Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yunsoo Choi, Chul Soon Park, Hung-Vu Tran, Chien-Hung Li, Cathleen M. Crudden, Randall Lee
Summary: This study reports the development and use of bench-stable NHC adsorbates for the direct formation of NHC films on gold surfaces under ambient conditions. The generated NHC SAMs were fully characterized and compared to analogous SAMs generated from a different adsorbate. Furthermore, the potential utility of these NHC films as surface-initiated polymerization platforms was demonstrated.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ta Cong Khiem, Po-Hsin Mao, Young-Kwon Park, Xiaoguang Duan, Bui Xuan Thanh, Chechia Hu, Suresh Ghotekar, Yiu Fai Tsang, Kun-Yi Andrew Lin
Summary: In order to degrade AZRS, a highly oxidizing agent needs to be developed and Co3O4 nanoparticles with ordered pores need to be synthesized using a templating agent. This allows for the stable dispersion and activation of the oxidizing agent within the pores, improving the degradation efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qiang Gao, Wei Wang, Jingbo Du, Zeyu Liu, Yiyun Geng, Xiaojun Ding, Yifei Chen, Jing Chen, Gang Ye
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks with well-organized low-dimensional architectures provide significant thermodynamic and/or kinetic benefits for diverse applications. This study focuses on the controlled synthesis of a novel class of hierarchical zirconium-porphyrin frameworks (ZrPHPs) with nanosheet-assembled hexagonal prism morphology. The ZrPHPs exhibit an assembly-hydrolysis-reassembly mechanism towards the formation of 2D nanosheets with ordered arrangement. Due to their highly-accessible active sites, ZrPHPs serve as adaptable photocatalysts for macromolecular synthesis under full-range visible light and natural sunlight.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuai Zhang, Yongjin Wang, Hanchu Huang, Derong Cao
Summary: In this article, a novel strategy for controlling the radical ring-opening polymerization of macrocyclic allylic sulfides using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents was reported. The success of this strategy relies on the desulfurization of the propagating thiyl radical with isocyanide to generate a stabilized alkyl radical for reversible control. The systematic optimization of reaction conditions enables good control over the polymerization and the formation of polymers with well-defined architectures, including radical block copolymerization and the incorporation of sequence-defined segments.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haejin Jeong, Jisoo Lee, Seunghwi Kim, Haeram Moon, Seonki Hong
Summary: The authors introduce a method called progressive assembly on an initiator-loaded template (PAINT) for site-specific fabrication and patterning of melanin-like pigments. This method allows for localized assembly on a pre-treated surface without diffusion into solution. The pigments fabricated by PAINT show efficient NIR-to-heat conversion properties and can be utilized in biomedical applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sobia Aslam, Fazle Subhan, Muhammad Waqas, Zifeng Yan, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Naeem
Summary: The development of cost effective and efficient non-noble metal catalysts for reducing toxic nitrobenzene and azo compounds has become highly desirable in recent years. In this study, highly reactive Cu nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in mesoporous silica (MZ) using ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 28) and tested as catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methylene blue (MB). The Cu10/MZ catalyst exhibited complete reduction of 4-NP and MB in 10 minutes with high catalytic activity and stability, which can be attributed to the small size and high dispersion of Cu NPs, as well as the excellent physiochemical characteristics of MZ.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mingguang Li, Huan Gao, Ying Peng, Senlin Tang, Ying Liu, Yong Deng, Ligang Xu, Runfeng Chen
Summary: Researchers propose a cascade defect passivation strategy to reduce perovskite defects by introducing azo radical initiators. This passivation strategy effectively inhibits defect-assisted recombination, resulting in a significant increase in the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
Article
Biophysics
Jiawei Gong, Tongtong Zhang, Tao Luo, Xuan Luo, Fei Yan, Weizhong Tang, Jiyang Liu
Summary: In this study, a novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) platform was developed for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibody. The platform utilizes bipolar silica nanochannel array to stably confine the ECL probe and achieve reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Liping Yu, Yong Zhang, Jirong Wang, Huihui Gan, Shaoqiao Li, Xiaolin Xie, Zhigang Xue
Summary: Polymer electrolytes were designed and fabricated through lithium salt-induced in situ living radical copolymerization, showing excellent compatibility with electrode materials and promising performance in high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
Article
Polymer Science
Joao R. C. Costa, Joana R. Gois, Jose R. Fernandes, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Jorge F. J. Coelho, Armenio C. Serra
Summary: This study presents a simple photo-controlled iodine transfer polymerization system using methacrylate monomers, solvent, and initiator under violet and sunlight irradiation with good control over the polymerization process. The system does not require additional photocatalysts or iodide salts and provides tight control over activation and deactivation. The polymerization system under sunlight extends to several methacrylate monomers in a well-controlled manner.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jaehoon Jeong, Himani Bisht, Suho Park, Yubin Hong, Gijeong Shin, Daewha Hong
