Photochemical behaviour of poly(organophosphazenes). 14. Photooxidation of poly[bis(4-isopropylphenoxy) phosphazene] under accelerated conditions

The photooxidation of poly[bis(4-isopropylphenoxy)phosphazene] under accelerated conditions has been followed by FTIR and UV visible spectroscopic techniques. The main photooxidation products are acetophenone and phenol groups. In addition, acetone vapors have been detected by GC MS combined techniques concomitant with the IR spectral changes in the CH stretching region, suggesting a significant decrease in the isopropyl moieties. The presence of polymeric sequences having phenol groups under our conditions gives origin to further oxidation reactions due to electron transfer or radical recombination or to hydrogen abstraction reactions promoted by unhindered phenoxyl radicals. In addition, the absence of UV visible light, i.e., under thermooxidation reaction at 60° C has demonstrated that phenol groups are the main responsible of secondary oxidation products. The complexity of the photooxidation mechanism in the solid state for this polymer makes it difficult to determine a definitive degradation mechanism under both thermo- and photooxidative conditions.Presented at the 1st Italian Workshop on Cyclo- and Poly(phosphazene) Materials, February 15–16, 1996, at the CNR Research Area in Padova, Italy.See Ref. 14.     

Photochemical behavior of poly(organophosphazenes). XI. Photochemistry of poly[bis(4-benzylphenoxy) phosphazene]

In this paper we present results on the photolysis of poly[bis(4-benzylphenoxy)-phosphazene] in solution and in film, both in the presence and in the absence of molecular oxygen. Light irradiation of the polymer in oxygen-saturated CH₂Cl₂ solutions results in a remarkable degradation of the polyphosphazene, while in argon-purged solutions no appreciable variations of the polymer structure could be detected. The photolysis of poly[bis(4-benzylphenoxy)phosphazene] in films induces the cross-linking of the polymer regardless of the presence or the absence of molecular oxygen. The main process observed during the photochemistry both in solution and in the solid state of the polymer is the oxidation of the 4-benzylphenoxy group on the polyphosphazene, without involvement of the inorganic -P=N- backbone. The effect of temperature on the photolysis of the polyphosphazene substrate in film is also reported.     

Photochemical behavior of poly(organophosphazenes). X. Photo-cross-linking phenomena in poly[bis(4-isopropylphenoxy)0.8 (4-benzoylphenoxy)1.2 phosphazene]

The synthesis and photochemical behavior both in solution and in the solid state of poly[bis(4-isopropylphenoxy)_0.8 (4-benzoylphenoxy)_1.2 phosphazene] is described. The main reaction of this material under illumination with light of a wavelength longer than 340 nm is the intramolecular abstraction of an hydrogen atom by the excited benzophenone substituent from the 4-isopropylphenoxy moiety geminally substituted on the same phosphorus of the phosphazene chain. In this way highly reactive radical species are produced which induce very efficient photo-cross-linking of the phosphazene copolymer and insolubilization. The efficiency of this process in the solid state is examined in view of the potential application of this material as a polyphosphazene-based negative photoresist.     

The atomistic simulation of the gas permeability of poly(organophosphazenes). Part 2. Poly[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene]

