Spin-crossover dendrimers: generation number-dependent cooperativity for thermal spin transition

Poly(benzyl ether) dendrons having a focal triazole unit (Gntrz: trz = triazole; n = generation number = 0-2) were found to react with (MeSO(3))(2)Fe to form dendritic coordination polymers ([Fe(Gntrz)(3)](MeSO(3))(2).2H(2)O) that undergo the thermal spin transition. When the generation number of the dendritic unit was larger (n = 0 --> 1 --> 2), the average degree of polymerization (D(p) = 20 --> 10 --> 3) and spin-crossover temperature (T(c) = 335 --> 315 --> 300 K) of the resulting polymer were lower. However, the abruptness of the spin transition was not monotonically dependent on the generation number; (G1trz)Fe exhibited an abrupt spin transition with a temperature width of only 10 K, while the smallest and largest members of the (Gntrz)Fe family both displayed a rather broad spin-transition temperature width (30 (n = 0) and 50 K (n = 2)). X-ray diffraction and calorimetric analyses indicated the presence of a discotic columnar core-shell assembly with a crystal lattice best occupied by a C(3)(v)() symmetric array of medium-sized (G1trz)Fe.     

Spin‐Crossover Physical Gels: A Quick Thermoreversible Response Assisted by Dynamic Self‐Organization

Iron(II) triazolate coordination polymers with lipophilic sulfonate counterions with alkyl chains of different lengths have been synthesized. In hydrocarbon solvents, these polymers formed a physical gel and showed a thermoreversible spin transition upon the sol–gel phase transition. The formation of a hydrogen‐bonding network between the triazolate moieties and sulfonate ions, bridged by water molecules, was found to play an important role in the spin‐crossover event. The spin‐transition temperature was tuned over a wide range by adding a small amount of 1‐octanol, a scavenger for hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This additive was essential for the iron(II) species to adopt a low‐spin state. Compared with nongelling references in aromatic solvents, the spin‐crossover physical gels are characterized by their quick thermal response, which is due to a rapid restoration of the hydrogen‐bonding network, possibly because of a dynamic structural ordering through an enhanced lipophilic interaction of the self‐assembling components in hydrocarbon solvents.     

Supramolecular hybrid of gold nanoparticles and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes wrapped by a porphyrin-fluorene copolymer

We describe the design, synthesis, and characterization of a supramolecular hybrid of gold nanometals and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) wrapped by a porphyrin-fluorene copolymer (1), as well as fabrication of a thin-film transistor (TFT) device using the hybrid. Photoluminescence mapping revealed that the copolymer selectively dissolved SWNTs with chirality indices of (8,6), (8,7), (9,7), (7,6), and (7,5); dissolution of (8,6), and (8,7) SWNTs was especially efficient. The solubilized SWNTs were connected to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via a coordination bond to prepare a supramolecular hybrid composed of AuNPs/copolymer 1-wrapped SWNTs, which were studied by atomic force and scanning and transmission electron microscopies. A fabricated TFT device using the semiconducting SWNTs/copolymer 1 shows evident p-type transport with an On/Off ratio of ~10(5). The transport properties of the TFT changed after coordination of the AuNPs with the SWNTs/copolymer 1.     

Regulation of the near-IR spectral properties of individually dissolved single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous solutions of dsDNA

Two different single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), the so-called HiPco and CoMoCAT, have been individually dissolved in aqueous solutions of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the fine structures of the dsDNA-wrapped SWNTs. The near-IR absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of aqueous solutions of dsDNA-wrapped SWNTs were recorded and, in pure water, we observed only a single two-dimensional PL spot from (6,5) SWNTs for both HiPco and CoMoCAT. In sharp contrast, when Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer was used in place of pure water, the PL-mapping images of the solutions showed chirality indices of (6,5), (7,5), (7,6), (8,4), (9,4), and (10,2) for HiPco-SWNTs, and (6,5) and (7,5) for CoMoCAT-SWNTs. The first semiconducting bands in the near-IR absorption spectra of solutions of dsDNA-wrapped SWNTs are different. To explain the observed differences in the near-IR absorption and PL behavior we conducted several experiments and found that the near-IR optical properties of the SWNTs can be modulated by changing the pH of the solutions. The pH break-points for near-IR absorption bleaching and PL quenching are different and the phenomena are explained by differences in the numbers of holes generated on the SWNTs. These findings are important from both fundamental and applied viewpoints.     

Recognition and one-pot extraction of right- and left-handed semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube enantiomers using fluorene-binaphthol chiral copolymers

Synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are mixtures of right- and left-handed helicity and their separation is an essential topic in nanocarbon science. In this paper, we describe the separation of right- and left-handed semiconducting SWNTs from as-produced SWNTs. Our strategy for this goal is simple: we designed copolymers composed of polyfluorene and chiral bulky moieties because polyfluorenes with long alkyl-chains are known to dissolve only semiconducting SWNTs and chiral binaphthol is a so-called BINAP family that possesses a powerful enantiomer sorting capability. In this study, we synthesized 12 copolymers, (9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl)x((R)- or (S)-2,2'-dimethoxy-1,1'-binaphthalen-6,6-diyl)y, where x and y are copolymer composition ratios. It was found that, by a simple one-pot sonication method, the copolymers are able to extract either right- or left-handed semiconducting SWNT enantiomers with (6,5)- and (7,5)-enriched chirality. The separated materials were confirmed by circular dichroism, vis-near IR and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Interestingly, the copolymer showed inversion of SWNT enantiomer recognition at higher contents of the chiral binaphthol moiety. Molecular mechanics simulations reveal a cooperative effect between the degree of chirality and copolymer conformation to be responsible for these distinct characteristics of the extractions. This is the first example describing the rational design and synthesis of novel compounds for the recognition and simple sorting of right- and left-handed semiconducting SWNTs with a specific chirality.     

