Conductivities and spectroscopic studies on hyperbranched polyurethane electrolytes

Polymer electrolytes were prepared with hyperbranched polyurethane, linear polyurethane as the host polymer, and lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as the ion source. Fourier transform infrared spectra were used to analyze the bonding degree of Li⁺ with carbonyl and ether groups. Raman spectra were applied to analyze the aggregate degree of anion perchlorate ion (ClO). The spectra analysis indicated that the hyperbranched polyurethane could function as a “solvent” for the lithium salt. Also, the conductivity increased with increasing concentration of hyperbranched polymers in the host polymer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 120–126, 2003     

Synthesis of a novel one‐pot approach of hyperbranched polyurethanes and their properties

A new method for the synthesis of hyperbranched polymers involving the use of AB_x macromonomers containing linear units have been investigated. Two types of novel hyperbranched polyurethanes have been synthesized by a one‐pot approach. The structures of monomers and polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and thermogravimetric analysis. The hyperbranched polymers have been proven to be extremely soluble in a wide range of solvents. Polymer electrolytes were prepared with hyperbranched polymer, linear polymer as the host, and lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as the ion source. Analysis of the isotherm conductivity dependence of the ion concentration indicated that these hyperbranched polymers could function as a “solvent” for the lithium salt. The conductivity increased with the increasing concentration of hyperbranched polymers in the host polymer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 344–350, 2002     

Photo-Driven Iron-Induced Non-Oxidative Coupling of Methane to Ethane

Photo-driven CH₄ conversion to multi-carbon products and H₂ is attractive but challenging, and the development of efficient catalytic systems is critical. Herein, we construct a solar-energy-driven redox cycle for combining CH₄ conversion and H₂ production using iron ions. A photo-driven iron-induced reaction system was developed, which is efficient at selective coupling of CH₄ as well as conversion of benzene and cyclohexane under mild conditions. For CH₄ conversion, 94 % C₂ selectivity and a C₂H₆ formation rate of 8.4 μmol h⁻¹ is achieved. Mechanistic studies reveal that CH₄ coupling is induced by hydroxyl radical, which is generated by photo-driven intermolecular charge migration of an Fe³⁺ complex. The delicate coordination structure of the [Fe(H₂O)₅OH]²⁺ complex ensures selective C−H bond activation and C−C coupling of CH₄. The produced Fe²⁺ can be used to reduce the potential for electrolytic H₂ production, and then turns back into Fe³⁺, forming an energy-saving and sustainable recyclable system.     

Nascent crystallization of a growing chain on a catalyst surface: a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation study

The growing chain molecular dynamics (GCMD) simulation method, a new nonequilibrium molecular dynamics code, is proposed to simulate the polymer chain aggregation behavior during polymerization on a catalyst surface. We found that the growing chain crystallizes on the surface in two stages: the nucleation stage and the crystal growth stage. In the first part of the nucleation period, the short polymerizing chain first absorbs on the surface and can be in either an ordered or disordered structure. Still in the nucleation period, when the chain reaches a degree of polymerization, about 100 bonds, the chain folds into a stable nucleus on the substrate with 3-5 stems. In the crystal growth stage where the polymerization also proceeds, we observed a stem elongation process in combination with a chain folding process. In the stem elongation step, the number of stems in the nucleus remains constant, and all the stems expand together to a length of ca. 5-25 ns. In the subsequent chain folding step, the stem length decreases about 20 bonds within a period of ca. 0.1-0.5 ns. During chain growth, the elongation process and the folding process occur in an alternating and repeated fashion. The crystallization mechanism of the polymerizing chain was discussed.     

Evidence of ZrO2 sol–gel transition by gelation time and viscosity

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - Sol–gel transition is a stage of the sol that evolves towards the formation of a gel-like network and that exhibits gradually a mobility loss....     

Synthesis and ionic conductivity of hyperbranched poly(glycidol)

A novel hyperbranched poly(glycidol) (HPG) was prepared and characterized. The synthesized HPG was used as a substrate of a polymer electrolyte. The ionic conductivity of a blend of HPG, polyurethane (PU), and salt was studied. The ionic conductivity of HPG/PU/LiClO₄ was about 6.6 × 10^?6 S · cm^?1 at 20 °C and 6.3 × 10^?4 S · cm^?1 at 60 °C. The results indicated that HPG showed higher solubility for salt than linear polyether when both had the same [O]/[Li⁺] molar ratio. The main reason was that more cavities and a lower degree of chain entanglement in HPG resulted in a lower glass‐transition temperature and were beneficial for decreasing the aggregation of salt or enhancing the ionic conductivity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2225–2230, 2001     

壬基酚异构体对小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞内黏着连接、雄激素结合蛋白和抑制素B的影响