Summary: In this study, a substrate-independent initiator film was developed to form an antifouling brush through surface-initiated polymerization. Inspired by melanogenesis, a tyrosine-conjugated bromide initiator (Tyr-Br) containing phenolic amine groups as the coating precursor and alpha-bromoisobutyryl groups as the initiator was synthesized. The Tyr-Br underwent melanin-like oxidation in the presence of tyrosinase to form an initiator film on various substrates, and an antifouling polymer brush was subsequently formed through air-tolerant activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) of zwitterionic carboxybetaine. The entire surface coating process occurred under aqueous conditions without the need for organic solvents or chemical oxidants, allowing the formation of antifouling polymer brushes on different substrates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bomi Seong, Sungje Bock, Eunil Hahm, Kim-Hung Huynh, Jaehi Kim, Sang Hun Lee, Xuan-Hung Pham, Bong-Hyun Jun
Summary: A dense gold-assembled SiO2 nanostructure was successfully developed using the Au seed-mediated growth, showing better catalytic activity and signal intensity compared to HF-treated SiO2@Au.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Saravana Kumar, Peter Cats, Mohammed B. Alotaibi, Subhash C. Ayirala, Ali A. Yousef, Rene van Roij, Igor Siretanu, Frieder Mugele
Summary: Recent experiments and theoretical studies indicate the presence of universal underscreening in highly concentrated electrolyte solutions, with attractive van der Waals interactions dominating at higher ion concentrations.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kun-You Chung, Zachariah A. Page
Summary: This article introduces a new type of visible light photoinitiator that can polymerize acrylic-based resins to maximum conversion using low energy green light. The photoinitiator has the ability to access long-lived triplet excited states, which is promising for next generation manufacturing and biomedical applications.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Kerem Kaya, Huseyin Cem Kiliclar, Yusuf Yagci
Summary: Developing innovative photochemical methods to achieve green chemistry and mitigate global warming is of great importance. Daily life depends heavily on the use of polymeric materials, but conventional thermal polymerization systems fail to meet the requirements of sustainable chemistry, leading to increased energy demand. This article summarizes the advantages of cationic and step-growth polymerizations initiated by different photochemically generated ionic species compared to conventional polymerization systems. Examples of photoinduced cationic and step-growth polymerizations under UV, visible, and near-infrared light are categorized into direct and indirect initiating systems, and the use of commercially available and structurally modified onium salts as photoinitiators in both polymerizations is discussed. Indirect initiating systems, including photoinduced electron/energy transfer, charge-transfer complexation, and free-radical promoted cationic polymerization, are summarized focusing on recent step-growth methods developed in the authors' laboratory.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Katharina Hendrich, Wentao Peng, Philipp Vana
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qiyun Tang, Christian Rossner, Philipp Vana, Marcus Muller
Article
Polymer Science
Niklas Frerichs, Moritz Joswig, Taija Lena Fischer, Yan Steffen Oevermann, Philipp Vana
Summary: The combination of ESI and IMMS is used to determine the characteristic ratio of homopolymers and triblock copolymers. Altering the block sequence has a significant impact on physical properties, with the inner block dominating overall properties. Keeping monomer composition constant is crucial for reliable determination of the influence of topology.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Judith Elisabeth Rauschendorfer, Katharina Maria Thien, Manuela Denz, Sarah Koester, Florian Ehlers, Philipp Vana
Summary: Polymer layered silicate nanocomposites (PLSNs) consisting of montmorillonite (MMT) nanosheets and poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) were synthesized and characterized, showing potential applications with controlled mechanical properties through different strategies and successful surface modification.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Darius Rohleder, Philipp Vana
Summary: In this study, gold nanorods were modified with thermoresponsive copolymers to create a new nanohybrid system with controllable temperature response and remotely controllable aggregation, which has potential applications in nanomedicine.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Judith E. Rauschendorfer, Jytte Mockelmann, Philipp Vana
Summary: Matrix-free nanocomposite films of PMA and MMT nanosheets were developed to mimic the microscopic structure of nacre, and their mechanical properties were studied in detail through tensile testing. The experiments showed that the chain mobility of the surface-grafted polymer has a strong influence on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite material.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Lara Riemann, Sarah Brandt, Philipp Vana
Summary: The EPR spectra of growing macroradicals during the radical copolymerization of styrene-d8 and methyl methacrylate were recorded and modeled using MATLAB and EasySpin simulations, resulting in a new set of reactivity ratios for the copolymerization.
