Article
Polymer Science
Yaron Aviv, Esra Altay, Ofer Burg, Marcus Mueller, Javid Rzayev, Roy Shenhar
Summary: The research demonstrates that the nature of the substrate has a significant impact on the self-assembled morphology and surface patterns of bottlebrush block copolymers with different side-chain lengths in films, despite the typical tendency of these polymers to form lamellar structures. By manipulating the substrate chemistry, unique morphologies can be induced in bottlebrush block copolymer films.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Julian Heuer, Thomas Kuckhoff, Rong Li, Katharina Landfester, Calum T. J. Ferguson
Summary: The production of photocatalytic self-assembled amphiphilic polymers enables selective control over reactions based on the substrate's physical properties. By polymerizing benzothiadiazole-based photocatalysts into hydrophilic or hydrophobic compartments, we achieved stark differences in reactivity for polar substrates but similar performance for hydrophobic substrates. Additionally, the use of secondary swelling solvents led to a significant increase in conversion for a radical carbon-carbon coupling reaction.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dongyoon Woo, Minkyeong Ban, Jisung Lee, Cheol-Young Park, Jinuk Kim, Seongseop Kim, Jinwoo Lee
Summary: Anisotropic lens-shaped nitrogen-doped carbon material with unidirectionally aligned mesopores was successfully synthesized through perpendicular block copolymer self-assembly at the polymer interface. This novel material shows great potential as a potassium-ion battery anode material, making it a promising candidate for the next-generation battery systems.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yixin Chen, Hua Tang, Hongliang Chen, Hao Li
Summary: Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) is an advanced technique in the preparation of molecules with complex structures and topologies. It solves two problems in self-assembly: how to provide the target product with sufficient thermodynamic stability and how to overcome the instability caused by reversible dynamic bonds. By introducing intramolecular forces or using more robust derivatives, the thermodynamic stability and water-compatibility of the target molecules can be enhanced. These advances contribute to the realization of diverse molecular structures in self-assembly.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yun Liu, Lei Tao, Shichu Yang, Zhen-Qiang Yu, Zhihao Shen, Xing-He Fan, Qi-Feng Zhou
Summary: By connecting through hydrogen bonding, we synthesized a new series of fluorinated supramolecular liquid crystalline polymers with good thermal stability. We constructed a series of supramolecular hierarchically ordered self-assembled structures by introducing fluorinated molecules into commercially available copolymer chains. This approach provides a new method for constructing small-sized structures via hydrogen-bonded supramolecular systems.
Article
Polymer Science
R. Simonutti, D. Bertani, R. Marotta, S. Ferrario, D. Manzone, M. Mauri, M. Gregori, A. Orlando, M. Masserini
Summary: This study investigates the effect of using different common solvents on the self-assembly behavior of block copolymer nanoparticles, finding that the hydrogen bonding ability of the solvent strongly influences the size and shape of the particles, as well as their cytotoxicity.
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Neil F. Curtis
Summary: The facile reactions of acetone with various diamines lead to the formation of macrocyclic compounds with different ring sizes, mainly trans-di-imine macrocycles with Ni(II) and Cu(II) compounds, and 1,4-diazapines with ethane- and propane-1,2-diamines. The Ni(II) and Cu(II) diamine-di-imine macmcyclic cations can be hydrolysed in acid and released rapidly by reaction with cyanide, showing different reactivity patterns.
INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Mingyang Chen, Yuguo Chen, Yanyan Zhu, Ying Jiang, David Andelman, Xingkun Man
Summary: We investigated the influence of chain flexibility on the self-assembly behavior of symmetric diblock copolymers (BCPs) in thin film confinement. Using worm-like chain (WLC) self-consistent field theory, we studied the stability of parallel and perpendicular orientations of BCP lamellar phases under varying chain flexibilities. The results showed that the stability of perpendicular lamellae increases with chain rigidity, except for the case of rigid chains on rough substrates where the stability decreases. We also demonstrated the effect of substrate roughness on the critical value of substrate preference for the transition from perpendicular-to-parallel lamellar phases.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
E. Ramakrishna, Jia-Dong Tang, Jia-Ju Tao, Qiang Fang, Zibin Zhang, Jianying Huang, Shijun Li
Summary: Chiral [2+3] imine cages were synthesized by condensation of (S)- or (R)-BINOL-derived dialdehydes with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, which were further reduced to more stable chiral amine cages. These cages were then applied in the enantioselective recognition of (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Andrew Selkirk, Nadezda Prochukhan, Ross Lundy, Cian Cummins, Riley Gatensby, Rachel Kilbride, Andrew Parnell, Jhonattan Baez Vasquez, Michael Morris, Parvaneh Mokarian-Tabari
Summary: This study overcomes the kinetic challenges in the self-assembly of UHMW BCPs through precision solvent annealing, resulting in highly ordered large-period lamellar domains. The research reveals that film thickness and solvent concentration significantly affect the domain morphology.
