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Guardià J, Reina JA, Giamberini M, Montané X. An Up-to-Date Overview of Liquid Crystals and Liquid Crystal Polymers for Different Applications: A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:2293. [PMID: 39204513 PMCID: PMC11359798 DOI: 10.3390/polym16162293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid crystals have been extensively used in various applications, such as optoelectronic devices, biomedical applications, sensors and biosensors, and packaging, among others. Liquid crystal polymers are one type of liquid crystal material, combining their intrinsic properties with polymeric flexibility for advanced applications in displays and smart materials. For instance, liquid crystal polymers can serve as drug nanocarriers, forming cubic or hexagonal mesophases, which can be tailored for controlled drug release. Further applications of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers include the preparation of membranes for separation processes, such as wastewater treatment. Furthermore, these materials can be used as ion-conducting membranes for fuel cells or lithium batteries due to their broad types of mesophases. This review aims to provide an overall explanation and classification of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers. Furthermore, the great potential of these materials relies on their broad range of applications, which are determined by their unique properties. Moreover, this study provides the latest advances in liquid crystal polymer-based membranes and their applications, focusing especially on fuel cells. Moreover, future directions in the applications of various liquid crystals are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Guardià
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (J.G.); (J.A.R.)
| | - José Antonio Reina
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (J.G.); (J.A.R.)
| | - Marta Giamberini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
| | - Xavier Montané
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Marcel·lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (J.G.); (J.A.R.)
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Dielectric Properties in Oriented and Unoriented Membranes Based on Poly(Epichlorohydrin-co-Ethylene Oxide) Copolymers: Part III. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14071369. [PMID: 35406243 PMCID: PMC9002765 DOI: 10.3390/polym14071369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The dielectric spectra and conductivity properties of neat poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide)(PECH-co-EO) copolymer and two modified copolymers with a 20% or 40% of dendron 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy] benzoate units were analysed. A process of thermal orientation was applied to the copolymers to fine-tune the molecular motion of the side chains and determine their validity for cation transport materials. The study was conducted using Dielectric Thermal Analysis (DETA). The spectra of the modified unoriented and oriented copolymers consisted of five dielectric relaxations (δ, γ, β, αTg, and αmelting). The analysis of the relaxations processes shows that as the grafting with the dendron units increases, both the lateral and main chains have a greater difficulty moving. The thermal orientation induces in the main chain partial crystallization, including the polyether segments, and modifies the cooperative motion of the main chain associated with the glass transition (αTg). A deep analysis of the electrical loss modulus revealed that the degree of modification only modifies the temperature peak of each relaxation, and this effect is more perceived if the dendron unit content is higher (40%). The thermal orientation process seems equal to the spectra of CP20-O and CP40-O to the point that the degree of modification does not matter. Nevertheless, the fragility index denotes the differences in the molecular motion between both copolymers (40% and 20%) due to the thermal orientation. The study of the electric conductivity showed that the ideal long-range pathways were being altered by neither the thermal orientation process nor the addition of dendrimers. The analysis of the through-plane proton conductivity confirmed that the oriented copolymer with the highest concentration of dendrimers was the best performer and the most suitable copolymer for proton transport materials.
