Synthesis and application as polymer electrolyte of hyperbranched copolyethers derived from cationic ring-opening polymerization of 3-{2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}methyl- and 3-hydroxymethyl-3′-methyloxetane

A kind of novel hyperbranched copolyethers intending for the solid polymer electrolyte was synthesized via the cationic ring-opening polymerization of 3-{2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-ethoxy}methyl-3′-methyloxetane (MEMO) and 3-hydroxymethyl-3′-methyloxetane (HMO) in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O as an initiator. Herein HMO was employed to create the hyperbranched structure, whereas MEMO was responsible for the ionic transportation of the resulting copolymers. The terminal structure featured by a cyclic fragment was definitely detected by MALDI-TOF measurement. The degree of branching of the copolymers was calculated by means of ¹³C NMR spectra. The DSC analysis implied that they hold the excellent segment motion performance and perfectly amorphous state beneficial for the ionic transportation. The ionic conductivity measurements showed that the sample HMO 30 reaches a maximum ionic conductivity of 8.0 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 30 °C and 7.4 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 80 °C, respectively, after doping with lithium salt LiTFSI. Moreover, the TGA assay exhibited that these hyperbranched copolymers possess the higher thermostability as compared with their liquid counterparts.     

Synthesis and characterization of partly fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s crosslinked by allyl group for passive optical waveguides

It is necessary to introduce cross-linkable groups onto polymer chains as the processability and thermal stability of the polymers for passive waveguide device applications are very dependent on their cross-linking capabilities. Herein a series of novel cross-linkable allyl-containing fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s (Allyl-FPPEs) have been prepared by a modified polycondensation of 4-(4-hydroxylphenyl)(2H)-phthalazin-1-one (DHPZ), decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (6F-BPA), and 3,3′-diallyl-4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl (DA-DHBP) for optical waveguide applications. The obtained random polymers were characterized by FT-IR, NMR and GPC. The resulting polymers having good solubility in polar organic solvents at room temperature, can be easily spin-coated into thin films with attracting optical quality, good thermal stabilities (the temperatures of 1% mass-loss after curing: 455-503 °C), and high glass transition temperatures (T_gs: 167-251 °C) which could further increase by about 20 °C after thermal cross-linking. The crosslinked polymer films exhibit good optical properties. By adjusting the feed ratio of the reactants, the refractive indices of TE and TM modes (at 1550 nm) could be well controlled in the range of 1.4998-1.5618 and 1.4954-1.5520, respectively. The optical losses of the crosslinked polymers possess rather low values, less than 0.3 dB/cm at 1550 nm.     

Synthesis and properties of novel fully conjugated polymers containing bithiazole rings

Two novel fully conjugated polymers containing bithiazole rings (PDDBTz and PDABTz) were first synthesized by polycondensation of 2,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatriene-1,8-dial with 2,2′-bis(diethylphosphinatyl methyl)-4,4′-bithizole or 2,2′-diamino-4,4′-bithiazole (DABT). The structure of the polymers was determined by IR, ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. PDDBTz is soluble in trifluoroacetic acid and DMSO, whereas PDABTz is soluble in common solvent such as THF, DMSO, DMF. Bithiazole rings were introduced to provide bidentate N-donor sites for binding metal ions. Their lanthanide metal complexes were prepared. The magnetic behavior of these polymeric complexes was measured as a function of magnetic field strength (0-60 kOe) at 4 K and as a function of temperature (4-300 K) at magnetic field strength of 30 kOe. The results show that they all exhibit features of soft ferromagnet.     

