Inkjet-Printed Dual-Mode Electrochromic and Electroluminescent Displays Incorporating Ecofriendly Materials

Displays and indicators are an integral component of everyday electronics. However, the short lifecycle of most applications is currently contributing to the unsustainable growth of electronic waste. In this work, we utilize ecofriendly materials in combination with sustainable processing techniques to fabricate inkjet-printed, ecofriendly dual-mode displays (DMDs). These displays can be used in a reflective mode or an emissive mode by changing between DC and AC operation due to the combination of an electrochromic (EC) and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) layer in a single device. The EC polymer poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly­(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) serves as the reflective layer, while an ECL gel made of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), poly­(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis­(oxalato)­borate (BMIMBOB), and tris­(bipyridine)­ruthenium­(II) chloride (Ru2+(bpy)3Cl2) enables the emissive mode. The final dual-mode devices exhibited their maximum optical power output of 52 mcd/m2 at 4 V and 40 Hz and achieved an EC contrast of 45% and a coloration efficiency of 244 cm2/C at a wavelength of 690 nm. The fabricated devices showed clear readability in dark and light conditions when operated in reflective or emissive modes. This work demonstrates the applicability of ecofriendly and potentially biodegradable materials to reduce the amount of hazardous components in versatile display technologies

Poly(ionic liquid)s having coumarate counter-anions as corrosion inhibitors in acrylic UV coatings

New poly(ionic liquid) based on poly(diallyl dimethylammonium) and coumarate that can act as a corrosion inhibitor into an acrylic UV-cured formulation

Poly(ionic liquid)s having coumarate counter-anions as corrosion inhibitors in acrylic UV coatings

New poly(ionic liquid) based on poly(diallyl dimethylammonium) and coumarate that can act as a corrosion inhibitor into an acrylic UV-cured formulation

Organocatalyzed Synthesis of Aliphatic Polyesters from Ethylene Brassylate: A Cheap and Renewable Macrolactone

The use of organocatalysts for the polymerization of ethylene brassylate, a commercially available, cheap, and renewable macro­(di)­lactone is reported for the first time. Ethylene brassylate was polymerized by ring-opening polymerization under bulk and solution conditions at 80 °C. Polymerizations were carried out in the presence of several organic catalysts, such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), diphenyl phosphate (DPP), p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) and bases, 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]­dec-5-ene (TBD), 1,2,3-tricyclohexylguanidine (TCHG), and 1,2,3-triisopropylguanidine (TIPG), using benzyl alcohol as initiator. Results agreed with a ring opening polymerization process in which the rate of polymerization was accelerated by the catalysts presence in the order of TBD > PTSA > DBSA > DPP > TIPG > TCHG. Complementary computational studies supported the experimental results. The obtained poly­(ethylene brassylate) aliphatic polyesters were characterized by NMR, SEC, MALDI-TOF, DSC, and TGA. They showed molecular weights ranging from 2 to 13 kg mol–1 and polydispersity index between 1.5 and 2. Poly­(ethylene brassylate) is a semicrystalline polyester similar to poly­(ε–caprolactone) with slightly higher melting and glass transition temperatures (Tm = 69 °C, Tg = −33 °C) and good thermal stability

Bio-Based Polyhydroxyanthraquinones as High-Voltage Organic Electrode Materials for Batteries

Organic materials have gained much attention as sustainable electrode materials for batteries. Especially bio-based organic electrode materials (OEMs) are very interesting due to their geographical independency and low environmental impact. However, bio-based OEMs for high-voltage batteries remain scarce. Therefore, in this work, a family of bio-based polyhydroxy­anthraquinones (PHAQs)namely 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroxy­anthraquinone (OHAQ), 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxy­anthraquinone (HHAQ), and 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy­anthraquinone (THAQ)and their redox polymers were synthesized. These PHAQs were synthesized from plant-based precursors and exhibit both a high-potential polyphenolic redox couple (3.5–4.0 V vs Li/Li+) and an anthraquinone redox moiety (2.2–2.8 V vs Li/Li+), while also showing initial charging capacities of up to 381 mAh g–1. To counteract the rapid fading caused by dissolution into the electrolyte, a facile polymerization method was established to synthesize PHAQ polymers. For this, the polymerization of HHAQ served as a model reaction where formaldehyde, glyoxal, and glutaraldehyde were tested as linkers. The resulting polymers were investigated as cathode materials in lithium metal batteries. PHAQ polymer composites synthesized using formaldehyde as linker and 10 wt % multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), namely poly­(THAQ–formaldehyde)–10 wt % MWCNTs and poly­(HHAQ–formaldehyde)–10 wt % MWCNTs, exhibited the best cycling performance in the lithium metal cells, displaying a high-voltage discharge starting at 4.0 V (vs Li/Li+) and retaining 81.6 and 77.3 mAh g–1, respectively, after 100 cycles

