H-quadrupolar coupling-based analysis of stereochemical and regiochemical memory in the Pd-catalysed allylic alkylation of iso-cinnamyl type substrates employing the chiral monophosphine ligands ‘MOP’ and ‘MAP’

The reaction of iso-cinnamyl acetate with NaC(Me)(CO₂Me)₂, catalysed by Pd-‘MOP’ (MOP=2-methoxy-2′-diphenylphosphino-1,1′-binaphthalene) is known to proceed with a regiochemical memory effect that results in the predominant generation of the branched alkylation product. The analogous reaction employing ‘MAP’ as ligand (MAP=2-N,N-dimethylamino-2′-diphenylphosphino-1,1′-binaphthalene) proceeds with ‘normal’ regioselectivity to generate predominantly the linear isomer of product. A ²H-NMR based analysis, employing quadrupolar coupling in a chiral liquid crystal matrix, has been developed to facilitate the simultaneous study of the regiochemical and stereochemical outcome of the reaction of both enantiomers of iso-cinnamyl ester substrates in ²H-labelled but racemic samples. The analysis allows the comparison of relative rates of two competing isomerisation processes occurring in the π-allyl intermediates in the Pd-catalysed reaction, one of which facilitates asymmetric induction, the other resulting in loss of regiochemical memory. It is demonstrated that the two processes are partially coupled and that this then limits the attainment of high global enantiomeric excess in the branched product to reactions that proceed with low regiochemical retention. A key factor for the observation of high regiochemical memory is found to be the nucleophilicity of the malonate anion and the electrophilicity of the Pd-π-allyl intermediate with reduction in the reactivity of either partner resulting in the onset of substantial loss of memory.     

Benzotriazole-Based 3D Four-Arm Small Molecules Enable 19.1 % Efficiency for PM6 : Y6-Based Ternary Organic Solar Cells

A third component featuring a planar backbone structure similar to the binary host molecule has been the preferred ingredient for improving the photovoltaic performance of ternary organic solar cells (OSCs). In this work, we explored a new avenue that introduces 3D-structured molecules as guest acceptors. Spirobifluorene (SF) is chosen as the core to combine with three different terminal-modified (rhodanine, thiazolidinedione, and dicyano-substituted rhodanine) benzotriazole (BTA) units, affording three four-arm molecules, SF-BTA1, SF-BTA2, and SF-BTA3, respectively. After adding these three materials to the classical system PM6 : Y6, the resulting ternary devices obtained ultra-high power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 19.1 %, 18.7 %, and 18.8 %, respectively, compared with the binary OSCs (PCE=17.4 %). SF-BTA1-3 can work as energy donors to increase charge generation via energy transfer. In addition, the charge transfer between PM6 and SF-BTA1-3 also acts to enhance charge generation. Introducing SF-BTA1-3 could form acceptor alloys to modify the molecular energy level and inhibit the self-aggregation of Y6, thereby reducing energy loss and balancing charge transport. Our success in 3D multi-arm materials as the third component shows good universality and brings a new perspective. The further functional development of multi-arm materials could make OSCs more stable and efficient.     

碱性电解液中K3[Fe(CN)6]在锌阳极上的自发还原和吸附延长锌镍电池的循环寿命

In view of the continuously worsening environmental problems, fossil fuels will not be able to support the development of human life in the future. Hence, it is of great importance to work on the efficient utilization of cleaner energy resources. In this case, cheap, reliable, and eco-friendly grid-scale energy storage systems can play a key role in optimizing our energy usage. When compared with lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, the excellent safety, environmental benignity, and low toxicity of aqueous Zn-based batteries make them competitive in the context of large-scale energy storage. Among the various Zn-based batteries, due to a high open-circuit voltage and excellent rate performance, Zn-Ni batteries have great potential in practical applications. Nevertheless, the intrinsic obstacles associated with the use of Zn anodes in alkaline electrolytes, such as dendrite, shape change, passivation, and corrosion, limit their commercial application. Hence, we have focused our current efforts on inhibiting the corrosion and dissolution of Zn species. Based on a previous study from our research group, the failure of the Zn-Ni battery was caused by the shape change of the Zn anode, which stemmed from the dissolution of Zn and uneven current distribution on the anode. Therefore, for the current study, we selected K₃[Fe(CN)₆] as an electrolyte additive that would help minimize the corrosion and dissolution of the Zn anode. In the alkaline electrolyte, [Fe(CN)₆]^3– was reduced to [Fe(CN)₆]^4– by the metallic Zn present in the Zn-Ni battery. Owing to its low solubility in the electrolyte, K₄[Fe(CN)₆] adhered to the active Zn anode, thereby inhibiting the aggregation and corrosion of Zn. Ultimately, the shape change of the anode was effectively eliminated, which improved the cycling life of the Zn-Ni battery by more than three times (i.e., from 124 cycles to more than 423 cycles). As for capacity retention, the Zn-Ni battery with the pristine electrolyte only exhibited 40% capacity retention after 85 cycles, while the Zn-Ni battery with the modified electrolyte (i.e., containing K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) showed 72% capacity retention. Moreover, unlike conventional organic additives that increase electrode polarization, the addition of K₃[Fe(CN)₆] not only significantly reduced the charge-transfer resistance in a simplified three-electrode system, but also improved the discharge capacity and rate performance of the Zn-Ni battery. Importantly, considering that this strategy was easy to achieve and minimized additional costs, K₃[Fe(CN)₆], as an electrolyte additive with almost no negative effect, has tremendous potential in commercial Zn-Ni batteries.     

