Five supramolecular compounds of water-soluble sulfonylcalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate showing two calixarene conformations

Five new compounds of sulfonylcalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate (SC4AS), [H7Na(H2O)(3)(SC4AS)(phen)(5)](H2O)(11.9) (1), [H6Mn(H2O)(4)(SC4AS)(phen)(5)] (H2O)(12.7) (2), [Cu-4(SC4AS) (phen)(6)] (H2O)(4.5) (3), {[Cu (2)(SC4AS) (bpy)(2)][Cu(bpy)(2)(H2O)](2)} (H2O)(6.6) (4), and {[Zn-2(SC4AS) (phen)(2)][Zn(phen)(2)(H2O)(2)](2)} (H2O)(7) (5) (where phen 1,10-phenanthroline and bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and structurally determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The SC4AS ligand adopts partial cone conformation in compounds 1 and 2 and 1,2-alternate form in compounds 3-5. According to the structural analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we suggest that the metal can affect the conformation of SC4AS.

Synthesis and properties of water stable poly[bis(benzimidazobenzisoquinolinone)] ionomers for proton exchange membranes fuel cells

A novel sulfonated tetraamine, di(triethylammonium)-4,4'-bis(3,4-diaminophenoxy)biphenyl-3,3'-disulfonate (BAPBDS), was successfully synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl with 5-chloro-2-nitroaniline, followed by sulfonation and reduction. A high-temperature polycondensation of sulfonated tetraamine, non-sulfonated tetraamine (4,4 -bis(3,4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl) and 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (a) or 4,4'-binaphthyl-1,1',8,8'-tetracarboxylic dianydride (b) gave the poly[bis(benzimidazobenzisoquinolinones)] ionomers SPBIBI-a(x) or SPBIBI-b(x), where x refers to the molar percentage of the sulfonated tetraamine monomer. Flexible and tough membranes of high mechanical strength were obtained by solution casting and the electrolyte properties of the polymers were intensively investigated. The ionomer membranes displayed excellent dimensional and hydrolytic stabilities.

"Dual-Parallel-Channel" Shape-Gradient Surfaces: Toward Oriented and Reversible Movement of Water Droplets

In this paper, we prepared "dual-parallel-channel" shape-gradient surfaces, on which water droplets can reversibly and orientedly move between two adjacent pools under the guidance of an external voltage. Furthermore, it is found that the motion speed is governed by several parameters, including bath condition, gradient angle, and the working voltage. In this self-transportation process of water droplets, the external voltage works like a traffic light, which can give "moving", "stopping", "turning" and "straight-going" signals to the Water droplets.

Tethered diblock copolymer chains on platelets prepared by semicrystalline ABC triblock copolymers in toluene with trace amounts of water

Lamellar platelets of triblock copolymers grown in dilute toluene solution with trace amounts of water can be used as templates for tethered diblock copolymer chain preparation and analysis. Polystyrene-bpoly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO) with two different block fractions were used as model templates to generate tethered P2VP-b-PS chains on the platelet basal surfaces. In toluene solution the aggregation states of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO were sensitive to the water content in the solution. For toluene with trace amount of water, spherical micelles were formed in the early stage and large square platelets would gradually grow from these spherical micelles. The hydrogen bonding between water and EO units was responsible for the formation of micelles and subsequent square platelets in the solution. Tethered P2VP-b-PS chains on basal surface of PEO platelets could be regarded as diblock copolymer brushes and the density (or: 0.086-0.36) and height (d: 3.5-14.3 nm) of these tethered chains could be easily modulated by changing the crystallization condition and/ or the molecular weight of each block. The tethered P2VP-b-PS chains were responsive to different solvent vapor.

Synthesis of nanowires, nanorods and nanoparticles of ZnO through modulating the ratio of water to methanol by using a mild and simple solution method

ZnO nanowires, nanorods and nanoparticles through modulating the ratio of water to methanol have been synthesized by using a mild and simple solution method. The as-prepared ZnO nanostructures have been characterized by atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. With the increase of the ratio of water to methanol, the morphology of ZnO nanostructures varied form denser nanowires, to sparse nanowires, to nanorods, and then to nanoparticles. The ratio of water to methanol is supposed to play an important role in the formation of ZnO nanostructures. The mechanism of formation is related to the chemical potential, which is simply proportional to their surface ratio.

Preparation and properties of water-based conducting polyaniline

A convenient way to make water-soluble or water-dispersible conducting polyaniline was given by employing protonic acid dopants containing hydrophilic ethyleneoxide oligomer as counter-anion. The conducting polyaniline possessed electrical conductivity in the range of 10(-3) to 10(-2) S/cm, depending on the dopant, and it displayed excellent electrochemical redox reversibility in non-aqueous system.

Synthesis of aromatic polyimides in DMAc containing large amount of water and the properties thereof

A series of polyamic acids were prepared in N,N-dimethylactamide (DMAc) containing large amount of water, some of which contain the amount of water up to 25%. Their inherent viscosities decreased with the increase of water in DMAc, depending on the electronic properties of dianhydride and reaction condition. The molecular weights and mechanical properties of the polyimides thermally imidized from the polyamic acids were almost independent on the water content in solvent. The decomposition-resynthesis of polyamic acids during the curing was also investigated.

Preparation and properties of water-based conducting polyaniline

A convenient way to prepare water-soluble or water-dispersible conducting polyaniline was developed by employing protonic acid dopants containing hydrophilic ethyleneoxide oligomer as counter-ion. The conducting polyaniline possesses electrical conductivity in the range of 10(-3) to 10(-2) S/cm depending on the chosen dopant, and it displays an excellent electrochemical redox reversibility in non-aqueous systems.

Synthesis and solvent enhanced relaxation property of water-soluble endohedral metallofullerenols

Gadolinium fullerenols, as novel and potential contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, were synthesized, which showed excellent efficiency in enhancing water proton relaxation with a relaxivity of 47.0+/-1.0 mM(-1).s(-1).

Rapid automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved manganese in underground water by reverse-flow injection with chemiluminescence detection during the process of water treatment

Measurement of iron and manganese is very important in evaluating the quality of natural waters. We have constructed an automated Fe(II), total dissolved iron(TDI), Mn(II), and total dissolved manganese(TDM) analysis system for the quality control of underground drinking water by reverse flow injection analysis and chemiluminescence detection(rFIA-CL), The method is based on the measurement of the metal-catalyzed light emission from luminol oxidation by potassium periodate. The typical signal is a narrow peak, in which the height is proportional to light emitted and hence to the concentration of metal ions. The detection limits were 3 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Fe(II) and the linear range extents up to 1.0 x 10(-4) and 5 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Mn(II) cover a linear range to 1.0 x 10(-4) mu g ml(-1). This method was used for automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved in underground water during water treatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.