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Hu D, Ji X, Zhu J, Xu J. Crystallization-dictated assembly of block copolymers and nanoparticles under three-dimensional confinement. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024. [PMID: 39239768 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc03685a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Crystallization-dictated self-assembly of crystalline block copolymers (BCPs) in solution has been utilized to produce many impressive nanostructures. However, when the assembly of crystalline BCPs happens in a three-dimensional (3D) confined space, predicting the self-assembly structure of BCPs becomes challenging due to the competition between crystallization and microphase separation. In this feature article, we summarize the recent progress in the self-assembly of crystalline BCPs under confinement, emphasizing the impact of crystallization behavior on the assembly structure. Furthermore, we highlight the crystallization-directed assembly of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), either by pre-assembling crystalline polymers as templates or using crystalline polymer chain segments as ligands. By exploring the impact of crystallization behavior on the assembled structure of BCPs and NPs, it is helpful to predict and manipulate the properties of polymer/nanoparticle composites, thereby enabling the precise design of polymer metamaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengwen Hu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Xinyu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Jintao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Jiangping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage of Ministry of Education (HUST), State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mold Technology, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China.
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Tekell MC, Nikolakakou G, Glynos E, Kumar SK. Ionic Conductivity and Mechanical Reinforcement of Well-Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposite Electrolytes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37327494 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c04633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles are commonly added to polymer electrolytes to enhance both their mechanical and ion transport properties. Previous work reports significant increases in the ionic conductivity and Li-ion transference in nanocomposite electrolytes with inert, ceramic fillers. The mechanistic understanding of this property enhancement, however, assumes nanoparticle dispersion states─namely, well-dispersed or percolating aggregates─that are seldom quantified using small-angle scattering. In this work, we carefully control the inter-silica nanoparticle structure (where each NP has a diameter D = 14 nm) in a model polymer electrolyte system (PEO:LiTFSI). We find that hydrophobically modified silica NPs are stabilized against aggregation in an organic solvent by inter-NP electrostatic repulsion. Favorable NP surface chemistry and a strongly negative zeta potential promote compatibility with PEO and the resulting electrolyte. Upon prolonged thermal annealing, the nanocomposite electrolytes display structure factors with characteristic interparticle spacings determined by particle volume fraction. Thermal annealing and particle structuring yield significant increases in the storage modulus, G', at 90 °C for the PEO/NP mixtures. We measure the dielectric spectra and blocking-electrode (κb) conductivities from -100 to 100 °C, and the Li+ current fraction (ρLi+) in symmetric Li-metal cells at 90 °C. We find that nanoparticles monotonically decrease the bulk ionic conductivity of PEO:LiTFSI at a rate faster than Maxwell's prediction for transport in composite media, while ρLi+ does not significantly change as a function of particle loading. Thus, when nanoparticle dispersion is controlled in polymer electrolytes, Li+ conductivity monotonically, i.e., (κbρLi+), decreases but favorable mechanical properties are realized. These results imply that percolating aggregates of ceramic surfaces, as opposed to physically separated particles, probably are required to achieve increases in bulk, ionic conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marshall C Tekell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Georgia Nikolakakou
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, 710 03 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Glynos
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Sanat K Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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Vijaya L, Suresh S, Patel R, Gowd EB. Dual-Color Emission from Spatially Distributed Quantum Dots in Poly(l-lactide) Films with Diverse Morphologies. ACS Macro Lett 2022; 11:1272-1277. [PMID: 36282095 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Polymer-based multicolor emissive materials have growing demand due to their potential applications in various fields such as full-color displays, bioimaging, and light sources because of their processability and high stability. Herein, we report dual-color emissive hybrid materials based on biocompatible poly(l-lactide) and polyethylene glycol-modified two-dimensional layered double hydroxide quantum dots (PEG-LDHQDs). The morphology of polymer films tunes the spatial distribution of QDs within the polymer matrix, modulating the energy transfer between the QDs and affording the dual emission behavior in the aggregated states. The amorphous hybrid films show single emission (blue) from the finely dispersed QDs (mostly isolated) within the polymer matrix. In contrast, dual emission (blue and red) was observed when the polymer was crystallized due to the possible accumulation of QDs at the interface of crystalline and amorphous phases in the lamellar structure. Furthermore, the dual emission could be enhanced by the aggregation of QDs on the pores of the breath figure pattern constructed on the surface of the hybrid film.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Vijaya
- Materials Science and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum 695 019, Kerala, India
| | - Sruthi Suresh
- Materials Science and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum 695 019, Kerala, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Rajkumar Patel