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells based on main-chain-type sulfonated polyimides

Main-chain-type sulfonated polyimides (SPIs) from 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA), 4,4′-bis(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl-3,3′-disulfonic acid (BAPBDS) and 4,4′-bis(4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl (BAPB) were used as electrolyte membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The SPI membranes swelled anisotropically in water by four to five times more largely in thickness direction than in plane direction of membrane. The cells with the SPI membranes showed excellent polarization performances, which were a little better than that for Nafion 112, i.e., using highly humidified H₂ and O₂ gases with a pressure of 0.3 MPa, the cell voltages with current densities of 0.5 and 1 A/cm² were 0.76 and 0.69 V, respectively, at 90 °C. The polarization performance was rather weakly dependent on the cell temperature and on the humidifier temperature. The cells showed good short-term stability up to 50 h. The proton conductivities in thickness direction of membrane were calculated from the membrane resistances evaluated from the complex impedance spectra of the operating cells. They were 0.24 and 0.16 S/cm for the homo- and co-SPI membranes (2/1 in molar ratio of BABPDS/BAPB), respectively. The SPI membranes were rather isotropic in relation to proton conductivity in spite of their anisotropic morphology.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly refractive polyimides derived from 2,7-bis(4′-aminophenylenesulfanyl)thianthrene-5,5,10,10-tetraoxide and aromatic dianhydrides

New polyimides (PIs) containing thioether and sulfonyl groups in their main chains have been developed. These PIs were synthesized by a two-step polycondensation procedure from several dianhydrides such as 4,4′-[p-thiobis(phenylenesulfanyl)] diphthalic anhydride (3SDEA), 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(phenylenesulfanyl)] diphthalic anhydride (pDPSDA) and a new sulfonyl and sulfur-containing aromatic diamine, 2,7-bis(4′-aminophenylenesulfanyl)thianthrene-5,5,10,10-tetraoxide (APTTT). All of the PIs show good thermal and optical properties such as optical transparency higher than 80% at 450 nm for a thickness of ca. 10 μm, glass transition temperatures higher than 250 °C, thermal decomposition temperatures (T_10%) in the range of 504-514 °C. Because of the two sulfonyl groups at each monomer unit in the polymer main chain, all of the PIs show good transparency maintaining relatively high refractive index.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(azomethine ether)s

Two series of monomers, namely 4,4′-diformyl-α,ω-diphenoxydecane and 4,4′-diformyl-3,3-methoxy-α,ω-diphenoxydecane, were prepared from 1,10-dibromodecane with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), respectively. The poly(azomethine ether)s were prepared by solution polycondensation using 4,4′-diformyl-α,ω-diphenoxydecane, 4,4′-diformyl-3,3-methoxy-α,ω-diphenoxydecane with various diamines. The monomers and polymers were characterized by intrinsic viscosity, FT-IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the polymers are stable up to 320-500 °C and decomposed with good char yield. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of the polymers were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and their textures observed under hot stage optical polarized microscopy (HOPM). All the polymers were exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties except tetramethylene diamines-based polymers.     

Water resistant sulfonated polyimides based on 4,4′-binaphthyl-1,1′,8,8′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BNTDA) for proton exchange membranes

A series of sulfonated polyimides (SPIs) were synthesized in m-cresol from 4,4′-binaphthyl-1,1′,8,8′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BNTDA), 4,4′-diaminodiphenylether-2,2-disulfonicacid (ODADS), and 4,4′-diamino-diphenyl ether (ODA) in the presence of triethylamine and benzoic acid. The resulted polyimides showed much better water resistance than the corresponding sulfonated polyimides from 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA) and ODADS, which is contributed to the higher electron density in the carbonyl carbon atoms of BNTDA. Copolyimides S-75 and S-50 maintained their mechanical properties and proton conductivities after aging in water at 100 °C for 800 h. The proton conductivity of these SPIs was 0.0250-0.3565 S/cm at 20 °C and 100% relative humidity (RH), and increased to 0.1149-0.9470 S/cm at 80 °C and 100% RH. The methanol permeability values of these SPIs were in the range of 0.99-2.36 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s, which are much lower than that of Nafion 117 (2 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s).     

