Realizing ultra-stable Ti3C2-MXene in aqueous solution via surface graft with ionomers

MXene is the first class of 2D materials with the combination of metallic conductivity and hydrophilicity. However, degradation forms a key drawback limiting their long term application. This work for...

The Influence of Graft Length and Density on Dispersion, Crystallisation and Rheology of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Silica Nanocomposites

Different techniques of grafting polymer chains to filler surfaces are often employed to compatibilise filler and polymer matrices. In this paper the influence of graft length and graft density on the state of dispersion, crystallisation and rheological properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/silica (SiO2) nanocomposites are reported. Grafted silica nanoparticles were prepared through polymerisation of PCL from the nanoparticle surface. Graft length was controlled by the reaction time, while the grafting density was controlled by the monomer-to-initiator ratio. Grafted nanoparticles were mixed with PCL of different molecular weights and the state of dispersion was assessed. Different matrix-to-graft molecular weight ratios resulted in different states of dispersion. Composites based on the higher molecular weight matrix exhibited small spherical agglomerates while the lower molecular weight matrix revealed more sheet-like microstructures. The state of dispersion was found to be relatively independent of graft length and density. Under quiescent conditions the grafts showed increased nucleation ability in the higher molecular weight PCL, while in the lower molecular weight matrix the effect was less pronounced. Rheological experiments showed an increase in viscosity with increased filler content, which was beneficial for the formation of oriented structures in shear-induced crystallisation.

Vibrational structure analysis of cobalt fluoro-porphyrin surface coatings on gallium phosphide

Grazing angle attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (GATR–FTIR) spectroscopy is used to characterize chemically modified gallium phosphide (GaP) surfaces containing grafted cobalt(II) porphyrins with 3-fluorophenyl substituents installed at the meso-positions. In these hybrid constructs, porphyrin surface attachment is achieved using either a two-step method involving coordination of cobalt fluoro-porphyrin metal centers to nitrogen sites on an initially applied thin-film polypyridyl surface coating, or via a direct modification strategy using a cobalt fluoro-porphyrin precursor bearing a covalently bonded 4-vinylphenyl surface attachment group at a [Formula: see text]-position. Both surface-attachment chemistries leverage the UV-induced immobilization of alkenes but result in distinct structural connectivities of the grafted porphyrin units and their associated vibrational spectra. In particular, the in-plane deformation vibrational frequency of metalloporphyrin components in samples prepared via coordination to the polymeric interface is characterized by an eight wavenumber shift to higher frequencies compared to that measured on metalloporphyrin-modified surfaces prepared using the one-step attachment method. The more rigid ring structure in the polymeric architecture is consistent with coordination of porphyrin cobalt centers to pyridyl-nitrogen sites on the surface graft. These results demonstrate the use of GATR–FTIR spectroscopy as a sensitive tool for characterizing porphyrin-modified surfaces with absorption signals that are close to the detection limits of many common spectroscopic techniques.

A surface graft polymerization process on chemically stable medical ePTFE for suppressing platelet adhesion and activation

An effective grafting method for modifying chemically inert and elaborately porous medical expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).

Efficient flame retardant polyvinyl alcohol membrane through surface graft method

This paper introduced an efficient charring method through surface graft. The flame retardant was grafted on membrane surface through the chemical reaction between the reactive groups of the P–Si compound and hydroxyl ones of PVA.