Structure and properties of nonclassical polymers

Utilizing an extended Hubbard-type Hamiltonian which incorporates both nearest-neighbour Coulomb repulsion and exchange interactions, we have studied the energy dispersion of the lowest elementary excitation from the ferromagnetically aligned state of quasi one-dimensional alternant hydrocarbon networks. It was found that the main effect of the long range Coulomb interaction may be thought of as a renormalization (screening) of the on-site Hubbard integral. This implies an enhancement of the kinetic exchange term and impairs the stability of the ferromagnetic state towards single spin inversions. However, for physically relevant values of the parameters entering the model Hamiltonian, the collective spin excitation represents a magnon, whose energy band lies above the reference value pertaining to the magnetically saturated configuration.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Adolf Neckel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Physico-chemical characterization of nanofiltration membranes.

This study presents a methodology for an in-depth characterization of six representative commercial nanofiltration membranes. Laboratory-made polyethersulfone membranes are included for reference. Besides the physical characterization [molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), surface charge, roughness and hydrophobicity], the membranes are also studied for their chemical composition [attenuated total reflectance Fourier spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)] and porosity [positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS)]. The chemical characterization indicates that all membranes are composed of at least two different layers. The presence of an additional third layer is proved and studied for membranes with a polyamide top layer. PAS experiments, in combination with FIB (focused ion beam) images, show that these membranes also have a thinner and a less porous skin layer (upper part of the top layer). In the skin layer, two different pore sizes are observed for all commercial membranes: a pore size of 1.25-1.55 angstroms as well as a pore size of 3.20-3.95 angstroms (both depending on the membrane type). Thus, the pore size distribution in nanofiltration membranes is bimodal, in contrast to the generally accepted log-normal distribution. Although the pore sizes are rather similar for all commercial membranes, their pore volume fraction and hence their porosity differ significantly.     

侧基为苯胺四聚体的聚丙烯酰胺的合成和表征

以异溴丁酸羟乙酯为引发剂、溴化亚铜和2,2′-联吡啶为催化剂和配体,引发丙烯酸琥珀酰胺酯(NAS)进行原子转移自由基聚合,得到的聚丙烯酸琥珀酰胺酯(PNAS)的分子量可以通过配比和转化率预测.进一步与单端氨基苯胺四聚体(TA)在50℃下反应,得到的聚合物用1H-NMR和FT-IR的测试,结果表明,当TA/NAS的摩尔比为3∶1时,PNAS上的琥珀酰胺酯可以完全被取代,从而得到侧链为苯胺四聚体的导电高分子.聚合物的结构和分子量以及分布用核磁共振氢谱、FT-IR和GPC进行表征;电化学性质用循环伏安法进行了测试.     

Transport of ionic charge and solvent in poly(3-octylthiophene) films: An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study

The results of a study of poly(3-octylthiophene) films with the aid of an electrochemical quartz microbalance are presented. The effect of the nature of the electrolyte anion on the determined weights of mobile species that are transported through the film/electrolyte interface is discussed. The obtained results point to a substantial role played by the solvent transport in the course of the electrode reaction. The results concerning the influence exerted by the electrode material on the observed regularities are presented.     

具可调光学性质的富勒烯聚合物

聚（Ｃ６０ 甲基丙烯酸甲酯）与聚（Ｃ６０ 苯乙烯）的ＴＨＦ溶液的透射光谱随浓度的增大而不断红移．这种异常的光谱位移可能与富勒烯的纳级（１０－９）簇的形成有关．用简单的办法来“调改”一物质的性质是科学家们长期梦寐以求的，而含Ｃ６０的聚合物正代表了这一群新奇的物质，它们的光学性质可以预期地和可逆地调变，只要简单改变一下浓度．     

杯芳烃交联聚硅氧烷热稳定性能研究

聚有机硅氧烷是一类主链由硅-氧键连接而成,侧链为有机基团的聚合物,兼具有机聚合物和无机聚合物的特性,性能优异,尤以卓越的耐高温性能而著称,在大气中于-50~250℃可以长期使用[1].为了进一步提高聚有机硅氧烷的热稳定性,主要有以下几种方法,(1)添加各种耐热性添加剂,或可与聚     