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Zare A, Montané X, Reina JA, Giamberini M. Membranes for Cation Transport Based on Dendronized Poly(Epichlorohydrin-Co-Ethylene Oxide). Part 2: Membrane Characterization and Transport Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13223915. [PMID: 34833217 PMCID: PMC8619552 DOI: 10.3390/polym13223915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we report on the preparation and characterization of membranes out of two side-chain liquid crystalline copolymers, dendronized at two different extents (20 and 40%, CP20 and CP40, respectively). The membranes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), contact angle (CA) analysis, and water uptake. Moreover, transport properties were studied by methanol and proton conductivity experiment and by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). For the sake of comparison, the behavior of the grafted copolymers was compared with the unmodified copolyether CP0 and with Nafion 117. Results demonstrated that in CP20 and CP40, cation transport depends on the presence of defined cationic channels, not affected by water presence; the comparison between LSV experiments performed with different alkaline cations suggests that CP40 possesses channels with larger diameters and better-defined inner structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Zare
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Av. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Xavier Montané
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - José Antonio Reina
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), C/Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Marta Giamberini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Av. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
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Zare A, Pascual-Jose B, De la Flor S, Ribes-Greus A, Montané X, Reina JA, Giamberini M. Membranes for Cation Transport Based on Dendronized Poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide). Part 1: The Effect of Dendron Amount and Column Orientation on Copolymer Mobility. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13203532. [PMID: 34685291 PMCID: PMC8540024 DOI: 10.3390/polym13203532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendronized polyethers give rise to columnar LC structures which can successfully act as cation transport materials. Therefore, we prepared two different materials, based on Poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide) (PECH-co-EO) grafted with methyl 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy] benzoate, containing 20% or 40% modified units, respectively. The obtained polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy between crossed polars (POM) and compared to the unmodified PECH-co-EO. In order to reach efficient transport properties, homeotropically oriented membranes were prepared by a fine-tuned thermal annealing treatment and were subsequently investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and dielectric thermal analysis (DETA). We found that the presence of the dendrons induces a main chain partial crystallization of the polyether chain and coherently increases the polymer Tg. This effect is more evident in the oriented membranes. As for copolymer orientation upon annealing, the cooling rate and the annealing temperature were the most crucial factors. DMTA and DETA confirmed that grafting with the dendron strongly hinders copolymer motions, but did not show great differences between unoriented and oriented membranes, regardless of the amount of dendrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Zare
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Av. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
| | - Borja Pascual-Jose
- Institute of Technology of Materials (ITM), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 València, Spain; (B.P.-J.); (A.R.-G.)
| | - Silvia De la Flor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Av. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
| | - Amparo Ribes-Greus
- Institute of Technology of Materials (ITM), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Camí de Vera, s/n, 46022 València, Spain; (B.P.-J.); (A.R.-G.)
| | - Xavier Montané
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), C/Marcel.lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
- Correspondence: (X.M.); (M.G.)
| | - José Antonio Reina
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), C/Marcel.lí Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
| | - Marta Giamberini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Av. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain;
- Correspondence: (X.M.); (M.G.)
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Blanco-González A, Calvelo M, Garrido PF, Amorín M, Granja JR, Piñeiro Á, Garcia-Fandino R. Transmembrane Self-Assembled Cyclic Peptide Nanotubes Based on α-Residues and Cyclic δ-Amino Acids: A Computational Study. Front Chem 2021; 9:704160. [PMID: 34386480 PMCID: PMC8353252 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.704160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembling cyclic peptide nanotubes have been shown to function as synthetic, integral transmembrane channels. The combination of natural and nonnatural aminoacids in the sequence of cyclic peptides enables the control not only of their outer surface but also of the inner cavity behavior and properties, affecting, for instance, their permeability to different molecules including water and ions. Here, a thorough computational study on a new class of self-assembling peptide motifs, in which δ-aminocycloalkanecarboxylic acids are alternated with natural α-amino acids, is presented. The presence of synthetic δ-residues creates hydrophobic regions in these α,δ-SCPNs, which makes them especially attractive for their potential implementation in the design of new drug or diagnostic agent carrier systems. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the behavior of water molecules, different ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, and Ca2+), and their correspondent counter Cl- anions is extensively investigated in the nanoconfined environment. The structure and dynamics are mutually combined in a diving immersion inside these transmembrane channels to discover a fascinating submarine nanoworld where star-shaped water channels guide the passage of cations and anions therethrough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Blanco-González
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martín Calvelo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Pablo F. Garrido
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel Amorín
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan R. Granja
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ángel Piñeiro
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Facultade de Física, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rebeca Garcia-Fandino
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Effect of Dendritic Side Groups on the Mobility of Modified Poly(epichlorohydrin) Copolymers. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13121961. [PMID: 34199206 PMCID: PMC8231771 DOI: 10.3390/polym13121961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The macromolecular dynamics of dendronized copolymer membranes (PECHs), obtained by chemical modification of poly(epichlorohydrin) with the dendron 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy] benzoate, was investigated. In response to a thermal treatment during membrane preparation, these copolymers show an ability to change their shape, achieve orientation, and slightly crystallize, which was also observed by CP-MAS NMR, XRD, and DSC. The phenomenon was deeply analyzed by dielectric thermal analysis. The dielectric spectra show the influence of several factors such as the number of dendritic side groups, the orientation, their self-assembling dendrons, and the molecular mobility. The dielectric spectra present a sub-Tg dielectric relaxation, labelled as γ, associated with the mobility of the benzyloxy substituent of the dendritic group. This mobility is not related to the percentage of these lateral chains but is somewhat hindered by the orientation of the dendritic groups. Unlike other less complex polymers, the crystallization was dismantled before the appearance of the glass transition (αTg). Only after that, clearing transition (αClear) can be observed. The PECHs were flexible and offered a high free volume, despite presenting a high degree of modifications. However, the molecular mobility is not independent in each phase and the self-assembling dendrons can be eventually fine-tuned according to the percentage of grafted groups.