Self-diffusion and sorption of seven gases (He, H₂, O₂, N₂, CH₄, CO₂, and Xe) in poly[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] (PTFEP) have been investigated by molecular dynamics and Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations of two amorphous cells and an α-orthorhombic crystalline supercell. In the case of MD simulation of diffusion coefficients, values obtained for both amorphous and crystalline PTFEP are similar and comparable to experimental values reported for semicrystalline samples. These results indicate that gas diffusion is unrestricted in the crystalline state of PTFEP as has been reported for poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) and, more recently, for a crystalline form of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS).In contrast to both PMP and sPS that have low-density crystalline forms, only He exhibits any solubility in the α-orthorhombic crystalline cells of PTFEP during simulation. In addition, values of the solubility coefficients obtained from simulation of the amorphous cells are three to five times larger than would be expected by extrapolating values reported for semicrystalline samples to 100% amorphous content. These results suggest that while the crystalline domains do not restrict gas diffusivity in PTFEP, they significantly reduce gas solubility in semicrystalline PTFEP through the reduction of amorphous content and through some additional effect of the crystallites on amorphous-phase solubility, possibly through chain immobilization of the amorphous phase. Similar solubility behavior has been suggested for polyethylene on the basis of recent simulation studies.As reported in a prior communication, the solubility of CO₂ in PTFEP is very high compared to other gases due to a weak quadrupole-dipole interaction between CO₂ and the trifluoroethoxy group of PTFEP. As a result, the solubility coefficients of CO₂ obtained from GCMC simulation of the amorphous cells and from permeability measurements of semicrystalline samples are both larger than predicted by a simple correlation of gas solubility coefficients with the Lennard-Jones potential well parameter, ε/k, of other gases as proposed by Teplyakov and others. A modified form of this correlation that includes a Flory interaction term is shown to fit all gas solubility data for this polymer including that of CO₂.     

Degradation of poly[bis(ethylamino)phosphazene] in aqueous solution

Three polymers of poly[bis(ethylamino)phosphazene] (PBEAP) containing different amounts of the residual P–Cl moieties, which had been hydrolyzed into P OH in the following sample purification processes, were prepared by substitution of the chlorines on poly(dichlorophosphazene) with ethylamine. Only the polymer which had the highest side-chain content of ethylamino groups (ca. 93°_o) had a film-forming ability and a crystalline nature. The hydrolytic degradation of PBEAP in acidic solutions was investigated using the solution viscosity data obtained as a function of standing time. Acetic acid, 0.5 and 1N, pure acetic acid, and 2.2.2-trifluoroethanol were used as solvents. The degradation was composed of random breaking processes along the polymer chain, especially at the-N=P(OH)₂-and-N=P(OH)(NHC₂H₅)-units, and an unzippering-like breaking process which was started at the chain ends produced by the former random breaking. The random breaking caused an abrupt decrease in viscosity at the beginning of the degradation, and on the contrary, the unzippering-like breaking appeared as a gradual decrease in viscosity at the later stages of degradation. The total rate of degradation depended on the concentration of the ethylamino groups.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of polyphosphazenes: poly[bis(chloro)phosphazene][NPCl2]n

Suitable parameter sets for the CHARMm force field were derived for the structural units in polychlorophosphazene [P=N, P N, P Cl] using the Dinur Hagler energy second derivative procedure based on quantum mechanical SCI calculations using the 6–31G^* basis set. To validate the reliability of the parameter set, structural results obtained with CHARMm for the adopted model compounds (OP₂NCl₅ and OP₃N₂Cl₅) were compared with those derived fromab initio quantum mechanics using the 6–31G^* basis set. Application of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in combinatioin with the available X-ray diffraction data provided structural and conformational information on the polymer. The calculation made using the periodic boundary conditions (PBC) agree well with the polychlorophosphazene ordered in a monoclinic unit cell (a=5.98,b=12.99,c=4.92 A; =111.7). This model was stabilized mainly by the image atoms contribution to the electrostatic energy term and had aquasi-planar conformation of the backbone chain (glide symmetry). The MD calculations also provided evidence that the difference between single and double PN bonds is less marked than that measured experimentally. This result is, however, in agreement with more recent and accurate X-ray studies on poly(methylphosphazene). Validation of the polymer model provided a complete picture, otherwise experimentally inaccessible, of the internal fluctuations of the polymeric chains.Presented at the 1st Italian Workshop on Cyclo- and Poly(phosphazene) Materials, February 15–16, 1996, at the CNR Research Area in Padova, Italy.     

