Solvent and polymer concentration effects on the surface morphology evolution of immiscible polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

The effects of solvent nature on the surface topographies of polystyrene (PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend films spin-coated onto the silicon wafer were investigated. Four different solvents, such as ethylbenzene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran and dichloromethane, were chosen. They are better solvents for PS than that for PMMA. When dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran and toluene were used, PMMA-rich phase domains protruded from the background of PS. When ethylbenzene was used, PS-rich phase domains elevated on the average height of PMMA-rich phase domains. In addition, continuous pits, networks and isolated droplets consisted of PS formed on the blend film surfaces with the decrease of polymer concentrations. The mechanism of the surface morphology evolution was discussed in detail.

Synergistic extraction of rare earths(III) from chloride medium with mixtures of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazalone-5 and di-(2-ethylhexyl)-2-ethylhexylphosphonate

The synergistic effect of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazalone-5 (HPMBP, HA) and di-(2ethylhexyl)-2-ethylhexylphosphonate (DEHEHP, B) in the extraction of rare earths (RE) from chloride solutions has been investigated. Under the experimental conditions used, there was no detectable extraction when DEHEHP was used as a single extractant while the amount of RE(III) extracted by HPMBP alone was also low. But mixtures of the two extractants at a certain ratio had very high extractability for all the RE (III). For example, the synergistic enhancement coefficient was calculated to be 9.35 for Y3+, and taking Yb3+ and Y3+ as examples, RE3+ is extracted as RE(OH)A(2).B. The stoichiometry, extraction constants and thermodynamic functions such as Gibbs free energy change Delta G (-17.06kJmol(-1)), enthalpy change Delta H (-35.08kjmol(-1)) and entropy change Delta S (-60.47JK(-1)mol(-1)) for Y3+ at 298 K were determined. The separation factors (SF) for adjacent pairs of rare earths were calculated. Studies show that the binary extraction system not only enhances the extraction efficiency of RE(III) but also improves the selectivity, especially between La(III) and the other rare earth elements.

Extraction of rare earths(III) from nitrate medium with di-(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate and synergistic extraction combined with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoy l-pyrazolone-5

The extraction of trivalent rare earths ( RE) from nitrate solutions with di-(2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate (DEHEHP, B) and synergistic extraction combined with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazolone-5 (HPMBP, HA) were investigated. The extraction distribution ratios demonstrate a distinct "tetra effect," and Y lies between Tb and Dy when DEHEHP is used as a single extractant for RE. According to the corresponding separation factors (SF12) for adjacent pairs of rare earths, it could be concluded that DEHEHP could be employed for the separation of La from the other rare earths, and Y from light rare earths. The present work has also found that mixtures of HPMBP and DEHEHP have an evident synergistic effect for RE(III). Taking Y( III) as an example, a possible synergistic extraction mechanism is proposed. The enhancement of extraction in the binary system can be explained due to the species Y(NO3) (.) A(2) (.) HA (.) B formed. The synergistic enhancement coefficients ( R), extraction constants, formation constants and thermodynamic functions of the reaction were calculated.

Pressure-dependent glass-transition temperatures of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) blends

The pressure-dependent glass-transition temperatures (T-g's) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) blends were determined by pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) dilatometry via an isobaric cooling procedure. The Gordon-Taylor and Fox equations were used to evaluate the relationships between the T-g's and compositions of the PMMA/SAN system at different pressures. The relationships were well fitted by the Gordon-Taylor equation, and the experimental data for T-g positively deviated from the values calculated with the Fox equation. Also, the influence of the cooling rate (during the PVT measurements) on T-g was examined.

Synergistic extraction of lanthanum(III) from chloride medium by mixtures of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazalone-5 and triisobutylphosphine sulphide

The synergistic effect of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-pyrazalone-5 (HPMBP) and triisobutylphosphine sulphide (TIBPS, B) is investigated in the extraction of lanthanum(III) from chloride solution. Lanthanum(III) is extracted by the mixture as LaCl2.PMBP.B-0.5 instead of La(PMBP)(3).(HPMBP) which is extracted by HPMBP alone. The equilibrium constants and thermodynamic functions such as DeltaG, DeltaH and DeltaS are determined. The extraction of other rare earth ions by mixtures of HPMBP and TIBPS is also studied and the possibility of separating rare earth ions is discussed.

Green electroluminescent device with a terbium beta-diketonate complex as emissive center

In this study, a terbium complex, Tb(acac)(3)bath (acac: acetylacetone, bath: 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), was synthesized and its luminescent properties were investigated compared with the reported terbium complex, Tb(acac)(3)phen (phen: phenanthroline). When it was used as an emitting material in organic electroluminescent (EL) device, the triple-layer-type device with a structure of glass substrate/ITO (indium-tin oxide)/TPD (N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine)/Tb(acac)(3)bath/Alq(3) (tris (8-hydroxyquinolinato) aluminum)/Al (aluminum) exhibited bright characteristic emission of terbium ion upon applying DC voltage. An apparent difference was observed between the photoluminescence spectrum and the EL spectrum. The EL device exhibited some characteristics of diode and the maximum luminance of 77 cd/m(2) was obtained at 17 V.

