Highly efficient poly(fluorene phenylene) copolymer as a new class of binder for high‐capacity silicon anode in lithium‐ion batteries

In this research, a novel approach involving the use of a fluorescent and ductile polymer for the high capacity Li‐ion battery application is reported. Poly(fluorene phenylene) copolymer as a conjugated polymer containing with lateral substituents, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) units, as a latent building unit for conjugation and electrolyte uptake was prepared and characterized. The synthesis process was carried out via Suzuki coupling reaction with Pd‐based catalyst by using separately obtained PEG functionalized dibromobenzene in combination with dioctylfluorene‐diboronic acid bis(1,3‐propanediol) ester. A flexible and conductive polymer was synthesized and utilized as a binder for high performance Si‐anode. The observed full capacity of cycling of silicon particles, ie, at C/3 with the capacity of 605 mAh/g after 1000^th cycle, confirms the good performance without any supplementary conductive additive. The designed and prepared binder polymer with multi‐functionality exhibits better features such as better electronic conductivity, high polarity, good mechanical strength, and adhesion.     

Model studies on the role of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural in acrylamide formation from asparagine

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of acrylamide formation during heating asparagine (ASN) at elevated temperatures with glucose (GLC), and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF). The results revealed that HMF rapidly reacted with ASN, leading to acrylamide formation. The ASN-HMF model system generated acrylamide more efficiently than the ASN-GLC model system during heating at 180 °C. A significantly higher amount of 3-aminopropionamide (3-APA) was formed in the ASN-HMF model system than in the ASN-GLC model system within 5 min at 180 °C. The amount of 3-APA decreased after 5 min of heating in both model systems while the amount of acrylamide continued to increase in the ASN-HMF model system. In-depth high resolution mass spectrometry analyses of reaction products formed in the model systems together with the kinetic data suggested that HMF is a potent carbonyl accelerating acrylamide formation during heating. 3-APA was found as one of the key intermediates leading to acrylamide formation.     

Removal of phenolic compounds in pomegranate juices using ultrafiltration and laccase-ultrafiltration combinations

Phenolic compounds of fruit juices are responsible for haze and sediment formation as well as for color, bitterness and astringency. The influence of ultrafiltration (UF) and laccase-UF combination was investigated on phenolic contents of pomegranate juices and on filtration output. Laccase-treated and then ultrafiltered pomegranate juices have shown a rapid increase in their color, when compared to only ultrafiltered (control) samples. Kinetic parameters of laccase were also determined. During the oxidation period, the changes occurring in pomegranate juices were estimated from phenolic contents, color and anthocyanin measurements. Results have shown that laccase oxidation produced a significant decrease in phenolic content of pomegranate juices while juice color the increased. However, in recent literatures, the possibility to remove polyphenols in apple juices was reported. We decided in this study that laccase treatment can not be applied due to the loss of natural red color and unwanted dark brownish color formation in pomegranate juice.     

Documentation and analysis of structural elements of traditional houses for conservation of cultural heritase in Siverek ((S)anl(i)urfa,Turkey)

This study deals with the architectural properties of traditional Siverek houses, which are important in the larger corpus of Southeastern Anatolian houses. The historical city center of Siverek has partly preserved its authentic character with its monumental buildings and traditional houses. Despite the considerable number of traditional courtyard houses in Siverek, no detailed survey has been conducted on them. In this work, these traditional houses in the historical Siverek City center are identified and documented for the first time. Their plans, façades, and structural systems are examined in detail, and the structural elements are comprehensively analyzed. We document the architectural features of these traditional Siverek houses and introduce the cultural heritage of the city. These details provide information for proper decision-making regarding the preparation of restitution and restoration projects and selecting materials and techniques that suit the structures to be restored.     

