and side chain) was developed using commercially available materials. These soluble precursor systems were converted to conjugated polymers electrochemically in aqueous media, offering a cheaper and greener method of processing. Oxidative conversion in aqueous and organic media each produced equivalent electrochromics. The precursor method enhances the yield of the electrochromic polymer obtained over that of electrodeposition, and it relies on a less corruptible electrolyte bath. However, electrochemical conversion of the precursor polymers often relies on organic salts and solvents. The ability to achieve oxidative conversion in brine offers a less costly and a more environmentally friendly processing step. It is also beneficial for biological applications. The electrochromics obtained herein were evaluated for electronic, spectral, and morphological properties.     

Purification of transferrin by magnetic immunoaffinity beads

Immunoaffinity adsorbent for transferrin (Tf) purification was prepared by immobilizing anti‐transferrin (Anti‐Tf) antibody on magnetic monosizepoly(glycidyl methacrylate) beads, which were synthesized by dispersion polymerization technique in the presence of Fe₃O₄nanopowder and obtained with an average size of 2.0 μm. The magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (mPGMA) beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling tests, scanning electron microscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and zeta sizing analysis. The density and swelling ratio of the beads were 1.08 g/cm³ and 52%, respectively. Anti‐Tf molecules were covalently coupled through epoxy groups of mPGMA. Optimum binding of anti‐Tf was 2.0 mg/g. Optimum Tf binding from aqueous Tf solutions was determined as 1.65 mg/g at pH 6.0 and initial Tf concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. There was no remarkable loss in the Tf adsorption capacity of immunoaffinity beads after five adsorption–desorption cycles. Tf adsorption from artificial plasma was also investigated and the purity of the Tf molecules was shown with gel electrophoresis studies.     

Investigation on novel thermoplastic poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s with enhanced chemical and heat resistance

A new generation of segmented thermoplastic poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s (PUTIs) was synthesized via reaction of polyethylene glycol and thiourea-based prepolymer with dianhydride as chain extenders. NCO-terminated prepolymer was synthesized from a new diisocyanate, 3-(3-((4-isocyanatophenyl)carbamoyl)thioureido)phenyl-4-isocyanatophenylcarbamate (IPCT), as a hard segment and PEG forming soft segment. The starting materials and polymers were characterized by conventional methods and physical properties such as solubility, solution viscosity, molecular weight, thermal stability and thermal behavior were studied. PUTIs showed partially crystalline structures. Weight average molecular weights of PUTIs (GPC measurements) were in the range of 1,68,694-1,97,035. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s were fairly stable above 500 °C having T₁₀ of 521-543 °C. Investigation of the results authenticated the approach of introducing thiourea (using IPCT) and imide structure in polyurethanes for the improvement of thermal stability. In comparison to typical polyurethanes, these polymers exhibited better heat resistance, chemical resistance as well as processability.     

High temperature bromination. Part 22: Bromination of 1a,2,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[b]naphthalene

The high-temperature bromination of 1a,2,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[b]naphthalene and its carboethoxy derivative was studied. Reaction of the title compound with 1 mol of bromine in refluxing carbon tetrachloride resulted in the formation of ring-opening products. In the case of the carboethoxy derivative, bromination took place both regio- and stereospecifically at the benzylic positions, the cyclopropane ring did not undergo bond cleavage. A mechanism for the formation of the products and their dehydrobromination reactions is discussed.     

Tuning the surface hydrophobicity of polymer/nanoparticle composite films in the Wenzel regime by composition

Surface hydrophobicity of composite films containing polymer and nanoparticles has been studied as a function of composition. We show that the hydrophobicity can be tuned by adjusting the amount of particles in the two-component system. A sharp transition from a polymer-rich surface to a nanoparticles-rich surface was observed with increasing mass fraction of particles in spin-coated thin films. Water drops on the films did not slide down even at tilt angles of 90 degrees . Contact angle hysteresis increased with the mass fraction of particles indicating that the surface roughness increased as the surfaces remained in the Wenzel regime. Contact angle hysteresis data were quantitatively consistent with predictions of a recent theory.     

Generalized Einstein static universe

We consider the equilibrium configurations for static spherically symmetric self-gravitating perfect fluids in general relativity. The fluid obeys an equation of state which is the extreme limit allowed by Hawking's strong energy condition. The new solutions we have found are generalized Einstein static universes which have a Killing horizon similar to the one we are familiar with from the vacuum Schwarzschild solution.     

Fast ground state manipulation of neutral atoms in microscopic optical traps

We demonstrate Rabi flopping at MHz rates between ground hyperfine states of neutral 87Rb atoms that are trapped in two micron sized optical traps. Using tightly focused laser beams we demonstrate high fidelity, site specific Rabi rotations with cross talk on neighboring sites separated by 8 microm at the level of 10(-3). Ramsey spectroscopy is used to measure a dephasing time of 870 micros, which is approximately 5000 longer than the time for a pi/2 pulse.