Forced translocation of polymer chains through a nanotube: A case of ultrafiltration

Translocation of polymer chains under the application of an external force has been studied through coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations. The chains are pulled through a nanotube of finite length and diameter and their translocation times measured. The average translocation time, τ follows a scaling relation involving the chain length, N and applied force, F as, τ ∼ N^ν′F^−μ, where ν′ and μ are two different exponents (ν′ = 0.674, and μ = 0.95 ± 0.05). The scaling law is closely similar to the nanopore translocation scaling law reported by Milchev et al. [Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009;1161:95]. Characteristic signatures of the chain escape time have been exhibited by the square of end-to-end distance R², axial radius of gyration R_g−x and other constituent properties. The behavior of the linear polymers under the application of a pulling force has been exploited to gain insights into the ultrafiltration process of unentangled polymers in dilute solution. The generic pulling force-translocation time (F, τ) data obtained through simulation can be matched reasonably well with the hydrodynamic force-critical macroscopic flow time (f_h, Q_c⁻¹) data and also with the hydrodynamic force-reduced critical microscopic flow time (f_h, q_c⁻¹) data obtained in the ultrafiltration experiment on long linear polystyrene chains in cyclohexane, as recently reported by Ge et al. [Macromolecules 2009;42:4400] The simulation technique reported here may be extended to study biomolecular transports occurring in long protein channels, as studied experimentally through current-time or voltage-time traces.     

Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of cross-linkable poly(phthalazinone ether ketone sulfone)

Cross-linkable poly(phthalazinone ether ketone sulfone) bearing tetrafluorostyrene groups (PPEKS-FSt) has been prepared by copolycondensation reaction for optical waveguide applications. The resulting amorphous polymer exhibits good solubility in some common polar organic solvents (e.g., N,N′-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, chloroform) at room temperature, and can be easily spin-coated into thin films with good optical quality. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and the temperature of 1% weight loss (1% T_d) are 261 °C and 494 °C, respectively, which could be further increased by 31 °C and 14 °C upon thermal cross-linking. The cross-linked polymer thin films exhibit high refractive index (∼1.65, TE mode), high thermo-optic coefficient value (dn/dT) (−1.455 × 10⁻⁴/°C, TE mode), low optical loss (less than 0.24 dB/cm at 1310 nm) and relatively low birefringence (∼0.007).     

Synthesis and optical properties of two series of soluble acridine-containing copolyimides

Two series of copolyimides were designed and synthesized by one-step polycondensation of two diamines, 3,6-diaminoacridine (Acridine) and 4,4′-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)bisphenylamine (FBPA), with a dianhydride 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) or 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), respectively. The copolyimides were named as AFFx (Acridine-FBPA-6FDA polyimide) and AFBx (Acridine-FBPA-BTDA polyimide), respectively, where x (x = 0, 1, 3, 5 10, 15 and 20) represents the mole percentage of acridine among the sum of two diamines. Characterization of the polymers was conducted by using FT-IR, EA, GPC, TGA, DSC, UV-vis and FL techniques. The Mw and MWD of AFFx are in the range of 2.29-5.09 × 10⁴ and 1.93-2.72, respectively, as determined using GPC. AFFx could be dissolved in some low boiling point solvents such as THF, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, etc. Thin AFFx films could be prepared by spin coating its CHCl₃ or THF solution onto glass. The temperature of 10% weight loss (T₁₀) for the copolyimides was above 540 °C. The emission maximum of AFFx in solution at the excitation wavelength of 480 nm was near 545 nm. And that of AFBx solution at the excitation wavelength of 390 nm was near 525 nm. UV-vis and FL spectra of the copolyimides indicated that the main chromophores in the copolyimides were acridine moieties and the excitation energy transfer from fluorene moieties to acridine moieties could take place. The copolyimides maybe a potential thermostable light-emitting material for organic light-emitting diodes.     

A novel bithiazole oligomer containing C60 and its ferro-complexes: syntheses and magnetic properties

A novel bithiazole oligomer (PCBT) was synthesized from C₆₀ and the diazo salt of 2,2′-diamino-4,4′-bithiazole (DABT). Its ferro-complex (PCBT-Fe²⁺) was prepared from PCBT and FeSO₄ in DMSO solution under a purified nitrogen atmosphere. The magnetic behavior of PCBT and PCBT-Fe²⁺ was measured as a function of magnetic field strength (0-60 kOe) at 5 K and as a function of temperature (5-300 K) at a magnetic field strength of 30 kOe. PCBT-Fe²⁺ complex exhibits a hysteresis cycle at 5 K, the observed coercive field (H_C) and remnant magnetization (M_r) are 690 Oe and 0.12 emu/g, respectively. The results show that PCBT is an anti-ferromagnet and its Fe²⁺-complex is a soft ferromagnet.     

