The ring-opening alternating copolymerization(ROAC)of 3,4-dihydrocoumarin(DHC)/epoxides has been successfully developed using an imidazolium salt of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(EMIMCl)as a catalyst.The result...The ring-opening alternating copolymerization(ROAC)of 3,4-dihydrocoumarin(DHC)/epoxides has been successfully developed using an imidazolium salt of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(EMIMCl)as a catalyst.The resulting copolymer has a molecular weight of 13.7kg·mol^(-1),a narrow molecular weight distribution of 1.03 and a strictly alternating structure.The MALDI-TOF MS characterization and DFT calculations including electrostatic potential(ESP),hydrogen-atom abstraction(HAA),independent gradient model based on hirshfeld partition(IGMH)and atoms-in-molecules(AIM)analysis were used to investigate the metal-free catalytic process.The synergistic effect of anions and cations of EMIMCl for ROAC of DHC and epoxides was demonstrated.This study provides a metal-free catalytic system for the facile synthesis of alternating polyesters from DHC.展开更多
The asymmetric alternating copolymerization of meso-epoxide and cyclic anhydrides provides an efficient access to enantiopure polyesters.Contrary to the extensive investigation of the stereochemistry resulting from ep...The asymmetric alternating copolymerization of meso-epoxide and cyclic anhydrides provides an efficient access to enantiopure polyesters.Contrary to the extensive investigation of the stereochemistry resulting from epoxide building block,the chirality from anhydride and the configurational match with epoxide remain elusive.Herein,we discover that the bimetallic chromium catalysts have led to an obvious enhancement in terms of reactivity and enantioselectivity for the asymmetric copolymerization of meso-epoxide with various non-symmetric chiral anhydrides.Up to 97%ee was obtained during the asymmetric copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide(CHO)with(R)-methylsuccinic anhydride(R-MSA),and three-or four-carbon chiral centers were simultaneously installed in the aliphatic polyester backbone.In particular,the different combinations of stereochemistry in epoxide and anhydride building blocks considerably affect the thermal properties and crystalline behaviors of the resulting polyesters.This study uncovers an interesting method for regulating polymer crystallinity via matching the chirality of different monomers.展开更多
Introducing functional polar groups into polyolefins can significantly improve the material properties,but there are still challenges in achieving this goal,with the core difficulty being that polar groups are prone t...Introducing functional polar groups into polyolefins can significantly improve the material properties,but there are still challenges in achieving this goal,with the core difficulty being that polar groups are prone to interact with metal active species,affecting the efficiency of the copolymerization.With the rapid advancement in catalyst,a variety of copolymerization strategies are developed aimed at producing more versatile polyolefin materials.Although early transition metal catalysts play an indispensable role in the traditional polyolefin industry,their inherent strong oxophilicity becomes a significant constraint in copolymerization involving polar olefins,limiting their application scope.This review summarizes the progress made in recent years in the efficient copolymerization of non-polar olefins with polar comonomers catalyzed by groups 3 and 4 single-site catalysts.We classify the catalysts into four categories,Sc-,Ti-,Zr-,Hf-,based on the type of metal centers,and provide insights into the influence of catalyst structures and the type of comonomers on the copolymerization behavior.The introduction of polar monomers fundamentally improves the comprehensive performance of the products,greatly broadens the application scope of polyolefin materials,and meets the growing market demand for multifunctional and high-performance materials.展开更多
The efficient copolymerization of olefin with polar monomers using nickel-based catalysts presents a longstanding challenge. In this contribution, three phosphine-benzocyclone ligands and corresponding neutral nickel ...The efficient copolymerization of olefin with polar monomers using nickel-based catalysts presents a longstanding challenge. In this contribution, three phosphine-benzocyclone ligands and corresponding neutral nickel catalysts(Ni1: Ar = Ph;Ni2: Ar = 2-(C_(6)H_(5))C_(6)H_(4);Ni3: Ar = 2-[2',6'-(Me O)_(2)-C_(6)H3]C_(6)H_(4)) were prepared and applied for the ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar monomers without any cocatalyst. The bulky substituent groups in complexes Ni2 and Ni3 contributed to high catalytic activities(up to 7.24×10^(6) and 9.04×10^(6)g·mol Ni^(-1)·h^(-1), respectively), and produced high-molecular-weight polyethylene(Mw up to 545.7 k Da). Complex Ni3 exhibited high activities for ethylene polymerization at the level of 10^(6) g·mol Ni^(-1)·h^(-1) across a wide range from 30 ℃ to 120 ℃, exhibiting excellent high temperature tolerance. These nickel complexes were also effectively employed in the copolymerization of ethylene with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and lauryl acrylate, producing copolymers with high molecular weights(Mw up to 80.5 k Da) and high polar monomer incorporation(up to 8.2 mol%). Microstructure analyses revealed that the introduction of large sterically hindered substituents facilitated the incorporation of polar functional units into the polymer backbone. This study demonstrates the potential of these nickel-based catalysts for efficient copolymerization of olefin with polar monomers.展开更多
Isothiourea is an important class of sulfur-containing molecules showing unique catalytic and biological activities. As such,polyisothiourea is envisioned to be an interesting type of polymer that potentially exhibits...Isothiourea is an important class of sulfur-containing molecules showing unique catalytic and biological activities. As such,polyisothiourea is envisioned to be an interesting type of polymer that potentially exhibits a number of interesting properties. However, there is no access to synthesizing well-defined polyisothiourea, and currently isothiourea-containing polymers are mainly prepared by immobilizing onto other polymer's side chain. Herein, we report the first facile synthesis of polyisothioureas via alternating copolymerization of aziridines and isothiocayanates. Mediated by the catalytic system of phosphazene superbases/alcohol, a broad scope of aziridines and isothiocayanates could be transformed into polyisothioureas with adjustable substitutions(11 examples). The structures of obtained polyisothioureas were fully characterized with ^(1)H-NMR, ^(13)C-NMR, and ^(1)H-^(13)C HMBC NMR. Moreover, the polyisothioureas show tunable thermal properties depending on substitutions on the isothiourea linkages. The novel structure of these polyisothioureas will enable a powerful platform for the discovery of nextgeneration functional plastics.展开更多
The highly efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of NHC·VOCl_(3) containing symmetrical or unsymmetrical Nheterocyclic carbene(NHC) ligands by the transmetallation reaction of NHC·AgCl with V...The highly efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of NHC·VOCl_(3) containing symmetrical or unsymmetrical Nheterocyclic carbene(NHC) ligands by the transmetallation reaction of NHC·AgCl with VOCl_(3).The total isolated yield of VOCl_(3)[1,3-(2,4,6-Me_(3)C_(6)H_(2))_(2)(NCH=)_(2)C:](V4') reached 86% by transmetallation reaction,which is much higher than that(48%) by direct coordination method.This methodology has also been used to synthesize the novel vanadium complexes containing unsymmetrical NHC ligands of VOCl_(3)[PhCH_(2)NCH=CHNR)C:](V5',R=2,4,6-Me_(3)C_(6)H_(2);V6',R=2,4-Me_(2)-6-Ph-C_(6)H_(2);V7',R=2,6-^(i)Pr_(2)-C_(6)H_(3)) with high yield,which could not be obtained by direct coordination method.The catalytic activity and copolymerization ability would be improved by introducing unsymmetrical NHC ligands due to their less steric bulky effect.The vanadium complex V5' containing unsymmetrical NHC ligand exhibits higher catalytic activity(3.7×10^(5)g_(copolymer)·mol^(-1) of V·h^(-1)) than that of V4' containing symmetrical NHC ligand.Moreover,the higher propylene incorporation ratio(45.6 mol%) in the copolymers of ethylene with propylene could be obtained by using V5' than that(39.9%) by using V4'.The results would provide a highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of early transition metal complexes containing versitile NHC ligands,affording the catalyst with both high catalytic activity and copolymerization ability for the synthesis of high performance polyolefin elastomers.展开更多
