Synthesis and characterization of greenish‐blue emitting vinyl copolymer containing pyrene and triarylamine moieties

Two fluorescent monomers N‐phenyl‐N‐(4‐vinylphenyl)pyren‐1‐amine (vinyl‐PyPA) and 1‐vinyl pyrene (VPy) were synthesized in good yields. A series of soluble conductive vinyl copolymers P(PyPA‐co‐VPy) containing vinyl‐PyPA and VPy moieties in different composition ratios were prepared by free radical solution polymerization. These copolymers showed high T_g (190?201 °C) and good thermal stability. The photoluminescence emission maxima of the copolymers were all in the range 474.5?478.5 nm, which was similar to the poly(N‐phenyl‐N‐(4‐vinylphenyl)pyren‐1‐amine) (P(PyPA)) (475 nm) but blue shifted compared with poly(1‐vinyl pyrene) (PVPy) (490.5 nm). The lifetime of the copolymers increased from 10.2 to 29.7 ns with an increase in pyrene content. The copolymers had higher quantum yields (0.51) than those of the homopolymers of P(PyPA) (0.48) and PVPy (0.13). The highest occupied molecular orbital of the copolymers remained relatively unchanged from P(PyPA), while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital varied from ?2.41 eV to ?2.51 eV with an increase in pyrene ratio in the copolymers. The energy bandgaps of the copolymers (from 2.70 eV to 2.81 eV) were smaller than those of P(PyPA) (2.82 eV) and PVPy (3.47 eV). Two polymer light‐emitting diode (PLED) series were attempted including indium tin oxide (ITO) (fluorocarbon (CFx) treated)/P(PyPA‐co‐VPy)/LiF/Al and ITO(CFx treated)/P(PyPA‐co‐VPy)/1,3,5‐Tri(1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)phenyl (TPBi)/LiF/Al. The results suggested that the PyPA moiety is hole conducting and the PLEDs can achieve high luminance from 650 to 1150 cd m^?2 (at 100 mA cm^?2) only when an electron injecting layer TPBi is employed. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Miscibility and intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)/poly(4‐vinyl phenol) binary blends

The miscibility and hydrogen bonding interaction in the poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)/poly(4‐vinyl phenol) [P(3HB‐co‐3HH)/PVPh] binary blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The DSC results indicate that P(3HB‐co‐3HH) with 20 mol % 3HH unit content is fully miscible with PVPh, and FTIR studies reveal the existence of hydrogen bonding interaction between the carbonyl groups of P(3HB‐co‐3HH) and the hydroxyl groups of PVPh. The effect of blending of PVPh on the mechanical properties of P(3HB‐co‐3HH) were studied by tensile testing. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Miscibility and crystallization kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)/ poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

The miscibility and crystallization kinetics of the blends of random poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) [P(HB‐co‐HV)] copolymer and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). It was found that P(HB‐co‐HV)/PMMA blends were miscible in the melt. Thus the single glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of the blends within the whole composition range suggests that P(HB‐co‐HV) and PMMA were totally miscible for the miscible blends. The equilibrium melting point (T°_m) of P(HB‐co‐HV) in the P(HB‐co‐HV)/PMMA blends decreased with increasing PMMA. The T°_m depression supports the miscibility of the blends. With respect to the results of crystallization kinetics, it was found that both the spherulitic growth rate and the overall crystallization rate decreased with the addition of PMMA. The kinetics retardation was attributed to the decrease in P(HB‐co‐HV) molecular mobility and dilution of P(HB‐co‐HV) concentration resulting from the addition of PMMA, which has a higher T_g. According to secondary nucleation theory, the kinetics of spherulitic crystallization of P(HB‐co‐HV) in the blends was analyzed in the studied temperature range. The crystallizations of P(HB‐co‐HV) in P(HB‐co‐HV)/PMMA blends were assigned to n = 4, regime III growth process. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3595–3603, 2004     

Preparation of electrorheological active ionomers from poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐co‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine)

