Effect of Nanoclay on the Phase Separation Behavior of Poly（methyl methacrylate）/Poly（vinyl acetate） Binary Polymer Blends

The effect of nanoclay on the phase-separation behavior of poly（methyl methacrylate）/poly（vinyl acetate）（PMMA/PVAc） blends has been mainly investigated by small-angle laser light scattering. It is found that the effect of clay on the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase-separation for PMMA/PVAc blends seems inconsistent. The kinetics phaseseparation rate decreases, while the thermodynamics parameters, cloud points Tc and delay time tD of isothermal phaseseparation also decrease, and the variation amplitude depends on the matrix composition. The affinity of clay to PMMA results in the composition difference between the border layer and the polymer matrix and further causes the concentration fluctuation at the early stage of phase separation to reduce Tc and tD. On the other hand, the decrease of phase-separation rate is caused by the mechanical barrier effect of clay on the macromolecular diffusion of blend matrix. Hence, such seemingly counterintuitive results on the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase-separation are attributed to different dominant factors.     

Studies on crystal transition of polyamide 11 nanocomposites by variable-temperature X-ray diffraction

Polyamide I1 （PAll） and its nanocomposites with different organoclay loadings were prepared by melt-compounding and subsequent pelletizing. The crystal phase transitions of PAl 1 and its clay nanocomposites were investigated by variable-temperature X-ray diffraction. It was found that the Brill transition of the nanocomposite was 20 K higher than that of the neat PAl 1 for both heating and cooling processes. The PAl 1 d-spacings of the nanocomposites were observed to be smaller than those of the neat PAl 1 for melt crystallization. The constraints imposed by the addition of layered clay, restricting the thermal expansion of the polymer chains, are probably responsible for such a reduction of the d-spacing.     

Heterogeneous freezing on pyroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) thin films

Active deicing of technical surfaces, such as for wind turbines and heat exchangers, currently requires the usage of heat or chemicals. Passive coating strategies that postpone the freezing of covering water would be beneficial in order to save costs and energy. One hypothesis is that pyroelectric active materials can achieve this because of the surface charges generated on these materials when they are subject to a temperature change. High-quality poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin films with a high crystallinity, prefererd edge-on orientation, low surface roughness, and comprised of the β-analogous ferroelectric phase were deposited by spin-coating. Freezing experiments with a cooling rate of 1 K min⁻¹ were made on P(VDF-TrFE) coatings in order to separate the effect of different parameters such as the poling direction, film thickness, used solvent, deposition process, underlying substrate, and annealing temperature on the achievable supercooling. The topography and the underlying substrate significantly changed the distribution of freezing temperatures of water droplets in contact with these thin films. In contrast, no significant effect of the thickness, morphology, or pyroelectric effect of the as-prepared domain-state on the freezing temperatures was found.     

Short-focus nematic liquid crystal microlens array with a dielectric layer

ABSTRACT

A short-focus microlens array using dielectric layer and inhomogeneous electric field over a homogeneous nematic liquid crystal (LC) layer is proposed. The top substrate has a planar indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode which is coated on the inner surface. The bottom substrate has strip ITO electrodes which are embedded in the dielectric layers. The inhomogeneous electric field generates a required gradient refractive index profile within the LC layer which, in turn, causes the focusing effect. Due to the thinner LC layer (15 μm), the spherical aberration should be negligible. Moreover, the fabrication process of the proposed microlens array can be easily carried out because of the layer-by-layer configuration. The simulation results show that the focal length of the LC microlens can be continuously tuned from infinity to 0.988 mm with the change of applied voltage.     

Adaptive nematic liquid crystal lens array with resistive layer

ABSTRACT

We propose an adaptive nematic liquid crystal (LC) lens array using a dielectric layer with low dielectric constant as resistive layer. With the resistive layer and periodic-arranged iridium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, the vertical electric field across the LC layer varies linearly over the lens aperture is obtained in the voltage-on state. As a result, a centrosymmetric gradient refractive index profile within the LC layer is generated, which causes the focusing behaviour. As a result of the optimisation, a thin cell gap which greatly reduces the switching time of the LC lens array can be achieved in our design. The main advantages of the proposed LC lens array are in the comparatively low operating voltage, the flat substrate surface, the simple electrodes, and the uniform LC cell gap. The simulation results show that the focal length of the LC lens array can be tuned continuously from infinity to 3.99 mm by changing the applied voltage.     