Green electroluminescence generated from the thin film based on a soluble lanthanide complex

Electroluminescent (EL) devices based on a soluble complex Tb(MDP)(3) [Tris-(monododecyl phthalate)Terbium] doped with poly (N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), (2-(4-biphenyl)-5-(4-t-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole) (PBD) were fabricated. The device structures of ITO/PVK/PVK:PBD:Tb(MDp)(2)/Aiq(3)/Al and ITO/PVK:PBD:Tb(MDP)(3)/Alq(3)/Al were employed. The Tb(MDP), as emissive layer was spin-coated. The EL cell exhibited characteristic emission of terbium ion. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Charge carrier mobility and electroluminescence in a green-emitting alternating block copolymer with a methoxy Bi-substituted chromophore

We determine the mobility of positive and negative charge carriers in a soluble green-emitting alternating block copolymer with, a methoxy bi-subsbituted conjugated segment. The negative charge carrier mobility of 6 x 10(-11) cm(2)/V.s is directly determined using space-charge-limited current analytical expressions. Positive charge carrier transport is also space-charge-limited, with a mobility of I x 10(-8) cm(2)/V.s. The electron trap distribution is exponential, with a characteristic energy of similar to 0.12 eV. A hole trap with energy similar to 0.4 eV was observed. This copolymer is used as emissive material in organic light-emitting diodes that present brightness of similar to 900 cd/m(2) at 12.5 V.

Miscibility, crystallization kinetics, and morphology of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(methyl acrylate) blends

The miscibility, spherulite growth kinetics, and morphology of binary blends of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) were studied with differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). As the PMA content increases in the blends, the glass-transition temperature and cold-crystallization temperature increase, but the melting point decreases. The interaction parameter between PHB and PMA, obtained from an analysis of the equilibrium-melting-point depression, is -0.074. The presence of an amorphous PMA component results in a reduction in the rate of spherulite growth of PRE. The radial growth rates of spherulites were analyzed with the Lauritzen-Hoffman model. The spherulites of PHB were volume-filled, indicating the inclusion of PMA within the spherulites. The long period obtained from SAXS increases with increased PMA content, implying that the amorphous PMA is entrapped in the interlamellar region of PHB during the crystallization process of PHB. All the results presented show that PHB and PMA are miscible in the melt. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Sol-gel-derived amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide based on methylene green incorporated in Nafion film

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor was fabricated by coating a sol-gel-peroxidase layer onto a Nafion-methylene green modified electrode. Immobilization of methylene green (MG) was attributed to the electrostatic force between MG(+) and the negatively charged sulfonic acid groups in Nafion polymer, whereas immobilization of horseradish peroxidase was attributed to the encapsulation function of the silica sol-gel network. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were employed to demonstrate the feasibility of electron transfer between sol-gel-immobilized peroxidase and a glassy carbon electrode. Performance of the sensor was evaluated with respect to response time, sensitivity as well as operational stability. The enzyme electrode has a sensitivity of 13.5 mu A mM(-1) with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-7) M H2O2, and the sensor achieved 95% of the steady-state current within 20 s. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the plasma of methyl acrylate

The gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the plasma generated from methyl acrylate under self-chemical ionization conditions were studied by use of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The adduct cation [C60C3H3O](+) and protonated molecular ion [C60H](+) were observed as the major product ions. The former adduct ion is formed by electrophilic reaction of C-60 with the ion [CH2=CHCO](+), a main fragment ion resulting from the methyl acrylate molecular ion [CH2=CHCOOCH3](+) through alpha cleavage. The latter ion is generated by proton transfer from protonated methyl acrylate to C-60. Semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations have been performed for the eight possible isomers of [C60C3H3O](+) at the Hartree-Fock level by use of the AMI method. The results show three types of cycloadducts as the most stable structures among the possible isomers.

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with organolanthanides as single-component catalysts

It was first found that Ind(2)Y(mu -Et)(2)AlEt2 and Ind(2)LnN(i-Pr)(2) (Ln = Y, Yb) exhibit extremely high catalytic activity in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The reactions can be carried out over a quite broad range of polymerization temperatures from -30 to 50 degreesC. PMMA with high molecular weight (7.8 x 10(-5)) and high isotacticity (94%) can be obtained by using Ind(2)Y(mu -Et)(2)AlEt2, and narrow molecular weight distribution (M-w/M-n < 1.5) can be obtained by using Ind(2)LnN(i-Pr)(2) (Ln = Y, Yb).