In this study, synthesis, characterization, partial hydrolysis, and salt formation of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐co‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine), (poly(HEMA)‐co‐poly‐(4‐VP)) copolymers were investigated. The copolymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization using K₂S₂O₈ as an initiator. By varying the monomer/initiator ratio, chain lengths of the copolymers were changed. The copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), viscosity measurements, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and end group analysis methods. The copolymers were partially hydrolyzed by p‐toluene sulfonic acid monohydrate (PTSA·H₂O) and washed with LiOH_(aq) solution to prepare electrorheological (ER) active ionomers, poly(Li‐HEMA)‐co‐poly(4‐VP). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 3540–3548, 2006     

Synthesis and biological activity of phthalimide‐based polymers containing 5‐fluorouracil

The attachment of anticancer agents to polymers is a promising approach towards reducing the toxic side‐effects and retaining the potent antitumour activity of these agents. A new tetrahydrophthalimido monomer containing 5‐fluorouracil (ETPFU) and its homopolymer and copolymers with acrylic acid (AA) and with vinyl acetate (VAc) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. The ETPFU contents in poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA) and poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc) obtained by elemental analysis were 21 mol% and 20 mol%, respectively. The average molecular weights of the polymers determined by gel permeation chromatography were as follows: M_n = 8900 g mol^?1, M_w = 13 300 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.5 for poly(ETPFU); M_n = 13 500 g mol^?1, M_w = 16 600 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.2 for poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA); M_n = 8300 g mol^?1, M_w = 11 600 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.4 poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc). The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds against FM3A and U937 cancer cell lines increased in the following order: ETPFU > 5‐FU > poly(ETPFU) > poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA) > poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc). The in vivo antitumour activities of all the polymers in Balb/C mice bearing the sarcoma 180 tumour cell line were greater than those of 5‐FU and monomer at the highest dose (800 mg kg^?1). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)/poly(vinyl acetate) blends

The miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (P(HB‐co‐HV))/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) blends have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). It was found that P(HB‐co‐HV)/PVAc blends were miscible in the melt over the whole compositions. Thus the blend exhibited a single glass transition temperature (T_g), which increased with increasing PVAc composition. The spherulitic morphologies of P(HB‐co‐HV)/PVAc blends indicated that the PVAc was predominantly segregated into P(HB‐co‐HV) interlamellar or interfibrillar regions during P(HB‐co‐HV) crystallization because of the volume‐filled spherulites. As to the crystallization kinetics study, it was found that the overall crystallization and crystal growth rates decreased with the addition of PVAc. The kinetics retardation was primarily attributed to the reduction of chain mobility and dilution of P(HB‐co‐HV) upon mixing with higher T_g PVAc. The overall crystallization rate was predominantly governed by the spherulitic growth rate and promoted by the samples treated with the quenched state because of the higher nucleation density. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 980–988, 2006     

Synthesis of poly[(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl)methyl vinyl ether‐co‐N‐phenylmaleimide] and its miscibility in blends with styrene‐acrylonitrile or poly(vinyl chloride)

The aim of the study was to investigate the synthesis of a copolymer bearing cyclic carbonate and its miscibility with styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). (2‐Oxo‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl)methyl vinyl ether (OVE) as a monomer was synthesized from glycidyl vinyl ether and CO₂ using quaternary ammonium chloride salts as catalysts. The highest reaction rate was observed when tetraoctylammonium chloride (TOAC) was used as a catalyst. Even at the atmospheric pressure of CO₂, the yield of OVE using TOAC was above 80% after 6 h of reaction at 80°C. The copolymer of OVE and N‐phenylmaleimide (NPM) was prepared by radical copolymerization and was characterized by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopies and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The monomer reactivity ratios were given as r₁ (OVE) = 0.53–0.57 and r₂ (NPM) = 2.23–2.24 in the copolymerization of OVE and NPM. The films of poly(OVE‐co‐NPM)/SAN and poly(OVE‐co‐NPM)/PVC blends were cast from N‐dimethylformamide. An optical clarity test and DSC analysis showed that poly(OVE‐co‐NPM)/SAN and poly(OVE‐co‐NPM)/PVC blends were both miscible over the whole composition range. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1809–1815, 2000     

Syntheses,antitumour activities and antiangiogenesis of 1,2,3‐tris(ethoxycarbonyl)‐2‐propyl acrylate and its polymers