Article
Polymer Science
Deborah Y. Liu, Daniel Krogstad
Summary: The study explores the use of ionic liquid as both a curing agent and a structure-directing agent in epoxy/BCP blends, achieving a wide range of self-assembled structures in the uncured blends, including hexagonally packed cylinders and lamellar structures. Many compositions undergo phase transitions during the curing process, with some transitions proving to be quite complex.
Article
Polymer Science
Xuechen Yin, David R. O. Hewitt, Bingqian Zheng, Suan P. Quah, Christopher B. Stanley, Robert B. Grubbs, Surita R. Bhatia
Summary: This study presents the nanoscale assembly of PLA-PEOPLA triblock copolymers in water, with a focus on the effect of stereochemistry on micellar properties. Different L/D ratios of PLA blocks were found to impact aggregation numbers and interactions between PLA chains, demonstrating the potential for tuning micellar properties for specific applications.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xixi Gu, Xiangping Meng, Yun Zhu, Guiyou Wang
Summary: A robust superhydrophobic coating material HFHm with high surface roughness and fluorine content has been successfully synthesized. It can form a strong superhydrophobic surface on smooth substrates and exhibits good durability.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Garba O. Yahaya, Ali Hayek, Abdulkarim Alsamah, Yasser A. Shalabi, Melhan M. Ben Sultan, Rashed H. Alhajry
Summary: This study focused on developing block copolymer membranes for the purification of sour natural gas. Three DAM-based random copolymers were prepared and tested, with membranes prepared from 6FDA-DAM/6FpDA (1:3) showing the most attractive separation properties. Additionally, the block copolymer membrane 6FDA-DAM/6FDA-CARDO (1:1) exhibited potential application prospects compared to standard industrially used glassy polymer cellulose acetate.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Aislan Esmeraldo Paiva, Jhonattan Frank Baez Vasquez, Tatiana S. Perova, Fernanda G. L. Medeiros Borsagli, Michael Morris
Summary: This research focused on the selective metal infiltration of a pyridine-containing block copolymer in a liquid-phase setting. The study found that metal cations interact differently with the poly(2-vinylpyridine) component, and that the oxidation state and type of cation are crucial for the infiltration process, which is also influenced by the solvent used. While silver did not effectively infiltrate, nickel and chromium were able to reproduce the pattern of the block copolymer. These differences can be attributed to the coordination of pyridinic nitrogen and the metal, as well as p-interactions. Additionally, the presence of oxyanions enhanced the infiltration of chromium and facilitated the formation of a highly faithful ordered metal oxide layer.
Article
Polymer Science
Yajie Ma, Pan Gao, Yi Ding, Leilei Huang, Lei Wang, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Article
Polymer Science
Lei Wang, Yi Ding, Qizhou Liu, Qingqing Zhao, Xinchao Dai, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Article
Polymer Science
Leilei Huang, Yi Ding, Yajie Ma, Lei Wang, Qizhou Liu, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Article
Polymer Science
Yi Ding, Qingqing Zhao, Lei Wang, Leilei Huang, Ojzhou Liu, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Article
Polymer Science
Lei Cao, Qingqing Zhao, Qizhou Liu, Lei Ma, Chao Li, Xiyu Wang, Yuanli Cai
Article
Polymer Science
Qizhou Liu, Xiyu Wang, Lei Ma, Kaiwen Yu, Weixing Xiong, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Article
Polymer Science
Ye Wang, Chao Li, Lei Ma, Xiyu Wang, Kai Wang, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: The study introduces a new method called interfacial LLPS-PIESA, which achieves asymmetric charge sequence patterning of zwitterionic growing segments through spontaneous polymerization of ion-pair monomers within a nanoparticle core-shell interface. The research demonstrates that the charge sequence can profoundly impact self-coacervation, leading to different forms of coacervates. Additionally, the study reveals a programmed hierarchical condensation self-assembly mechanism.
