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Feng H, Zheng N, Peng W, Ni C, Song H, Zhao Q, Xie T. Upcycling of dynamic thiourea thermoset polymers by intrinsic chemical strengthening. Nat Commun 2022; 13:397. [PMID: 35046425 PMCID: PMC8770626 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28085-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermoset polymers are indispensable but their environmental impact has been an ever-increasing concern given their typical intractability. Although concepts enabling their reprocessing have been demonstrated, their practical potential is limited by the deteriorated performance of the reprocessed materials. Here, we report a thiourea based thermoset elastomer that can be reprocessed with enhanced mechanical properties. We reveal that the thiourea bonds are dynamic which leads to the reprocessibility. More importantly, they can undergo selective oxidation during high temperature reprocessing, resulting in significant chemical strengthening within certain reprocessing cycles. This is opposite to most polymers for which reprocessing typically results in material deterioration. The possibility of having materials with inherent reprocessing induced performance enhancement points to a promising direction towards polymer recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 311215, P. R. China
| | - Ning Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China.
| | - Wenjun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Chujun Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Huijie Song
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Qian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 311215, P. R. China
| | - Tao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, 38 Zheda Road, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 311215, P. R. China
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2
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Su TT, Ren WF, Wang K, Yuan JM, Shao CY, Ma JL, Chen XH, Xiao LP, Sun RC. Bifunctional hydrogen-bonding cross-linked polymeric binders for silicon anodes of lithium-ion batteries. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.139552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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3
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Li C, Hilgeroth P, Hasan N, Ströhl D, Kressler J, Binder WH. Comparing C2=O and C2=S Barbiturates: Different Hydrogen-Bonding Patterns of Thiobarbiturates in Solution and the Solid State. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12679. [PMID: 34884482 PMCID: PMC8657569 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbonyl-centered hydrogen bonds with various strength and geometries are often exploited in materials to embed dynamic and adaptive properties, with the use of thiocarbonyl groups as hydrogen-bonding acceptors remaining only scarcely investigated. We herein report a comparative study of C2=O and C2=S barbiturates in view of their differing hydrogen bonds, using the 5,5-disubstituted barbiturate B and the thiobarbiturate TB as model compounds. Owing to the different hydrogen-bonding strength and geometries of C2=O vs. C2=S, we postulate the formation of different hydrogen-bonding patterns in C2=S in comparison to the C2=O in conventional barbiturates. To study differences in their association in solution, we conducted concentration- and temperature-dependent NMR experiments to compare their association constants, Gibbs free energy of association ∆Gassn., and the coalescence behavior of the N-H‧‧‧S=C bonded assemblies. In Langmuir films, the introduction of C2=S suppressed 2D crystallization when comparing B and TB using Brewster angle microscopy, also revealing a significant deviation in morphology. When embedded into a hydrophobic polymer such as polyisobutylene, a largely different rheological behavior was observed for the barbiturate-bearing PB compared to the thiobarbiturate-bearing PTB polymers, indicative of a stronger hydrogen bonding in the thioanalogue PTB. We therefore prove that H-bonds, when affixed to a polymer, here the thiobarbiturate moieties in PTB, can reinforce the nonpolar PIB matrix even better, thus indicating the formation of stronger H-bonds among the thiobarbiturates in polymers in contrast to the effects observed in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenming Li
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.L.); (P.H.)
| | - Philipp Hilgeroth
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.L.); (P.H.)
| | - Nazmul Hasan
- Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (N.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Dieter Ströhl
- Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Jörg Kressler
- Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (N.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Wolfgang H. Binder
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.L.); (P.H.)