- Energy and Environmental Science and Engineering (EESE), Integrated Science and Engineering Division (ISED), Underwood International College, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21983, South Korea
| | - E Bhoje Gowd
- Materials Science and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum 695 019, Kerala, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
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Mendez NF, Altorbaq AS, Müller AJ, Kumar SK. Organizing Nanoparticles in Semicrystalline Polymers by Modifying Particle Diffusivity. ACS Macro Lett 2022; 11:882-888. [PMID: 35763599 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that semicrystalline polymers can be reinforced by adding nanoparticles (NPs) and then ordering them into specific motifs using the crystallization process. A key result we have found is that when the spherulite growth rate is slowed below a critical value, then, NPs can order into the amorphous interlamellar regions of the semicrystalline structure. The effects of spherulite growth rate in this context have previously been examined, and here we focus on the role of NP diffusivity. We achieve this goal by changing the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) molecular weight as a route to altering the matrix viscosity. In particular, four molecular weights of PEO were employed ranging from 5.4-46 kDa. Each sample was loaded with 10 vol % of bare 14 nm diameter silica NPs. After initially studying spherulite growth rates, experiments were designed to fix the spherulite growth rate across sample molecular weights to study particle ordering, induced by polymer crystallization. We find that, at the fastest growth rate studied (12 μm/s), the lowest molecular weight sample showed the highest order, presumably due to enhanced particle mobility. However, as the spherulite growth rate is slowed, the maximum ordering behavior is observed at intermediate molecular weights. The trend observed at slow growth rates is explained by the large-scale segregation of NPs (presumably into the grain boundaries, i.e., the interspherulitic regions); evidence for this is the observed transition of spherulite growth to diffusion-control at slow growth rates in the lowest molecular weight PEO sample studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F Mendez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Abdullah S Altorbaq
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Alejandro J Müller
- POLYMAT and Department of Polymers and Advanced Materials: Physics, Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 3, 20018 Donostia-San, Sebastián, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sanat K Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, New York 10027, United States
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Altorbaq AS, Krauskopf AA, Wen X, Pérez-Camargo RA, Su Y, Wang D, Müller AJ, Kumar SK. Crystallization Kinetics and Nanoparticle Ordering in Semicrystalline Polymer Nanocomposites. Prog Polym Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2022.101527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Oh SM, Lee CH, Kim SY. Processing method determines the long-term stability of particle dispersions in concentrated nanoparticle/polymer suspensions. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:841-848. [PMID: 34982088 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01428e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Since the degree of particle dispersion can determine the physical properties of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), plenty of studies have focused on the intrinsic parameters of PNCs such as the concentration/size/chemistry of nanoparticles/polymers relevant to the particle microstructure. While the consideration of these parameters is based on PNCs being in their equilibrium states, PNCs can be kinetically trapped in a nonequilibrium state during the multiple steps of processing. In other words, processing conditions can contribute more significantly to particle dispersion and the properties of PNCs beyond the effects of the intrinsic parameters. Hence, a systematic understanding of the nonequilibrium behaviour of PNCs is required to achieve the desired properties. In this work, we prepared concentrated suspensions with two different preparation pathways. The two different pathways yield different polymer conformations particularly near the particle surface despite the same composition of particles/polymers as the systems are trapped in a nonequilibrium state. Accordingly, the particle microstructures are also greatly changed by the preparation pathway. We found that even in the presence of solvents, these preparation pathway-dependent nonequilibrium effects on particle microstructures persist after several months of aging and ultimately determine the long-term stability of the particle dispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Mi Oh
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 Unist-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Han Lee
- School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 Unist-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - So Youn Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Abstract
Lamellar structures are formed in a variety of soft materials including lipids, surfactants, block polymers, clays, colloids, semicrystalline polymers and others. Lamellar phases are characterized by scattering patterns containing pseudo-Bragg peaks from the layer ordering. However, fluctuations of the lamellae give rise to diffuse scattering in addition. This diffuse scattering can provide valuable information on the elastic properties of lamellae which control their fluctuations. A number of models to account for this are described in this Tutorial Review, along with examples from the literature. In addition, diffuse scattering from in-plane fluctuations or structures such as perforations or patterned nanoparticles is considered. This type of diffuse scattering can give unique information on the nature of, and positional (and bond orientational) ordering within, correlated structures within the lamellar plane. Anisotropic diffuse scattering features from thermotropic smectic phases is also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK.
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