High-voltage LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811)cathodes are critical for enhancing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).The development of binders compatible with high-voltage NCM811 cathode material...High-voltage LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811)cathodes are critical for enhancing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).The development of binders compatible with high-voltage NCM811 cathode materials is crucial to enhance the electrochemical performance of LIBs.However,the traditional fluoropolymer binder,poly(vinylidene difluoride)(PVDF),can potentially leach components or break down into poly(fluoroalkyl substances)(PFAS)chemicals,thereby contributing to PFAS contamination.A novel fluorine-free polymer,polysulfone-polyamide-polyimide(SPIO),was designed and synthesized as a binder for NCM811 cathodes.The SPIO binder exhibits exceptional mechanical properties and superior electrochemical characteristics.The cathode film fabricated with SPIO demonstrated a remarkable delamination force of 8 N(390 N·m^(-1)),indicating robust adhesion.The Li‖NCM811 cell incorporating the SPIO binder retained 80%of its initial capacity after 300 cycles at a current density of 0.2 C.In comparison,the control cells assem bled with the PVDF binder retained only 52%of their capacities under the same cycling conditions.Furthermore,the SPIO binder exhibited improved compatibility with the electrolyte.Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the cathode films after 100 cycles revealed the formation of a unifo rm,dense,and continuous chemical-electrochemical interface(CEI)by the SPIO binder on the surface of the NCM811 particles,which significantly contributed to the enhancement of the electrochemical performance.These results highlight the potential of SPIO as an advanced binder material for high-perfo rmance lithium-ion batteries.展开更多
The optimization of polymer structures aims to determine an optimal sequence or topology that achieves a given target property or structural performance.This inverse design problem involves searching within a vast com...The optimization of polymer structures aims to determine an optimal sequence or topology that achieves a given target property or structural performance.This inverse design problem involves searching within a vast combinatorial phase space defined by components,se-quences,and topologies,and is often computationally intractable due to its NP-hard nature.At the core of this challenge lies the need to evalu-ate complex correlations among structural variables,a classical problem in both statistical physics and combinatorial optimization.To address this,we adopt a mean-field approach that decouples direct variable-variable interactions into effective interactions between each variable and an auxiliary field.The simulated bifurcation(SB)algorithm is employed as a mean-field-based optimization framework.It constructs a Hamiltonian dynamical system by introducing generalized momentum fields,enabling efficient decoupling and dynamic evolution of strongly coupled struc-tural variables.Using the sequence optimization of a linear copolymer adsorbing on a solid surface as a case study,we demonstrate the applica-bility of the SB algorithm to high-dimensional,non-differentiable combinatorial optimization problems.Our results show that SB can efficiently discover polymer sequences with excellent adsorption performance within a reasonable computational time.Furthermore,it exhibits robust con-vergence and high parallel scalability across large design spaces.The approach developed in this work offers a new computational pathway for polymer structure optimization.It also lays a theoretical foundation for future extensions to topological design problems,such as optimizing the number and placement of side chains,as well as the co-optimization of sequence and topology.展开更多
Amphiphilic asymmetric brush copolymers(AABCs)possess unique self-assembly behaviors owing to their asymmetric brush architecture and multiple functionalities of multicomponent side chains.However,the synthesis of AAB...Amphiphilic asymmetric brush copolymers(AABCs)possess unique self-assembly behaviors owing to their asymmetric brush architecture and multiple functionalities of multicomponent side chains.However,the synthesis of AABCs presents challenges,which greatly limits the exploration of their self-assembly behaviors.In this work,we employed dissipative particle dynamics(DPD)simulations to investigate the self-assembly behaviors of AABCs in selective solution.By varying the copolymer concentration and structure,we conducted the self-assembly phase diagrams of AABCs,revealing complex morphologies such as channelized micelles with one or more solvophilic channels.Moreover,the number,surface area,and one-dimensional density distribution of the channelized micelles were calculated to demonstrate the internal structure and morphological transformation during the self-assembly process.Our findings indicate that the morphology of the internal solvophilic channels is greatly influenced by the copolymer structure,concentration,and interaction parameters between the different side chains.The simulation results are consistent with available experimental observations,which can offer theoretical insights into the self-assembly of AABCs.展开更多
The burgeoning ethylene production in the Asia-Pacific region has led to a substantial oversupply of butadiene as a byproduct,and it is highly important to develop new butadiene-based materials.Butadiene-maleic anhydr...The burgeoning ethylene production in the Asia-Pacific region has led to a substantial oversupply of butadiene as a byproduct,and it is highly important to develop new butadiene-based materials.Butadiene-maleic anhydride copolymer,characterized by its amphiphilic nature,shows potential applications in adhesives,emulsifiers,etc.However,the Diels-Alder(DA)reaction of butadiene and maleic anhydride competes with the polymerization,limiting the copolymer yield.In this study,the kinetics of the DA reaction and copolymerization between butadiene and maleic anhydride were examined,and the influence of various reaction conditions on the copolymer yield was investigated.We found that the DA reaction in the induction period of the radical polymerization was the critical factor in limiting copolymer yield.Therefore,we proposed the two-step method to suppress the DA reaction and achieve high-yield production(~85%)of cross-linked microspheres with controllable particle size(175-800 nm)by self-stabilized precipitation polymerization.This work enables an efficient synthesis of conjugated diolefin-maleic anhydride cross-linked microspheres,offering a novel approach to address the issue of butadiene overcapacity.展开更多
