Self-assembly of rod-coil-rod ABA-type triblock copolymers

Self-assembled behavior of symmetric ABA rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer melts is studied by applying self-consistent-field lattice techniques in three-dimensional space. The phase diagram is constructed to understand the effects of the chain architecture on the self-assembled behavior. Four stable structures are observed for the ABA rod-coil-rod triblock, i.e., spherelike, lamellar, gyroidlike, and cylindrical structures. Different from AB rod-coil diblock and BAB coil-rod-coil triblock copolymers, the lamellar structure observed in ABA rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer melts is not stable for high volume fraction of the rod component (f(rod)=0.8), which is attributed to the intramolecular interactions between the two rod blocks of the polymer chain.

Effect of polydispersity on the self-assembly structure of diblock copolymers under various confined states: A Monte Carlo study

We studied the self-assembly of polydisperse diblock copolymers under various confined states by Monte Carlo simulation. When the copolymers were confined within two parallel walls, it was found that the ordered strip structures appeared alternately with the increase in wall width. Moreover, the wall width at which the ordered structure appeared tended to increase with an increase in the polydispersity index (PDI). On the other hand, the simulation results showed that the copolymers were likely to form ordered concentric strip structures when they were confined within a circle wall.

Quantitative electrochemiluminescence detection of proteins: Avidin-based sensor and tris(2,2 '-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) label

Quantitative electrochemilumineseence (ECL) detection of a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was achieved via biotin-avidin interaction using an avidin-based sensor and a well-developed ECL system of tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) derivative as label and tri-n-propylamine (TPA) as coreactant. To detect the protein, avidin was linked to the glassy carbon electrode through passive adsorptions and covalent interaction with carboxylate-terminated carbon nanotubes that was used as binder to immobilize avidin onto the electrode. Then, biotinylated BSA tagged with tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) label was attached to the prepared avidin surface.

Synthesis, characterization, and electroluminescence of PPV copolymers containing electron and hole-transporting units

Three series of poly(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives containing hole-transporting triphenylamine derivatives [N-(4-octoxylphenyl)diphenylamine, N,N'-di(4-octyloxylphenyl)-N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, and N,N'-di(4-octoxylphenyl)-N,N'-diphenylbenzidine] (donor) and electron-transporting oxadiazole unit (2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole) (acceptor) in the main chain were synthesized by improved Wittig copolymerization. The resulting donor-acceptor (D-A) polymers are readily soluble in common organic solvents, such as chloroform, dichloroethane, THF, and toluene.

Polymer Crystallization Influenced by Initial Orientation of Cylindrical Diblock Copolymers in Thin Films

The effect of the initial states (disordered perpendicular cylinder structure vs. parallel cylinder structure) on the crystallization of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) thin films during cyclohexane annealing was investigated. The cylindrical domains perpendicular or parallel to the surface were obtained by controlling the film thickness. During solvent annealing, for the film with the perpendicular cylinders, the ordering degree of cylinders was increased.

Biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymers bearing protected hydroxyl groups: Synthesis and characterization

A new biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-factide-co-9-phenyl-2,4,8, 10-tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecan-3-one) [PEG-b-P(LA-co-PTO)], was successfully prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) Of L-lactide (LA) and functionalized carbonate monomer 9-phenyl-2,4,8,10-tetraozaspiro[5,5]undecan-3-one (PTO) in the presence of monohydroxyl poly(ethylene glycol) as macroinitiator using Sn(Oct)(2) as catalyst. NMR, FT-IR, and GPC studies confirmed the copolymer structure.

Novel temperature- and pH-responsive graft copolymers composed of poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

A series of novel temperature- and pH-responsive graft copolymers, poly(L-glutamic acid)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), were synthesized by coupling amino-semitelechelic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated poly(L-glutamic acid). The graft copolymers and their precursors were characterized, by ESI-FTICR Mass Spectrum, intrinsic viscosity measurements and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR). The phase-transition and aggregation behaviors of the graft copolymers in aqueous solutions were investigated by the turbidity measurements and dynamic laser scattering.

Novel pH- and temperature-responsive block copolymers with tunable pH-responsive range

A series of novel pH- and temperature-responsive diblock copolymers composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly[(L-glutamic acid)-co-(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate)] [P(GA-co-BLG)] were prepared. The influence of hydrophobic benzyl groups on the phase transition of the copolymers was studied for the first time. With increasing BLG content in P(GA-co-BLG) block, the thermal phase transition of the diblock copolymer became sharper at a designated pH and the critical curve of phase diagram of the diblock copolymer shifted to a higher pH region.

Electrochemiluminescence detection based on Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine) immobilised in sulfonic-functionalised titania nanoparticles by ion exchange strategy

A novel Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridine)-based solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was developed in this paper. The sensor was fabricated by immobilising tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) in sulfonic-functionalised porous titania (TiO2-SO3H) nanoparticles via an ion exchange strategy, followed by employing environment friendly and stable biopolymer chitosan (CHIT) to entrap Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/TiO2-SO3H onto the ITO electrode.

