Preparation of block copolymer vesicles in solution

Block copolymer vesicles can be prepared in solution from a variety of different amphiphilic systems. Polystyrene‐block‐poly(acrylic acid), polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide), and many other block copolymer systems can produce vesicles of a wide range of sizes; those in the range of 100–1000 nm have been explored extensively. Different factors, such as the absolute and relative block lengths, the presence of additives (ions, homopolymers, and surfactants), the water content in the solvent mixture, the nature and composition of the solvent, the temperature, and the polydispersity of the hydrophilic block, provide control over the types of vesicles produced. Their high stability, resistance to many external stimuli, and ability to package both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds make them excellent candidates for use in the medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental fields. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 923–938, 2004     

Hierarchical Structure‐Within‐Structure Morphologies in A2‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) Molecules

We employ dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to examine the self‐assembly behavior of A₂‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) molecules. We successfully observe various types of hierarchical structure‐within‐structures, such as A‐formed spheres in the matrix formed by B and C alternating layers, hexagonally packed A‐formed cylinders in the matrix with B and C segregated layers, B and C alternating layers‐within‐lamellae, coaxial B and C alternating domains within hexagonally packed BC‐formed cylinders in the A‐matrix, and co‐centric BC‐alternating domains within BC‐formed spheres in the A‐matrix, by increasing the A composition. Generally speaking, the small length‐scale B and C segregated domains are in parallel to the large length‐scale structures. This hierarchical periodicity along the same axis as well as the various characteristic structures, that the A₂‐star‐(B‐alt‐C) copolymers display, are quite different from those in A‐block‐(B‐graft‐C) coil‐comb copolymers. Moreover, it is interesting to find that when the copolymer chain length increases, though the hierarchical structure type is maintained, the number of small length‐scale lamellae that can form within the large length‐scale structure increases. These hierarchical structures under various compositions are reported theoretically for the first time in the copolymer systems consisting of the alternating blocks, and are in good agreement with the most recent experimental work by Matsushita and co‐workers (Macromolecules 2007 , 40, 4023).     

Templated ceramic microstructures by using the breath-figure method

We describe the synthesis of two cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt-containing poly(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) and their use as precursors for stable ceramic surface coatings. Organometallic PPEs were shaped into hexagonally ordered assemblies by using the breath-figure method. Such breath figures can be washed away with an appropriate solvent. Upon pyrolysis at 500 degrees C under either nitrogen or air, the bubble arrays persist as ceramics and are insoluble in organic solvents or water. The formed pyrolyzed bubble arrays were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The composition of the ceramic materials is discussed based on EDX and IR data.     

LBL分子沉积法制备葡萄糖氧化酶电极

采用以静电力为主的逐层分子交替沉积技术制备葡萄糖氧化酶（GOD）电极.通过带有正电荷的聚二甲基二烯丙基铵盐酸盐（PDDA）和带有负电荷的GOD交替沉积在修饰有3-巯基-1-丙基磺酸钠（MPS）的金电极表面.以甲酸二茂铁为电子媒介体,用循环伏安法检测GOD电极对葡萄糖的响应.结果表明,当GOD电极组装层数小于4时,电流响应随着层数的增加而增大,超过4层时电流响应减小.其中4层GOD修饰电极的线性范围为0.55～6.63 mmol•L－1,当pH为7.0时,响应最大.同时电极的检测重现性能良好,相对标准偏差为2.4％.     

Photocurrent generation in multilayer self-assembly films fabricated from water-soluble poly(phenylene vinylene)

A novel, water-soluble, cationic PPV derivative poly[(2,5-bis(3-bromotrimethylammoniopropoxy)-phenylene-1,4-divinylene)-alt-1,4-(2,5-bis(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy))phenylene vinylene] (BH-PPV) has been synthesized by a Heck coupling reaction. Multilayered assemblies of the BH-PPV and the sodium salt of hexa(sulfobutyl)fullerenes (C(60)-HS) were fabricated successfully by an alternate deposition technique. The multilayer structures were studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, small angle X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The photoinduced charge transfer property of the self-assembled multilayer film was also measured by a three-electrode cell technique. A steady and rapid cathodic 5.5 microA cm(-2) photocurrent response was measured as the irradiation of the multilayer film was switched on and off. Importantly, the response of on/off cycling is prompt and reproducible. A possible mechanism for the electron-transfer process is proposed.     