Spatial confinement of block copolymers can induce frustrations,which can further be utilized to regulate self-assembled structures,thus providing an efficient route for fabricating novel structures.We studied the sel...Spatial confinement of block copolymers can induce frustrations,which can further be utilized to regulate self-assembled structures,thus providing an efficient route for fabricating novel structures.We studied the self-assembly of AB di-block copolymers(di-BCPs)confined in Janus spherical nanocavities using simulations,and explained the structure formation mechanisms.In the case of a strongly selective cavity wall,all the lamella-forming,gyroid-forming,and cylinder-forming di-BCPs can form interfacial frustration-induced Janus concentric perforated lamellar nanoparticles,whose outermost is a Janus spherical shell and the internal is a sphere with concentric perforated lamellar structure.In particular,Janus concentric perforated lamellar nanoparticles with holes distributed only near the equatorial plane were obtained in both lamella-forming and gyroid-forming di-BCPs,directly reflecting the effect of interfacial frustration.The minority-block domain of the cylider-forming di-BCPs may form hemispherical perforated lamellar structures with holes distributed in parallel layers with a specific orientation.For symmetric di-BCPs,both the A and B domains in each nanoparticle are continuous,interchangeable,and have rotational symmetry.While for gyroid-forming and cylinder-forming di-BCPs,only the majority-block domains are continuous in each nanoparticle,and holes in the minority-block domains usually have rotational symmetry.In the case of a weakly selective cavity wall,the inhomogeneity of the cavity wall results in structures having a specific orientation(such as flower-like and branched structures in gyroid-forming and cylinder-forming di-BCPs)and a perforated wetting layer with uniformly distributed holes.The novel nanoparticles obtained may have potential applications in nanotechnology as functional nanostructures or nanoparticles.展开更多
The self-assembly of block copolymers serves as an effective approach for fabricating various periodic ordered nanostructures. By employing self-consistent field theory (SCFT) to calculate the phase diagrams of block ...The self-assembly of block copolymers serves as an effective approach for fabricating various periodic ordered nanostructures. By employing self-consistent field theory (SCFT) to calculate the phase diagrams of block copolymers, one can accurately predict their self-assembly behaviors, thus providing guidance for the fabrication of various novel structures. However, SCFT is highly sensitive to initial conditions because it finds the free energy minima through an iterative process. Consequently, constructing phase diagrams using SCFT typically requires predefined candidate structures based on the experience of researchers. Such experience-dependent strategies often miss some structures and thus result in inaccurate phase diagrams. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have demonstrated significant potential across diverse fields of science and technology. By leveraging AI methods, it is possible to reduce reliance on human experience, thereby constructing more robust and reliable phase diagrams. In this work, we demonstrate how to combine AI with SCFT to automatically search for self-assembled structures of block copolymers and construct phase diagrams. Our aim is to realize automatic construction of block copolymer phase diagrams while minimizing reliance on human prior knowledge.展开更多
Cutting-edge research has primarily focused on flow synthesis of linear block copolymers,lacking the ability for manipulating chain architectures for more extensive applications.Herein,we develop a flow chemistry plat...Cutting-edge research has primarily focused on flow synthesis of linear block copolymers,lacking the ability for manipulating chain architectures for more extensive applications.Herein,we develop a flow chemistry platform for the continuous microflow synthesis of bottlebrush block copolymers(BBCPs)using a grafting-through method.This involves performing ring-opening metathesis polymerization(ROMP)of two different macromonomers within two microfluidic reactors connected in series.The microflow environment allows for complete monomer conversion within a few tens of seconds,benefiting from the superior mixing efficiency achieved in Z-shaped channels as indicated by both theoretical simulations and experimental results.Consequently,a library of well-defined BBCPs of up to 528 distinct samples can be produced within one day through automation of the continuous procedure,while keeping precise control on degree of polymerization(DP<4)and polydispersity indices(PDI<1.2).The synthetic method is generally applicable to different macromonomers with different compositions and contour lengths,yielding libraries of branched block copolymers with great diversity in physiochemical properties and chain architectures.This work presents a powerful platform for high-throughput production of branched copolymers,significantly lowering the costs of the materials for real applications.展开更多
Mechanochromic materials respond to external stimuli and provide early warnings of material damage.Perylene diimide(PDI)-based materials have attracted attention because of their outstanding fluorescence performance.H...Mechanochromic materials respond to external stimuli and provide early warnings of material damage.Perylene diimide(PDI)-based materials have attracted attention because of their outstanding fluorescence performance.However,the application of PDI in mechanochromism is limited by the difficulty for mechanical forces to disrupt the aggregation of PDI and its derivatives,as well as the fluorescence quenching caused by continuousπ-πstacking between PDI molecules.To eliminate the fluorescence quenching effect caused by the aggregation of PDI and broaden its application fields,polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane(POSS)-PDI-POSS(PPP)was screened as PDI doping.The photophysical properties of PPP in both monomeric and aggregated states in different solvents were studied.Then,PPP and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer(SBS)were mixed to prepare the PPP/SBS film.The mechanochromic properties of PPP/SBS film were explored.The fluorescence emission spectra confirmed that when the PPP mass fraction increased to 0.30%,the PPP/SBS film exhibited mechanochromic behavior under uniaxial deformation due to the changes in the molecular packing.展开更多
Smart low-solid drilling fluids(SLSDFs)with thermo-controllable rheological properties and attractive thickening characteristics have recently captivated profound attention due to their low formation damage and enhanc...Smart low-solid drilling fluids(SLSDFs)with thermo-controllable rheological properties and attractive thickening characteristics have recently captivated profound attention due to their low formation damage and enhanced cuttings lifting capacity.However,their applications to deep hole drilling at high temperatures have remained limited because of the thermal instability and environmental constraints of the thermo-associating polymers as additives.This work explored the synergistic benefits of thermo-associating polymer and biogenic nano-silica(B-SiNP)extracted from rice husk to improve the thermo-stability of SLSDF.This study shows that the nano-hybrid,TAP-S based on vinyl-terminated B-SiNP could potentially mitigate the limiting performance of conventional LSDF(F-2)caused by the failure of thermo-associating copolymers under elevated temperatures.TAP-S bearing drilling fluid(F-3)could preserve more than 5.6-fold of its initial properties(ca.apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity,yield point,and gel strength)with a nearly flat-gel profile in the temperature range of 25-230℃,which was higher than those of the counterpart F-2 and base fluid according to the results of rheological tests analysis.In addition,TAP-S exhibited an abrupt thermo-thickening characteristic with a magnitude declining by only 1.05-fold and the activation Gibbs free energy of 1339 kJ/mol above the plateau(ca.130℃),reflecting its less sensitivity compared to F-2 under a continuous heating process.As a result,a lower temperature was required to drive the dehydration of the residual fraction of lower critical solution temperature(LCST)in nano-hybrid structures than TAP according to the results of DSC analysis.Thus,lower energy was expected to disintegrate the residual hydrogen bonds formed between the LCST chains and surrounding water molecules at elevated temperatures.Moreover,TAP-S formed a solid-micro-crosslinking structure network which exhibited a more stable hydrodynamic diameter as revealed by DLS analysis.Compared with TAP,TAP-S consisted of a larger composite B-SiNP-TAP integrated spatial network structure based on the results of environmental scanning electron microscope,which conferred a degree of thermal conductivity characteristic for improved temperature resistance.This contributed to the effective binding onto bentonite particles for protection and maintained a relatively stable bentonite particle dispersion according to the results of EPM and particle size distribution analyses.Consequently,TAP-S fortified drilling fluid demonstrates improved rheological and filtration performance under severe downhole conditions.Therefore,TAP-S,the thermo-associating copolymer integrated with B-SiNP could find potential application as an eco-friendly viscosifier in LSDFs for deep-well drilling operations.展开更多
