π‐Plasmon absorbance films of carboxylic functionalized CNTs coupled with renewable PGP platforms

π‐Plasmon absorbance films of carboxylic functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coupled with renewable and recycled polycaprolactone grafted pectin (PGP) platforms as successful alternative for ordinary nondegradable platforms were investigated. Characterization of the synthesized carboxylic functionalized CNTs was performed using ¹H NMR and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared for structural identification, thermogravimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetric analysis for thermal stability, and X‐ray powder diffraction for crystal structure, whereas the characterization of prepared PGP was done by means of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared for chemical structure, differential scanning calorimetry for melting endotherms of polycaprolactone and high crystalline structure of PGP, and thermogravimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetric analysis for thermal stability of PGP. Fabrication of water‐dispersed carboxylic functionalized CNTs coupled with PGP films was performed by casting technique in the presence of Ca²⁺ as cross‐linker. The thin films were tested for π‐plasmon absorbance using UV‐Vis spectrometry. Different fractions of carboxylic functionalized CNTs and PGP films demonstrated π‐plasmon absorbance broad peaks at λ_max = 232 nm, which corresponded to 5.36 eV. The fabrication of novel films from renewable recycled PGP platform and advanced carboxylic functionalized CNTs properties will be the key features for many of next forthcoming technologies. The PGP considered as environment‐friendly and easily degradable platforms will be a successful alternative for conventional nondegradable electronic platforms, and water‐dispersed carboxylic functionalized CNTs with advanced properties will be finding accelerating executive applications.     

Recent advances with electro-optic polymers

Abstract

In recent years the electro-optic polymers emerged as an important branch of material science. This growth and interest is fundamentally motivated by practical application of these materials in second-order nonlinear optics and in waveguiding configuration. Indeed, these materials marry excellent optical quality of amorphous σ bonded polymers with enhanced first hyperpolarizability of imbedded organic nonlinear optical molecules. Although a big progress was achieved with them, concerning particularly the science, understanding and applications, some problems remain still incompletely solved, particularly the stability of induced polar order by the application of external electric field and the molecule aggregation. In this review paper we recall techniques of thin film fabrication, poling, characterization of NLO properties and discuss more precisely problems of molecule aggregation as well as the temporal decay of polar order. A novel 3D second-order NLO chromophores, namely the [2] paracyclophanes, which may help to limit the aggregation, are proposed. We show, in particular, that this molecule can be poled in doped PMMA thin films. Practical applications of electro-optic polymers are also reviewed and discussed.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of the thermosetting resin based on cyano functionalized benzoxazine

A novel thermosetting resin based on cyano functionalized benzoxazine (BZCN) has been synthesized from 2,6-bis(4-diaminobenzoxy)benzonitrile phenol and formaldehyde by solution reaction. The structure of the monomer is supported by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra, which have exhibited that the reactive benzoxazine rings and cyano group exist in the molecular structure of BZCN. The curing reactions of BZCN are monitored by the disappearance of the nitrile peak and the tri-substituted benzene ring that is attached with oxazine ring peak at 2231 and 930 cm⁻¹, respectively. The complete cured materials could achieve char yields up to 70% at 800 °C in nitrogen atmosphere, above 64% at 600 °C in air (20% oxygen) environments and the glass transition temperature up to 250 °C. The thermally activated curing polymerization reaction of BZCN follows multiple polymerization mechanisms via the ring-opening polymerization of oxazine rings and the triazine ring-formation of cyano groups, which contribute to the stability of the polymer.     