In situ investigation of surfactants’ effect onto electrochemical synthesis and properties of polyfurans

Polyfuran (PFu) films were electrochemically deposited onto gold electro-quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) electrodes using acetonitrile (ACN)/LiClO₄ solvent-electrolyte in presence of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (anionic, DBSA) and polyethylene glycol sorbitan monolaurate (non-ionic, Tween 20) surfactants. The effect of surfactants on structural and conductivity properties of the polymer films was investigated using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and four-probe conductivity measurements. The doping effects of surfactants onto the properties of PFu were correlated with mass gain using in situ EQCM. The conductivity of PFu polymer was measured for PFu with no surfactant and for PFu in presence of two surfactants (Tween 20 and DBSA). Our data indicate that although a fast polymerization, a sharp shift in the frequency and mass changes of the polymer films as well as the highest recorded conductivity of 0.048 S cm^?1 were all obtained for the PFu/Tween 20-2 sample, significantly more PFu films formed with PFu/DBSA than with PFu/Tween 20 samples. We concluded that more PFu films can be obtained when an oxidant and an anionic surfactant (DBSA) are used than when an oxidant is used alone, or when an oxidant is used with a non-ionic surfactant (Tween 20). A part of an anionic surfactant can be incorporated into a PFu structure like an oxidant anion and can act as co-dopant.     

Removal of phenolic compounds in pomegranate juices using ultrafiltration and laccase‐ultrafiltration combinations

Phenolic compounds of fruit juices are responsible for haze and sediment formation as well as for color, bitterness and astringency. The influence of ultrafiltration (UF) and laccase‐UF combination was investigated on phenolic contents of pomegranate juices and on filtration output. Laccase‐treated and then ultrafiltered pomegranate juices have shown a rapid increase in their color, when compared to only ultrafiltered (control) samples. Kinetic parameters of laccase were also determined. During the oxidation period, the changes occurring in pomegranate juices were estimated from phenolic contents, color and anthocyanin measurements. Results have shown that laccase oxidation produced a significant decrease in phenolic content of pomegranate juices while juice color the increased. However, in recent literatures, the possibility to remove polyphenols in apple juices was reported. We decided in this study that laccase treatment can not be applied due to the loss of natural red color and unwanted dark brownish color formation in pomegranate juice.     

Applicability of European landscape typology in Turkey (Çakırlar Watershed case/Antalya)

The aim of this study is to put forward Turkey as a case study of the applicability of the European approach to landscape characterisation studies at the local scale within the context of the European Landscape Convention. For this purpose, a classification of landscape types with the help of LANMAP typology is suggested at the European scale in a basin in Turkey where there are obvious differences in terms of landscape characteristics. In particular, this study examines the usability of a countrywide thematic database when making this classification. It is understood that a mapping system as well as a common nomenclature of types of land covered at the country scale is insufficient for the suggested methodology for Europe. Later, results of the continuation of a classification system at the local scale for landscape characterisation are discussed, and some deficiencies of LANMAP when characterising the landscapes at this scale are mentioned.     

Electrochromic properties of some bis‐chalcone derivatives‐based nanofibers

Two bis‐chalcone derivatives, (2E,6E)‐2,6‐bis[(thiophen‐2‐yl)methylene]cyclohexanone ( C1 ) and (2E,6E)‐2,6‐bis[(furan‐2‐yl)methylene]cyclohexanone ( C2 )‐based electrochromic (EC) nanofibers were produced in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as supporting polymer using the electrospinning technique. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were used to examine morphology and chemical compositions of nanofibers before and after stability test. SEM images of the obtained smooth and bead‐free nanofibers before the stability test showed that both bis‐chalcone derivatives were homogeneously dispersed on the surface of the electrospun nanofibers. Nanofibers of bis‐chalcone derivatives were characterized with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrochemical and EC properties of these bis‐chalcone derivatives were investigated. The C1 ‐PMMA nanofiber‐based electrochromic device (ECD) showed higher ΔT_max (41.47%) than that of the C2 ‐PMMA nanofiber‐based ECD (4.67%) during coloration/bleaching at 715 nm. The switching times for coloration and bleaching of C1 ‐PMMA nanofiber‐based ECD were found to be 4.42 and 1.12 s, respectively, and the coloration efficiency was 136.18 cm²/C. Repeated cyclic voltammograms and 1000 cycles of chronoamperometric measurements of the bis‐chalcone derivatives indicated that ECDs have long‐term redox stability. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46010.