Diblock Copolymers of Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine and Dopamine Methacrylamide: Synthesis and Real-Time Adsorption Dynamics by SEIRAS and RAIRS

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing a block of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) with unique properties to prevent nonspecific protein adsorption and enhance lubrication in aqueous media and a block of dopamine methacrylamide (DOPMA) distinguished by excellent adhesion performance were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization for the first time. The DOPMA monomer with an acetonide-protected catechol group (acetonide-protected dopamine methacrylamide (ADOPMA)) was used, allowing the prevention of undesirable side reactions during polymerization and oxidation during storage. The adsorption behavior of the diblock copolymers with protected and unprotected catechol groups on gold surfaces was probed using attenuated total reflection (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS), and reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). The copolymers pMPC-b-pADOPMA demonstrated physisorption with rapid adsorption and ultrasound-assisted desorption, while the copolymers pMPC-b-DOPMA exhibited chemical adsorption with slower dynamics but a stronger interaction with the gold surface. SEIRAS and RAIRS allowed proving the reorientation of the diblock copolymers during adsorption, demonstrating the exposure of the pMPC block toward the aqueous phase.

Solid-State NMR and Impedance Spectroscopy Study of Spin Dynamics in Proton-Conducting Polymers: An Application of Anisotropic Relaxing Model

The ¹H–¹³C cross-polarization (CP) kinetics in poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride] (PMETAC) was studied under moderate (10 kHz) magic-angle spinning (MAS). To elucidate the role of adsorbed water in spin diffusion and proton conductivity, PMETAC was degassed under vacuum. The CP MAS results were processed by applying the anisotropic Naito and McDowell spin dynamics model, which includes the complete scheme of the rotating frame spin–lattice relaxation pathways. Some earlier studied proton-conducting and nonconducting polymers were added to the analysis in order to prove the capability of the used approach and to get more general conclusions. The spin-diffusion rate constant, which describes the damping of the coherences, was found to be strongly depending on the dipolar I–S coupling constant (D_IS). The spin diffusion, associated with the incoherent thermal equilibration with the bath, was found to be most probably independent of D_IS. It was deduced that the drying scarcely influences the spin-diffusion rates; however, it significantly (1 order of magnitude) reduces the rotating frame spin–lattice relaxation times. The drying causes the polymer hardening that reflects the changes of the local order parameters. The impedance spectroscopy was applied to study proton conductivity. The activation energies for dielectric relaxation and proton conductivity were determined, and the vehicle-type conductivity mechanism was accepted. The spin-diffusion processes occur on the microsecond scale and are one order faster than the dielectric relaxation. The possibility to determine the proton location in the H-bonded structures in powders using CP MAS technique is discussed.

Ultralight Magnetic Nanofibrous GdPO4 Aerogel

Anisotropic aerogels are promising bulk materials with a porous 3D structure, best known for their large surface area, low density, and extremely low thermal conductivity. Herein, we report the synthesis and some properties of ultralight magnetic nanofibrous GdPO₄ aerogels. Our proposed GdPO₄ aerogel synthesis route is eco-friendly and does not require any harsh precursors or conditions. The most common route for magnetic aerogel preparation is the introduction of magnetic nanoparticles into the structure during the synthesis procedure. However, the nanofibrous GdPO₄ aerogel reported in this work is magnetic by itself already and no additives are required. The hydrogel used for nanofibrous GdPO₄ aerogel preparation was synthesized via a hydrothermal route. The hydrogel was freeze-dried and heat-treated to induce a phase transformation from the nonmagnetic trigonal to magnetic monoclinic phase. Density of the obtained magnetic nanofibrous monoclinic GdPO₄ aerogel is only ca. 8 mg/cm³.

CP MAS kinetics in soft matter: Spin diffusion, local disorder and thermal equilibration in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

The ¹H-¹³C cross-polarization magic angle spinning kinetics was studied in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), i.e. a soft material with high degrees of internal freedom and molecular disorder, having the purpose to track the influence of increasing local incoherent contributions to the effects of coherent nature in the open quantum spin systems. The experimental CP MAS kinetic curves were analyzed in the frame of the models of isotropic and anisotropic spin diffusion with thermal equilibration. The rates of spin diffusion and spin-lattice relaxation as well as the profiles of distribution of dipolar coupling, the parameters accounting the effective size of spin clusters and the local order parameters were determined. The intensities of the peaks of periodic quasi-equilibrium origin gradually decrease with increasing disorder, i.e. going from most ordered to more disordered sites in the polymer. Assuming that the thermal motion induced by the temperature gradients is much faster than the equilibration driven by spin diffusion due the difference in spin temperatures, it was deduced that the thermal equilibration in pHEMA occurs in the time scale of 10^-4 s. This is one order of magnitude faster than the spectral spin diffusion, which occurs between spins having different resonance frequencies. The thermal equilibration in the case of remote spin clusters was described by the 'stretched exponent' decay. This led to the fractal dimension D_p ≈ 1.65 for both carbon sites (quaternary and carbonyl). The obtained D_p value corresponds to the aggregates, which images are very similar to those for pHEMA and some other related polymer structures are usually conceived.

Bioinspired Adhesion Polymers: Wear Resistance of Adsorption Layers

Mussel adhesive polymers owe their ability to strongly bind to a large variety of surfaces under water to their high content of 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (DOPA) groups and high positive charge. In this work, we use a set of statistical copolymers that contain medium-length poly(ethylene oxide) side chains that are anchored to the surface in three different ways: by means of (i) electrostatic forces, (ii) catechol groups (as in DOPA), and (iii) the combination of electrostatic forces and catechol groups. A nanotribological scanning probe method was utilized to evaluate the wear resistance of the formed layers as a function of normal load. It was found that the combined measurement of surface topography and stiffness provided an accurate assessment of the wear resistance of such thin layers. In particular, surface stiffness maps allowed us to identify the initiation of wear before a clear topographical wear scar was developed. Our data demonstrate that the molecular and abrasive wear resistance on silica surfaces depends on the anchoring mode and follows the order catechol groups combined with electrostatic forces > catechol groups alone > electrostatic forces alone. The devised methodology should be generally applicable for evaluating wear resistance or "robustness" of thin adsorbed layers on a variety of surfaces.