Synthesis and properties of aluminum phthalocyanine side-chain polyimide for third-order nonlinear optics

A new third-order nonlinear optical polyimide with aluminum phthalocyanine unit as a side-chain (APSPI) has been developed. The poly(hydroxyimide) (PHI) was prepared by the ring-opening polyaddition of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride with 4,4′-diamino-4″-hydroxytriphenylmethane, followed by thermal imidization. The resulting PHI had number- and weight-average molecular weights (M_n, M_w) of 34,000 and 64,000, respectively. The introduction of aluminum phthalocyanine unit (AlPc) to PHI was carried out by the reaction of PHI with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine in the presence of silver triflate. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) of APSPI film with approximately 60 mol% content of AlPc at 1064 nm wavelength was 5.3×10⁻⁹ esu. This was measured using the closed Z-scan technique.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyimides and co-polyimides having pendant benzoic acid moiety

A novel diamine monomer, 2,4-diamino-4′-carboxy diphenyl ether had been synthesized. Several polyimides were prepared by reacting this diamine with commercially available dianhydrides, such as benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA), 4,4′-bis{hexafluoroisopropylidene bis (phthalic anhydride)}(6-FDA), oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BPDA). Furthermore, copolymers from the resulting diamine and oxydianiline (ODA) with 6 FDA were also synthesized. The inherent viscosities of the polymers were 0.42-0.67 dl g⁻¹. The polymers have good solubility in polar aprotic solvents, high thermal stability up to 410 °C in nitrogen and high glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranging from 260-330 °C. These polymers formed tough flexible films by solution casting.     

Viscometric behavior of disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymers used as proton exchange membranes

tert-Butylphenyl-terminated disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymers with a sulfonation degree of 35 mol% (BPS35) and controlled molecular weights (M_n), 20-50 kg mol⁻¹, were successfully prepared by direct copolymerization of the two activated halides, 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (DCDPS) and 3,3′-disulfonate-4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (SDCDPS) with 4,4′-biphenol and the endcapper, 4-tert-butylphenol. Dilute viscosity measurements of the BPS35 random copolymers were successfully conducted in NMP containing various concentrations of LiBr from 0.01 to 0.2 M and mostly at 0.05 M according to the measured theory. The effects of salt concentration and molecular weights of the copolymers on the viscometric behavior were studied and compared with published data for sulfonated polystyrene. The charge density parameter (ξ) for the BPS35 copolymers was determined to be smaller than 1, suggesting that no counterion condensation occurs. Studies of the effect of ionic strength (I) on the intrinsic viscosities ([η]) under theta condition were obtained by plotting [η] vs. I^−1/2 and extrapolating to infinite ionic strength. For salt-free BPS35 solutions, the viscometric behavior was shown to fit well with the Liberti-Stivala equation, providing a way to determining intrinsic viscosity when the copolymer charge is fully screened. Intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight characterization of BPS35 copolymers by SEC and static light scattering are also presented. The results are very useful for characterizing polymeric electrolyte membrane (PEM) for fuel cells, reverse osmosis and ionic transducer membranes.     

The synthesis of tetrahedral bipyridyl metallo-octupoles with large second- and third-order nonlinear optical properties