Power cables are important pieces of equipment for energy transmission,but achieving a good balance between flame retardancy and mechanical properties of cable sheaths remains a challenge.In this work,a novel intumesc...Power cables are important pieces of equipment for energy transmission,but achieving a good balance between flame retardancy and mechanical properties of cable sheaths remains a challenge.In this work,a novel intumescent flame retardant(IFR)system containing silicone-containing macromolecular charring agent(Si-MCA)and ammonium polyphosphate(APP)was designed to synergistically improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymer(EBA)composites.The optimal mass ratio of APP/Si-MCA was 3/1 in EBA composites(EBA/APP-Si-31),corresponding to the best flame retardancy with 31.2% of limited oxygen index(LOI),V-0 rating in UL-94 vertical burning test,and 76.4%reduction on the peak of heat release rate(PHRR)in cone calorimeter test.The enhancement mechanism was attributed to the synergistic effect of APP/Si-MCA during combustion,including the radical-trapping effect,the dilution effect of non-flammable gases,and the barrier effect of the intumescent char layer.Meanwhile,the tensile results indicated that EBA/APP-Si-31 also exhibited good mechanical properties with the addition of maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene(PE-g-MA)as the compatibilizer.Thus,the APP/Si-MCA combination is an effective IFRs system for preparing high-performance EBA composites,and it will promote their applications as cable sheath materials.展开更多
Flexible polymer-based foam sensors have significant potential for application in wearable electronics and motion monitoring.However,these prospects are hindered by the complex and unenvironmentally friendly manufactu...Flexible polymer-based foam sensors have significant potential for application in wearable electronics and motion monitoring.However,these prospects are hindered by the complex and unenvironmentally friendly manufacturing processes.In this study,we employed melt blending and supercritical carbon dioxide foaming to fabricate an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer(EVA)/low-density polyethylene(LDPE)/carbon nanotube(CNT)piezoresistive foam sensor.The cross-linking agent bis(tert-butyldioxyisopropyl)benzene and the conductive filler CNT were incorporated into the EVA/LDPE composite,successfully achieving a chemically cross-linked and physically entangled composite structure that significantly enhanced the storage modulus and complex viscosity.Additionally,the compressive strength of EVA/LDPE/CNT foam with 10 parts per hundred rubber(phr)CNT reached 1.37 MPa at 50%compression,marking a 340%increase compared to the 0.31 MPa of the CNT-free sample.Furthermore,the EVA/LDPE/CNT composite foams,which incorporated 10 phr CNT,were prepared under specific foaming conditions,resulting in an ultra-low density of 0.11 g/cm^(3) and a higher sensitivity,with a gauge factor of–2.3.The piezoresistive foam sensors developed in this work could accurately detect human motion,thereby expanding their applications in the field of piezoresistive foam sensors and providing an effective strategy for the advancement of high-performance piezoresistive foam sensors.展开更多
Solid-state polymer electrolytes are crucial for advancing solid-state lithium-metal batteries owing to their flexibility,excellent manufacturability,and strong interfacial compatibility.However,their widespread appli...Solid-state polymer electrolytes are crucial for advancing solid-state lithium-metal batteries owing to their flexibility,excellent manufacturability,and strong interfacial compatibility.However,their widespread applications are hindered by low ionic conductivity at room temperature and lithium dendrite growth.Herein,we report a novel solid-state composite membrane electrolyte design that combines the vertically aligned channel structure and copolymer with a radial gradient composition.Within the vertically aligned channels,the composition of poly(vinyl ethylene carbonate-co-poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate)(P(VEC-PEGDA)varies in a gradient along the radial direction:from the center to the wall of vertically aligned channels,the proportion of vinyl ethylene carbonate(VEC)in the copolymer decreases,while the proportion of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate(PEGDA)increases accordingly.It can be functionally divided into a mechanical-reinforcement layer and a fast-ion-conducting layer.The resulting solid-state composite membrane electrolyte achieves a high critical current density of 1.2 mA cm^(-2)and high ionic conductivity of 2.03 mS cm^(-1)at room temperature.Employing this composite membrane electrolyte,a Li//Li symmetric cell exhibits stable cycling for over 1850 h at 0.2 m A cm^(-2)/0.2 m A h cm^(-2),and a Li//LiFePO4(LFP)battery maintains 77.3% capacity retention at 2 C after 300 cycles.Our work provides insight into the rational design of safer and more efficient solidstate batteries through electrolyte structural engineering.展开更多
The strategic dispersion of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)within triblock copolymer matrix is key to fabricating nanocomposites with the desired electrical properties.This study investigated the self-assembly and electrical b...The strategic dispersion of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)within triblock copolymer matrix is key to fabricating nanocomposites with the desired electrical properties.This study investigated the self-assembly and electrical behavior of a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene(SBS)matrix with CNTs of different aspect ratios using hybrid particle-field molecular dynamics simulations.Structural factor analysis of the nanocomposites indicated that CNTs with higher aspect ratios promoted the transition of the SBS matrix from a bicontinuous to a lamellar phase.The resistor network algorithm method showed that the electrical conductivity of SBS and CNTs nanocomposites was influenced by the interplay between the CNTs aspect ratios,concentrations,and domain sizes of the triblock copolymer SBS.Our research sheds light on the relationship between CNTs dispersion and the electrical behavior of SBS/CNTs nanocomposites,guiding the engineering of materials to achieve desired electrical properties through the modulation of CNTs aspect ratios and tailored sizing of triblock copolymer domains.展开更多
This review paper provides a comprehensive introduction to various numerical methods for the phase-field model used to simulate the phase separation dynamics of diblock copolymer melts.Diblock copolymer systems form c...This review paper provides a comprehensive introduction to various numerical methods for the phase-field model used to simulate the phase separation dynamics of diblock copolymer melts.Diblock copolymer systems form complex structures at the nanometer scale and play a significant role in various applications.The phase-field model,in particular,is essential for describing the formation and evolution of these structures and is widely used as a tool to effectively predict the movement of phase boundaries and the distribution of phases over time.In this paper,we discuss the principles and implementations of various numerical methodologies for this model and analyze the strengths,limitations,stability,accuracy,and computational efficiency of each method.Traditional approaches such as Fourier spectral methods,finite difference methods and alternating direction explicit methods are reviewed,as well as recent advancements such as the invariant energy quadratization method and the scalar auxiliary variable scheme are also presented.In addition,we introduce examples of the phase-field model,which are fingerprint image restoration and 3D printing.These examples demonstrate the extensive applicability of the reviewed methods and models.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22161040)Natural Science Foundation of Gansu(No.24JRRA125)Science Research Project of Northwest Normal University(No.NWNU-LKZD2021-3)。