一锅煮法合成聚二(p-乙氧羰苯氧基)磷腈

在无水K2CO3催化作用下,用一锅煮法合成了聚二(p-乙氧羰苯氧基)磷腈,产率70%,用IR3、1PNMR、1HNMR、13CNMR对其结构进行了确证,蒸汽压分子量测定法测定了数均分子量。     

Grafting reactions onto poly(organophosphazenes). VI. Thermooxidative stabilization of poly[bis (4-benzylphenoxy)phosphazene] by grafting acrylate polymers containing HALS groups

Poly[bist 4-benzylphenoxy phosphazene] is heated at 200 C in air and the oxidation of the 4-diphenylmethane side substituent to phosphazene-supported benzophenone, benzhydrol, and hydroperoxides is observed. The thermo-oxidative stabilization of the polymer is obtained by light-induced grafting copolymerization of the acrylic acid 2.2.6.6-tetramethyl-piperidin-4-yl ester onto the polyphosphazene substrate. The HALS moieties grafted onto the polyphosphazene films prevent the oxidative modification of the substituents and preserve the polymer against thermal damage. This process, investigated by IR. UV, and EPR spectroscopy, is basically dependent on the amount of HALS groups grafted onto the polyphosphazene matrix and on the composition of the reaction medium used to carry out the grafting process. The comparison between the thermooxidative stabilization process and the corresponding photooxidative stabilization reaction is also discussed.Presented at the 1st Italian Workshop on Cyclo- and Poly(phosphazene) Materials. Lebruary 15–16, 1996, at the CNR Research Area in Padova, Italy.     

Novel blends of poly[bis(glycine ethyl ester) phosphazene] and polyesters or polyanhydrides: compatibility and degradation characteristics in vitro

Poly[bis(glycine ethyl ester)phosphazene] (PGP) was blended with poly(D ,L ‐lactide) (PLA), poly(D ,L ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (80:20 by mole) (PLGA), poly(sebacic anhydride) (PSA) and poly(sebacic anhydride‐co‐trimellitylimidoglycine)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (30:50:20 by mole) (PSTP) in various ratios using a solvent‐mixing technique. The compatibility of these blends has been evaluated by DSC, FTIR and phase contrast microscopy. The results indicated that PGP is completely incompatible with PLA, but partially compatible with PLGA and PSTP, which may be attributed to a hydrogen bonding effect. Degradation experiments have been conducted in distilled water at 37 °C and show that the blend degradation rate can be regulated by adjusting the PLGA or PSTP content of the blends. PGP/PLGA (70:30 by wt) slabs took 120 days to disappear completely, while PGP/PSTP (70:30 by wt) slabs needed only 20 days. These findings suggest that blends of PGP and PLGA or PSTP may be used as matrices for drug controlled release and for other potential biomedical applications. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phase segregation phenomena in poly(ethylene oxide):LiN(CF3SO2)2 electrolyte studied by local Raman spectroscopy

Polymer electrolyte composed of poly(ethylene oxide) PEO with dissolved lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt LiTFSI of molar ratio EO:Li 16:1 was prepared by casting from solution. The electrolyte has been investigated by microscope observation simultaneous with impedance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and local Raman spectroscopy. The presented results provide direct support for model of phase segregation which takes place in PEO:LiTFSI electrolytes. According to the model proposed in our earlier publications, crystallization of PEO or PEO:salt complexes causes rejection or drainage of salt from specific regions of electrolyte. Thus, a resulting semicrystalline electrolyte is divided into large domains of different composition. In the case of investigated PEO:LiTFSI 16:1 electrolyte, the results obtained by local Raman spectroscopy indicated, that in areas situated within large circular spherulites the concentration of salt is lower than in molten (amorphous) electrolyte. In areas situated outside of these spherulites, the concentration of salt was considerably higher than for amorphous electrolyte. This is in good agreement with the assumption that the circular spherulites have the crystalline skeleton of pure PEO, whereas the PEO₆:LiTFSI crystalline phase dominates in the areas between their borders.     

