Layer-by-layer electrodeposition of redox polymers and enzymes on screen-printed carbon electrodes for the preparation of reagentless biosensors

Layer-by-layer electrodeposition of redox polymer/enzyme composition films on screen-printed carbon electrodes for fabrication of reagentless enzyme biosensors has been proposed and the resulting films were found to be very stable and rigid.

Sulfonated poly(arylene-co-naphthalimide)s synthesized by copolymerization of primarily sulfonated monomer and fluorinated naphthalimide dichlorides as novel polymers for proton exchange membranes

A novel sulfonated aromatic dichloride monomer was successfully prepared by the reaction of 2, 5-dichlorobenzophenone with fuming sulfuric acid. Copolymerization of this monomer in the form of sodium salt (1) with N-(4-chloro-2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-chloro-1,8-naphthalimide (2) or bis(N-(4-chloro-2-trifluoromethylphenyl)1,4,5,8-naphthalimide (3) generated two series of novel poly(arylene-co-naphthalimide) s I-x and II-x where x represents the content of the sulfonated monomer. The synthesized copolymers with the -SO3H group in the side chains possessed high molecular weights revealed by their high viscosity and the formation of tough and flexible membranes. The copolymers exhibited excellent stability toward water and oxidation due to the introduction of the hydrophobic CF3 groups. The sulfonated copolyimides that incorporated with 1,8-naphthalimide (I-x) exhibited better hydrolytic and oxidative stabilities than those with 1,4,5,8-naphthalimide. Copolymer I-50 membrane endured for more than 83 h in Fenton's reagent at room temperature. The mechanical properties of I-50 membrane kept almost unchanged after immersing membrane in boiling water for 196 h. The proton conductivities of copolymer films increased with increasing IEC and temperature, reaching values above 6.8 x 10(-1) S/cm at 80 degrees C.

Syntheses, structures, and characterizations of four new silver(I) sulfonate coordination polymers with neutral ligands

In this paper, four novel silver(I) sulfonate coordination polymers containing neutral ligands, namely, [Ag(2)Ll (biim)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O (1). AgL2(biim) (2), [Ag(HL3)(Pic)(2)]center dot H2O (3), and [Ag-3(L3)(HL3)(4,4'-bipy)(3)(H2O)(2)]center dot 4H(2)O (4), have been synthesized [L1 = 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate, L2 = p-aminobenzenesulfonate, H(2)L3 = p-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, biim = 1,1'-(1.4-butanediyl)-bis(imidazole), Pic = beta-picoline, 4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine]. For compounds 1 and 2, Ag(I) cations are bridged by biim ligands to form a one-dimensional (1D) "zigzag" chain, and L1 and L2 sulfonate ligands are not coordinated to the silver cation. Compound 3 has a dimeric structure in which two silver cations are bridged by two HL3 ligands. For compound 4, L3 ligand coordinates to a silver cation as a monodentate ligand, and Ag(l) cations are bridged by 4,4'-bipy ligands to form a ID chain. Compound 1 contains water dimers, while compound 4 contains water trimers. Compounds 1-3 display room-temperature photoluminescence.

A polymer composite film with reversible responsive behaviors

A responsive polymer composite film was generated by the use of reversibly switchable Surface morphology of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) films in response to different block selective solvents on the rough isotactic poly(propylene) (i-PP) substrate. The Maximum difference of the water contact angle of the composite films increased from 22.6 degrees of PS-b-PMMA films on the smooth substrate to 42.6 degrees when they were treated by PS and PMMA selective solvents, respectively. The mechanisms of the responsive extent enhanced and the superhydrophobicity of the composite films were discussed in detail.

Phenylene vinylene-based electroluminescent polymers with electron transport block in the main chain

We report a new route for the design of soluble phenylene vinylene (PV) based electroluminescent polymers bearing electron-deficient oxadizole (OXD) and triazole (TZ) moieties in the main chains with the aryloxy linkage. Both series of the PV-based polymers were prepared by Wittig reaction. By properly adjusting the OXD and/or TZ content through copolymerization, we can achieve an enhanced balance of hole- and electron injections, such that the device efficiency is significantly improved. Light-emitting diodes fabricated from P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7 with the configuration of Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO)/Poly (styrene sulfonic acid) doped poly (ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/polymer/Ca/Al, emit bright green light with the maximum peak around 500 nm. For the device using the optimal polymer (P4) as emitting layer, a maximum brightness of 1300 cd/m(2) at 20 V and a maximum luminance efficiency of 0.325 cd/A can be obtained.

Two new Cu-II coordination polymers: Studies of topological networks and water clusters

Two new Cull coordination polymers, namely [Cu-2(BDC)(2)(L)(4)(H2O)(2)]center dot 14H(2)O (1) and [Cu-1.5(BTC)(L)(1.5)(H2O)(0.5)]center dot 2H(2)O (2), where L = 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), BDC = 1,4-benzene dicarboxylate, and BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate, have been synthesized at room temperature. Complex 1 exhibits an unusual, square-planar, four-connected 2D (2)(6)4 net, which has been predicated by Wells. Interestingly, three types of water clusters, namely (H2O)(6), (H2O)(8), and (H2O)(10), are observed in the hydrogen-bonded layers constructed by the BDC ligands and water molecules. The BTC anion in compound 2 is coordinated to the Cu" cation as tetradentate ligand to form a (6(6))(2)(4(2)6(4)8(4))(2)(6(4)810) net containing three kinds of nonequivalent points, Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and IR spectra for 1 and 2 are also discussed in detail.