文摘The ring-opening alternating copolymerization(ROAC)of 3,4-dihydrocoumarin(DHC)/epoxides has been successfully developed using an imidazolium salt of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(EMIMCl)as a catalyst.The resulting copolymer has a molecular weight of 13.7kg·mol^(-1),a narrow molecular weight distribution of 1.03 and a strictly alternating structure.The MALDI-TOF MS characterization and DFT calculations including electrostatic potential(ESP),hydrogen-atom abstraction(HAA),independent gradient model based on hirshfeld partition(IGMH)and atoms-in-molecules(AIM)analysis were used to investigate the metal-free catalytic process.The synergistic effect of anions and cations of EMIMCl for ROAC of DHC and epoxides was demonstrated.This study provides a metal-free catalytic system for the facile synthesis of alternating polyesters from DHC.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22071016 and 21920102006)。
文摘The asymmetric alternating copolymerization of meso-epoxide and cyclic anhydrides provides an efficient access to enantiopure polyesters.Contrary to the extensive investigation of the stereochemistry resulting from epoxide building block,the chirality from anhydride and the configurational match with epoxide remain elusive.Herein,we discover that the bimetallic chromium catalysts have led to an obvious enhancement in terms of reactivity and enantioselectivity for the asymmetric copolymerization of meso-epoxide with various non-symmetric chiral anhydrides.Up to 97%ee was obtained during the asymmetric copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide(CHO)with(R)-methylsuccinic anhydride(R-MSA),and three-or four-carbon chiral centers were simultaneously installed in the aliphatic polyester backbone.In particular,the different combinations of stereochemistry in epoxide and anhydride building blocks considerably affect the thermal properties and crystalline behaviors of the resulting polyesters.This study uncovers an interesting method for regulating polymer crystallinity via matching the chirality of different monomers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U23B6011)。
文摘Introducing functional polar groups into polyolefins can significantly improve the material properties,but there are still challenges in achieving this goal,with the core difficulty being that polar groups are prone to interact with metal active species,affecting the efficiency of the copolymerization.With the rapid advancement in catalyst,a variety of copolymerization strategies are developed aimed at producing more versatile polyolefin materials.Although early transition metal catalysts play an indispensable role in the traditional polyolefin industry,their inherent strong oxophilicity becomes a significant constraint in copolymerization involving polar olefins,limiting their application scope.This review summarizes the progress made in recent years in the efficient copolymerization of non-polar olefins with polar comonomers catalyzed by groups 3 and 4 single-site catalysts.We classify the catalysts into four categories,Sc-,Ti-,Zr-,Hf-,based on the type of metal centers,and provide insights into the influence of catalyst structures and the type of comonomers on the copolymerization behavior.The introduction of polar monomers fundamentally improves the comprehensive performance of the products,greatly broadens the application scope of polyolefin materials,and meets the growing market demand for multifunctional and high-performance materials.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52130307)。
文摘The efficient copolymerization of olefin with polar monomers using nickel-based catalysts presents a longstanding challenge. In this contribution, three phosphine-benzocyclone ligands and corresponding neutral nickel catalysts(Ni1: Ar = Ph;Ni2: Ar = 2-(C_(6)H_(5))C_(6)H_(4);Ni3: Ar = 2-[2',6'-(Me O)_(2)-C_(6)H3]C_(6)H_(4)) were prepared and applied for the ethylene polymerization and copolymerization with polar monomers without any cocatalyst. The bulky substituent groups in complexes Ni2 and Ni3 contributed to high catalytic activities(up to 7.24×10^(6) and 9.04×10^(6)g·mol Ni^(-1)·h^(-1), respectively), and produced high-molecular-weight polyethylene(Mw up to 545.7 k Da). Complex Ni3 exhibited high activities for ethylene polymerization at the level of 10^(6) g·mol Ni^(-1)·h^(-1) across a wide range from 30 ℃ to 120 ℃, exhibiting excellent high temperature tolerance. These nickel complexes were also effectively employed in the copolymerization of ethylene with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and lauryl acrylate, producing copolymers with high molecular weights(Mw up to 80.5 k Da) and high polar monomer incorporation(up to 8.2 mol%). Microstructure analyses revealed that the introduction of large sterically hindered substituents facilitated the incorporation of polar functional units into the polymer backbone. This study demonstrates the potential of these nickel-based catalysts for efficient copolymerization of olefin with polar monomers.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No.2021YFA1501700)the Science and Technology Development Plan of Jilin Province (Nos.20230101042JC and 20210201059GX)+1 种基金Basic Science Center Program (No.51988102)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.52203017 and 52073272)。
文摘Isothiourea is an important class of sulfur-containing molecules showing unique catalytic and biological activities. As such,polyisothiourea is envisioned to be an interesting type of polymer that potentially exhibits a number of interesting properties. However, there is no access to synthesizing well-defined polyisothiourea, and currently isothiourea-containing polymers are mainly prepared by immobilizing onto other polymer's side chain. Herein, we report the first facile synthesis of polyisothioureas via alternating copolymerization of aziridines and isothiocayanates. Mediated by the catalytic system of phosphazene superbases/alcohol, a broad scope of aziridines and isothiocayanates could be transformed into polyisothioureas with adjustable substitutions(11 examples). The structures of obtained polyisothioureas were fully characterized with ^(1)H-NMR, ^(13)C-NMR, and ^(1)H-^(13)C HMBC NMR. Moreover, the polyisothioureas show tunable thermal properties depending on substitutions on the isothiourea linkages. The novel structure of these polyisothioureas will enable a powerful platform for the discovery of nextgeneration functional plastics.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.21774006 and 21634002)。
文摘The highly efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of NHC·VOCl_(3) containing symmetrical or unsymmetrical Nheterocyclic carbene(NHC) ligands by the transmetallation reaction of NHC·AgCl with VOCl_(3).The total isolated yield of VOCl_(3)[1,3-(2,4,6-Me_(3)C_(6)H_(2))_(2)(NCH=)_(2)C:](V4') reached 86% by transmetallation reaction,which is much higher than that(48%) by direct coordination method.This methodology has also been used to synthesize the novel vanadium complexes containing unsymmetrical NHC ligands of VOCl_(3)[PhCH_(2)NCH=CHNR)C:](V5',R=2,4,6-Me_(3)C_(6)H_(2);V6',R=2,4-Me_(2)-6-Ph-C_(6)H_(2);V7',R=2,6-^(i)Pr_(2)-C_(6)H_(3)) with high yield,which could not be obtained by direct coordination method.The catalytic activity and copolymerization ability would be improved by introducing unsymmetrical NHC ligands due to their less steric bulky effect.The vanadium complex V5' containing unsymmetrical NHC ligand exhibits higher catalytic activity(3.7×10^(5)g_(copolymer)·mol^(-1) of V·h^(-1)) than that of V4' containing symmetrical NHC ligand.Moreover,the higher propylene incorporation ratio(45.6 mol%) in the copolymers of ethylene with propylene could be obtained by using V5' than that(39.9%) by using V4'.The results would provide a highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of early transition metal complexes containing versitile NHC ligands,affording the catalyst with both high catalytic activity and copolymerization ability for the synthesis of high performance polyolefin elastomers.