A sensitive DNA biosensor based on the distance dependent quenching of Silica@Ru(bpy)32+-chitosan-GO electrochemiluminescence by Ferrocene@Gold nanoparticles

A sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for the specific DNA sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was developed based on the efficient quenching effect of the ferrocene cluster functionalized gold nanoparticles (Fc@AuNPs) on the ECL of electrodeposited silica@Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-chitosan-graphene oxide nanocomposite (SiO₂@Ru−CS−GO). Graphene oxide (GO) can accelerate electron transfer rate, thus improving the ECL of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ on electrode surface. The molecular beacons (MB) was fixed to SiO₂@Ru−CS−GO by glutaraldehyde (GA) using the Schiff reaction between amino groups of chitosan (CS) and MB. The ECL of SiO₂@Ru−CS−GO was depressed greatly by the Fc@AuNPs labelled at the end of MB, then, a stronger ECL was observed when the distance between Fc@AuNPs and SiO₂@Ru−CS−GO increased after the hybridization of target DNA with MB. Under optimum conditions, the restored ECL intensity increased linearly with the target DNA concentration in the range of 1.0×10⁻¹⁶∼1.0×10⁻¹⁰ mol ⋅ L⁻¹, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 1.4×10⁻¹⁷ mol ⋅ L⁻¹. The proposed method exhibits acceptable stability and reproducibility. In general, the constructed HCV biosensor can be used for the sensitive detection of HCV in human serum, suggesting potential application prospects in bioanalysis.     

Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on Mesoporous PdPt Nanoparticles Anchored on a Three-dimensional PANI@CNTs Network as Nanozyme Labels

In this study, a novel strategy to amplify electrochemical signals by mesoporous PdPt nanoparticles with core-shell structures anchored on a three-dimensional PANI@CNTs network as nanozyme labels (PdPt/PANI@CNTs) was proposed for the sensitive monitoring of α-fetoprotein (AFP, Ag). First, the mesoporous PdPt nanoparticles prepared by a facile chemical reduction method had excellent biocompatibility with biomolecules, which could capture a large amount of AFP-Ab₂ (Ab₂) and exhibit plentiful pores to entrap more thionine (Thi) into mesoporous PdPt nanoparticles with enhanced loading and abundant active sites. Furthermore, the resulting mesoporous PdPt nanoparticles were abundantly dotted on the surface of a three-dimensional PANI@CNTs network with excellent conductivity and a high specific surface area through the bonding of the amino group to form PdPt/PANI@CNTs nanozyme labels. Most importantly, the as-prepared PdPt/PANI@CNTs nanozyme labels exhibited unexpected enzyme-like activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide owing to the highly indexed facets, enhancing the current response to realize signal amplification. In view of the advantages of nanozyme labels and the involvement of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, which behave as electrode materials) for the sensitive determination of AFP, the as-developed immunosensor could obtain a dynamic working range of 0.001 ng mL^−1–100.0 ng mL⁻¹ at a detection limit of 0.33 pg mL⁻¹ via DPV (at 3σ). Furthermore, the nanozyme-based electrochemical immunosensor exhibited remarkable analytical performance, which brought about feasible ideas for disease diagnosis in the future.     

Selective mono- and 1,2-difunctionalisation of cyclopentene derivatives via Mg and Cu intermediates

A single Br/Mg exchange of 1,2-dibromocyclopentene with iPrMgCl LiCl provides the corresponding beta-bromocyclopentenylmagnesium reagent, which can then be reacted with various electrophiles (yields: 65-82 %). In the presence of a secondary alkylmagnesium halide and Li2CuCl4 (2 mol %), these 2-bromoalkenylmagnesium compounds undergo bromine substitution and can then further react with electrophiles to give 1,2-difunctionalised cyclopentenes (63-79 %). The mechanism of this process is discussed.     

