Synthesis and characterization of novel perfluorinated polyimides with 3D‐controlled structures for photonic applications

We have designed and synthesized novel perfluorinated polyimides with 3D controlled structure. At first, we successfully developed the new synthetic routes to diamines with pendant bulky perfluorinated aromatic units in a multi‐step synthetic procedure. Novel perfluorinated polyimides were prepared in a two‐step reaction in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) solution: The first step was for the synthesis of polyamic acids (PAAs) and the second reaction was for the imidization of PAA. The polymer yield was over 89% and the inherent viscosity of PAAs was in the range of 0.24–0.36 dL/g. The thin films were prepared by spin‐coating the PAA solution in NMP onto various substrates such as a Si wafer or a KBr pellet, dried at 80 °C and further cured at 230 °C. The resultant polyimides are thermally stable over 400 °C. The refractive index and birefringence of the resultant polyimides are 1.5858–1.6452 and 0.01–0.005, respectively. The refractive index of polyimide decreases with increasing the fluorine content. The copolymerization and the ether linkages into the backbone reduce the birefringence of polyimides. Surprisingly, the pendant ether linkage is not a crucial factor in reducing the polyimide birefringence. Their birefringence is comparatively very low, compared with that of previous polyimides. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1326–1342, 2006     

Organic phase conversion of bulk (wurtzite) ZnO to nanophase (wurtzite and zinc blende) ZnO

We describe the all-organic phase conversion of bulk commercial ZnO in the wurtzite modification to sub-30 nm ZnO that we find to be partially in the zinc blende [, a=4.568(3) Å] modification. The conversion involves refluxing ZnO in 2,4-pentanedione (acetylacetone) at 413 K to form the zinc 2,4-pentanedionate, which is decomposed by heating at 573 K in an appropriate high-temperature solvent such as dibenzylether to form nanophase ZnO. This nanophase, partially zinc blende ZnO can also be obtained in a single step by heating commercial zinc 2,4-pentanedionate in refluxing dibenzylether. Thermodiffractometry suggests that the conversion of zinc blende ZnO to wurtzite ZnO commences near 650 K.     

Simple synthesis of aminoquinoline/ethylaniline copolymer semiconducting nanoparticles

Pure copolymer nanoparticles from 8-aminoquinoline (AQ) and 2-ethylaniline (EA) were easily synthesized by a chemically oxidative polymerization in three different aqueous media. The potential and temperature of polymerization solution were used to successfully follow the polymerization progress. The molecular and morphological structures of the resulting AQ/EA copolymer particles were systematically characterized by IR, UV/Vis, NMR, gel permeation chromatography, laser particle-size analysis, atomic force and transmission electron microscopy. The oxidation potential of the monomers as well as the polymerization yield, structure, and properties of the particles were found to significantly depend on AQ/EA ratio, polymerization temperature and medium. It is surprisingly found that AQ homopolymerization and AQ/EA (50:50) copolymerization at 5 degrees C in HCl simply afford nano-ellipsoids with the major/minor axis diameters of 24/14 nm and 80/67 nm, respectively. A simple method of synthesizing semiconducting pure nanoparticles by introducing the AQ units with positively charged quaternary ammonium groups but in the absence of adscititious stabilizer or sulfonic substituent on the monomers is established first. Both the molecular weight and bulk electroconductivity of the copolymers exhibit a maximum at AQ content of 10 mol %. The solubility and film formability of the copolymers are good in highly polar solvents and reach the optimal at the AQ content of 20 and 10 mol %, respectively.     

Thermally Responsive Fibers for Versatile Thermoactivated Protective Fabrics

Smart textiles with good mechanical adaptability play an important role in personal protection, health monitoring, and aerospace applications. However, most of the reported thermally responsive polymers has long response time and poor processability, comfort, and wearability. Skin-core structures of thermally responsive fibers with multiple commercial fiber cores and temperature-responsive hydrogel skins are designed and fabricated, which exhibit rapid mechanical adaptability, good thermohardening, and thermal insulation. This universal method enables tight bonding between various commercial fiber cores and hydrogel skins via specific covalently anchored networks. At room temperature, prepared fibers show softness, flexibility, and skin compatibility similar to those of ordinary fibers. As temperature rises, smart fibers become hard, rigid, and self-supporting. The modulus of hydrogel skin increases from 304% to 30883%, showing good mechanoadaptability and impact resistance owing to the synergy between hydrophobic interactions and ionic bonding. Moreover, this synergistic effect leads to an increase in heat absorption, and fibers exhibit good thermal insulation, which reduces the contact temperature of the body surface by ≈25 °C under the external temperature of 95 °C, effectively preventing thermal burns. Notably, the active mechanoadaptability of these smart fibers using conductive fibers as cores is demonstrated. This study provides feasibility for fabricating environmentally adaptive intelligent textiles.     

