Organic Conductors – Metals With a Short Mean Free Path

At ambient temperature the organic conductors have a mean free path of the order of a lattice constant. In this temperature range the magnetic susceptibility is enhanced over its Pauli value and the resistivity obeys a T²-law just like at lower T where the conductivity is metallic. We describe a theory based on a quadratic electron-phonon coupling which accounts for these features.     

Facile synthesis of fluorescent quantum dot‐polymer nanocomposites via frontal polymerization

We report an available approach for quickly fabricating CdS QD‐polymer nanocomposites via frontal polymerization (FP). First, we synthesized (3‐mercaptopropyl)‐1‐trimethoxysilane (MPS)‐capped CdS quantum dots (QDs). With these MPS‐capped CdS QDs containing mercapto groups, MPS‐capped CdS QDs can be easily incorporated into a poly(N‐methylolacrylamide) (PNMA) matrix via FP. A variety of features for preparing QD‐polymer nanocomposites, such as initiator concentration and CdS concentration, were thoroughly investigated. The fluorescence properties of QD‐polymer nanocomposites prepared via FP are comparatively investigated on the basis of ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Results show that the PL intensity of QD‐polymer nanocomposites prepared via the FP method is superior to that obtained by the traditional batch polymerization (BP) method. In addition, by measuring the changes of PL intensity of the samples immersed in different concentrations of copper acetate solution, we found the QD‐polymer nanocomposites can be ultrasensitive to copper ions. This FP process can be exploited as a facile and rapid way for synthesis QD‐polymer nanocomposites on a large scale, avoiding the fluorescence quenching of nanocrystals during incorporation nanocrystals into polymer matrices. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2170–2177, 2010     

Electromagnetic nanocomposites prepared by cryomilling of polyaniline and Fe nanoparticles

The polyaniline (PANI)/iron nanocomposites have been prepared by high‐energy ball milling under cryogenic temperatures, namely cryomilling, of PANI with Fe nanoparticles. It takes 5 h to refine the Fe into an average grain size of 20 nm and to get homogeneously dispersed in PANI matrix. The obtained PANI/Fe nanocomposites have a maximum conductivity of 0.78 S cm^?1 after 2‐h cryomilling, whereas its coercivity increases monotonously with time in the range of experiment up to 10 h. It is found that the sizes of Fe particles have obvious effects on both electrical and magnetic properties. When compared with micrometer Fe particles as raw materials, Fe nanoparticles result in somewhat lower conductivity but a much higher coercivity exceeding 400 Oe. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1571–1576, 2008     

Hairy PEO‐Silica Nanoparticles through Surface‐Initiated Polymerization of Ethylene Oxide

Summary: The grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto silica nanoparticles was performed in situ by the ring‐opening polymerization of the oxirane monomer initiated from the mineral surface using aluminium isopropoxide as an initiator/heterogeneous catalyst. Alcohol groups were first introduced onto silica by reacting the surfacic silanols with prehydrolyzed 3‐glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane. The alcohol‐grafted silica played the role of a coinitiator/chain‐transfer agent in the polymerization reaction and enabled the formation of irreversibly bonded polymer chains. Silica nanoparticles containing up to 40 wt.‐% of a hairy layer of grafted PEO chains were successfully produced by this technique.

The grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto silica nanoparticles by in‐situ ring‐opening polymerization of the oxirane monomer.     

The Role of Functional Group on the Exfoliation of Clay in Poly(L‐lactide)

Summary: A new method was attempted to improve the interaction between poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA) with a commercially available organoclay, Cloisite 25A (C25A), which was functionalized with (glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane to introduce epoxy groups, and is referred to as twice‐functionalized organoclay (TFC). Tethering PLLA molecules to the epoxy groups on the surface of the TFC was attempted by melt compounding. X‐Ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy images showed that fully exfoliated PLLA/TFC nanocomposites were prepared successfully.

Transmission electron micrographs of the PLLA composites of the three clays used here.     