Two new 4,4′-bis(donor)-6,6′-diphenyl- 2,2′-bipyridine ligands and their corresponding D_2d (Cu^I, Ag^I, Zn^II) octupolar metal complexes were synthesized, and their linear and nonlinear optical properties were investigated. A single crystal X-ray structure was also determined for the bis[4,4′-bis(diethylaminostyryl)-6,6′-diphenyl-bipyridine]copper(I) complex, which revealed a distorded pseudo-tetrahedral geometry. Molecular second-order nonlinear optical properties were determined for the complexes using the Harmonic Light Scatterring technique at 1.91 μm. These metallo-chromophores display large first hyperpolarizabilities β_1.91 in the range of 211-340 × 10⁻³⁰ esu, which increase with the Lewis acidity of the metal ion. The two-photon absorption properties of the bipyridyl ligands and related complexes were determined using either the two-photon emission method for fluorescent compounds or the open aperture Z-scan technique for non emissive ones. The complexes display red-shifted two-photon absorption bands compared to their metal-ion free chromophores, as well as a large increase of the maximum two-photon absorption cross-sections.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid by [Fe(CN)6] redox couple electrostatically trapped in cationic N,N-dimethylaniline polymer film electropolymerized on diamond electrode

Multinegatively charged metal complex, hexacyanoferrate ([Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻), was electrostatically trapped in the cationic polymer film of N,N-dimethylaniline (PDMA) which was electrochemically deposited on the boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode by controlled-potential electro-oxidation of the monomer. This ferrocyanide-trapped PDMA film was used to catalyze the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA). Increase in the oxidation current response with a negative shift of the anodic peak potential was observed at the cationic PDMA film-coated BDD (PDMA|BDD) electrode, compared with that at the bare BDD electrode. A more drastic enhancement in the oxidation peak current as well as more negative shift of oxidation potential was found at the ferrocyanide-trapped PDMA film-coated BDD ([Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−|PDMA|BDD) electrode. This [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−|PDMA|BDD electrode can be used as an amperometric sensor of AA. Ferrocyanide, electrostatically trapped in the polymer film shows more electrocatalytic activity than that coordinatively attached to the polymer film or dissolved in the solution phase. The electrocatalytic current depends on the surface coverage of ferricyanide, Γ_Fe, within the polymer film. Diffusion coefficient (D) of AA in the solution was estimated by rotating disk electrode voltammetry: D = (5.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹. The second-order rate constant for the catalytic oxidation of AA by ferricyanide was also estimated to be 9.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. In the hydrodynamic amperometry using the [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−|PDMA|BDD electrode, a successive addition of 1 μM AA caused the successive increase in current response with equal amplitude and the sensitivity was calculated as 0.233 μA cm⁻² μM⁻¹.     

A laccase-glucose oxidase biofuel cell prototype operating in a physiological buffer

Here we report on the design and study of a biofuel cell consisting of a glucose oxidase-based anode (Aspergillus niger) and a laccase-based cathode (Trametes versicolor) using osmium-based redox polymers as mediators of the biocatalysts’ electron transfer at graphite electrode surfaces. The graphite electrodes of the device are modified with the deposition and immobilization of the appropriate enzyme and the osmium redox polymer mediator. A redox polymer [Os(4,4′-diamino-2,2′bipyridine)₂(poly{N-vinylimidazole})-(poly{N-vinylimidazole})₉Cl]Cl (E⁰′ = −0.110 V versus Ag/AgCl) of moderately low redox potential is used for the glucose oxidizing anode and a redox polymer [Os(phenanthroline)₂(poly{N-vinylimidazole})₂-(poly{N-vinylimidazole})₈]Cl₂ (E⁰′ = 0.49 V versus Ag/AgCl) of moderately high redox potential is used at the dioxygen reducing cathode. The enzyme and redox polymer are cross-linked with polyoxyethylene bis(glycidyl ether). The working biofuel cell was studied under air at 37 °C in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution of pH range 4.4-7.4, containing 0.1 M sodium chloride and 10 mM glucose. Under physiological conditions (pH 7.4) maximum power density, evaluated from the geometric area of the electrode, reached 16 μW/cm² at a cell voltage of 0.25 V. At lower pH values maximum power density was 40 μW/cm² at 0.4 V (pH 5.5) and 10 μW/cm² at 0.3 V (pH 4.4).     