Supramolecular approaches to generate libraries of chelating bidentate ligands for homogeneous catalysis

The process of catalyst discovery and development relying on combinatorial methods has suffered so far from the difficult access to structurally diverse and large libraries of ligands, in particular the structurally more complex class of bidentate ligands. A completely new approach to streamline the difficult ligand synthesis process is to use structurally less complex monodentate ligands that self-assemble in the coordination sphere of a metal center through noncovalent attractive ligand-ligand interactions to generate bidentate, chelating ligands. When complementary attractive ligand-ligand interactions are employed, it is even possible to generate libraries of defined chelate-ligand catalysts by simply mixing two different monomeric ligands. This Minireview summarizes the first approaches and results in this new field of combinatorial homogeneous catalysis.     

Spectroscopic Interrogation of Layer-by-layer Assembled Films of Conjugated Polyelectrolytes

Layer-by-layer fluorescent conjugated polyelectrolyte films have been studied. The photoluminescence of conjugate polyelectrolytes was observed to be highly tunable during this film assembly process. Efficient photoinduced electron transfer from thus prepared highly luminescent film to a natural electron-transfer protein cytochrome c has also been observed.     

Controllable growth of chains and grids from polyoxomolybdate building blocks linked by silver(I) dimers

Molecular growth processes utilizing a beta-octamolybdate synthon and {Ag2} dimers are described and the directing influence of "encapsulating" cations and coordinating solvent is also demonstrated. The growth of two 1D chains, (nBu4N)2n[Ag2Mo8O26]n (1) and (nBu4N)2n[Ag2Mo8O26(CH3CN)2]n (2), is achieved when nBu4N+ ions are used, and the diameter of the chains can be expanded by the coordination of CH3CN solvent (2). The formation of a type of gridlike structure in which 1D chains are crossed-over each other in alternatively packed layers is achieved in DMSO as the solvent; DMSO acts as a linking group to give (nBu4N)2n[Ag2Mo8O26(dmso)2]n (3), which, similar to 1 and 2, still incorporates the Bu4N+ ions that exert an "encapsulating" influence. However, in (HDMF)n[Ag3(Mo8O26)(dmf)4]n (4) the relatively bulky Bu4N+ ions are exchanged for protonated DMF cations, thereby allowing the chains to condense to a 2D array. The building block concept is further enforced by the isolation of a "monomeric" unit (Ph4P)2[Ag2Mo8O26(dmso)4] (5), which is isolated when the Ph4P+ ions are so "encapsulating" as to prevent aggregation of the {Ag-Mo8-Ag} building blocks. The nature of the AgAg dimers in each of the compounds 1-4 is examined by DFT calculations and the interplay between these Ag-Ag interactions and the structure types is described.     

A new class of low-molecular-weight amphiphilic gelators

A new powerful class of low-molecular-weight amphiphilic compounds has been synthesized and their structure-property relationships with respect to their gelation ability of organic solvents have been investigated. These compounds are able to gel organic solvents over a broad range of polarity. Especially polar solvents such as valeronitrile and gamma-butyrolactone can be gelled even at concentrations far below 1 wt %. It was found that the gelation ability of these asymmetrically substituted p-phenylendiamines depends on a well-balanced relation of the terminal head group, the units involved in hydrogen bonding (amide or urea groups), and on the length of the alkyl chain. With this class of new gelators it is possible to tailor thermal and mechanical properties in different organic solvents and open various application possibilities.     

重氮树脂-聚(4-羧酸苯基)乙炔自组装膜与光电转换

近年来 ,自组装及其形成的多层复合膜已经在导电、生物传感器及非线性光学等领域得到深入研究 ,特别是以聚阴离子与聚阳离子相互作用的静电自组装研究更为深入 .这一技术制备方法简单 ,无需特别的设备 ,对膜层厚度能随意调控 ,并以水作为介质 ,对环境无害 [1～ 3] .共轭高分子 (如聚苯胺、聚吡咯及聚苯亚乙烯等 )通过自组装形成共轭高分子膜 ,对制备具有导电、光电和传输等功能的薄膜半导体器件具有重要意义 .聚乙炔类是最早被发现且理论与应用研究最多的一类共轭高分子材料[4 ,5] .本文以聚 ( 4 -羧酸苯基 )乙炔 ( PCPA)为聚阴离子 ,以重…