Corrosion inhibition of mild steel by coumarate‐based ionic liquids and coatings

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) as corrosion inhibitors gained attention due to their attractive properties such as high inhibition efficiency and ability to absorb onto metal surfaces. In this work, six  ILs, based on the coumarate anion combined with different nitrogen cations (triethylammonium, pyrrolidinium and imidazolium with short and long alkyl chain attached to the nitrogen atom) have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors for steel. The anticorrosion properties of these ILs in solution were investigated electrochemically and the metal surface was analyzed by SEM. Moreover, the IL prepared from the coumarate anion and N‐dimethyl‐N‐tetradecyl ammonium ([DTA]Cou) was incorporated into an UV‐coating formulation as an additive and by designing a similar ionic monomer which covalently links to the formulation. Impedance spectroscopy during 11 days of exposure to a solution of NaCl 0,01M, confirmed the high performance of the inhibitor in both solution and when incorporated into a coating. The synthesized ILs present efficiencies in solution exceeding 70%, in particular the ILs [DTA]Cou and tetradecyl imidazolium coumarate ([C14Im]Cou) showed efficiencies of 88% and 91% respectively. The obtained inhibitors showed interesting anticorrosion behaviors and demonstrated how different cations and an increase in the chain length affect the inhibition properties

Catechol-Containing Acrylic Poly(ionic liquid) Hydrogels as Bioinspired Filters for Water Decontamination

Mussel-inspired catechol-containing materials have currently drawn great attention as biomaterials, adhesives, surface coatings and in bioelectronics, among other applications. In this work, we mimicked the ability of mussels as water filtration systems to adsorb organic and inorganic contaminants. For this purpose, the synthesis of biomimetic hydrogels by copolymerization of a new ionic monomer, dopamine methacrylic acid salt (iDA) with a series of water-soluble methacrylate monomers, was performed using visible light photopolymerization. The iDA ionic monomer is highly water soluble as compared to previously reported monomers containing catechol groups. This allows its incorporation into different acrylic hydrogels in concentrations of up to 50% mol of monomer-containing catechol groups, leading to functional materials with variable morphology and swelling properties. The hydrogels showed to be highly effective for the removal of heavy metals such as As­(V) and Cr­(VI) with very good effectiveness compared to other commonly employed natural sorbents, such as clays. Additionally, these poly­(ionic liquid) hydrogels containing catechol groups were evaluated in the removal also of other pollutants such as charged organic dyes. Preliminary results demonstrate the versatility of these materials that combine catechol and ionic chemistry for the adsorption of a wide variety of water pollutants

Poly(anthraquinonyl sulfides): High Capacity Redox Polymers for Energy Storage

Redox polymers with high energy storage capacity are searched in order to diminish the weight to the actual batteries. Poly­(anthraquinonyl sulfide) PAQS is a popular redox polymer which has shown a high performance cathode for lithium, sodium and magnesium batteries. Although PAQS cathodes show high cycling stability it has a relatively low theoretical specific capacity of 225 mAh/g. In this paper we show the synthesis and characterization of new poly­(anthraquinonyl sulfides) PAQxS in an attempt to improve the specific capacity of PAQS. Thus, a series of PAQxS polymers with different polysulfide segment lengths (x between 2 and 9 sulfur atoms) have been synthesized in high yields by reacting in situ formed sodium polysulfides with 1,5-dicholoroanthraquinone. The poly­(anthraquinonyl sulfides) powders were characterized by ATR-FTIR, solid state ¹³C NMR for the organic part and Raman spectroscopy for the chalcogenide part. This characterization confirmed the chemical structure of the PAQxS based on an anthraquinone moiety bind together by polysulfide segments. The electrochemical characterization showed a dual reversible redox mechanism associated with both the anthraquinone and polysulfide electrochemistry. Finally, lithium coin cell battery test of the PAQxS redox polymers as cathodes indicated that the capacity of poly­(anthraquinonyl sulfides) showed very high experimental initial capacity values above 600 mAh/g, less capacity loss than sulfur cathodes, and higher steady state capacity than PAQS

Composite lithium conducting solid electrolytes based on zwitterionic plastic crystals and polymer nanoparticles

Composite lithium conducting solid electrolytes based on zwitterionic plastic crystals and polymer nanoparticle