Switching of spin states triggered by a phase transition: spin-crossover properties of self-assembled iron(II) complexes with alkyl-tethered triazole ligands

Iron(II) complexes of triazole derivatives having two C12 and C16 long alkyl chains, (C12trz)FeII and (C16trz)FeII, serve as novel spin-crossover materials, which display a spin-state transition in response to a phase transition. In contrast, a triazole complex with two C8 alkyl chains ((C8trz)FeII) exhibits only a poor response. EXAFS and XRD analyses of (C16trz)FeII indicate an interdigitating self-assembled structure of polynuclear iron(II) species. According to DSC, VT-IR, and VT-XRD profiles, the spin-state transition is triggered by melting of the interdigitating alkyl chains, which is likely responsible for the "lock-and-release" feature of the spin state. By virtue of the thermoreversibility of the phase transition, the spin crossover could be repeated without deterioration.     

Free-standing highly conductive transparent ultrathin single-walled carbon nanotube films

Transparent and conductive single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films are of great importance to a number of applications such as optical and electronic devices. Here, we describe a simple approach for preparing free-standing highly conductive transparent SWNT films with a 20-150 nm thickness by spray coating from surfactant-dispersed aqueous solutions of SWNTs synthesized by an improved floating-catalyst growth method. After the HNO(3) treatment, dipping the SWNT films supporting on glass substrates in water resulted in a quick and nondestructive self-release to form free-standing ultrathin SWNT films on the water surface. The obtained films have sufficiently high transmittance (i.e., 95%), a very low sheet resistance (i.e., ～120 Ω/sq), and a small average surface roughness (i.e., ～3.5 nm for a displayed 10 × 10 μm area). Furthermore, the floating SWNT films on the water surface were easily transferred to any substrates of interest, without intense mechanical and chemical treatments, to preserve their original sizes and network structures. For example, the transferred SWNT films on poly(ethylene terephthalate) films are mechanically flexible, which is a great advantage over conventional indium-tin oxide (ITO) and therefore strongly promise to be "post ITO" for many applications.     

Supramolecular hybrid of metal nanoparticles and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes wrapped by a fluorene-carbazole copolymer

The first approach for the preparation of metal nanoparticle/semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) hybrids with specified chirality is described. For this purpose, a copolymer of a fluorene derivative with two long-chain alkyl substituents and a carbazole derivative carrying a thiol group was used. The copolymer was found to selectively dissolve (7,6)- and (8,7)SWNTs, as determined by UV/Vis/NIR absorption and Raman spectroscopy and 2D photoluminescence mapping. Gold and silver nanoparticles with diameters of about 3.8 and about 3.2 nm, respectively, were readily attached along the SWNTs by means of coordination bonds between the nanoparticles and the thiol moieties on the copolymer, as revealed by atomic force and electron microscopy studies. The study provides a novel way to design and fabricate metal nanoparticle/semiconducting SWNT hybrids with specific nanotube chirality.     

Effect of Backbone Chemical Structure of Polymers on Selective (n,m)Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Recognition/Extraction Behavior

The development of a simple and facile method to extract single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a specific chirality index is one of the most‐crucial issues in the fundamental study and applications of the SWNTs. We have compared the selective recognition/extraction of the SWNT chirality of poly(9,10‐dioctyl‐9,10‐dihydrophenanthrene‐2,7‐diyl) (2C8‐PPhO) to that of poly(9,9‐dioctyfluoreny1‐2,7‐diyl) (2C8‐PFO) that are able to extract specific semiconducting SWNTs free of any metallic SWNTs. Vis/NIR absorption, 2D photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy as well as molecular mechanical simulations were used to analyze and understand the obtained chiral selective solubilization behavior. We found that 2C8‐PPhO selectively extracts and enriches the (8,6), (8,7), and (9,7)SWNTs, whose behaviors are different from that of 2C8‐PFO, which preferentially extracts the (7,5), (7,6), (8,6), and (8,7)SWNTs. Our results indicate that 2C8‐PPhO preferably recognizes larger‐diameter SWNTs with higher chiral angles compared to those recognized by 2C8‐PFO. These findings demonstrate that the difference in the non‐aromatic ring numbers on the polymers results in different SWNT chirality recognition/extraction behaviors.     

Design and synthesis of nitrogen-containing calcined polymer/carbon nanotube hybrids that act as a platinum-free oxygen reduction fuel cell catalyst

The development of a platinum-free catalyst is one of the challenging issues for the global commercialization of fuel cell systems. Here we describe the design and synthesis of nitrogen-containing calcined polybenzimidazole/carbon nanotube hybrids that act as an oxygen reduction catalyst.