Well-defined amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbone and hydrophobic poly(vinyl acetate) side chains

White Latex: Appealing "Green" Alternative for PVdF in Electrode Manufacturing for Sustainable Li-Ion Batteries

Nowadays, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) has been dominantly utilized as a polymeric binder in commercialized Li-ion batteries. However, standardized PVdF-based electrode manufacturing seems cost-intensive and environmentally hazardous, which relies on the usage of toxic N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a dispersant. In view of cost control and environmental awareness, switching to a water-processable green binder, as a substitute for PVdF, has been imperative with realistic significance. Herein, commercially available white latex (WL), containing poly(vinyl acetate) as a staple ingredient, was directly used as an alternative aqueous binder for PVdF in the fabrication of graphite/Li₄Ti₅O₁₂-based lithium-ion anodes. WL exhibits robust adhesion of the electrode coating to the current collector; meanwhile, the restricted electrolyte swelling of the binder is verified by in situ electrochemical dilatometry. Outperforming PVdF, WL endows graphite with extensive surface coverage by the binding agent, dramatically reducing irreversible decomposition of the electrolyte (SEI formation) on graphite. Consequently, the WL-based graphite anode delivers the highest initial coulombic efficiency (CE) of 92% and remarkable long cyclic stability with a high capacity retention of 332.7 mAh/g, compared to the PVdF- and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based ones. Moreover, WL is also compatible with Li₄Ti₅O₁₂, endowing it with more stable cycling behavior than that of the counterparts prepared with both PVdF and even CMC. Our described WL represents an appealing "green" alternative for PVdF in manufacturing sustainable and ecofriendly energy storage devices.

Opportunities for dual RDRP agents in synthesizing novel polymeric materials

Dual RDRP agents provide access to new polymeric materials by combining ATRP, NMP, and RAFT polymerization without end group transformations.

Polymeric nanocapsules templated on liquid cores as efficient photoreactors

Polymeric nanocapsules templated on liquid core, stabilized by graft amphiphilic polyelectrolytes were fabricated and applied as photochemical reactors.

Core crosslinked H-type poly(methacrylic acid)-block-hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene-block-poly(methacrylic acid) four-armed star block copolymer micelles for intercellular drug release

H-type four-armed star block copolymers with hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as hydrophobic sections and poly(methacrylic acid) as hydrophilic fragments were synthesized through atom transform radical polymerization and the follow-up acidolysis, named PMAA2- b-HTPB- b-PMAA2. The core crosslinking reaction was conducted by ultraviolet light irradiation. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, size exclusion chromatography, and thermal gravimetric analysis were adopted to confirm the chemical structure of the resulting copolymers. The effect of the ultraviolet light crosslinking on the physicochemical properties of the block copolymer micelles was investigated by fluorescent spectrometry, ultraviolet transmittance, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscope measurements. The results showed that the crosslinking resulted in formation of the stable copolymer micelles and change in the physicochemical parameters, for example, lower critical micelle concentration and smaller micellar size than the uncrosslinked one. Drug loading and in vitro drug release disclosed that the crosslinked copolymer micelles had enhanced drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency, less drug leakage, and thus smaller harm to the normal cells but better therapy effect than the uncrosslinked counterpart by the aid of the pH-induced paclitaxel release. The copolymer micelles exhibited pH-dependent cytotoxicity, and therefore, they might be a promising drug target release carrier in biomedical applications.

Self-organization in water of well-defined amphiphilic poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl alcohol) diblock copolymers

Self-organization of well-defined poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVAc-b-PVA) amphiphilic diblock copolymers with different hydrophilic block sizes was reported.

Application of hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymers for the dispersion of hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles in aqueous media

Oleylamine-coated CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles were successfully encapsulated into hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymers. The resulting hydrophilic nanohybrids exhibit promising r₂-relaxivity properties.

Preparation of polymer decorated graphene oxide by γ-ray induced graft polymerization

Herein, we report a facile approach to decorate graphene oxide (GO) sheets with poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) by γ-ray irradiation-induced graft polymerization. The content of PVAc in the obtained sample, i.e., PVAc grafted GO (GO-g-PVAc) is calculated by the loss weight in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves. A GO-g-PVAc sample with a degree of grafting (DG) of 28.5% was well dispersed in common organic solvents and the dispersions obtained were extremely stable at room temperature without any aggregation, even after standing for 2 months. The excellent dispersibility and stability of GO-g-PVAc in common organic solvents are readily rationalized in terms of the full coverage of PVAc chains and solvated layer formation on graphene oxide sheets surface, which weakens the interlaminar attraction of GO sheets. This approach presents a facile route for the preparation of dispersible GO and shows great potential in the preparation of graphene-based composites by solution-processes.