基金supported by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.JCYJ20220818100407016)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22275059)+1 种基金Guangdong Special Support Program(No.2021TX06L775)high-level special funds(No.G03050K002)。
文摘High-voltage LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811)cathodes are critical for enhancing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs).The development of binders compatible with high-voltage NCM811 cathode materials is crucial to enhance the electrochemical performance of LIBs.However,the traditional fluoropolymer binder,poly(vinylidene difluoride)(PVDF),can potentially leach components or break down into poly(fluoroalkyl substances)(PFAS)chemicals,thereby contributing to PFAS contamination.A novel fluorine-free polymer,polysulfone-polyamide-polyimide(SPIO),was designed and synthesized as a binder for NCM811 cathodes.The SPIO binder exhibits exceptional mechanical properties and superior electrochemical characteristics.The cathode film fabricated with SPIO demonstrated a remarkable delamination force of 8 N(390 N·m^(-1)),indicating robust adhesion.The Li‖NCM811 cell incorporating the SPIO binder retained 80%of its initial capacity after 300 cycles at a current density of 0.2 C.In comparison,the control cells assem bled with the PVDF binder retained only 52%of their capacities under the same cycling conditions.Furthermore,the SPIO binder exhibited improved compatibility with the electrolyte.Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the cathode films after 100 cycles revealed the formation of a unifo rm,dense,and continuous chemical-electrochemical interface(CEI)by the SPIO binder on the surface of the NCM811 particles,which significantly contributed to the enhancement of the electrochemical performance.These results highlight the potential of SPIO as an advanced binder material for high-perfo rmance lithium-ion batteries.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2024JBZX029)Shijiazhuang High Level Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Project(No.08202307)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(No.22173004).
文摘The optimization of polymer structures aims to determine an optimal sequence or topology that achieves a given target property or structural performance.This inverse design problem involves searching within a vast combinatorial phase space defined by components,se-quences,and topologies,and is often computationally intractable due to its NP-hard nature.At the core of this challenge lies the need to evalu-ate complex correlations among structural variables,a classical problem in both statistical physics and combinatorial optimization.To address this,we adopt a mean-field approach that decouples direct variable-variable interactions into effective interactions between each variable and an auxiliary field.The simulated bifurcation(SB)algorithm is employed as a mean-field-based optimization framework.It constructs a Hamiltonian dynamical system by introducing generalized momentum fields,enabling efficient decoupling and dynamic evolution of strongly coupled struc-tural variables.Using the sequence optimization of a linear copolymer adsorbing on a solid surface as a case study,we demonstrate the applica-bility of the SB algorithm to high-dimensional,non-differentiable combinatorial optimization problems.Our results show that SB can efficiently discover polymer sequences with excellent adsorption performance within a reasonable computational time.Furthermore,it exhibits robust con-vergence and high parallel scalability across large design spaces.The approach developed in this work offers a new computational pathway for polymer structure optimization.It also lays a theoretical foundation for future extensions to topological design problems,such as optimizing the number and placement of side chains,as well as the co-optimization of sequence and topology.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.52325308)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52273008 and 52073092)+1 种基金Shanghai Scientific and Technological Innovation Projects(No.22ZR1479300)Shanghai Rising-Star Program(No.23QA1402500).
文摘Amphiphilic asymmetric brush copolymers(AABCs)possess unique self-assembly behaviors owing to their asymmetric brush architecture and multiple functionalities of multicomponent side chains.However,the synthesis of AABCs presents challenges,which greatly limits the exploration of their self-assembly behaviors.In this work,we employed dissipative particle dynamics(DPD)simulations to investigate the self-assembly behaviors of AABCs in selective solution.By varying the copolymer concentration and structure,we conducted the self-assembly phase diagrams of AABCs,revealing complex morphologies such as channelized micelles with one or more solvophilic channels.Moreover,the number,surface area,and one-dimensional density distribution of the channelized micelles were calculated to demonstrate the internal structure and morphological transformation during the self-assembly process.Our findings indicate that the morphology of the internal solvophilic channels is greatly influenced by the copolymer structure,concentration,and interaction parameters between the different side chains.The simulation results are consistent with available experimental observations,which can offer theoretical insights into the self-assembly of AABCs.