MACROMOLECULAR THEORY AND SIMULATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Judith E. Rauschendorfer, Philipp Vana
Summary: LDPE foils coated with polymer-grafted Montmorillonite nanosheets form effective gas barrier coatings that significantly reduce gas permeability. Studying the impact of different surface-grafted polymer topologies, it was found that a mixture of star-shaped and linear PMA and cross-linked PMA via hydrogen bonds can further decrease gas permeability. This strategy is quick and simple, making it easy to create efficient gas barrier coatings for LDPE foils used in food packaging.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jiaxiu Wang, Lukas Emmerich, Jianfeng Wu, Philipp Vana, Kai Zhang
Summary: Despite the considerable benefits plastics have offered, the current approaches to their production, use, and disposal are not sustainable. The authors demonstrate a sustainable hydrosetting method for processing a cellulose cinnamate polymer, which can be repeatedly programmed into various 2D or 3D stable shapes, extending their lifetime for practical applications.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Enno Meyer, Tobias Weege, Philipp Vana
Summary: The Arrhenius parameters of the propagation step in radical polymerization of diethyl itaconate (DEI) and di-n-propyl itaconate (DnPI) were determined using pulsed-laser polymerization in conjunction with size-exclusion chromatography (PLP-SEC) experiments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingying Cai, Philipp Vana
Summary: The use of macromolecular design features to regulate non-covalent bonding on the nanoscale is a promising fabrication strategy for advanced nanostructures. In this study, we successfully created a series of 2D plasmonic molecules (PMs) through self-assembly using hydrogen-bond interaction between polymer-capped gold nanoparticles. The competition between polymer interaction and solvation during the self-assembly process was found to be crucial for controlling the coordination number of PMs.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sebastian Alberti, Sonja Schmidt, Simone Hageneder, Paula C. Angelome, Galo J. A. A. Soler-lllia, Philipp Vana, Jakub Dostalek, Omar Azzaroni, Wolfgang Knoll
Summary: Nanopores have various applications in biocatalysis, drug delivery, and sensing devices. The interaction between biomacromolecules and surfaces is influenced by nanopore diameter, which is important for their infiltration into porous materials. We present a novel approach for synthesizing large-pore mesoporous silica thin films (MTF) through supramolecular templating and phase separation using block copolymers. The tunability of pore size distribution is achieved through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingying Cai, Wentao Peng, Philipp Vana
Summary: Polyethylene glycol-grafted gold nanoparticles are attached to silica nanoparticle cores via hydrogen bonding, forming well-defined core-satellite structures. A simple protocol using glass beads has been developed to separate these complex structures effectively. The attached gold nanoparticles exhibit unique surface mobility on the silica core, enabling rearrangement into a 2D ring pattern on a planar surface.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Wentao Peng, Yingying Cai, Luise Fanslau, Philipp Vana
Summary: RAFT polymerization is a powerful tool for creating well-defined nanocomposites by combining polymers with uniform nanoparticles. It offers control over polymer size and architecture, as well as functional end-groups for direct installation into nanocomposites. This technology has applications in various fields, including life sciences, energy conversion, and catalysis, allowing for the creation of complex nanostructures with different functionalities.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Darius Rohleder, Philipp Vana