A new monomer, 1,2,3‐tris(ethoxycarbonyl)‐2‐propyl acrylate (TPA), was synthesized by reaction of acryloyl chloride and triethyl citrate. The homopolymer of TPA and its copolymers with acrylic acid (AA), vinyl acetate (VAc) and maleic anhydride (MAH) were prepared by polymerization using lauroyl peroxide (LPO) at 70 °C for 24 h. The structures of TPA and its polymers were identified by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. The number average molecular weights and polydispersity indices of the synthesized polymers determined by GPC were in the range 4200–23 000 g mol^?1 and 1.1–2.1, respectively. The IC₅₀ values of the synthesized samples against cancer cell lines were greater than those of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU). The percentage inhibition values of SV40 DNA replication were 82.2 for TPA, 34.3 for poly (TPA), 81.9 for poly(TPA‐co‐AA), 82.0 for poly(TPA‐co‐VAc), 35.6 for poly(TPA‐co‐MAH) and 12.7 for 5‐FU. The inhibitions of SV40 DNA replication and antiangiogenesis for the synthesized TPA and its polymers are much greater than those of the control. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characteristics of a novel aliphatic polycarbonate,poly[(propylene oxide)‐co‐(carbon dioxide)‐co‐(γ‐butyrolactone)]

A novel aliphatic polycarbonate, poly[(propylene oxide)‐co‐(carbon dioxide)‐co‐(γ‐butyrolactone)] [P(PO? CO₂? GBL)], was synthesized by the copolymerization of carbon dioxide, propylene oxide (PO) and γ‐butyrolactone (GBL). The resulting copolymers were determined by FTIR and NMR spectral analysis with viscosity‐average molecular weights (M_v) from 50 000 to 120 000 g mol^?1. According to elemental analysis, the calculated data of elemental contents in P(PO? CO₂? GBL)44 were close to the found data. The result showed that GBL was inserted into the backbone of poly[(propylene oxide)‐co‐(carbon dioxide)] successfully. GBL offered an ester structural unit that gave the copolymer better degradability. The correlations between reaction conditions and properties were studied. When GBL content increased, the M_v and the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymers improved relative to an identical copolymer without GBL. Prolonging the reaction time of the copolymerization resulted in increases in M_v and T_g. P(PO? CO₂? GBL) exhibited a high T_g above 40 °C. The rate of backbone degradation increased with increasing GBL content. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation of charge transport properties in conducting copolymers of aniline with 3‐aminobenzenesulfonic acid for their applications as antistatic encapsulation materials blended with low‐density polyethylene

The electrostatic charge dissipative (ESD) properties of conducting self‐doped and PTSA-doped copolymers of aniline (AA), o‐methoxyaniline (methoxy AA) and o‐ethoxyaniline (ethoxy AA) with 3‐aminobenzenesulfonic acid (3‐ABSA) blended with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated in the presence of external dopant p‐toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). Blending of copolymers with LDPE was carried out in a twin‐screw extruder by melt blending by loading 1.0 and 2.0 wt% of conducting copolymer in the LDPE matrix. The conductivity of the blown polymers blended with LDPE was in the range 10^?12–10^?6 S cm^?1, showing their potential use as antistatic materials for the encapsulation of electronic equipment. The DC conductivity of all self‐doped homopolymers and PTSA‐doped copolymers was measured in the range 100–373 K. The room temperature conductivity (S cm^?1) of self‐doped copolymers was: poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐AA), 7.73 × 10^?4; poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐methoxy AA), 3.06 × 10^?6; poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐ethoxy AA), 2.99 × 10^?7; and of PTSA‐doped copolymers was: poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐AA), 4.34 × 10^?2; poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐methoxy AA), 9.90 × 10^?5; poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐ethoxy AA), 1.10 × 10^?5. The observed conduction mechanism for all the samples could be explained in terms of Mott's variable range hopping model; however, ESD properties are dependent upon the electrical conductivity. The antistatic decay time is least for the PTSA‐doped poly(3‐ABSA‐co‐AA), which has maximum conductivity among all the samples. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Homogeneous complex solution formed through interactions of poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid)/poly(acrylamide‐co‐dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) complex with M n+ hydration metal ions in aqueous media

