Oxidation of polyethylene surface by corona discharge and the subsequent graft polymerization

Oxidation of a polyethylene (PE) surface by corona discharge and the subsequent graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) were studied. The maximum amount of peroxides introduced by corona treatment at a voltage of 15 kV was about 2.3 × 10^?9 mol cm^?2. The decomposition rate of peroxide and the dependence of graft amount on the storage period of the corona-treated PE films showed that there were several kinds of peroxides, the labile one being mainly responsible for the initiation of graft polymerization. When the corona-treated film was brought into contact with a deaerated aqueous solution of AAm, graft polymerization took place more strongly with the treatment time, but was reduced after passing a maximum. Although the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses of the corona-treated PE films showed homogeneous oxidation of the outer polymer surface by corona discharge, optical microscopy on the cross section of the grafted film revealed the graft polymerization to be limited to a very thin surface region.     

Template-synthesized nanotubes for chemical separations and analysis

We have developed a new class of synthetic membranes that consist of a porous polymeric support that contains an ensemble of gold nanotubes that span the thickness of the support membrane. The support is a commercially-available microporous polycarbonate filter with cylindrical nanoscopic pores. The gold nanotubes are prepared by electroless deposition of Au onto the pore walls, that is, the pores acts as templates for the nanotubes. We have shown that by controlling the Au deposition time, Au nanotubes that have effective inside diameters of molecular dimensions (<1 nm) can be prepared. These nanotube membranes can be used to cleanly separate small molecules on the basis of molecular size. Furthermore, use of these membranes as a novel electrochemical sensor is also discussed. This new sensing scheme involves applying a constant potential across the Au nanotube membrane and measuring the drop in the transmembrane current upon the addition of the analyte. This paper reviews our recent progress on size-based based transport selectivity and sensor applications in this new class of membranes.     

Synthesis and characterization of N-phenylated aromatic polyureas from dianilino compounds and aromatic diisocyanates

N-phenylated aromatic polyureas were synthesized by the polyaddition of dianilino compounds to aromatic diisocyanates in sym-tetrachloroethane at around 100°C. Factors that influence the reaction, such as monomer concentration, reaction solvent, catalyst, temperature, and time, were studied to optimize the conditions for the preparation of high molecular weight polymers. Compared with the analogous unsubstituted aromatic polyureas, the N-phenylated polyureas were almost amorphous and soluble in a variety of solvents and had low glass transition temperatures. Some of the polymers could be cast into transparent flexible films from chloroform solutions.     

Self-crosslinkable polymers. IV. Copolymerization of 1-ethenyl-4-(2,3-epoxy-1-propoxy)benzene with vinylpyridines

Soluble and self-crosslinkable linear copolymers with pendant epoxy and pyridyl groups were obtained from 1-ethenyl-4-(2,3-epoxy-1-propoxy)benzene (M₁) and vinylpyridines (M₂) by the action of α,α′-azobisisobutyronitrile. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined in tetrahydrofuran at 60°C (r₁, r₂, and vinylpyridine given): 0.467, 0.638, 4-vinylpyridine; 0.556, 1.25, 2-vinylpyridine; 0.639, 1.38, 5-ethyl-2-vinylpyridine. The Q and e values for 1-ethenyl-4-(2,3-epoxy-1-propoxy)-benzene were calculated as 1.3–1.6 and ?1.1–?1.3, respectively, with the reported Q–e values for these vinylpyridines. The intrinsic viscosities of the copolymers were found to be 0.15–0.30 in tetrahydrofuran at 30°C and to be dependent on the copolymer composition. The copolymers with these vinylpyridines were amorphous, had no clear melting points, and became insoluble crosslinked polymers under heating without further addition of any curing agents.     

The structure of orthorhombic Na2Ti9O19, a unit-cell twinning of monoclinic Na2Ti9O19, determined by 1-MV high-resolution electron microscopy

The crystal structure of the orthorhombic disodium nonatitanate, Na₂Ti₉O₁₉, has been determined on the basis of 1-MV high-resolution structure images, in which each site of the titanium and sodium atoms is clearly resolved. The crystal has an orthorhombic symmetry with lattice parameters a = 12.2, b = 3.78, and c = 30.1 Å. The space group of the crystal is either Ccmm or Cc2m. The crystal structure of the orthorhombic nonatitanate is closely related to that of the monoclinic nonatitanate reported previously in which the structure contains sodium titanium dioxide bronze-type units connected by bridging TiO₆ octahedra. The orthorhombic crystal can be described in terms of a unit-cell twinning of the monoclinic crystal. It is shown that migrations of sodium ions occur by electron beam irradiation.     

Selective cis-addition of C-H bonds of pyrroles and thiophenes to alkynes catalyzed by a dinuclear palladium complex

Pyrroles and thiophenes reacted with alkynes in the presence of dinuclear palladium complexes with high stereoselectivity (cis-addition) in almost all cases. While regioselectivity in the reaction with pyrroles depended on substituents on the nitrogen atom and alkynes, all reactions of thiophenes afforded 2-alkenylthiophenes.     

Photochemical or thermal chelate exchange in the ruthenium coordination sphere of complexes of the Ru(phen)(2)L family (L = diimine or dinitrile ligands)

Complexes of the type Ru(phen)(2)L(2+), where L is a substituted bipyridine family member, have been prepared, and their photochemical substitution reactions have been investigated. In the presence of a bis-benzonitrile derivative, acting as a bidentate chelate, photoexpulsion of L is performed under the action of visible light, with quantitative formation of new complexes of the type Ru(phen)(2)L'(2+) (L' = bis-nitrile ligand). Several complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. In particular, the bis-benzonitrile complexes could be crystallized, and the structure of these compounds, containing a 13-, 14-, or 15-membered metal incorporating ring, was obtained. By heating Ru(phen)(2)L'(2+) with a bipy derivative in refluxing ethylene glycol, quantitative formation of the starting complex [Ru(phen)(2)L(2+)] was carried out. The present series of compounds presents properties that could be profitably used in the design and construction of multicomponent systems acting as photochemically driven molecular machines.     

Enantioseparations in nonaqueous capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography using cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) as chiral stationary phase

The potential of the widely used chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) enantioseparations, cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC, sold under the trade name Chiralcel OD) was evaluated under the conditions of nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of the particle size of the silica gel, the loading of CDMPC on the silica gel and nature of the organic solvent, as well as electrolyte salts on the separation characteristics were investigated. This study illustrates the applicability of CDMPC for obtaining highly efficient enantioseparations under the conditions of nonaqueous CEC. Comparative study of enantioseparations in capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) and CEC indicated the significant advantages of CEC such as higher plate number at the similar linear flow rates of the mobile phase as well as better tolerance of higher linear flow rates.     

Molecular sieving and sensing with gold nanotube membranes

We have developed a new class of synthetic membranes that consist of a porous polymeric support that contains an ensemble of gold nanotubes that span the thickness of the support membrane. The support is a commercially available microporous polycarbonate filter with cylindrical nanoscopic pores. The gold nanotubes are prepared via electroless deposition of Au onto the pore walls; i.e., the pores act as templates for the nanotubes. We have shown that by controlling the Au deposition time, Au nanotubes that have effective inside diameters of molecular dimensions (<1 nm) can be prepared. These nanotube membranes can be used to cleanly separate small molecules on the basis of molecular size. Furthermore, use of these membranes as a novel electrochemical sensor is also discussed. This new sensing scheme involves applying a constant potential across the Au nanotube membrane and measuring the drop in the transmembrane current upon the addition of the analyte. This paper reviews our recent progress on size-based transport selectivity and sensor applications in this new class of membranes.