Article
Polymer Science
Axel-Laurenz Buckinx, Ashley M. Rozario, Toby D. M. Bell, Jasper J. Michels, Tanja Junkers
Summary: This study presents a novel method for synthesizing semi-conducting polymer nanoparticles (SPN) and demonstrates their potential as versatile theragnostic platforms for drug delivery and near infrared (NIR) imaging.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wanni Guo, Mingjian Chen, Yuxin Yang, Guili Ge, Le Tang, Shuyi He, Zhaoyang Zeng, Xiaoling Li, Guiyuan Li, Wei Xiong, Steven Wu
Summary: In this study, the biocompatibility and biological effects of semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) with different surface modifications were systematically investigated. The modification of sulfhydryl, carboxyl, and amino groups on Pdots had no significant effect on their physicochemical properties, except for the stability of amino-modified Pdots. Cellular studies showed that amino-modified Pdots reduced cellular uptake capacity and increased cytotoxicity. In vivo studies demonstrated that Pdots@SH and Pdots@COOH had better body circulation and metabolic clearance compared to Pdots@NH2. This research provides important data for the safety assessment and potential biomedical applications of Pdots with different surface modifications.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Li-Hui Chou, Tsubasa Mikie, Masahiko Saito, Cheng-Liang Liu, Itaru Osaka
Summary: In this study, new NTz-based polymers were synthesized with improved solubility by introducing alkylthienyl substituents in the polymer backbone. These polymers exhibited higher photovoltaic performances in nonfullerene-based organic photovoltaic cells, attributed to enhanced miscibility with the nonfullerene acceptor and improved charge generation and reduced charge recombination.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinfeng Han, Yufeng Jiang, Emma Tiernan, Connor Ganley, Yunjia Song, Taein Lee, Arlene Chiu, Patty McGuiggan, Nicholas Adams, Paulette Clancy, Thomas P. Russell, Patrick E. Hopkins, Susanna M. Thon, John D. Tovar, Howard E. Katz
Summary: Most of the reported N-type high-conductivity organic polymers belong to short-range lamellar-stacked structures, which have lower thermoelectric parameters. In this study, an all-polymer N-type short-range lamellar-stacked thermoelectric system was described, with the highest conductivity of 78 S-1, power factor of 163 mu W m(-1) K-2, and maximum figure of merit of 0.53 at room temperature with a dopant/host ratio of 75 wt%. The promising performance was mainly attributed to the minor effect of the polymer dopant on the molecular arrangement, high doping capability, high Seebeck coefficient relative to conductivity, and atypical decrease in thermal conductivity with increased doping ratio.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Phong H. Nguyen, Michael B. Schmithorst, Thomas E. Mates, Rachel A. Segalman, Michael L. Chabinyc
Summary: Many semiconductor devices rely on heterojunctions or doping gradients to control charge transport. The diffusion of dopants and changes in polymer properties during doping are critical for understanding the formation and stability of these gradients. In this study, the doping of poly(3-hexylthiophene) films by bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide from solution is found to be limited by proton transfer to the polymer. Surface profiling techniques provide evidence of dopant enrichment at the polymer surface, indicating doping-induced changes to the polymer structure affect dopant diffusion.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Yin Ning, Steven P. Armes, Dan Li
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive summary of nanoparticle occlusion within inorganic crystals. It discusses various strategies for occluding different types of colloidal particles in different host crystals and highlights the physicochemical properties and potential applications of the resulting functional nanocomposite crystals. The review also offers a perspective on the future direction of research in this field.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Narayanaswamy Kamatham, Olzhas A. Ibraikulov, Pablo Durand, Jing Wang, Olivier Boyron, Benoit Heinrich, Thomas Heiser, Patrick Leveque, Nicolas Leclerc, Stephane Mery
Summary: This study reports the impact of functionalizing four different semiconducting polymer structures with linear siloxane-terminated side-chains, showing that the substitution of alkyl chains with siloxane chains significantly influences the properties of the polymers. The increase in pi-stacking overlap of the polymer backbones leads to enhanced charge mobility values. Additionally, different siloxane chains have distinct effects on the polymer structure.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bijun Ni, Chao Fu, Shuang Pan, Luze He, Zhiqun Lin, Juan Peng
Summary: The study presents a method for creating highly interconnected organic-inorganic nanocomposites through two successive self-assembly processes. By tuning the quantum dot concentration, the structure of the nanocomposites can be conveniently tailored.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Hugo Jose Nogueira Pedroza Dias Mello, Bassam Bachour Junior, Marcelo Mulato
Summary: This study presents a polyaniline-based DNA/RNA biosensor for detecting DNA biomarkers with fast response time, sensitivity, and a wide linear range. The impact of different sensing materials on DNA/RNA measurements was investigated and compared to other sensors, demonstrating the advantages of this biosensor.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Angela Awada, Mark Potter, Dananjana Wijerathne, James W. Gauld, Bulent Mutus, Simon Rondeau-Gagne
