Synthesis and electro-optical properties of aromatic polyamides and polyimides bearing pendent 3,6-dimethoxycarbazole units

Challenges in the design and synthesis of self-assembling molecules as selective contacts in perovskite solar cells

Self-assembling molecules (SAMs), as selective contacts, play an important role in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), determining the performance and stability of these photovoltaic devices. These materials offer many advantages over other traditional materials used as hole-selective contacts, as they can be easily deposited on a large area of metal oxides, can modify the work function of these substrates, and reduce optical and electric losses with low material consumption. However, the most interesting thing about SAMs is that by modifying the chemical structure of the small molecules used, the energy levels, molecular dipoles, and surface properties of this assembled monolayer can be modulated to fine-tune the desired interactions between the substrate and the active layer. Due to the important role of organic chemistry in the field of photovoltaics, in this review, we will cover the current challenges for the design and synthesis of SAMs PSCs. Discussing, the structural features that define a SAM, (ii) disclosing how commercial molecules inspired the synthesis of new SAMs; and (iii) detailing the pros- and cons- of the reported synthetic protocols that have been employed for the synthesis of molecules for SAMs, helping synthetic chemists to develop novel structures and promoting the fast industrialization of PSCs.

The effects of long and bulky aromatic pendent groups with flexible linkages on the thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of the polyimides and their nanocomposites with functionalized silica

A novel diamine bis(4-aminophenyl)bis{3,4[(4-(8-quinolyloxymethyl carbonyl)]}methane, containing two long/bulky aromatic pendent chains was synthesized by incorporating aromatic and hetero aromatic groups with flexible linkages. Flexible, stretchable, thermally stable and processable polyimides were prepared by reacting this newly synthesized diamine with commercial tetracarboxylic acid dianhydrides like 3,3',4,4'-benzophenone tetra carboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4'-(4,4'-isopropylidenediphenoxy)diphthalic Anhydride (BPADA). Nanocomposites of polyimides were prepared using aromatic amine functionalized silica as a filler by solution casting method. The current work investigates the effects of incorporating long/bulky aromatic side chains and flexible linkages on the thermal, mechanical, electrical and optical properties of the polyimides and nanocomposites. The polyimides showed good thermal stability (T 10% = 364 & 388), high flame resistance, low glass transition temperatures (T g = 130 °C & 156 °C), very low dielectric constants (2.5 & 2.8 at 1 MHz) and good optical transparency. The neat polyimides displayed good elongation at break (133-155%) but possessed low tensile strength. The chemically imidized polyimides showed good solubility in low and high boiling solvents. Nanocomposites of polyimides based on aromatic amine functionalized silica exhibited enhanced properties with T 10% values varying between 409-482 °C, T g between 165-280 °C and higher dielectric constants (3-5.7 at 1 MHz).

Preparation and application of a D–A conjugated electrochromic flexible electrode with side chain carbazole active groups in supercapacitors

Electrochromic power storage devices (ESCs) integrate energy storage and electrochromic behaviour into a single full cell that can enable the visualization of the energy status by the naked eye.

Novel soluble and heat-resistant polyamides derived from 4-(4-diphenylphosphino) phenyl-2,6-bis(4-aminophenyl)pyridine and various aromatic dicarboxylic acids

New diamine, 4-(4-diphenylphosphino)phenyl-2,6-bis(4-aminophenyl)pyridine, was prepared, and the related polyamides (PAs) bearing 2,6-diphenylpyridyl units and pendant diphenylphosphinophenyl groups were synthesized by direct polycondensation of this diamine and various aromatic diacids in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The resulting PAs with inherent viscosities of 0.78–1.06 dL g−1 are readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as NMP, N, N-dimethylacetamide, and dimethylsulfoxide as well as less polar solvents such as m-cresol and pyridine. All the PAs are amorphous and could be solution-cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films, which have tensile strengths of 68.2–88.8 MPa, tensile moduli of 1.9–2.4 GPa, and elongations at break of 5.4–10.3%. These polymer films also exhibit high optical transparence with the UV cutoff wavelength in the 361–412 nm range. These PAs display glass transition temperatures of 316–332°C, 10% mass loss temperatures of 524–553°C, and more than 48% residues at 800°C in nitrogen, respectively. Their high char yields and good limited oxygen index values ranging from 39 to 44 indicate the prepared PAs show good thermal stability and flame-retardant property.

Formation of a stable biradical triplet state cation versus a closed shell singlet state cation by oxidation of adducts of 3,6-dimethoxycarbazole and polychlorotriphenylmethyl radicals

We report an experimental and theoretical study of two stable radical adducts of the triphenylmethyl series, 1 and 2, whose composition and molecular structure are distinguished by the content and position of chlorine atoms in phenyls. The electrochemical study through cyclic voltammetry of these open layer species shows the existence of two reversible processes, related to reduction and oxidation, to stable charged species. The chemical oxidation of both radical adducts gives rise to stable cations, whose fundamental state has a biradical triplet electronic structure or a closed shell singlet character, depending on the electronic conjugation between the donor and acceptor electron moieties. The presence of chlorines adjacent to the nitrogen in 1 breaks the conjugation between both halves, facilitating the formation of a triplet electronic state of the cation, while the absence of chlorines in these positions in 2 facilitates partial conjugation and stabilizes the closed shell singlet electronic state of the cation.