Electronic spectral and photophysical properties of some p-phenylenevinylene oligomers in solution and thin films

A comprehensive photophysical and spectroscopic study of a new class of p-phenylenevinylene oligomers (PPV-trimers) possessing different alkyl and alkyloxy sidechain substituents and different end groups (aldehyde, CC, phenylene and anthracene units) was undertaken in solution at room temperature (293 K), low temperature (77 K) and in thin films. The study comprises absorption, emission and triplet–triplet absorption spectra, together with quantitative measurements of quantum yields (fluorescence, intersystem crossing, internal conversion and singlet oxygen formation) and lifetimes. The data allow the determination of rate constants for all decay processes. From these, several conclusions could be drawn. Changing from alkyl to alkyloxy substituents does not change fluorescence and internal conversion yields but decreases the (already small) intersystem crossing yield. The introduction of anthracene at the terminal ends of the PPV-trimers leads to the lowest fluorescence yield reported in this study. Of particular importance is the fact that the fluorescence quantum yields in films are of the same order of magnitude as those in solution, which suggests the potential for use of these oligomers for light-emitting device applications. With one of the alkyloxy derivatives, a more detailed study of the early part of the fluorescence decay was made, and it was found that upon excitation a fast conformational relaxation process of the initially excited oligomer occurs, leading to a more planar conjugation segment.     

Silica-Based and Transition Metal-Based Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Materials—A Comparison

Organically substituted metal alkoxides can be prepared by reaction of the parent alkoxides with complexing organic compounds. The chemical and structural consequences of such substitutions are discussed in this article. Examples are given showing how functional organic moieties, such as polymerizable groups, can be incorporated into sol-gel materials via the complexing ligands. Major structural differences between silica-based and metal-based hybrid materials originate from the different charge/coordination number ratios of silicon and most metals. This results in a high tendency for the molecular building blocks to aggregate. In many cases, metal oxide clusters are formed which are capped by the organic ligands. Such surface-modified clusters are themselves very valuable condensed matter units for materials syntheses.     

Contributions of restructuring and oxidation to the aging of the surface of plasma polymers containing heteroatoms

The properties and composition of plasma polymer surfaces stored in air can change considerably over time, especially as a result of oxidative reactions. When plasma polymers contain an element other than O, it is possible to probe for mechanisms in addition to oxidation that contribute to the aging of the surface. Plasma polymers containing N were fabricated from either 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP),n-heptylamine (nHA), or allylamine (AA), and studied by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) and air/water contact angles (CA). For each of the plasma polymers, a multiexponential increase in the O/C ratio was observed over time using XPS. The N/C ratios remained constant (AA) or decreased somewhat (nHA and DAP). In contrast, the trends in CA values differed, declining for the nHA surfaces, rising for the AA, and changing little for the DAP. Surface roughness, assessed by scanning tunnelling or atomic force microscopy, did not change over time. The diverse adjustments in the polarity of each surface and the similar compositional changes between them are reconcilable if the aging of the plasma polymer surface is a manifestation of the superposition of concurrent oxidative reactions and partial surface reorientation; the former introduce polar groups and the latter transports then from the surface to deeper regions beyond the CA probe depth but within the XPS analysis depth. These processes vary between different plasma polymers. Data for the alkylamine plasma polymers is also compared with that for two plasma polymers fabricated from methanol. The change in composition, but not polarity, of the DAP surface after 4 days of storage demonstrates the importance of using multiple techniques to characterize the aging of plasma polymer surfaces.     

Cellular adhesion and proliferation on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Benefits in the electroactivity of the conducting polymer

Cell adhesion and proliferation in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), an electroactive polythiophene derivative generated by anodic polymerization, has been investigated. Results show that epithelial cells Hep-2 present significant activity on the surface of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrodeposited on stainless steel electrodes, no sign of cytotoxicity being detected for this conducting polymer. Indeed, seeded and cultured cells bound better to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) than to uncoated stainless steel, the latter substrate being used as a control. Furthermore, the electrochemical characteristics of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) covered with cells was determined in different biological media using cyclic voltammetry experiments. Results reveal a significant increase in the electroactivity of this material when it is covered with a cellular monolayer. The overall of the results evidences not only the biocompatibility of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) with Hep-2 cells but also their electrocompatibility.