A homogeneous complex solution, formed through inter‐polyelectrolyte complexation of poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) (P(AM‐AA)) with poly(acrylamide‐co‐dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (P(AM‐DMDAAC)) and interaction of the P(AM‐AA)/P(AM‐DMDAAC) complex with M ⁿ⁺ hydrated metal ion, was prepared and the structure and properties of the P(AM‐AA)/P(AM‐DMDAAC)/M ⁿ⁺ homogeneous complex solution were studied by UV spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and viscometry. The experimental results show that the homogeneous complex solution can be obtained by controlling the composition of the P(AM‐AA)/P(AM‐DMDAAC) complex and the M ⁿ⁺ metal ion content. Compared to the constituents, ie the P(AM‐AA) solution, the P(AM‐DMDAAC) solution and the P(AM‐AA)/P(AM‐DMDAAC) complex solution, the P(AM‐AA)/P(AM‐DMDAAC)/M ⁿ⁺ complex solution has a new peak at 270 nm in its UV spectrum, a larger hydrodynamic radius, and hence a higher solution viscosity, all of which indicate that there exist specific interactions between polymers and M ⁿ⁺ metal ions. These interactions lead to the formation of a network structure and hence an obvious increase not only in solution viscosity but also in resistance of the polymer solution to simple salts, to temperature changes and to shearing. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effective biosynthesis of poly(3‐hydoxy‐ butyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) with high 4‐hydroxybutyrate fractions by Wautersia eutropha in the presence of α‐amino acids

BACKGROUND: Biopolymers produced by microbes are in demand as their biodegradable and biocompatible properties make them suitable for disposable products and for potential use as biomaterials for medical applications. The effective microbial production of copolyesters of 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 4‐hydroxybutyrate(4HB) with high molar fractions of 4HB unit by a wild‐type Wautersia eutropha H16 was investigated in culture media containing 4‐hydroxybutyric acid (4HBA) and different carbon substrates in the presence of various α‐amino acids. RESULTS: The addition of carbon sources such as glucose, fructose and acetic acid to the culture medium containing 4HBA in the presence of α‐amino acids resulted in the production of random poly(3HB‐co‐4HB) with compositions of up to 77 mol% 4HB unit, but the yields of copolyesters with 60–77 mol% 4HB units were less than 15 wt% of dried cell weights. In contrast, when carbon sources such as propionic acid and butyric acid were used as the co‐substrates of 4HBA in the presence of α‐amino acids, poly(3HB‐co‐4HB) copolyesters with compositions of 72–86 mol% 4HB were produced at maximally 47.2 wt% of dried cell weight (11.3 g L^?1) and the molar conversion yield of 4HBA to 4HB fraction in copolyesters was as high as 31.4 mol%. Further, poly(3HB‐co‐4HB) copolyesters with compositions of 93–96 mol% 4HB were isolated at up to 35.2 wt% of dried cell weights by fractionation of the above copolymers with chloroform/n‐hexane. CONCLUSION: The productivity of copolyesters with over 80 mol% 4HB fractions was as high as 0.146 g L^?1 h^?1 (3.51 g L^?1 for 24 h) by flask batch cultivation. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and biological activity of medium molecular weight polymers containing 3,6‐endo‐methylene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophthalimidobutanoyl‐5‐fluorouracil

A new monomer, 3,6‐endo‐methylene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophthalimidobutanoyl‐5‐fluorouracil (ETBFU), was synthesized by reaction of 3,6‐endo‐methylene‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydrophthalimidobutanoyl chloride and 5‐fluorouracil. The homopolymer of ETBFU and its copolymers with acrylic acid (AA) or vinyl acetate (VAc) were prepared by photopolymerization using 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone as an initiator at 25 °C. The synthesized ETBFU and its polymers were identified by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. The ETBFU content in poly(ETBFU‐co‐AA) and poly(ETBFU‐co‐VAc) was 43 and 14 mol%, respectively. The apparent number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the polymers determined by GPC ranged from 8400 to 11 300. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the samples against mouse mammary carcinoma (FM3A), mouse leukaemia (P388), and human histiocytic lymphoma (U937) cancer cell lines decreased in the order 5‐FU ≥ ETBFU > poly(ETBFU) > poly(ETBFU‐co‐AA) > poly(ETBFU‐co‐VAc). The in vivo antitumour activity of the polymers against Balb/C mice bearing sarcoma 180 tumour cells was greater than that of 5‐fluorouracil at all doses tested. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Crystallization kinetics and melting behaviour of microbial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)

Isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of microbial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB‐3HHx)] was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ¹³C solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Avrami analysis was performed to obtain the kinetic parameters of primary crystallization. The results showed that the Avrami equation was suitable for describing the isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization processes of P(3HB‐3HHx). The equilibrium melting temperature of P(3HB‐3HHx) and its nucleation constant of crystal growth kinetics, which were obtained by using the Hoffman–Weeks equation and the Lauritzen–Hoffmann model, were, respectively, 121.8 °C and 2.87 × 10⁵ K² when using the empirical ‘universal’ values of U* = 1500 cal mol^?1. During the heating process, the melting behaviour of P(3HB‐3HHx) for both isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization showed multiple melting peaks, which was the result of melting recrystallization. The lower melting peak resulted from the melting of crystals formed during the corresponding crystallization process, while the higher melting peak resulted from the recrystallization that took place during the heating process. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Poly(Li‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐co‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine): Molar mass effects on strong electrorheological response

Electrorheological (ER) fluids display remarkable rheological behavior, being able to convert rapidly and repeatedly from a fluid to a solid‐like when an external electric field (E) is applied or removed. In this study, electrical and ER properties of poly(Li‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐co‐poly(4‐vinyl pyridine), poly(Li‐HEMA)‐co‐poly(4‐VP), copolymeric salts (ionomers) were investigated. For this purpose six ionomers were synthesized with different molar masses. They were then ground‐milled for a few hours to obtain micron size ionomers. The particle sizes of the ionomers were determined by dynamic light scattering. Suspensions of ionomers were prepared in silicone oil (SO), at a series of concentrations (c = 5–30%, m/m). The gravitational stability of suspensions against sedimentation was determined at constant temperature (T = 25°C). Flow times of the suspensions were measured under no electric field (E = 0 kV/mm), and under an external applied electric field (E ≠ 0 kV/mm) strengths and a strong ER activities were observed for all the poly(Li‐HEMA)‐co‐poly(4‐VP)/SO suspensions. Further, the effects of suspension concentration, mole ratios of poly(HEMA) and poly(4‐VP), and the overall molar mass of the copolymers, shear rate, electric field strength, frequency, promoter, and temperature onto ER activities of ionomer suspensions were investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1065–1074, 2006     

Synthesis,antitumour and DNA replication activities of polymers containing vinyl‐(5‐fluorouracil)‐ethanoate

A new monomer, vinyl‐(5‐fluorouracil)‐ethanoate (VFUE), was synthesized by reaction of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and vinyl iodoacetate. The homopolymer of VFUE and its copolymers with acrylic acid (A, A) and maleic anhydride (MAH) were prepared by photopolymerization. The synthesized VFUE and polymers were identified by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. The contents of VFUE unit in poly(VFUE‐co‐AA) and poly(VFUE‐co‐MAH) were 21 mol% and 16 mol%, respectively. The number average molecular weights of the polymers determined by gel permeation chromatography were in the range 9600–17900 g mol^?1. The in vitro cytotoxicities of the samples against a normal cell line decreased as follows: 5‐FU > VFUE > poly(VFUE) > poly(VFUE‐co‐AA) > poly(VFUE‐co‐MAH). The in vivo antitumour activities of the polymers against Balb/C mice bearing the sarcoma 180 tumour cells were greater than those of 5‐FU at all concentrations. The inhibition of simian virus 40 DNA replication by the samples was much greater than that of the control. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(fluorene vinylene) copolymers containing thienylene–vinylene units