Pure gas and vapor permeation properties of poly[1-phenyl-2-[p-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene] (PTMSDPA) and its desilylated analog, poly[diphenylacetylene] (PDPA)

The permeabilities of He, H₂, N₂, O₂, CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, and n-C₄H₁₀ in poly[1-phenyl-2-[p-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene] (PTMSDPA) and poly[diphenylacetylene] (PDPA) are presented and compared to those of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP), and polysulfone. Like PTMSP, PTMSDPA, a disubstituted glassy acetylene-based polymer, exhibits higher permeabilities to organic vapors than to permanent gases due to its rigid polyacetylene backbone and bulky side groups, which provide a relatively high fractional free volume (FFV) value of 0.26. Desilylation was performed on PTMSDPA. The resulting material, PDPA, is totally insoluble in common organic solvents, so it has much higher chemical resistance than PTMSDPA. Additionally, due to its insolubility in polymerization solvents, desilylation provides the only known route to high molar mass PDPA. The FFV of the resulting membrane (PDPA) is reduced by approximately 12% relative to that of PTMSDPA. This leads to a decrease in gas permeability values and selectivity of organic vapors relative to nitrogen. For example, the oxygen permeability is reduced from 1200 to 500 Barrers upon desilylation. The pure gas selectivities decrease from 9 to 3 for n-C₄H₁₀/N₂ and from 26 to 9 for C₃H₈/N₂.     

A Morphological Study of Poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] Using High Resolution Solid-State 1H, 19F, 31P and 13C NMR Spectroscopy

High-resolution ¹⁹F, ¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C solid-state NMR methods were assessed to ascertain their suitability for studying the morphological behavior in the crystalline domain of phosphazene polymers with partially fluorinated side-chains. Poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] (PBFP) was used as a sample system. Fast magic angle spinning (MAS), along with simultaneous ¹⁹F and ¹H decoupling using the xy-16 sequence, were employed, as this has proven to greatly improve resolution in ¹³C spectra of perfluorinated materials. Information obtained from Discrimination Induced by Variable Amplitude Minipulses (DIVAM) nutation experiments and cross-polarization (CP) methods aided the deconvolution analysis used to identify all components in the ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C signals. DIVAM nutation experiments were also used to discriminate between signals from the amorphous and crystalline domain. The crystallinity in the solvent-cast PBFP was determined to be approximately 70%, which was seen to increase to approximately 80% in the heat-treated material, for all nuclei studied. A preliminary assignment was made for the crystalline signals in the ¹H and ¹³C spectra to the α-, β- and γ-phases. Therefore, high-resolution ¹³C and ¹H methods are valuable tools for morphological investigations into this class of polymer.     

A Morphological Study of Poly[Bis(Trifluoroethoxy)Phosphazene] Using Solid-State NMR: Introducing Domain Selective 1H and 19F Decoupled 13C MAS NMR

Using solid-state NMR methods the morphological behavior of poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] was studied, employing four nuclei of interest – ¹H, ¹⁹F, ³¹P and ¹³C. Measurements on all four nuclei support that at ambient temperature the crystalline and amorphous phases coexist. Variable temperature studies showed that above T(1) = 90° only a single highly mobile phase exists, which is presumed to be the 2D mesophase. All four nuclei showed that when heat cycling the polymer, repeatedly above T(1), an increase in crystallinity occurs with each cycle. For the first time ¹³C MAS NMR spectra, using high power ¹⁹F and ¹H decoupling, were obtained, which exhibited the same behaviour domain. Filtered ¹³C{¹H,¹⁹F} MAS spectra containing signal from the crystalline domain using the discrimination induced by variable amplitude minipulses (DIVAM) sequence were measured. Heat treated and solvent cast material showed differences in these ¹³C spectra, that were consistent with a decrease in backbone conformations upon heating, suggesting an increase in the extended chain form corresponding to the γ form. Analogous sensitivity to variations in crystal phase composition has not been seen previously using ¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P methods, emphasizing the importance of ¹³C MAS methods to morphological studies of phosphazenes. This paper is dedicated to Professor Harry R. Allcock     