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4
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Fujisawa Y, Asano A, Itoh Y, Aida T. Mechanically Robust, Self-Healable Polymers Usable under High Humidity: Humidity-Tolerant Noncovalent Cross-Linking Strategy. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:15279-15285. [PMID: 34428898 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c06494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Although mechanically robust polymer materials had not been thought to self-heal, we recently found that poly(ether thiourea) PTUEG3, which is a glassy polymer with high mechanical strength, self-heals even at ambient temperatures. This finding updated the above preconception. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that PTUEG3, under high humidity, absorbs water and is plasticized to lose its mechanical strength. Humidity-induced plasticization is a general problem for polymers with polar groups. Herein, we report that PTUEG3, if designed by copolymerization to contain only 10 mol % of a dicyclohexylmethane (Cy2M) thiourea unit (TUCy2M), serves as a humidity-tolerant, mechanically robust polymer material that can self-heal at ambient temperatures. This copolymer contained, in its ether thiourea (TUEG3)-rich domain, a humidity-tolerant, noncovalently cross-linked 3D network with mechanical robustness formed by stacking of the Cy2M group. The present work provides a promising design strategy for mechanically robust, self-healable polymers usable under high humidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Fujisawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Atsushi Asano
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Defense Academy, 1-10-20 Hashirimizu, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-8686, Japan
| | - Yoshimitsu Itoh
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takuzo Aida
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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5
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Ren WF, Le JB, Li JT, Hu YY, Pan SY, Deng L, Zhou Y, Huang L, Sun SG. Improving the Electrochemical Property of Silicon Anodes through Hydrogen-Bonding Cross-Linked Thiourea-Based Polymeric Binders. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:639-649. [PMID: 33356103 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c18743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Binders play a crucial role in the development of silicon (Si) anodes for lithium-ion batteries with high specific energy. The large volume change of Si (∼300%) during repeated discharge and charge processes causes the destruction and separation of electrode materials from the copper (Cu) current collector and ultimately results in poor cycling performance. In the present study, we design and prepare hydrogen-bonding cross-linked thiourea-based polymeric binders (denoted CMC-co-SN) in consideration of their excellent binding interaction with the Cu current collector and low cost as well. The CMC-co-SN binders are formed through in situ thermopolymerization of chain-type carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) with thiourea (SN) in the drying process of Si electrode disks. A tight and physical interlocked layer between the CMC-co-SN binder and Cu current collector is derived from a dendritic nonstoichiometric copper sulfide (CuxS) layer on the interface and enhances the binding of electrode materials with the Cu current collector. When applying the CMC-co-SN binders to micro- (∼3 μm) (μSi) and nano- (∼50 nm) (nSi) Si particles, the Si anodes exhibit high initial Coulomb efficiency (91.5% for μSi and 83.2% for nSi) and excellent cyclability (1121 mA h g-1 for μSi after 140 cycles and 1083 mA h g-1 for nSi after 300 cycles). The results demonstrate that the CMC-co-SN binders together with a physical interlocked layer have significantly improved the electrochemical performance of Si anodes through strong binding forces with the current collector to maintain electrode integrity and avoid electric contact loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Feng Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and BioMaterials, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Jia-Bo Le
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jun-Tao Li
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yi-Yang Hu
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Si-Yu Pan
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Li Deng
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ling Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Shi-Gang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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6
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Kulow RW, Wu JW, Kim C, Michaudel Q. Synthesis of unsymmetrical sulfamides and polysulfamides via SuFEx click chemistry. Chem Sci 2020; 11:7807-7812. [PMID: 34094153 PMCID: PMC8163303 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc03606d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors, N,N'-disubstituted sulfamides have been used in a range of applications from medicinal chemistry to anion-binding catalysis. However, compared to ureas or thioureas, the utilization of this unique moiety remains marginal, in part because of a lack of general synthetic methods to access unsymmetrical sulfamides. Specifically, polysulfamides are a virtually unknown type of polymer despite their potential utility in non-covalent dynamic networks, an intense area of research in materials science. We report herein a practical and efficient process to prepare unsymmetrical sulfamides via Sulfur(vi)-Fluoride Exchange (SuFEx) click chemistry. This process was then applied to synthesize polysulfamides. Thermal analysis showed that this family of polymers possess high thermal stability and tunable glass transition temperatures. Finally, hydrolysis studies indicated that aromatic polysulfamides could be recycled back to their constituting monomers at the end of their life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W Kulow
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | - Jiun Wei Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | - Cheoljae Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | - Quentin Michaudel
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University College Station Texas 77843 USA
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7
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Zumbuehl A. Artificial Phospholipids and Their Vesicles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:10223-10232. [PMID: 30278137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b02601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipids are at the heart and origin of life on this planet. The possibilities in terms of phospholipid self-assembly and biological functions seem limitless. Nonetheless, nature exploits only a small fraction of the available chemical space of phospholipids. Using chemical synthesis, artificial phospholipid structures become accessible, and the study of their biophysics may reveal unprecedented properties. In this article, the recent advances by our work group in the field of chemical lipidology are summarized. The family of diamidophospholipids is discussed in detail from monolayer characterization to the formation of faceted vesicles, culminating in the template-free self-assembly of phospholipid cubes and the possible applications of vesicle origami in modern personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zumbuehl
- Department of Chemistry , University of Fribourg , Chemin du Musée 9 , 1700 Fribourg , Switzerland
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8
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He M, Chen X, Liu D, Wei D. Two-dimensional self-healing hydrogen-bond-based supramolecular polymer film. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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9
