Article
Polymer Science
Jung Yong Kim
Summary: Ternary conjugated polymer solution phase diagrams were constructed based on Flory-Huggins lattice theory with a constant interaction parameter. By investigating the effects of different factors on conjugated polymer solutions, progress was made in understanding the phase behavior of solvent-polymer-fullerene (or nonfullerene) systems.
Article
Polymer Science
Peter B. Rapp, Bradley R. Silverman
Summary: In this study, we utilized an artificial protein hydrogel to achieve viscoelastic phase separation and spontaneously form highly dynamic phase patterns. Local phase separation was initiated by mild photobleaching, allowing the evolution of non-equilibrium structures under the influence of surface tension and viscoelastic stresses.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jan Ulric Garcia, Douglas R. Tree, Alyssa Bagoyo, Tatsuhiro Iwama, Kris T. Delaney, Glenn H. Fredrickson
Summary: In this study, the bulk coarsening dynamics of ternary polymer solutions undergoing a glass transition were investigated using phase-field simulations. Two models of phase separation, diffusion only and with hydrodynamics, were examined. It was found that mobility and viscosity contrasts significantly hinder coarsening in microstructures composed of polymer-poor clusters in a polymer-rich matrix, while they do not impede domain growth but alter the shape of discrete domains in microstructures composed of polymer-rich clusters in a polymer-poor matrix.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hao Zhou, Lu Zhang, Xiaoling Ma, Yufei Xibei, Yang Zheng, Zifeng Liu, Xiang Gao, Jian Zhang, Zhitian Liu, Fujun Zhang
Summary: In this study, ternary layer-by-layer (LbL) polymer solar cells (PSCs) were prepared using D18-Cl/Y6 as the host system and MAZ-2 as the second acceptor. The addition of MAZ-2 increased the open circuit voltage (VOC) of LbL PSCs, indicating the formation of an alloy state between Y6 and MAZ-2 with good compatibility. The optimized ternary LbL PSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.98%, with improved short circuit current density (JSC), open circuit voltage (VOC), and fill factor (FF) compared to the host binary system.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiaxing Yuan, Michio Tateno, Hajime Tanaka
Summary: Phase separation is a fundamental phenomenon with important implications in nature, biology, material science, and industry. Viscoelastic phase separation can result in the formation of network structures, contrary to the common belief that only the minority phase forms droplets. The underlying microscopic mechanism of this behavior remains unknown, but our simulations suggest that self-generated viscoelastic stress and many-body hydrodynamic interactions play a crucial role.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hiroshi Takezaki, Itaru Asano, Yuji Echigo, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Hidehiro Kamiya, Yohei Okada
Summary: Fine particles of condensation polymers are in high demand due to their improved properties compared to traditional radical polymers. However, traditional methods for production are not applicable, and this study demonstrates the formation of oil-in-oil emulsions for casting condensation polymers, enabling the production of fine particles with narrow size distributions.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Marco De Corato, Marino Arroyo
Summary: Chemically responsive polymers can respond to local variations in the chemical composition of a solution, leading to changes in their conformation and rheological properties. In this paper, a theory is developed to describe the flow of a mixture of solute and chemically responsive polymers, revealing novel couplings between the distribution of polymers and solutes.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xintao Deng, Fuyuan Yang, Jugang Ma, Yangyang Li, Jian Dang, Minggao Ouyang
Summary: A ternary phase field model is developed to simulate the non-solvent induced phase separation process in a water/NMP/polysulfone system. The model successfully predicts the membrane structures and their correlation with performance.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Aaron Brunk, Maria Lukacova-Medvid'ova
Summary: This article proves the existence of weak solutions to a viscoelastic phase separation problem in two space dimensions. The mathematical model includes a Cahn-Hilliard-type equation for two-phase flows and the Peterlin-Navier-Stokes equations for viscoelastic fluids. Using the Lagrange-Galerkin finite element method, the complex behavior of the solution, including spinodal decomposition and transient polymeric network structures, is demonstrated.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Aaron Brunk, Maria Lukacova-Medvid'ova
Summary: The aim of this paper is to prove the global in time existence of weak solutions for viscoelastic phase separation. The model couples the diffusive interface model with the Peterlin-Navier-Stokes equations and considers appropriate approximations to obtain the desired results.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Behrouz Arash, Wibke Exner, Raimund Rolfes
Summary: A finite deformation phase-field fracture model was developed to analyze the thermo-viscoelastic behavior of boehmite nanoparticle/epoxy nanocomposites, considering rate-dependent fracture evolution and the effect of nanoparticle contents and temperature on fracture behavior. The model's predictive capability was validated through comparing numerical results with experimental data, and numerical simulations were performed to study the effect of temperature and deformation rate on the force-displacement response of the nanocomposites in compact-tension tests.
COMPUTER METHODS IN APPLIED MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tine Curk, Erik Luijten
Summary: The process of phase separation in elastic solids and viscous fluids is fundamental to the stability and function of soft materials. This study investigates the dynamics of phase separation and domain growth in viscoelastic materials, such as polymer gels, using analytical theory and Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that the domain size increases algebraically with a ripening exponent that depends on the viscoelastic properties of the material, and this behavior is different from the well-known Ostwald ripening process.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jinzhen Huang, Huangzhong Yu
Summary: The addition of small-molecule biomaterial GHK-Cu in binary PBDB-T:ITIC system increases ITIC crystallinity and promotes the formation of continuous single-phase domains of PBDB-T and ITIC, optimizing charge transmission in PSCs. GHK-Cu also enhances energy transfer efficiency and enhances the absorption spectrum, leading to improved PCE in ternary devices. The incorporation of GHK-Cu significantly boosts the PCE of both PBDB-T:ITIC and PM6:Y6 based PSCs.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junhyuk Kim, Shohei Ishikawa, Mitsuru Naito, Xiang Li, Ung-il Chung, Takamasa Sakai
Summary: Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an important phenomenon in the field of polymer science and material design, playing a crucial role in cells and living bodies. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a commonly used semicrystalline polymer in the synthesis of artificial biomaterials. The miscibility and LLPS behavior of PVA aqueous solution are still not well understood.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Dominic Spiller, Aaron Brunk, Oliver Habrich, Herbert Egger, Maria Lukacova-Medvid'ova, Burkhard Duenweg
Summary: The model is based on a coarse-grained molecular model, with well-defined theoretical basis and momentum conservation equation. It considers both equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, deriving a rheological constitutive equation that differs from the standard Oldroyd-B model. More investigation is needed to determine if the model can fully reproduce viscoelastic phase separation.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
(2021)