Preparation of open tubular capillary column covalently coated with polystyrene sulfonate with 4,4′-Azobis(4-cyanopentanoyl chloride) as polymerization initiator for electrochromatographic separation of alkaloids,sulfonamides, and peptides

An open tubular capillary electrochromatography column covalently bonded with polystyrene sulfonate was prepared via in situ polymerization using functionalized Azo-initiator 4,4′-Azobis(4-cyanopentanoyl chloride). Scanning electron, fluorescence, and atomic force microscopy techniques showed the formation of a relatively rough layer of polymer. In addition, –CN and C = O stretching vibrations from infrared spectroscopy proved the successful immobilization of the azo-initiator through covalent bonding and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the elemental composition of the formed polymer layer. The prepared column was found to be appropriate for small and medium-sized molecules separation. Compared to bare fused silica capillary column higher selectivity and resolution were obtained for the separation of alkaloids, sulfonamides, and peptides as a result of the electrostatic and pi-pi stacking interactions between the small organic molecules and the coated column without compromising the electroosmotic flow mobility. Separation efficiency was also increased compared to the bare capillary for the separation of alkaloids (about 1.5 times). Moreover, intraday, inter-day, intra-batch, and inter-batch relative standard deviation values of retention time and peak area of peptides were within 2% and 10%, respectively, indicating good repeatability of the column preparation procedure. The developed method for the covalent bonding of polymers through a functionalized azo-initiator could represent a promising stable method for the preparation of an open tubular column.     

An Alignment Medium for Measuring Residual Dipolar Couplings in Pure DMSO: Liquid Crystals from Graphene Oxide Grafted with Polymer Brushes

Residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) have attracted attention in light of their great impact on the structural elucidation of organic molecules. However, the effectiveness of RDC measurements is limited by the shortage of alignment media compatible with widely used organic solvents, such as DMSO. Herein, we present the first liquid crystal (LC) based alignment medium that is compatible with pure DMSO, thus enabling RDC measurements of polar and intermediate polarity molecules. The liquid crystals were obtained by grafting polymer brushes onto graphene oxide (GO) using free radical polymerization. The resulting new medium offers several advantages, such as absence of background signals, narrow line shapes, and tunable alignment. Importantly, this medium is compatible with π‐conjugated molecules. Moreover, sonication‐induced fragmentation can reduce the size of GO sheets. The resulting anisotropic medium has moderate alignment strength, which is a prerequisite for an accurate RDC measurement.     

Anionic synthesis of aromatic amide and carboxyl functionalized polymers. Chain-end functionalization of poly(styryl)lithium with N,N-diisopropyl-4-(1-phenylethenyl)benzamide

The novel syntheses of N,N-diisopropyl-4-benzoylbenzamide, N,N-diisopropyl-4-(1-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)benzamide, and N,N-diisopropyl-4-(1-phenylethenyl)benzamide ( 1 ) are described. ω-Amidopolystyrene ( 2 ) was synthesized in quantitative yields by the reaction of poly(styryl)lithium with stoichiometric amounts of N,N-diisopropyl-4-(1-phenylethenyl)benzamide ( 1 ) in toluene/tetrahydrofuran (4 : 1 v/v) at −78°C. Deblocking of the amide protecting group by acid hydrolysis quantitatively provides the corresponding aromatic carboxyl chain-end functionalized polystyrene ( 3 ). The functionalization agent and functionalized polymers were characterized by HPLC, thin-layer chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, vapor phase osmometry, spectroscopy (¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and FTIR), potentiometry, and elemental analysis. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1233–1241, 1998     

Formation and compatibilizing effect of the grafted copolymer in the reactive blending of 2-diethylsuccinate containing polyolefins with poly-ϵ-caprolactam (nylon-6)

The intermolecular reaction and its role in determining the partial compatibility between diethylsuccinate containing linear low-density polyethylene or ethylene propylene copolymer and poly-ϵ-caprolactam (PA6) has been investigated in the melt using a Brabender mixer. The reaction product has been submitted to selective solvent extraction with formic acid and n-heptane; the characterization of the two extracted fractions and the insoluble residue has demonstrated the formation of a polyolefin–nylon (PO–PA6) grafted copolymer. The formation of grafted copolymer has an evident effect on the compatibilization of the two original polymers, indeed the differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows a remarkable decrease of temperature and enthalpy of PA6 crystallization. Moreover scanning electron microscopy micrographs show clear evidence of size reduction of PA6 domains associated with improved interface interactions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.