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of two heterometallic coordination polymers

Two heterometallic chain coordination polymers with the chemical formula {[Cu2Mn2L2(CH3OH)(H2O)] center dot 0.5CH(3)OH center dot 0.5CH(3)CH(2)OH}(n) (1) and {[Cu2Co2L2(H2O)(2)] center dot H2O}(n) (2) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, UV spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, where H4L = 2-hydroxy-3-[(E)-({2-[(2-hydroxybetizoyl)amino]ethyl}imino)methyl] benzoic acid. Magnetic measurements showed that the two compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling exchange interactions, and satisfactory fittings to the observed magnetic susceptibility data were obtained by assuming a linear four-spin arrangement with two isotropic magnetic exchange interactions.

Synthesis, characterization, properties and crystal structure of heterometallic 1D coordination polymers {[CuLZn center dot CuLZn(H2O)]center dot H2O}(n)

Copper-zinc heterometallic 1D chain coordination polymer has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, and IR spectra etc. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The title complex is 1 D chain coordination polymer with the chemical formula {[CuLZn center dot CuLZn(H2O)]center dot H2O}(n), where H4L=N-(2-hydroxybenzamido)-N'-(3-carboxylsalicylidene)ethylenediamine. Its structural unit is comprosed of two tetranuclear cycles formed by two dissymmetrical tetranuclear units. These units polymerized each other to form 1 D chain coordination polymer.

Novel PPV-based light-emitting polymers containing siloxane moiety

Two PPV-based copolymers consisting siloxane linkage have been synthesized by melt condensation of bisphenol and dianilinodimethylsilane. The rigid PPV segments act as chromosphere and allow fine turning of band gap for blue-light emission, while the flexible siloxane units lead to the effective interruption of conjugation and the enhancement of solubility. The UV-vis absorption, photoluminescent and eletroluminescent properties have been studied.

Enhanced efficiency of light-emitting polymers through intra-molecular energy transfer

To enhance the photoluminescence and electroluminescence efficiency, light-emitting polymers with energy transferring chromophores including N,N,N'N'-phenylene-diamine, naphthalene-imide, oxadiazole, meta-phenylene vinylene are designed and synthesized.

AFM study of the self-assembly behavior of hexa-armed star polymers with a discotic triphenylene core

The size-armed polystyrenes and poly-(methyl methacrylate)s with a triphenylene core showed different self-assembling patterns, isolated cylinders for polySt on mico and highly ordered cylindrical pores for polyMMA on a silicon water. With a decrease of polymer concentration in tetrahydrofuran (HHF), the size and height of cylinders decreased for polySt, but fur polyMMA, the size and depth of the cylindrical pores increased. Slow evaporation of the solvent and a low molecular weight favored the formation of regular patterns.

Embossing of polymers using a thermosetting polymer mold made by soft lithography

In this article we present a mechanical pattern transfer process where a thermosetting polymer mold instead of a metal, dielectric, ceramic, or semiconductor master made by conventional lithography was used as the master to pattern thermoplastic polymers in hot embossing lithography. The thermosetting polymer mold was fabricated by a soft lithography strategy, microtransfer molding. For comparison, the thermosetting polymer mold and the silicon wafer master were both used to imprint the thermoplastic polymer, polymethylmethacrylate. Replication of the thermosetting polymer mold and the silicon wafer master was of the same quality. This indicates that the thermosetting polymer mold could be used for thermoplastic polymer patterning in hot embossing lithography with high fidelity.

Brittle-ductile transition of polymers and its percolation model

The brittle-ductile transition (BDT) of particle toughened polymers was extensively studied in terms of morphology, strain rate, and temperature. The calculation results showed that both the critical interparticle distance (IDc) and the brittle-ductile transition temperature (T-BD) of polymers were a function of strain rate. The IDc reduced nonlinearly with increasing strain rate, whereas T-BD increased considerably with increasing strain rate. The effects of temperature and plasticizer concentration on BDT were discussed using a percolation model. The results were in agreement with the experiments.

Determination of molecular weight and molecular sizes of polymers by high temperature gel permeation chromatography with a static and dynamic laser light scattering detector

Flow-mode static and dynamic laser light scattering (SLS/DLS) studies of polymers, including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) at 150 degreesC were performed on a high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with a SLS/DLS detector. Both absolute molecular weight (M) and molecular sizes (radius of gyration, R-g and hydrodynamic radius, R-h) of polymers eluting from the GPC columns were obtained simultaneously. The conformation of different polymers in TCB at 150 degreesC were discussed according to the scaling relationships between R-g, R-h and M and the rho-ratio (p = R-g/R-h). Flow-mode DLS results of PDMS were verified by batch-mode DLS study of the same sample. The presented technique was proved to be a convenient and quick method to study the shape and conformation of polymers in solution at high temperature. However, the flow-mode DLS was only applicable for high molecular weight polymers with a higher refractive index increment such as PDMS.

Ultrafine fibers electrospun from biodegradable polymers

Biodegradable poly(I-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) were electrospun into ultrafine fibers. The technological parameters influencing the spinning process and morphology of the fibers obtained were examined. These parameters included solvent composition, addition of certain organic salts, molecular weight and concentration of the polymers, capillary diameter, air ventilation, and pressure imposed on the surface of the solution as well as electrostatic field. By properly choosing and adjusting these parameters, submicron PLLA and PCL fibers with a narrow diameter distribution were prepared. Scanning electronic microscopy was used to observe the morphology and diameter size of the fibers.