基金financially supported by an internal fund from Tsinghua University。
文摘The burgeoning ethylene production in the Asia-Pacific region has led to a substantial oversupply of butadiene as a byproduct,and it is highly important to develop new butadiene-based materials.Butadiene-maleic anhydride copolymer,characterized by its amphiphilic nature,shows potential applications in adhesives,emulsifiers,etc.However,the Diels-Alder(DA)reaction of butadiene and maleic anhydride competes with the polymerization,limiting the copolymer yield.In this study,the kinetics of the DA reaction and copolymerization between butadiene and maleic anhydride were examined,and the influence of various reaction conditions on the copolymer yield was investigated.We found that the DA reaction in the induction period of the radical polymerization was the critical factor in limiting copolymer yield.Therefore,we proposed the two-step method to suppress the DA reaction and achieve high-yield production(~85%)of cross-linked microspheres with controllable particle size(175-800 nm)by self-stabilized precipitation polymerization.This work enables an efficient synthesis of conjugated diolefin-maleic anhydride cross-linked microspheres,offering a novel approach to address the issue of butadiene overcapacity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Nos.22173051,21829301,21774066)College Discipline Innovation and Intelligence Introduction Program(111 Project(B16027)+1 种基金the International Cooperation Base(2016D01025)Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Center。
文摘Spatial confinement of block copolymers can induce frustrations,which can further be utilized to regulate self-assembled structures,thus providing an efficient route for fabricating novel structures.We studied the self-assembly of AB di-block copolymers(di-BCPs)confined in Janus spherical nanocavities using simulations,and explained the structure formation mechanisms.In the case of a strongly selective cavity wall,all the lamella-forming,gyroid-forming,and cylinder-forming di-BCPs can form interfacial frustration-induced Janus concentric perforated lamellar nanoparticles,whose outermost is a Janus spherical shell and the internal is a sphere with concentric perforated lamellar structure.In particular,Janus concentric perforated lamellar nanoparticles with holes distributed only near the equatorial plane were obtained in both lamella-forming and gyroid-forming di-BCPs,directly reflecting the effect of interfacial frustration.The minority-block domain of the cylider-forming di-BCPs may form hemispherical perforated lamellar structures with holes distributed in parallel layers with a specific orientation.For symmetric di-BCPs,both the A and B domains in each nanoparticle are continuous,interchangeable,and have rotational symmetry.While for gyroid-forming and cylinder-forming di-BCPs,only the majority-block domains are continuous in each nanoparticle,and holes in the minority-block domains usually have rotational symmetry.In the case of a weakly selective cavity wall,the inhomogeneity of the cavity wall results in structures having a specific orientation(such as flower-like and branched structures in gyroid-forming and cylinder-forming di-BCPs)and a perforated wetting layer with uniformly distributed holes.The novel nanoparticles obtained may have potential applications in nanotechnology as functional nanostructures or nanoparticles.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52394272,22333002,22203018,22303017).
文摘The self-assembly of block copolymers serves as an effective approach for fabricating various periodic ordered nanostructures. By employing self-consistent field theory (SCFT) to calculate the phase diagrams of block copolymers, one can accurately predict their self-assembly behaviors, thus providing guidance for the fabrication of various novel structures. However, SCFT is highly sensitive to initial conditions because it finds the free energy minima through an iterative process. Consequently, constructing phase diagrams using SCFT typically requires predefined candidate structures based on the experience of researchers. Such experience-dependent strategies often miss some structures and thus result in inaccurate phase diagrams. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have demonstrated significant potential across diverse fields of science and technology. By leveraging AI methods, it is possible to reduce reliance on human experience, thereby constructing more robust and reliable phase diagrams. In this work, we demonstrate how to combine AI with SCFT to automatically search for self-assembled structures of block copolymers and construct phase diagrams. Our aim is to realize automatic construction of block copolymer phase diagrams while minimizing reliance on human prior knowledge.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22071176)。
文摘Cutting-edge research has primarily focused on flow synthesis of linear block copolymers,lacking the ability for manipulating chain architectures for more extensive applications.Herein,we develop a flow chemistry platform for the continuous microflow synthesis of bottlebrush block copolymers(BBCPs)using a grafting-through method.This involves performing ring-opening metathesis polymerization(ROMP)of two different macromonomers within two microfluidic reactors connected in series.The microflow environment allows for complete monomer conversion within a few tens of seconds,benefiting from the superior mixing efficiency achieved in Z-shaped channels as indicated by both theoretical simulations and experimental results.Consequently,a library of well-defined BBCPs of up to 528 distinct samples can be produced within one day through automation of the continuous procedure,while keeping precise control on degree of polymerization(DP<4)and polydispersity indices(PDI<1.2).The synthetic method is generally applicable to different macromonomers with different compositions and contour lengths,yielding libraries of branched block copolymers with great diversity in physiochemical properties and chain architectures.This work presents a powerful platform for high-throughput production of branched copolymers,significantly lowering the costs of the materials for real applications.
基金Yunfu 2023 Innovation Team Project,China(CYRC202305)。
文摘Mechanochromic materials respond to external stimuli and provide early warnings of material damage.Perylene diimide(PDI)-based materials have attracted attention because of their outstanding fluorescence performance.However,the application of PDI in mechanochromism is limited by the difficulty for mechanical forces to disrupt the aggregation of PDI and its derivatives,as well as the fluorescence quenching caused by continuousπ-πstacking between PDI molecules.To eliminate the fluorescence quenching effect caused by the aggregation of PDI and broaden its application fields,polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane(POSS)-PDI-POSS(PPP)was screened as PDI doping.The photophysical properties of PPP in both monomeric and aggregated states in different solvents were studied.Then,PPP and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer(SBS)were mixed to prepare the PPP/SBS film.The mechanochromic properties of PPP/SBS film were explored.The fluorescence emission spectra confirmed that when the PPP mass fraction increased to 0.30%,the PPP/SBS film exhibited mechanochromic behavior under uniaxial deformation due to the changes in the molecular packing.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation for International Young Scientists of China(Grant No.52150410427)funding of Scientific Research Startup Project for High-Level Talents of Shandong Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Technology(Grant No.DJB2023020 and Grant No.2023SS019).
文摘Smart low-solid drilling fluids(SLSDFs)with thermo-controllable rheological properties and attractive thickening characteristics have recently captivated profound attention due to their low formation damage and enhanced cuttings lifting capacity.However,their applications to deep hole drilling at high temperatures have remained limited because of the thermal instability and environmental constraints of the thermo-associating polymers as additives.This work explored the synergistic benefits of thermo-associating polymer and biogenic nano-silica(B-SiNP)extracted from rice husk to improve the thermo-stability of SLSDF.This study shows that the nano-hybrid,TAP-S based on vinyl-terminated B-SiNP could potentially mitigate the limiting performance of conventional LSDF(F-2)caused by the failure of thermo-associating copolymers under elevated temperatures.TAP-S bearing drilling fluid(F-3)could preserve more than 5.6-fold of its initial properties(ca.apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity,yield point,and gel strength)with a nearly flat-gel profile in the temperature range of 25-230℃,which was higher than those of the counterpart F-2 and base fluid according to the results of rheological tests analysis.In addition,TAP-S exhibited an abrupt thermo-thickening characteristic with a magnitude declining by only 1.05-fold and the activation Gibbs free energy of 1339 kJ/mol above the plateau(ca.130℃),reflecting its less sensitivity compared to F-2 under a continuous heating process.As a result,a lower temperature was required to drive the dehydration of the residual fraction of lower critical solution temperature(LCST)in nano-hybrid structures than TAP according to the results of DSC analysis.Thus,lower energy was expected to disintegrate the residual hydrogen bonds formed between the LCST chains and surrounding water molecules at elevated temperatures.Moreover,TAP-S formed a solid-micro-crosslinking structure network which exhibited a more stable hydrodynamic diameter as revealed by DLS analysis.Compared with TAP,TAP-S consisted of a larger composite B-SiNP-TAP integrated spatial network structure based on the results of environmental scanning electron microscope,which conferred a degree of thermal conductivity characteristic for improved temperature resistance.This contributed to the effective binding onto bentonite particles for protection and maintained a relatively stable bentonite particle dispersion according to the results of EPM and particle size distribution analyses.Consequently,TAP-S fortified drilling fluid demonstrates improved rheological and filtration performance under severe downhole conditions.Therefore,TAP-S,the thermo-associating copolymer integrated with B-SiNP could find potential application as an eco-friendly viscosifier in LSDFs for deep-well drilling operations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52473059)Taishan Scholar Constructive Engineering Foundation of Shandong Province(tsqn202103079)Key Research and Development Plan of Shandong Province(2024TSGC0264).