Narrow‐band‐gap 2,5‐thienylene‐divinylene (ThV) units were incorporated into the poly(fluorene vinylene) backbone via a Gilch reaction as an energy trap with various feed ratios; this yielded pronounced changes in the electrochemical and optical properties of the material. The energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the polymers {poly(9,9‐di‐iso‐octylfluorene vinylene) [poly(fluorene vinylene‐co‐thiophene vinylene (FV))], C1, and C2 } were estimated to be ?5.53 to ?5.10 eV and ?2.98 to ?2.84 eV, respectively, by cyclic voltammetry measurements. In comparison with poly(FV), the HOMO energy levels of polymers poly(fluorene vinylene‐co‐thiophene vinylene (FV) (90 : 10) ( C1 ) and poly(fluorene vinylene‐co‐thiophene vinylene (FV) (80 : 20) ( C2 ) were significantly increased, but their LUMO energy levels were slightly decreased. The optical properties were investigated by absorption and emission spectra of the polymers. The good spectral overlap between the emission of poly(FV) and the absorption of polymers C1 and C2 revealed a sufficient energy transfer from the majority of 9,9‐di‐iso‐octylfluorene vinylene units to the minority of ThV units. The reduction of self‐absorption losses of polymers C1 and C2 due to spectral separation caused by the incorporation of ThV units could be indirectly confirmed by nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The result of the NLO properties of the polymers showed that the third‐order NLO coefficients of poly(FV), C1, and C2 were 8.1 × 10^?10, 1.35 × 10^?9, and 1.51 × 10^?9 esu, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Electrochemical preparation of poly(N‐acetylaniline)/poly‐(4‐styrenesulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) composite film towards ascorbic acid sensing

Poly(N‐acetylaniline)/poly(4‐styrenesulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) (PNAANI/PSSMA) composite film was prepared by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and was characterized by FTIR and X‐ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). The electroactivity of the composite film was high in neutral and basic solutions, and it had been used for amperometric determination of ascorbic acid (AA). Compared with pure PNAANI film, the catalytic activity of the composite film was much better. AA was detected amperometrically in sodium citrate buffer at a potential of 0.3 V (versus SCE). The response current was proportional to the concentration of ascorbic acid in the range of 4.7 × 10^?6 to 5.0 × 10^?5M and 5.0 × 10^?5 to 2.5 × 10^?3M, respectively, with the detection limit of 1.9 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 at a signal to noise ratio 3. In addition, the stability and reusability of the composite film were performed well, and it was satisfying to be used for determination of AA in real fruit juice samples. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and characterizations of poly(4‐alkylthiazole vinylene)

Two poly(thiazole vinylene) derivatives, poly(4‐hexylthiazole vinylene) (P4HTzV) and poly(4‐nonylthiazole vinylene) (P4NTzV), were synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed Stille coupling method. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents such as o‐dichlorobenzene and chloroform, and possess good thermal stability. P4HTzV and P4NTzV films exhibit broad absorption bands at 400–720 nm with an optical bandgap of 1.77 eV and 1.74 eV, respectively. The HOMO (the highest occupied molecular orbital) energy levels of P4HTzV and P4NTzV are ?5.11 and ?5.12 eV, respectively, measured by cyclic voltammetry. Preliminary results of the polymer solar cells based on P4HTzV : PC₆₁BM ([6,6]‐phenyl‐C‐61‐butyric acid methyl ester) (1 : 1, w/w) show a power conversion efficiency of 0.21% with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.55 V and a short circuit current density of 1.11 mA cm^?2, under the illumination of AM1.5G, 100 mW cm^?2. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

pH and thermo‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) copolymer grafted to poly(ethylene glycol)

pH and thermo‐responsive graft copolymers are reported where thermo‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) [poly(NIPAAm), poly A ], poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐2‐(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) [poly(NIPAAm‐co‐DEA), poly B ], and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐methacrylic acid) [poly(NIPAAm‐co‐MAA), poly C ] have been installed to benzaldehyde grafted polyethylene glycol (PEG) back bone following introducing a pH responsive benzoic‐imine bond. All the prepared graft copolymers for PEG‐g‐poly(NIPAAm) [ P‐N1 ], PEG‐g‐poly(NIPAAm‐co‐DEA) [ P‐N2 ], and PEG‐g‐poly(NIPAAm‐co‐MAA) [ P‐N3 ] were characterized by ¹H‐NMR to assure the successful synthesis of the expected polymers. Molecular weight of all synthesized polymers was evaluated following gel permeation chromatography. The lower critical solution temperature of graft copolymers varied significantly when grafted to benzaldehyde containing PEG and after further functionalization of copolymer based poly(NIPAAm). The contact angle experiment showed the changes in hydrophilic/hydrophobic behavior when the polymers were exposed to different pH and temperature. Particle size measurement investigation by dynamic light scattering was performed to rectify thermo and pH responsiveness of all prepared polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013