Construction and Photoluminescence of Monophase Hybrid Materials Derived from a Urea-Based Bis-Silylated Bipyridine

A urea-based bis-silylated bipyridine ligand derived from 4,4'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine has been prepared. Organic-inorganic hybrid materials with a high loading of lanthanide 2,2-bipyridine moieties were obtained by using the silylated bipyridine as the only siloxane network precursor in the presence of lanthanide ions (or lanthanide complexes). The in-situ formation of lanthanide complexes from lanthanide ions and the silylated bipyridine during the sol-gel processing was confirmed by the luminescence behavior of the obtained hybrid materials and that of the corresponding pure lanthanide complex [Ln(bpy)(2)Cl-3 center dot 2H(2)O].

Naphthalene-Based Poly(arylene ether ketone) Copolymers Containing Sulfobutyl Pendant Groups for Proton Exchange Membranes

A new monomer 1,5-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)-2,6-dimethoxynaphthalene (DMNF) was prepared and further polymerized to form naphthalene-based poly(arylene ether ketone) copolymers containing methoxy groups (MNPAEKs). The side-chain-type sulfortated naphthalene-based poly(arylene ether ketone) copolymers (SNPAEKs) were obtained by demethylation and sulfobutylation. Flexible and tough membranes with reasonably high mechanical strength were prepared. The SNPAEKs membrane showed anisotropic membrane swelling with larger swelling in thickness than in plane. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed clear nano-phase separated structure of SNPAEKs membranes, which composed of hydrophilic side chain and hydrophobic main-chain domains.

Determination of isocyanates by capillary electrophoresis with tris(2,2 '-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence

CE with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection for the quantitative determination of isocyanates was first reported. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and hexyl isocyanate (HI) were used as the model analytes. Commercially available N,N-diethyl-N'-methylethylenediamine was used as the derivatization reagent. It has both a secondary amine group and a tertiary amine group. The secondary amine group can quantitatively react with isocyanate group, and the tertiary amine group can react with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to produce strong ECL signal for sensitive detection. The derivatization reaction was almost instantaneous and is much faster than other reported derivative reactions using other derivative reagents.

Synthesis and characterization of phenylene-thiophene all-conjugated diblock copolymers

Grignard metathesis (GRIM) polymerization for all-conjugated diblock copolymers comprising poly (2,5-dihexyloxy-1,4-phenylene) (PPP) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) blocks were systematically studied with LiCl as additive and 1,2-bis (diphenylphosphino) ethane nickel dichloride (Ni(dppe)Cl-2) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino) propane nickel dichloride (Ni(dppp)Cl-2) as catalyst. It was found that the addition order of the monomers was crucial for the success of copolymerization. With the monomer addition in the order of phenyl and then thienyl Grignard reagents, all-conjugated PPP-b-P3HT diblock copolymers with different block ratios were successfully synthesized. In contrast, the inverted addition order only afforded a mixture containing both block copolymers and deactivated or end-capped homopolymers.

Synthesis and Characterization of Coil-Rod-Coil Triblock Copolymers Comprising Fluorene-Based Mesogenic Monodisperse Conjugated Rod and Poly(ethylene oxide) Coil

A series of coil-rod-coil triblock copolymers (i.e., F3T8EO8, F3T8EO17, F3T8EO45, and F3T8EO125) with a mesogenic monodisperse conjugated oligomer comprising 3 fluorene, 8 thiophene, and 2 phenyl units as the rod and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the coil were synthesized. A reference compound, that is F3T8ME2, with the identical rod but without PEO was also prepared for comparison. The volume fraction of PEO (f(PEO)) was 0, 0.16, 0.28, 0.50, and 0.73 for F3T8ME2, F3T8EO8, F3T8EO17, F3T8EO45, and F3T8EO125, respectively. It was found that the introduction of PEO into the triblock copolymers encouraged the formation of H-type aggregation and f(PEO)-dependent highly ordered mesophases while f(PEO) < 0.73. For F3T8ME2, only nematic mesophase was observed. In contrast, F3T8EO8 and F3T8EO17, with f(PEO) of 0.16 and 0.28, respectively, are smectic A (SA) mesomorphism.

Study of morphology and phase diagram of the H-shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymers using self-consistent field theory

By using a combinatorial screening method based on the self-consistent field theory (SCFT) for polymer systems, the micro-phase morphologies of the H-shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymer system are studied in three-dimensional (3D) space. By systematically varying the volume fractions of the components A, B, and C, six triangle phase diagrams of this H-shaped (AC)B(CA) ternary block copolymer system with equal interaction energies among the three components are constructed from the weaker segregation regime to the strong segregation regime, In this study, thirteen 3D micro-phase morphologies for this H-shaped ternary block copolymer system are identified to be stable and seven 3D microphase morphologies are found to be metastable.