Summary: Microplastic pollution is a global challenge that needs immediate mitigation. This study introduces a novel design for the selective detection of microplastics using fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles. The nanoparticles show strong affinity for various types of plastics and can be used for the detection of microplastics in heterogeneous samples.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Zhihui Wu, Jing Wang, Linlin Zhao, Chenxi Li, Yan Lu
Summary: This study reports a novel conjugated polymer PDPP-TP with a donor-acceptor structure, which was synthesized by direct arylation polycondensation. The hydrophilic PDPP-TP-based nanoparticles (PTNPs) were obtained through self-assembly and showed strong near-infrared absorbance and high photothermal conversion efficiency under laser irradiation. PTNPs demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity against Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus with the assistance of an 880 nm laser, showcasing their potential for the effective treatment of microbial infections.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Lu Zhang, Hongxiang Li, Kefeng Zhao, Tao Zhang, Duo Liu, Sichun Wang, Fan Wu, Qiang Zhang, Yanchun Han
Summary: Conjugated polymers are considered crucial for stretchable electronics, but understanding the film morphology that maintains charge mobility under cycling deformation requires further research. This study found that the co-deformation of crystalline domains and amorphous regions effectively dissipates strain energy. By altering the interaction parameter between solvent and sidechain, three different film morphologies of a diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymer were developed. The film with medium crystallinity exhibited 100% mobility retention under 100% strain and after 100 stretch-release cycles at 50% strain, while films with high and low crystallinity showed decreased mobility. The optimized performance of the film with dispersed crystallites embedded in an amorphous matrix provides an efficient charge transport network. This research contributes to manipulating the mechanical and electrical properties of conjugated polymers.
Article
Physics, Applied
Fengyuan Zhang, Lingyu Zhang, Xuyang Wang, Kaixin Liu, Boyuan Huang, Yao Wang, Jiangyu Li
Summary: This study develops an in situ technique to evaluate the electric field fluctuation in dielectrics, demonstrating the effectiveness of interfacial engineering in improving the breakdown strength of nanocomposites. It validates the field fluctuation-based breakdown criterion proposed more than a decade ago.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yijiang Liu, Jialin Wang, Yue Shao, Renhua Deng, Jintao Zhu, Zhenzhong Yang
Summary: Janus nanomaterials composed of two compartments with dissimilar compositions and/or functionalities have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Janus polymer/inorganic nanocomposites, combining properties of polymers and inorganic substances, exhibit appealing properties and potential applications. Various synthetic routes allow for the creation of Janus materials with tunable composition, morphology, and microstructures.
PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jun Guan, Zejun Sun, Ramin Ansari, Yujia Liu, Aimi Endo, Masafumi Unno, Armelle Ouali, Shahrea Mahbub, Joseph C. Furgal, Nuttapon Yodsin, Siriporn Jungsuttiwong, Daniel Hashemi, John Kieffer, Richard M. Laine
Summary: Multiple studies have explored the use of cage silsesquioxanes as backbone elements in hybrid polymers, and unexpected photophysical properties of copolymers derived from double decker silsesquioxanes were discovered, suggesting unconventional conjugation.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhen Li, Shuxiang Mei, Lu Luo, Siyuan Li, Xiaoyin Chen, Yuancheng Zhang, Wei Zhao, Xiaomeng Zhang, Ge Shi, Yanjie He, Zhe Cui, Peng Fu, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu
Summary: This study investigates multiple and two-way reversible shape memory polymers (M/2W-SMPs) and presents a new material with quadruple shape memory effect. The material exhibits excellent performance and has potential applications in high-temperature sensors, actuators, and aerospace equipment.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhongxiu Liu, Yong Liu, Yingjie Miao, Guilong Liu, Renhong Yu, Kunming Pan, Guangxin Wang, Xinchang Pang, Jianmin Ma
Summary: Alkali metals (Li, Na, and K) show promise as high-performance rechargeable alkali metal battery anodes due to their high theoretical specific capacity and low electrochemical potential. However, challenges such as high chemical reactivity, uncontrolled dendrite growth, unstable solid electrolyte interphase, and volume expansion during cycling processes hinder their practical application. The introduction of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in alkali metal anodes provides a solution to these issues. These nanomaterials with high specific surface area, superior electronic conductivity, and excellent mechanical stability have attracted considerable attention. This review summarizes recent progress on the application of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in stable and dendrite-free alkali metal anodes, discusses the merits and issues of alkali metal anodes, as well as their stabilizing strategies, and explores the relationship between synthesis methods, nano- or microstructures, and electrochemical properties of carbon nanotube-based alkali metal anodes. Additionally, advanced characterization technologies on the reaction mechanism of carbon nanotube-based nanomaterials in alkali metal anodes are reviewed. Finally, the challenges and prospects for future study and applications of carbon nanotube-based AMAs in high-performance alkali metal batteries are discussed.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lili Zhang, Yuanting Lei, Wenjing Xu, Dan Wang, Yafei Zhao, Wenxing Chen, Xu Xiang, Xinchang Pang, Bing Zhang, Huishan Shang
