How chain dynamics affects crack initiation in double-network gels

Double-network gels are a class of tough soft materials comprising two elastic networks with contrasting structures. The formation of a large internal damage zone ahead of the crack tip by the rupturing of the brittle network accounts for the large crack resistance of the materials. Understanding what determines the damage zone is the central question of the fracture mechanics of double-network gels. In this work, we found that at the onset of crack propagation, the size of necking zone, in which the brittle network breaks into fragments and the stretchable network is highly stretched, distinctly decreases with the increase of the solvent viscosity, resulting in a reduction in the fracture toughness of the material. This is in sharp contrast to the tensile behavior of the material that does not change with the solvent viscosity. This result suggests that the dynamics of stretchable network strands, triggered by the rupture of the brittle network, plays a role. To account for this solvent viscosity effect on the crack initiation, a delayed blunting mechanism regarding the polymer dynamics effect is proposed. The discovery on the role of the polymer dynamic adds an important missing piece to the fracture mechanism of this unique material.

The effects of solvent viscosity on the morphology and photocatalytic activity of BiOBr catalysts

BiOBr photocatalysts were prepared by changing the solvent and synthesis method. SEM, XRD and BET characterization shows that the sample prepared in high-viscosity solution by precipitation method has tremella-like microstructure, with smaller size and higher surface area. Among them, the BiOBr prepared in glycerol solution (GR-P) has the highest surface area of 113.8 m2⋅[Formula: see text]. XRD also indicates that the GR-P has much more exposed (110) facets than other samples. The Rhodamine B degradation tests show that the GR-P has the best activity on both deethylation and aromatic ring destruction steps, indicating that the exposed (110) facets promote the degradation process.

A Solvent Viscosity-dependent Thermoelectric Conversion Efficiency

We found a beautiful empirical rule (α ∝ <em>η</em>^-0.4) between the electrochemical Seebeck coefficient <em>α</em> for Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox pair and viscosity coefficient <em>η</em> of the organic solvent.

Descriptor of Thermogalvanic Cell for Waste-heat Harvesting

The scaling relation between the Seebeck coefficient and solvent viscosity would enable for the design of improved thermogalvanic cells.

Intramolecular Mobility in Nitroxide Biradicals with Flexible Linkers

Intramolecular electron spin exchange has been studied by X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in two long-chain flexible nitroxide biradicals existing in fluid solutions in three spectroscopy-different spatial conformations as a function of temperature, solvent viscosity and polarity. Certain thermodynamic parameters of the conformational transitions were calculated from the EPR spectra. The process of spin-exchange in these biradicals dissolved in five different alcohols was compared with that in the non-polar solvents (toluene) and aprotic (acetonitrile), as well as with two other biradicals studied earlier, and with thermodynamic characteristics of the solvents. A distinct correlation was found between macroscopic (solvent viscosity) characteristics of solvents and thermodynamic parameters of the intramolecular conformational transitions.

Luminescence turn-on detection by an entanglement-protected MOF operating via a divided receptor–transducer protocol

A CuI-based MOF with a tetraphenylethene moiety for turn-on detection of ammonia and monitoring of solvent viscosity is implemented via a divided receptor–transducer protocol.