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Molecular Mobility in Oriented and Unoriented Membranes Based on Poly[2-(Aziridin-1-yl)ethanol]. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13071060. [PMID: 33800553 PMCID: PMC8036756 DOI: 10.3390/polym13071060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Unoriented and oriented membranes based on dendronized polymers and copolymers obtained by chemical modification of poly[2-(aziridin-1-yl) ethanol] (PAZE) with the dendron 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzoate were considered. DSC, XRD, CP-MAS NMR and DETA, contribute to characterize the tendency to crystallize, the molecular mobility of the benzyloxy substituent, the dendritic liquid crystalline group and the clearing transition. The orientation of the mesogenic chain somewhat hindered this molecular motion, especially in the full substituted PAZE. The fragility, free volume and thermal expansion coefficients of these membranes near the glass transition are related to the orientation and the addition of the dendritic groups. PAZE-based membranes combine both order and mobility on a supramolecular and macroscopic level, controlled by the dendritic group and the thermal orientation, and open the possibility of preparing membranes with proper channel mobility that promotes selective ionic transport.
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Bogdanowicz KA, Pirone D, Prats-Reig J, Ambrogi V, Reina JA, Giamberini M. In Situ Raman Spectroscopy as a Tool for Structural Insight into Cation Non-Ionomeric Polymer Interactions during Ion Transport. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:E416. [PMID: 30966451 PMCID: PMC6415221 DOI: 10.3390/polym10040416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Revised: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-modified liquid-crystalline polyether (CP36), as a model compound, was synthesised with the purpose of preparing a membrane with columnar ionic channels. A free-standing cation permselective biomimetic membrane was successfully prepared and found to have channels made of polymeric columns homeotropically oriented, which was confirmed in X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. A first insight into a real-time interaction between two selected cations: H⁺ and Na⁺, and polyether during transport through the polymeric membrane was demonstrated using joined chronoamperometry and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Raman studies unveiled the possibility for smaller protons to bypass the usual ionic pathway via polyetheric chain and use outer part of ionic channel for conduction thanks to ester bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Artur Bogdanowicz
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
- Military Institute of Engineer Technology, 136 Obornicka Street, 50-961 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Domenico Pirone
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e della Produzione, Università di Napoli 'Federico II', Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Judit Prats-Reig
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Veronica Ambrogi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dei Materiali e della Produzione, Università di Napoli 'Federico II', Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy.
| | - José Antonio Reina
- Departament de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Carrer Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Marta Giamberini
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
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Bogdanowicz KA, Gancarz P, Filapek M, Pociecha D, Marzec M, Chojnacka I, Iwan A. Solvent-free thiophene-based electrolytes: synthesis of new liquid-crystalline ionic conductors for batteries: part I. Dalton Trans 2018; 47:15714-15724. [DOI: 10.1039/c8dt02968g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis of new liquid crystalline thiophene esters, ThBz1 and ThBz2, for use in lithium-ion batteries as new, safe, solvent-free ionic conductors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pawel Gancarz
- Institute of Chemistry
- University of Silesia
- 40-006 Katowice
- Poland
| | - Michal Filapek
- Institute of Chemistry
- University of Silesia
- 40-006 Katowice
- Poland
| | - Damian Pociecha
- University of Warsaw
- Department of Chemistry
- 02-089 Warsaw
- Poland
| | - Monika Marzec
- Institute of Physics
- Jagiellonian University
- 30-348 Krakow
- Poland
| | - Ida Chojnacka
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Metallurgy
- Wroclaw University of Technology
- 50-370 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Agnieszka Iwan
- Military Institute of Engineer Technology
- 50-961 Wroclaw
- Poland
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Montané X, Bogdanowicz KA, Colace G, Reina JA, Cerruti P, Lederer A, Giamberini M. Advances in the design of self-supported ion-conducting membranes-new family of columnar liquid crystalline polyamines. Part 1: Copolymer synthesis and membrane preparation. POLYMER 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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