Copolymerization of 1-vinylpyrrolidone with N-substituted methacrylamides: monomer reactivity ratios and copolymer sequence distribution

In order to enhance their resistance to polar solvents and their film forming ability compared to these of neat polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), water soluble copolymers which combined rather large PVP sequences with ammonium groups were obtained. Free radical copolymerization of 1-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NVP) with 3-(dimethylamino)propyl-methacrylamide (DMA) and 3-(methacrylamido)propyltrimethyl-ammonium, methylsulfate (TMA) was investigated in water at 68 °C using a water soluble initiator (4,4′-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid ACVA)). The copolymer samples obtained at low conversion levels (<10%) could not be recovered quantitatively for these particular copolymers. Therefore, a numerical integration modeling, accounting for change in copolymer composition with conversion, was preferred to determine the optimal reactivity ratios from experimental data obtained at moderate conversions. The reactivity ratios (system TMA-NVP: r_TMA 4.47, r_NVP 0.038, system DMA-NVP: r_DMA 5.67, r_NVP 0.37) proved a strong preferential incorporation of the methacrylamide monomers. The reactivity ratios were then used to estimate the copolymer sequence distributions. It is shown that rather large NVP sequences can be obtained with low TMA or DMA initial contents at moderate conversion. Moreover, these copolymers easily formed films which withstood polar solvents and could be readily cross-linked by thermal curing, opening interesting prospects for membrane separation systems.     

Structure and properties of highly stereoregular isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) blends treated with supercritical CO2

The structure and properties of highly stereoregular isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (it-PMMA) and syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (st-PMMA) blends with crystalline stereocomplex formed by supercritical CO₂ treatment at temperatures ranging from 35 to 130 °C were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements. The melting temperature, T_m, and the heat of fusion, ΔH_m, had maximum values at about 200 °C and 25 J/g, respectively. The degree of crystallinity evaluated by WAXD ranged in value from 32 to 38%. The fringed-micellar stereocomplex crystallites were formed in case of treatment temperatures below 90 °C, and the orderliness perpendicular to the helix axis of the fringed-micellar crystallites was considered to be increased with increasing treatment temperature. In case of treatment temperature of 130 °C, the fringed-micellar crystallites and the lamellar crystallites with high orderliness parallel to the helix axis coupled with the perpendicular orderliness were formed, and the respective double endothermic peaks, T_m¹ and T_m³, were observed in DSC due to the melting of the two kinds of stereocomplex crystallites. The it-PMMA/st-PMMA blends containing the fringed-micellar crystallites maintained high values of storage modulus, E′, up to higher temperature compared with the amorphous blends. The E′ of the blend treated with CO₂ at 130 °C decreased twice at temperatures corresponding to T_m¹ and T_m³.     

Extraction of metal ions with non-fluorous bipyridine derivatives as chelating ligands in supercritical carbon dioxide

Three new non-fluorous bipyridine derivatives, bis(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylate (ligand 1), bis(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylate (ligand 2), and bis(2-butoxyethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylate (ligand 3), were synthesized as chelating ligands to remove metal ions from solid matrix into supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂). These produced compounds 1-3 showed considerable solubilities in scCO₂ (8.0 g/l, 4.8 g/l, 7.8 g/l for ligands 1-3 at 313 K, respectively) and the tested solubility data were then calculated and correlated with semiempirical model at different pressures and temperatures, which showed satisfactory agreement with each other and the average absolute relative deviation were in the range of 0.1-28.3%. The effects of pressure, temperature, time, and ligand to metal ratio (5:1 to 75:1) on the extraction efficiency of metal ions were also systematically investigated. The extraction efficiency was 100% for Ni²⁺ and 95.9% for Cu²⁺ in scCO₂ with the system of ligand 1, ultrapure water, and perfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid tetraethylammonium salt (PFOAT) under the optimized conditions (25 MPa, 313 K, 90 min, and ligand to metal ratio of 10). Although all ligands exhibited good efficiency for Ni²⁺ (>85%) and Cu²⁺ (>70%) extraction, the extraction of mixed metal ions indicated that the bipyridine derivatives had low selectivity. Finally, the detailed calculation results exhibited that the extraction constants (K_ex) of the metal ions increased with the increase of the extraction efficiency in the same extraction system for each same metal ion.