研究了壬基酚异构体[4-(1-乙基-1-甲基-己基)酚](4-NP65)对小鼠睾丸Sertoli TM4细胞黏着连接相关分子表达和分泌雄激素结合蛋白(ABP),抑制素B(Inhibin B)的作用。不同浓度4-NP65(0、0.1、1、10、20、40μmol·L-1)作用于TM4细胞24h,MTT法测定细胞存活率,RT-PCR测定TM4细胞波形蛋白(Vimentin),N-钙黏着蛋白(N-cadherin),黏着斑蛋白(Vinculin)mRNA的表达情况;Elisa法测定细胞上清液中ABP和Inhibin B的含量。结果4-NP65在低剂量(0.1、1、10、20μmol·L-1)对细胞存活率无显著影响,在高剂量(40、80、100μmol·L-1)能显著降低TM4细胞存活率(P<0.01);4-NP65剂量依赖性增加Vimentin mRNA表达,降低Vinculin、N-cadherin mRNA的表达;4-NP65呈剂量依赖性降低ABP的分泌量,与对照组比较,在20、40μmol·L-1处理组有显著差异(P<0.05),而Inhibin B的含量在20、40μmol·L-1 4-NP65处理组有显著降低(P<0.05)。4-NP65对小鼠Sertoli TM4细胞具有生殖毒性作用,黏着连接是其作用的可能靶点之一,4-NP65可能通过影响TM4细胞黏着连接相关分子的表达和TM4细胞分泌ABP、Inhibin B引起雄性生殖系统损伤。     

Low-temperature electrochemical codeposition of aluminum-neodymium alloy in a highly stable solvate ionic liquid

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A highly stable solvate ionic liquid comprising a 2:1 (mol/mol) mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and AlCl3 was used for near room-temperature...     

A thermodynamic and kinetic study of hydride transfer of a caffeine derivative

One representative type of heterocyclic compound that can release a hydride ion is 7,8-dihydro-9-methylcaffeine (CAFH). The one-electron oxidation potential of CAFH [-0.294 (V vs Fc(+/0))] and the one-electron reduction potential of CAF(+) [-2.120 (V vs Fc(+/0))] were obtained using two different methods, CV and OSWV. Applying titration calorimetry data in thermodynamic cycles, the enthalpies of CAFH releasing a hydride ion [57.6 kcal/mol] and releasing a hydrogen atom [80.3 kcal/mol] and of its radical cation CAFH(?+) releasing a proton [33.0 kcal/mol] and releasing a hydrogen atom [38.4 kcal/mol] have been determined. Several conclusions can be drawn from the thermodynamic results: (1) CAFH is a very good single-electron donor whose single-electron oxidation potential is much less positive than that of NAD(P)H model compound BNAH [E(ox) = 0.219 V vs Fc(+/0)]. (2) The single-electron reduction potential of CAF(+) is much more negative than that of BNA(+) [E(red) = -1.419 V], which means that CAF(+) is not a good electron acceptor. Furthermore, CAFH is a very good hydride donor compared to BNAH. The results of non-steady-state kinetic studies, for the reaction of CAFH and AcrH(+)ClO(4)(-), show that the ratio of t(0.50)/t(0.05) is larger than 13.5 and the ratio of k(init)/k(pfo) is larger than 1. The pseudo-first-order rate constants obtained at different reaction stages decrease with the time, and the kinetic isotope was observed to be small at a short reaction time and slowly increases to 3.72 with the progress of the reaction. These kinetic results clearly display that the hydride transfer of CAFH to AcrH(+) in acetonitrile is not a one-step mechanism, while the thermodynamic results show that CAFH is a very good electron donor. The combination of the kinetic results with the thermodynamics analysis shows that the hydride transfer of the caffeine derivative CAFH takes place by a two-step reversible mechanism and there is an intermediate in the reaction.     

Preparation of Ammonium Cerium Phosphate via Low-heating Solid State Reaction and Its Catalysis for Benzyl Acetate Synthesis

Ammonium cerium phosphate was prepared with (NH₄)₃PO₄·3H₂O and Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O as raw materials and PEG‐400 as surfactant via a solid state reaction at low‐heating temperature. The characterization result of XRD indicates that the molecular formula of the product was (NH₄)₂Ce(PO₄)₂·H₂O. The synthesis of benzyl acetate was carried out with H₂SO₄/ammonium cerium phosphate as catalyst, and uniform experimental design as well as data mining technology was applied to the experiments, in which the effect of the reaction time, the molar ratio of acid to alcohol and the amount of catalyst on the conversion yield of acetic acid were studied. When benzalcohol was 0.10 mol, under the optimal reaction conditions, i.e. reaction time of 174 min, 2.02 of molar ratio of acid to alcohol and 0.5 g of catalyst, the esterification rate of acetic acid was 97.9%. The ammonium cerium phosphate had potential for industry application since it not only was feasible and simple in synthesis technics, but also had good catalysis activity for the synthesis of benzyl acetate.