Summary: In this study, a highly active and durable N-CoP/CeO2 nanowire heterostructure electrocatalyst was developed, showing excellent catalytic activity for both oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The N-CoP/CeO2 catalyst exhibited low overpotentials of 215 and 74 mV at 10 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH. The assembled water electrolyzer with N-CoP/CeO2 displayed super stability, maintaining 95.9% catalytic activity over 42 days at 1.52 V@10 mA cm-2. Theoretical calculations revealed that the metallic heterostructure interfaces of N-CoP/CeO2 enhanced the electrocatalytic activity through fast electron transfer and optimized adsorption/desorption processes.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Peng Fu, Jiahui Zhang, Yuancheng Zhang, Wei Zhao, Xiaomeng Zhang, Ge Shi, Yanjie He, Zhe Cui, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu
Summary: In this study, a new type of shape memory thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (PEBA) was synthesized and confirmed to have good mechanical properties and two melting temperatures. PEBA can recover to its original shape after heating and cooling, and it also has the ability to be reshaped and exhibit shape memory behavior. This new type of TPAE presents a new smart material for sensors and soft robotics.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Zonglin Qiu, Chen Chen, Zhengqiang Huang, Peng Fu, Xiaomeng Zhang, Wei Zhao, Xiaoguang Qiao, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu, Shuang Chen, Zhe Cui
Summary: A comparative study was conducted on the thermal transition temperature of heat-resistant polyamides with aromatic and aliphatic rings. Experimental and computational methods were used to investigate the differences in thermal performance, crystal structure, chain conformation, cohesive energy, interchain interaction, and melting process of two polyamides. The results showed that the polyamide with aliphatic rings displayed higher melting and glass transition temperatures compared to the one with aromatic rings. This study provides insights into the reasons behind the improved thermal properties of polyamides with nonplanar aliphatic units.
Article
Polymer Science
Xinjin Yan, Meng Wei, Xu Miao, Xiaoguang Qiao, Xiaomeng Zhang, Peng Fu, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu, Qingxiang Zhao, Shuang Chen, Zhe Cui
Summary: The luminescence of non-conjugated polymers is an important subject of research in both fundamental and applied areas. However, the study on nonconventional luminescent polymers (NLPs) in terms of the structure regulation and emission mechanism is still in its early stages. This study reports the efficient NLP property of PA1212, a representative engineering plastic, which exhibits blue fluorescence, persistent room-temperature green phosphorescence, and high quantum yield (about 13%). The research demonstrates the crucial role of hydrogen-bonded amide groups in the emission and reveals the linear positive correlation between emission intensity and amide clusters constructed from ordered hydrogen bonds in the crystalline region.
Article
Polymer Science
Mengjie Zhou, Yu Zhang, Ge Shi, Yanjie He, Zhe Cui, Xiaomeng Zhang, Peng Fu, Minying Liu, Xiaoguang Qiao, Xinchang Pang
Summary: In this study, a synergistically catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) induced and controlled by the interplay between ball milling (BM) and piezoelectric nanoparticles (piezoNPs) was demonstrated for sustainable and eco-friendly polymer synthesis. The BM-induced electron transfer was achieved through the deformation of piezoNPs under impact force, acting as an external stimulus to mediate polymerization. The fabrication of a polymer with a well-defined molecular weight and low polydispersity was successfully achieved with ppm level copper loading. High-molecular-weight polymers ranging from 33 to 74 kDa were prepared by DMSO-assisted grinding. Besides, the ATRP approach showed good performance in terms of the availability of water as a liquid-assisted grinding additive, the recyclability of piezoNPs, and the formation of cross-linker-free composite resin, making it a green and practical option alongside existing heat-, electro-, and photo-induced methods.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fuqiang Lan, Junle Zhang, Yuying Li, Yaxuan Shi, Yuancheng Zhang, Ge Shi, Xiaomeng Zhang, Zhe Cui, Peng Fu, Minying Liu, Xiaoguang Qiao, Yanjie He, Wenjie Zhang, Xinchang Pang
Summary: Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) and their heterostructure nanocomposites were used as photocatalysts for efficient broadband photoinduced controlled radical polymerization (photoCRP). The combination of electron transfer acceleration from TNTAs' structure and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect with the formation of Schottky barrier via Au nanoparticle modification enabled efficient UV-visible light responsive photoCRP. The resulting polymers exhibited high conversion, living chain-ends, tightly regulated molecular weights, and excellent temporal control properties.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Minhang Chen, Xiaojie Chen, Junle Zhang, Bingfeng Xue, Shangyu Zhai, Haibo She, Yuancheng Zhang, Zhe Cui, Peng Fu, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu, Xiaomeng Zhang
Summary: In this study, anisotropic thermally conductive composites were prepared using 3D printing and micro-shear methods. The composites exhibited double anisotropic structures and had significantly higher thermal conductivity compared to composites with randomly oriented boron nitride (BN). The macro-anisotropic structure (caused by selective distribution of BN) and the micro-anisotropic structure (caused by the orientation structure of BN) both played critical roles in heat spreading. These composites have great potential for efficient and controllable thermal management in various fields.