Concentration and characterization of dilute colloidal samples by potential-barrier field-flow fractionation

Summary Potential-barrier field-flow fractionation, which is a combination of potential-barrier chromatography and sedimentation field-flow fractionation, is shown to be a convenient and accurate method for the concentration and analysis (separation and characterization) ofdilute colloidal samples. Two sizes (0.158 and 0.271 μm) of haematite (α-Fe₂O₃) monodisperse colloidal samples diluted in volumes of up to 20 cm³ are used as model colloids. The particle diameters found by the present concentration procedure under various experimental conditions are in good agreement with those determined by conventional sedimentation field-flow fractionation, in which a small concentrated sample volume was injected directly into the column.     

Mechanical behaviour of biodegradable agricultural films under real field conditions

The mechanical behaviour of various types of biodegradable materials depends on their chemical composition and additives, the processing characteristics and the application conditions. The environmental conditions during storage and usage of these materials strongly influence their mechanical properties and behaviour. Ageing and degradation during the useful lifetime of biodegradable agricultural films causes losses in the mechanical performance of the material, as measured by monitoring the evolution of some of the critical mechanical properties. Such losses may be comparable to the corresponding losses of the conventional polyethylene agricultural films due to ageing, or they may be more drastic. In the present paper, the overall mechanical and ageing/degradation behaviour of experimental specially designed and manufactured low-tunnel and mulching biodegradable films, exposed to full-scale field conditions is analysed. Selected critical mechanical properties of these films manufactured with different grades of Mater-Bi material and additives, different thickness and processing schemes and exposed to real cultivation conditions in four different locations in Europe are investigated in the laboratory and compared against the corresponding behaviour of conventional agricultural films at various stages of their exposure time.     

The detection of oxygen in magneto-optical layers with SIMS

The detection of oxygen in magneto-optical layers is of fundamental importance for the characterization of the stability of RE-TM material. The magnetic properties are directly influenced by oxide formation. Oxygen depth profiles are carried out by using the SIMS technique. A comparison with magnetic measurements showed a clear conformity. We were able to study the oxidation behaviour of various layers at room temperature and at higher values up to 250° C for several hours. It could be shown that aluminum is a successful material for the protection of RE-films against oxidation. The difficulties of translating SIMS counting rates into concentration values were overcome by using EPMA. Specially prepared reference samples were measured by this technique and could then be used as standard samples for SIMS.     

Intercalation materials for lithium rechargeable batteries

An overview is given of intercalation materials for both the negative and the positive electrodes of lithium batteries, including the results of our own research. As well as lithium metal as a negative electrode, we consider insertion materials based on aluminium alloys. In the case of the positive electrode metal-oxides based on manganese, nickel and cobalt are discussed. Received: 27 May 1997 / Accepted: 30 July 1997     

地外样品研究中电子探针元素面扫描分析技术的应用

由于月壤等地外样品十分珍贵,在实验室研究中优先使用原位、微区、无损的元素分析方法。电子探针元素面扫描是地外样品研究中常用的分析方法之一。该方法可获取样品整体或者感兴趣区域的多种元素分布数据,应用于矿物相识别与含量估算,锆石等定年矿物的快速定位,矿物环带、出溶、反应边结构等特殊岩相和矿物接触关系等分析和研究。本研究中以嫦娥五号月壤、月球陨石、火星陨石研究为例,介绍了目前元素面扫描的应用方法。此外,本文还对比、分析了电子探针面扫描技术与其它面扫描技术的优缺点和适用范围。未来十年,我国将实施一系列月球、火星、小行星等天体采样返回任务。电子探针元素面扫描分析未来将在这些地外样品研究中广泛使用。同时,建议行星科学家围绕所关心的科学问题,合理搭配多种分析方法以实现各种技术优势互补和样品科学价值最大化,服务我国月球与深空探测任务科学产出和行星科学发展。