New fluorinated aromatic polyamides based on N,N-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-4-trifluoromethylaniline

A new aromatic diacid monomer, N, N-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-4-trifluoromethylaniline, was synthesized by the substitution reaction of 4-trifluoromethylaniline with 4-fluorobenzonitrile, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the dinitrile intermediate. Several polyamides with 4-trifluoromethyltriphenylamine moieties were prepared from the diacid and various aromatic diamines via the direct phosphorylation polycondensation. All the polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in many polar organic solvents such as N, N-dimethylacetamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and could be solution-cast into transparent, tough, and flexible films with good mechanical properties. They exhibited good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures of 260–330°C, 10% weight-loss temperatures above 500°C, and char yields higher than 60% at 800°C in nitrogen. These polymers had low dielectric constants of 3.35–3.72 (100 Hz), low water uptake of 1.80–2.60%, and high transparency with an ultraviolet–visible absorption cutoff wavelength in the range of 378–390 nm. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide films cast onto an indium-tin oxide–coated glass substrate exhibited a reversible oxidation redox coupled with oxidation half-wave potentials ( E 1/2) of 0.95–1.04 V versus silver/silver chloride in an acetonitrile solution.

Synthesis of aromatic, soluble, and thermally stable polyamides derived from new diamine containing unsymmetrical phenolphthalein and imidazole pendent group

A novel diamine monomer containing unsymmetrical phenolphthalein and triaryl imidazole pendant group, 3,3-bis(4-(4-amino-2-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenoxy)phenyl)isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (BADPPI), was successfully prepared in three steps. The novel diamine monomer BADPPI was directly polymerized with commercially available diacids, such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, and adipic acid, to obtain corresponding polyamides (PAs). The resulting novel aromatic PAs were obtained in high yields and moderate inherent viscosities in the range of 0.52–0.57 dL g−1 and exhibited excellent solubility in aprotic polar solvents, such as N,N-dimethylacetamide , N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, meta cresol, and pyridine. PAs showed high glass-transition temperatures between 191°C and 277°C. Thermogravimetric analysis of the PAs indicated a 10% weight loss ( T10%) in the temperature range of 382–473°C and char yields at 600°C under nitrogen atmosphere in the range of 56–70% depending on the diacids monomer used for the PAs preparation.

Synthesis and Electrochromism of Highly Organosoluble Polyamides and Polyimides with Bulky Trityl-Substituted Triphenylamine Units

Two series of polyamides and polyimides containing bulky trityl-substituted triphenylamine units were synthesized from condensation reactions of 4,4′-diamino-4′′-trityltriphenylamine with various dicarboxylic acids and tetracarboxylic dianhydrides, respectively. The polymers showed good solubility and film-forming ability. Flexible or robust films could be readily obtained via solution-casting. The use of aliphatic diacid or dianhydride reduces interchain charge transfer complexing and leads to colorless polyamide and polyimide films. These polymers showed glass-transition temperatures in the range of 206–336 °C. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide and polyimide films displayed reversible electrochemical oxidation processes in the range of 0–1.0 or 0–1.3 V. Upon oxidation, the color of polymer films changes from colorless to blue-green or blue. As compared to the polyimide counterparts, the polyamides showed lower oxidation potentials and thus a higher electrochromic stability and coloration efficiency. Simple electrochromic devices were also fabricated as a preliminary investigation for electrochromic applications of the prepared polymers.

Functional Aromatic Polyamides

We describe herein the state of the art following the last 8 years of research into aromatic polyamides, wholly aromatic polyamides or aramids. These polymers belong to the family of high performance materials because of their exceptional thermal and mechanical behavior. Commercially, they have been transformed into fibers mainly for production of advanced composites, paper, and cut and fire protective garments. Huge research efforts have been carried out to take advantage of the mentioned characteristics in advanced fields related to transport applications, optically active materials, electroactive materials, smart materials, or materials with even better mechanical and thermal behavior.

Structural, thermal and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites based on organosoluble polyimide with naphthyl pendent group and layered double hydroxide

In this study, a soluble aromatic polyimide (PI) with naphthyl pendent group was initially synthesized by the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with 5-methyl- N,N-bis(4-nitrophenyl)naphthalen-1-amine. Then, via co-precipitation reaction of zinc nitrate hexahydrate and chromium nitrate nonahydrate, Zn/Cr-layered double hydroxide (LDH) was synthesized using hydrothermal techniques. Finally, different novel nanocomposites (NCs) based on PI and Zn/Cr-LDH (1, 2, 4 wt%) were produced through in situ polymerization. The resulting materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and mechanical testing. According to the TGA results, the prepared NCs showed high thermal stability at higher temperature due to the good dispersion and homogeneity of Zn/Cr-LDH in polymeric matrix. Consequently, the mechanical properties of the synthesized NCs were enhanced by the incorporation of 2 wt% Zn/Cr-LDH in the polymer matrix.

Synthesis and characterization of semiaromatic polyamides with dicyclohexane units

The resultant semiaromatic polyamides showed excellent mechanical properties, superior thermal properties and good processability.