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Shuxiang Mei, Jiqiang Wang, Zhen Li, Bowen Ding, Siyuan Li, Xiaoyin Chen, Wei Zhao, Yuancheng Zhang, Xiaomeng Zhang, Zhe Cui, Peng Fu, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu
Summary: 4D printing technology has promising applications in various fields, but the development of commercialized elastomer materials, especially smart elastomers, for 3D printing is still needed. In this study, a PA1212-based thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (TPAE) was synthesized and prepared for selective laser sintering (SLS) using a one-pot melt polycondensation method. The properties of the sintered parts were investigated under different SLS processing parameters, and the PA1212-based TPAEs exhibited excellent shape memory behavior. This work provides a designing strategy for 4D printable materials and references for SLS processing parameters, while also expanding the application of polyamide-based elastomer materials in 4D printing fields.
JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Siyuan Li, Zhen Li, Shuxiang Mei, Xiaoyin Chen, Bowen Ding, Yuancheng Zhang, Wei Zhao, Xiaomeng Zhang, Zhe Cui, Peng Fu, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu
Summary: 4D printing has been a research hotspot in recent years. However, the limited availability of elastomer materials that can achieve reversible two-way shape memory effect (2W-SME) through selective laser sintering (SLS) has hindered the applications of 4D printing. This study successfully synthesizes a series of thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPAEs) with excellent thermal stability, flexibility, and resilience. The newly developed TPAE material not only expands the range of 4D printable materials, but also shows potential in the fields of soft robots, temperature sensors, and aerospace equipment.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Han Qian, Yong Liu, Huixin Chen, Kaijia Feng, Kunxiu Jia, Kunming Pan, Guangxin Wang, Tao Huang, Xinchang Pang, Qiaobao Zhang
Summary: Bismuth (Bi)-based materials have received significant attention as electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. However, their large volume expansion and sluggish reaction kinetics result in rapid capacity degradation and poor rate performance. To overcome these challenges, effective strategies such as morphology design, microstructure optimization, and carbon/metals modification have been employed. This review summarizes recent advances in the design and fabrication of Bi-based materials and their composites in order to achieve enhanced performance in various electrochemical energy storage applications.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuhan Zhang, Jingyi Hao, Haitao Zhao, Wenjie Zhang, Ge Shi, Yanjie He, Shuzhen Zhou, Xiaoguang Qiao, Xinchang Pang
Summary: In this study, lignin-based LS@AgNPs colloidal nanocrystalline clusters with good biocompatibility and antibacterial properties were prepared by in situ reduction, confined growth, and self-assembly methods. These sustainable composite nanoparticles are expected to be further applied in many other fields.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Xiaomeng Zhang, Tingting Yin, Zejun Cao, Yimeng Wei, Bingfeng Xue, Junle Zhang, Wenjie Zhang, Yuancheng Zhang, Ge Shi, Yanjie He, Zhe Cui, Peng Fu, Xinchang Pang, Minying Liu
Summary: The chemical inertness of BNNS limits its application in fabricating thermally conductive polymer-based composites. However, this study presents a simple and effective method to improve the dispersibility and thermal conductivity of BNNS by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) and immobilizing AuNPs onto BNNS. The resulting hybrid filler exhibits lower interfacial thermal resistance and higher thermal conductivity, making it suitable for high-efficiency thermal management materials in electronic devices.
COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cuiyun Liu, Hongyu Liu, Yingli Zheng, Jie Luo, Chang Lu, Yuxin He, Xinchang Pang, Rama Layek
Summary: A versatile foam based on Schiff base crosslinking of oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose (ONFC) with amino modified graphene oxide (NGO) and chitosan (CS) was prepared for the efficacious selective removal of anionic dyes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