Article
Polymer Science
Chao Li, Ye Wang, Xiyu Wang, Zhanwei Gao, Lei Ma, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: This study demonstrates the nanostructured multiphase condensation of complex coacervates in the dynamic evolving aqueous medium of liquid-liquid phase separation driven polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly (LLPS-PIESA). The results show that under the interplay of electrostatic and arginine-like salt bridge interactions, the parent droplets can evolve into nanostructured coacervate-in-coacervate multiphase condensates with diverse morphologies.
Article
Polymer Science
Lei Ma, Weixing Xiong, Kaiwen Yu, Xiyu Wang, Ying Cao, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: The study presents a strategy for achieving multiphase liquid condensates with individual charged/neutral subdomains by introducing macromolecular crowding. Through specific copolymerization conditions, self-sorting and macromolecular crowding can be induced, leading to the formation of nanostructured multiphase condensates of biological importance.
Article
Polymer Science
Weixing Xiong, Xiyu Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Caihui Luo, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: Polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly (PIESA) is a powerful method for the synthesis of polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles. In this study, PIESA was updated using full-spectrum guanidinium ionic hydrogen bonds, enabling the precision synthesis of nanoparticles with different sizes.
Article
Polymer Science
Yuanyuan Liu, Xiyu Wang, Caihui Luo, Jie Cai, Yuting Li, Ying Cao, Yuanli Cai
Summary: In this study, l-histidine salt bridges were used to drive monomer preassembly and two-dimensional electrostatic self-assembly. The salt bridges led to the formation of ultrasmall clusters and coacervated droplets. This work opens up a new avenue for the synthesis of salt-resistant ultrathin polyelectrolyte complex nanomaterials using amino acid salt bridges.
Article
Polymer Science
Caihui Luo, Xiyu Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Jie Cai, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: In this study, l-aspartic acid chiral ionic hydrogen bonds were used to drive liquid-liquid phase separation and precision 2D electrostatic self-assembly in photo-RAFT aqueous polymerization-induced self-assembly. Through the liquid-liquid phase separation, the polymerization reaction resulted in salt-resistant, 3nm ultrafine fibril-structured and 5nm ultrathin lamellae with a chirality transition and a droplets-to-lamellae transition. Block copolymerization of like-charged monomers led to supercharged yet identical fibril-structured ultrathin lamellae, also through liquid-liquid phase separation, with a chirality transition and a droplets-to-lamellae transition. The ultrafine structures remained intact during the seeded polymerization of the oppositely charged monomer. This work demonstrates the powerful precision synthesis capability of amino acid chiral ionic hydrogen bonds for salt-resistant ultrathin membrane nanomaterials.
Article
Polymer Science
Weixing Xiong, Xiyu Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Caihui Luo, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: Polymerization-induced electrostatic self-assembly (PIESA) is a powerful method for synthesizing polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles. In this study, PIESA was updated using arginine-like full-spectrum guanidinium ionic hydrogen bonds. The results showed that guanidinium interactions could lead to nanoparticles with different morphologies. The strong effect of like-charge ionic hydrogen bonds can overcome Coulombic repulsive interactions, revolutionizing the synthesis of nanostructured biomimetic functional materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kaiwen Yu, Xiyu Wang, Caihui Luo, Ying Cao, Jie Cai, Xinhua Lu, Yuanli Cai
Summary: A template strategy is proposed for the precise synthesis of complex coacervates-in-dodecyl atmosphere ultrathin lamellae with exceptional shape-preservation and charge-tolerance properties.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingqing Zhao, Qizhou Liu, Chao Li, Lei Cao, Lei Ma, Xiyu Wang, Yuanli Cai
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.