Comparison of AlPO4- and Co3(PO4)2-coated LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 cathode materials for Li-ion battery

Electrochemical and thermal properties of Co₃(PO₄)₂- and AlPO₄-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ cathode materials were compared. AlPO₄-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ cathodes exhibited an original specific capacity of 170.8 mAh g⁻¹ and had a capacity retention (89.1% of its initial capacity) between 4.35 and 3.0 V after 60 cycles at 150 mA g⁻¹. Co₃(PO₄)₂-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ cathodes exhibited an original specific capacity of 177.6 mAh g⁻¹ and excellent capacity retention (91.8% of its initial capacity), which was attributed to a lithium-reactive Co₃(PO₄)₂ coating. The Co₃(PO₄)₂ coating material could react with LiOH and Li₂CO₃ impurities during annealing to form an olivine Li_xCoPO₄ phase on the bulk surface, which minimized any side reactions with electrolytes and the dissolution of Ni⁴⁺ ions compared to the AlPO₄-coated cathode. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed Co₃(PO₄)₂-coated LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ cathode material had a much improved onset temperature of the oxygen evolution of about 218 °C, and a much lower amount of exothermic-heat release compared to the AlPO₄-coated sample.     

Metal-organic framework Cu3 (BTC)2(H2O)3 catalyzed Aldol synthesis of pyrimidine-chalcone hybrids

A typical metal organic framework, [Cu₃ (BTC)₂(H₂O)₃, BTC = 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate] has been used for the synthesis of pyrimidine-chalcones. We have explored a green synthesis of pyrimidine chalcones under Cu₃(BTC)₂ catalysis by Aldol condensation. Easy isolation of product, excellent yield, and recyclable catalyst makes this reaction eco-friendly. The technology was demonstrated to be applicable to the synthesis of a host of chemical hybrids.     

Improvement of electrochemical and thermal properties of Li[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O2 positive electrode materials by multiple metal (Al, Mg) substitution

Al and/or Mg-substituted Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1−x−yAl_xMg_y]O₂ were prepared by a co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electrochemical measurements. The Rietveld refinement results show that cation mixing of Al and/or Mg-substituted Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1−x−yAl_xMg_y]O₂ was reduced with increased doping amounts of Al and Mg. The Al and/or Mg substitution in Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1]O₂ also resulted in improved electrochemical cycling behavior, structural stability, and thermal stability compared to pristine Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1]O₂. The improvements of electrochemical and thermal properties resulted from the stabilized host structure by Al and/or Mg incorporation into Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1]O₂.     

TEM observation of liquid phase sintering in V2O5 modified Zr0.8Sn0.2TiO4 microwave ceramics

The phenomena of liquid phase sintering in the V₂O₅ modified (Zr_0.8, Sn_0.2)TiO₄ (ZST) microwave ceramics has been investigated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). The amounts of second phase were too low to be detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD), but could be observed by TEM bright field image. However, the presence of grain boundary phases did not degrade the microwave properties of V₂O₅ modified ZST ceramics. The ?_r value of 37.2, Q × f value of 51,000 (at 7 GHz) and τ_f value of −2.1 ppm/°C were obtained for ZST ceramics with 1 wt% V₂O₅ addition sintered at 1300 °C.     

The preparation of Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 nanotubes under solvothermal conditions

With magnesium carbonate hydroxide and nanoporous silica as the starting materials, chrysotile (Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄) nanotubes were prepared by using a solvothermal method at 400^∘C within four hours. This new method needs no strong alkali medium and the reaction time is very short. EDX analysis showed a molar ratio of 3Mg:2Si:9O of the product. Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) pattern indicated that the tube axis is along [100] direction. HRTEM image showed the nanotubes were multi-walled and the distance between the two close layers was about 0.75 nm, which is very near to the distance of {001} planes. Thus, combining the results of SAED and HRTEM, we can conclude that the {001} planes of serpentine roll up along the [100] direction to form the tubular structure. The effects of various reaction conditions and the formation mechanism were also discussed.