Poly(4‐vinylpyridine) Nanocrosslinked by Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane

Summary: Octa(propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OpePOSS) was used as the crosslinking agent to prepare the nanocrosslinked poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with POSS content up to 55.2 wt.‐%. The formation of the crosslinked structure is ascribed to the macromolecular reaction between pyridine rings of P4VP and epoxide groups of OpePOSS. The POSS‐crosslinked P4VP displayed enhanced glass transition temperatures (T_gs) and an improved thermal stability in terms of the results of thermal analysis.

Crosslinking of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) with octa(propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.     

Polymer‐Grafted Carbon Spheres by Surface‐Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Summary: In situ atom transfer radical polymerization techniques have been used to produce polymer‐grafted carbon spheres (CSs). The surfaces of as‐prepared CSs were functionalized in the presence of CS‐supported macroinitiators. The resulting materials were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, TEM, and HRTEM. The amount of polymer grafted onto the surfaces of the spheres can be controlled by varying the monomer/initiator feed ratio. The wetting ability and dispersibility of the polymer‐grafted CSs were improved significantly, compared with crude CSs, enabling stable dispersions in organic solvents to be produced. SEM and TEM studies indicate that a uniform distribution of the carbon spheres in the continuous polymer phase can be produced.

SEM image (left) of poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) grafted carbon spheres, inset shows the structure. HRTEM image (right) of a polystyrene grafted carbon sphere, inset is the SAED pattern.     

Silica/Polyamide Nanocomposite Synthesis via an Original Double Emulsification Process in Miniemulsion

Summary: A new method for the encapsulation of inorganic charges by an organic polymer by a reactive double emulsification process is proposed. This work is especially novel since it is highly unusual to encounter polymerization reactions in such a double emulsification process. Silica was first synthesized in cyclohexane using a sol–gel process in an inverse microemulsion in the presence of a non‐ionic surfactant (nonylphenyl ether polyoxyethylene), tetraethoxysilane, and concentrated ammonia. The coupling agent, 3‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane, was then grafted onto the surface of the silica nanoparticles. In a third step, direct miniemulsions were prepared from the microemulsion containing the functionalized silica nanoparticles. The miniemulsions were prepared using sodium dodecylsulfate as the surfactant and cetyl alcohol as the costabilizer. Finally, an interfacial polycondensation occurred between a diamine added to the external phase and sebacoyl chloride in solution in the dispersed phase. The formation of polyamide latexes was proven using infrared spectroscopy, and observation of the nanocomposites by transmission electron microscopy showed mean diameters of 100 nm.

TEM micrograph of silica/polyamide nanocomposite particles     

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Nanoscale Reinforcement of Thermosetting Resin from Benzoxazine and Bisoxazoline

Summary: The reaction between octaaminophenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OAPS) and 2,2′‐(1,3‐phenylene)‐bis(4,5‐dihydro‐oxazoles) (PBO) over different temperature ranges was confirmed by FT‐IR spectroscopy. The OAPS was used to modify benzoxazine (BZ) in the presence of PBO. The novel polybenzoxazine (PBZ)‐PBO/OAPS hybrid nanocomposite was prepared by solvent methods. Dynamic mechanical analyses indicated that the nanocomposites exhibited much higher T_g values than the pristine PBZ and PBZ‐PBO resin, and the storage modulus of the nanocomposites was maintained at higher temperatures, although only a small amount of OAPS was incorporated into the systems. Dynamic thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of the hybrid was also improved by the inclusion of OAPS.

DMA of PBZ (a), PBZ‐PBO (b), and PBZ‐PBO/OAPS nanocomposites (c–e).     

在无机SiO2纳米粒子存在下的苯丙乳液共聚合

研究了在无机SiO₂纳米粒子存在下的苯丙乳液共聚合.选择了能使苯丙乳液稳定存在的乳化剂体系,研究了温度和SiO₂的加入对聚合过程转化率的影响,结果表明,SiO₂的加入对聚合过程有阻聚作用,使单体的转化率降低.SEM照片证明SiO₂粒子已经进入苯丙乳液粒子中,而且SiO₂的加入对乳液制成的膜断面形态有一定影响.实验发现在无机SiO₂纳米粒子存在下,苯丙乳液共聚合时有较多残渣出现,对此通过改进乳液聚合进行了有效地改善.同时对制成的复合材料进行了力学性能和热学性能的测定.