Variational reactive scattering calculations: computational optimization strategies

Summary We have developed efficient and accurate techniques for the calculation of quantum mechanical reaction probabilities of atom-diatom exchange reactions in the gas phase, and we have optimized a computer code employing these techniques and applied it sucessfully to several systems. In this paper we consider further strategies for improving the algorithm to allow even more demanding applications. In this context, improvement means that equivalent results can be obtained using fewer computational resources (computer time or storage) or that an equivalent expenditure of resources can yield higher accuracy. The new strategies discussed here lead to improvement in both of these areas. Two areas of special focus in the present paper are (i) the finite difference boundary value method used for calculating distorted wave Green's functions and regular solutions for scattering by the distortion potential and (ii) the choice of the distortion potential itself. Among other results included here is the first application of the outgoing wave or scattered wave variational principle to reactive scattering.     

超浸润形状记忆海绵的制备及油-水分离性能

基于反式 1,4-聚异戊二烯(TPI)的形状记忆性能, 以聚氨酯海绵为基底, 包覆TPI制备出了一种具有疏水超亲油特性的三维多孔形状记忆海绵. 由于这种海绵具有良好的形状记忆特性, 可以通过反复按压/恢复过程, 实现对海绵孔径在微米尺寸(约875 μm)与纳米尺寸(约450 nm)间可逆调控. 利用材料特殊的浸润特征及其可控的孔尺寸, 进一步研究了其在油-水分离中的应用. 研究结果表明, 微米尺寸大孔径海绵有利于对不相溶油-水混合物进行快速高效分离, 而纳米尺寸小孔径海绵则有利于对乳液混合物进行分离, 实现了同一材料同时满足不相溶油-水混合物及乳液体系的分离要求.     

Design,Synthesis, and Optical/Electronic Properties of a Series of Sphere-Rod Shape Amphiphiles Based on the C60-oligofluorene Conjugates

A series of sphere-rod shape amphiphiles were designed and synthesized by connecting the rod-like oligofluorenes with different lengths(OF_n) to the different positions of the spherical [60]fullerene(C_(60)) through a rigid linkage. The conjugates were characterized by ~1H-NMR, ~(13)C-NMR, FTIR, EA and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The optical and electronic properties of the conjugates were studied by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrometry, and cyclic voltammetry. The results from UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry indicated that the energy profiles of C_(60) and OF_n remained unchanged when different lengths of OF_n were attached to C_(60). The electron affinities of the OF_n-C_(60) conjugates were close to that of C_(60), while slight electronic interaction was found between the two individual chromophores(C_(60) and OF_n) in their ground states. The fluorescence spectra exhibited a complete fluorescence quenching in the toluene solution, suggesting an effective energy transfer from OF_n to C_(60). It presents a systematic study on the selfassembly, structure-property relationship, and potential technical applications of the conjugates.     

Thermal-mechanical behavior of styrene-based shape memory polymer tubes

Styrene-based shape memory polymer (SMP) tubes were fabricated and their basic mechanical properties in different deformation states were investigated. The tensile, compression, bending and twisting shape memory properties of the tubes were analyzed and discussed, and the results indicated that SMP tubes exhibit good shape fixity ratio and shape recovery ratio. In addition, the shape recovery behavior was investigated at different heating rates. These experimental results will provide guidance for future applications of SMP tube structures.     

Shape memory effect and recovery stress property of carbon nanotube/waterborne epoxy nanocomposites investigated via TMA

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have received great attention and scientific interest in widespread technological development during last few decades. Besides the development of novel SMPs, various techniques have been practiced for characterization of shape memory effect (SME) of SMPs. In this study, the shape memory effect and recovery stress property of the carbon nanotube (CNT)/waterborne epoxy (WEP) nanocomposites below and above the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the nanocomposites and under isostrain and isostress were systematically investigated via thermal mechanical analysis (TMA), respectively. The experimental results showed that the nanocomposites exhibit excellent shape memory effect. The shape memory fixity and recovery ratios were approximately 100% even below glass transition temperature (T_g). A remarkable point is that the strain of the nanocomposites suddenly increased with the temperature decreasing in a certain period of the heating-cooling cycles under isostress condition and the strain increment increased with temperature in general. Especially at low temperature, the recovery stress was very sensitive to temperature under isostrain condition of ±0.25 °C temperature with differential of 25.5 °C developed pressure difference of 0.20 MPa. Moreover, TMA is a practical method for quantifying the SME and recovery stress properties of SMPs and their composites.     

Evaluating shape memory behavior of polymer under deep-drawing conditions

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) are a popular family of shape memory polymers (SMP) due to their excellent abrasion & weather resistant, and mechanical strength. However, conventional processing operations or their combination with other polymers by adhesion or blending can affect their unique shape memory behavior. Currently, there are no effective methods to study and quantify the shape memory behavior of SMP based polymer laminates as they would respond to deep drawing operations. In this paper, a new method was introduced to effectively quantify the recovery behavior of TPU based polymer laminates undergoing simultaneous stretching and bending operations at different processing temperatures. The results presented show the value of developing a shape recovery characterization method that resembles the stresses of thermoforming to properly assess formability of shape memory polymers used in laminate constructions.     

Effects of Shape of Crowders on Dynamics of a Polymer Chain Closure

Using 3D Langevin dynamics simulations,we investigate the effects of the shape of crowders on the dynamics of a polymer chain closure.The chain closure in spherical crowders is dominated by the increased medium viscosity so that it gets slower with the increasing volume fraction of crowders.By contrast,the dynamics of chain closure becomes very complicated with increasing volume fraction of crowders in spherocylindrical crowders.Notably,the mean closure time is found to have a dramatic decrease at a range of volume fraction of crowders 0.36-0.44.We then elucidate that an isotropic to nematic transition of spherocylindrical crowders at this range of volume fraction of crowders is responsible for the unexpected dramatic decrease in the mean closure time.