基于窄内径多孔层毛细管开管柱的纳流高效液相色谱用于N-衍生化氨基酸对映体的分离

窄内径多孔层毛细管开管柱（NPLOT柱）在生命科学领域,特别是单细胞分析领域具有较好的应用前景。本研究采用原位热引发聚合法来制备窄内径奎尼丁类手性固定相多孔层开管柱,在6 μ m i.d.的毛细管中制备有机聚合物多孔层,考察了不同热聚合时间（3、6和9 h）对NPLOT柱形貌的影响,热聚3 h和6 h制备的NPLOT柱形貌均一,多孔层厚度分别为103±51 nm和210±51 nm。将热聚合3 h制备的NPLOT柱用于纳流高效液相色谱分离N-衍生化氨基酸对映体,在2 min内即可实现基本分离,消耗的样品量仅为皮升级别。该研究将为单细胞分析提供研究手段。     

抗污染薄层复合聚酰胺膜的结构设计及改性策略

由活性层和支撑层组成的薄层复合(TFC)聚酰胺(PA)膜,是目前广泛应用于纳滤、反渗透、正渗透和压力延迟渗透过程中的高性能脱盐膜,具有水通量大和截盐率高等优异性能。然而,由于TFC-PA膜存在活性层疏水性强、支撑层孔径大等特点,致使TFC-PA膜在实际使用过程中极易受到膜污染,制约了TFC-PA膜的进一步推广和使用。本文讨论分析了TFC-PA膜的结构特点和表面性质,总结归纳了在不同膜过程中TFC-PA膜污染形成的原因及特点,详细论述了国内外抗污染TFC-PA膜的研究进展。本文重点介绍了活性层抗污染改性和支撑层抗污染改性方法,并对其抗污染机理以及存在的问题进行了阐述与分析,最后对抗污染TFC-PA膜的结构设计与表面改性策略进行了总结及展望。     

PEFC catalyst layers: Effect of support microstructure on both distributions of Pt and ionomer and cell performance and durability

In order to improve the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), various improvements in the microstructures of cathode catalyst layers (CLs) were initiated in the early 1990s. More recent advances in CL materials are highlighted, including carbon supports for improved accessibility of Pt nanoparticles (NPs), adsorption of ionomer on the Pt surface, high-oxygen-permeability ionomers, corrosion resistance of mesoporous and microporous carbons, and conductive ceramic supports with a fused-aggregate network structure. These approaches are summarized as stepwise improvements. The influences of the support structure on the distribution of Pt NPs and ionomer are reviewed, as well as their effects on performance and durability. These approaches for carbon supports are extended to conductive ceramic supports and the unique advantages are discussed.     

Structure and reactivity of the polarised liquid–liquid interface: what we know and what we do not

Charge transfer phenomena at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) are electrochemical reactions taking place in soft media. Owing to their liquid nature, the ITIES shows a large panel of electrochemical reactions including electron transfer reactions, ion transfer reactions, coupled electron–ion transfer reactions or biomimetic redox reactions. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which these reactions proceed are yet to be fully understood. The goal of this short review is to summarise the work accomplished over the past decades towards the elucidation of the structure and reactivity at the ITIES, highlighting the main questions still to be answered.     

Dendrite‐Free Sodium Metal Anodes Enabled by a Sodium Benzenedithiolate‐Rich Protection Layer

Sodium metal is an ideal anode material for metal rechargeable batteries, owing to its high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh g^?1), low cost, and earth‐abundance. However, the dendritic growth upon Na plating, stemming from unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film, is a major and most notable problem. Here, a sodium benzenedithiolate (PhS₂Na₂)‐rich protection layer is synthesized in situ on sodium by a facile method that effectively prevents dendrite growth in the carbonate electrolyte, leading to stabilized sodium metal electrodeposition for 400 cycles (800 h) of repeated plating/stripping at a current density of 1 mA cm^?2. The organic salt, PhS₂Na₂, is found to be a critical component in the protection layer. This finding opens up a new and promising avenue, based on organic sodium slats, to stabilize sodium metals with a protection layer.