文摘Power cables are important pieces of equipment for energy transmission,but achieving a good balance between flame retardancy and mechanical properties of cable sheaths remains a challenge.In this work,a novel intumescent flame retardant(IFR)system containing silicone-containing macromolecular charring agent(Si-MCA)and ammonium polyphosphate(APP)was designed to synergistically improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymer(EBA)composites.The optimal mass ratio of APP/Si-MCA was 3/1 in EBA composites(EBA/APP-Si-31),corresponding to the best flame retardancy with 31.2% of limited oxygen index(LOI),V-0 rating in UL-94 vertical burning test,and 76.4%reduction on the peak of heat release rate(PHRR)in cone calorimeter test.The enhancement mechanism was attributed to the synergistic effect of APP/Si-MCA during combustion,including the radical-trapping effect,the dilution effect of non-flammable gases,and the barrier effect of the intumescent char layer.Meanwhile,the tensile results indicated that EBA/APP-Si-31 also exhibited good mechanical properties with the addition of maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene(PE-g-MA)as the compatibilizer.Thus,the APP/Si-MCA combination is an effective IFRs system for preparing high-performance EBA composites,and it will promote their applications as cable sheath materials.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52473026)。
文摘Flexible polymer-based foam sensors have significant potential for application in wearable electronics and motion monitoring.However,these prospects are hindered by the complex and unenvironmentally friendly manufacturing processes.In this study,we employed melt blending and supercritical carbon dioxide foaming to fabricate an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer(EVA)/low-density polyethylene(LDPE)/carbon nanotube(CNT)piezoresistive foam sensor.The cross-linking agent bis(tert-butyldioxyisopropyl)benzene and the conductive filler CNT were incorporated into the EVA/LDPE composite,successfully achieving a chemically cross-linked and physically entangled composite structure that significantly enhanced the storage modulus and complex viscosity.Additionally,the compressive strength of EVA/LDPE/CNT foam with 10 parts per hundred rubber(phr)CNT reached 1.37 MPa at 50%compression,marking a 340%increase compared to the 0.31 MPa of the CNT-free sample.Furthermore,the EVA/LDPE/CNT composite foams,which incorporated 10 phr CNT,were prepared under specific foaming conditions,resulting in an ultra-low density of 0.11 g/cm^(3) and a higher sensitivity,with a gauge factor of–2.3.The piezoresistive foam sensors developed in this work could accurately detect human motion,thereby expanding their applications in the field of piezoresistive foam sensors and providing an effective strategy for the advancement of high-performance piezoresistive foam sensors.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52372099,52202328,22461142135,22479046)the Shanghai Sailing Program(22YF1455500)the Shanghai Magnolia Talent Plan Pujiang Project(24PJD128)。
文摘Solid-state polymer electrolytes are crucial for advancing solid-state lithium-metal batteries owing to their flexibility,excellent manufacturability,and strong interfacial compatibility.However,their widespread applications are hindered by low ionic conductivity at room temperature and lithium dendrite growth.Herein,we report a novel solid-state composite membrane electrolyte design that combines the vertically aligned channel structure and copolymer with a radial gradient composition.Within the vertically aligned channels,the composition of poly(vinyl ethylene carbonate-co-poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate)(P(VEC-PEGDA)varies in a gradient along the radial direction:from the center to the wall of vertically aligned channels,the proportion of vinyl ethylene carbonate(VEC)in the copolymer decreases,while the proportion of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate(PEGDA)increases accordingly.It can be functionally divided into a mechanical-reinforcement layer and a fast-ion-conducting layer.The resulting solid-state composite membrane electrolyte achieves a high critical current density of 1.2 mA cm^(-2)and high ionic conductivity of 2.03 mS cm^(-1)at room temperature.Employing this composite membrane electrolyte,a Li//Li symmetric cell exhibits stable cycling for over 1850 h at 0.2 m A cm^(-2)/0.2 m A h cm^(-2),and a Li//LiFePO4(LFP)battery maintains 77.3% capacity retention at 2 C after 300 cycles.Our work provides insight into the rational design of safer and more efficient solidstate batteries through electrolyte structural engineering.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52273019,62173065,22133002,22273031,and 12274056)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.04442024074)+2 种基金NationalKey R&D Program of China(No.2022YFB3707300)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.4242040)Scientific Research Funds Project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education(No.LJKZ0034)。
文摘The strategic dispersion of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)within triblock copolymer matrix is key to fabricating nanocomposites with the desired electrical properties.This study investigated the self-assembly and electrical behavior of a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene(SBS)matrix with CNTs of different aspect ratios using hybrid particle-field molecular dynamics simulations.Structural factor analysis of the nanocomposites indicated that CNTs with higher aspect ratios promoted the transition of the SBS matrix from a bicontinuous to a lamellar phase.The resistor network algorithm method showed that the electrical conductivity of SBS and CNTs nanocomposites was influenced by the interplay between the CNTs aspect ratios,concentrations,and domain sizes of the triblock copolymer SBS.Our research sheds light on the relationship between CNTs dispersion and the electrical behavior of SBS/CNTs nanocomposites,guiding the engineering of materials to achieve desired electrical properties through the modulation of CNTs aspect ratios and tailored sizing of triblock copolymer domains.
文摘This review paper provides a comprehensive introduction to various numerical methods for the phase-field model used to simulate the phase separation dynamics of diblock copolymer melts.Diblock copolymer systems form complex structures at the nanometer scale and play a significant role in various applications.The phase-field model,in particular,is essential for describing the formation and evolution of these structures and is widely used as a tool to effectively predict the movement of phase boundaries and the distribution of phases over time.In this paper,we discuss the principles and implementations of various numerical methodologies for this model and analyze the strengths,limitations,stability,accuracy,and computational efficiency of each method.Traditional approaches such as Fourier spectral methods,finite difference methods and alternating direction explicit methods are reviewed,as well as recent advancements such as the invariant energy quadratization method and the scalar auxiliary variable scheme are also presented.In addition,we introduce examples of the phase-field model,which are fingerprint image restoration and 3D printing.These examples demonstrate the extensive applicability of the reviewed methods and models.