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Abu-Danso E, Peräniemi S, Leiviskä T, Bhatnagar A. Synthesis of S-ligand tethered cellulose nanofibers for efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from synthetic and industrial wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 242:1988-1997. [PMID: 30057213 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) tethered with sulphur as anionic ligand were synthesized from medical absorbent cotton by dissolution with NaOH, CO(NH2)₂ followed by mechanical intrusion of sulphur from SC(NH₂)₂ at an elevated temperature. The solid-phase CNFs embedded with sulphur complexes possessed negative sites which were used to remove cationic metals viz., Pb(II) and Cd(II) from synthetic and industrial wastewater. The physicochemical properties of the CNFs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pH at point of zero charge (pHpzc) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Batch adsorption studies were conducted with synthetic wastewater to optimize the conditions for Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal by CNFs. Different adsorption kinetic models were applied to assess and define the adsorption mechanism. The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 1.16 and 0.82 mmol g-1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions, respectively. Regeneration studies showed that the CNFs can be reused using 0.1 M NaOH as eluent. The percentage removal efficiency of different cationic metals by CNFs from untreated industrial wastewater ranged from ca. 90-98%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Abu-Danso
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Sirpa Peräniemi
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tiina Leiviskä
- Chemical Process Engineering, University of Oulu, P. O. Box 4300, FI- 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Amit Bhatnagar
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
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10
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Dreux KM, Tschumper GS. Examination of the structures, energetics, and vibrational frequencies of small sulfur‐containing prototypical dimers, (H
2
S)
2
and H
2
O/H
2
S. J Comput Chem 2018; 40:229-236. [DOI: 10.1002/jcc.25578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn M. Dreux
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Mississippi University Mississippi, 38677‐1848
| | - Gregory S. Tschumper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Mississippi University Mississippi, 38677‐1848
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11
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Neuhaus F, Mueller D, Tanasescu R, Stefaniu C, Zaffalon PL, Balog S, Ishikawa T, Reiter R, Brezesinski G, Zumbuehl A. Against the rules: pressure induced transition from high to reduced order. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:3978-3986. [PMID: 29736539 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00212f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Envisioning the next generation of drug delivery nanocontainers requires more in-depth information on the fundamental physical forces at play in bilayer membranes. In order to achieve this, we combine chemical synthesis with physical-chemical analytical methods and probe the relationship between a molecular structure and its biophysical properties. With the aim of increasing the number of hydrogen bond donors compared to natural phospholipids, a phospholipid compound bearing urea moieties has been synthesized. The new molecules form interdigitated bilayers in aqueous dispersions and self-assemble at soft interfaces in thin layers with distinctive structural order. At lower temperatures, endothermic and exothermic transitions are observed during compression. The LC1 phase is dominated by an intermolecular hydrogen bond network of the urea moieties leading to a very high chain tilt of 52°. During compression and at higher temperatures, presumably this hydrogen bond network is broken allowing a much lower chain tilt of 35°. The extremely different monolayer thicknesses violate the two-dimensional Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Neuhaus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
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12
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Yanagisawa Y, Nan Y, Okuro K, Aida T. Mechanically robust, readily repairable polymers via tailored noncovalent cross-linking. Science 2017; 359:72-76. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aam7588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 505] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Expanding the range of healable materials is an important challenge for sustainable societies. Noncrystalline, high-molecular-weight polymers generally form mechanically robust materials, which, however, are difficult to repair once they are fractured. This is because their polymer chains are heavily entangled and diffuse too sluggishly to unite fractured surfaces within reasonable time scales. Here we report that low-molecular-weight polymers, when cross-linked by dense hydrogen bonds, yield mechanically robust yet readily repairable materials, despite their extremely slow diffusion dynamics. A key was to use thiourea, which anomalously forms a zigzag hydrogen-bonded array that does not induce unfavorable crystallization. Another key was to incorporate a structural element for activating the exchange of hydrogen-bonded pairs, which enables the fractured portions to rejoin readily upon compression.
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13
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Zhang HS, Zhang KY, Chen LC, Li YX, Chai LQ. Crystal structure, spectral property, antimicrobial activity and DFT calculation of N-(coumarin-3-yl)-N′-(2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) urea. J Mol Struct 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2017.05.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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14
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Neuhaus F, Zobi F, Brezesinski G, Dal Molin M, Matile S, Zumbuehl A. Correlation of surface pressure and hue of planarizable push-pull chromophores at the air/water interface. Beilstein J Org Chem 2017; 13:1099-1105. [PMID: 28684989 PMCID: PMC5480347 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.13.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is currently not possible to directly measure the lateral pressure of a biomembrane. Mechanoresponsive fluorescent probes are an elegant solution to this problem but it requires first the establishment of a direct correlation between the membrane surface pressure and the induced color change of the probe. Here, we analyze planarizable dithienothiophene push-pull probes in a monolayer at the air/water interface using fluorescence microscopy, grazing-incidence angle X-ray diffraction, and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. An increase of the lateral membrane pressure leads to a well-packed layer of the 'flipper' mechanophores and a clear change in hue above 18 mN/m. The fluorescent probes had no influence on the measured isotherm of the natural phospholipid DPPC suggesting that the flippers probe the lateral membrane pressure without physically changing it. This makes the flipper probes a truly useful addition to the membrane probe toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Neuhaus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Zobi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gerald Brezesinski
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Potsdam-Golm, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marta Dal Molin
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Matile
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Zumbuehl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
- National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Chemical Biology, Geneva, Switzerland
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