Poly(ionic liquid)s : polymers expanding classical property profiles

AbstractIn recent years, polymeric/polymerized ionic liquids or poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) were found to take an enabling role in some fields of polymer chemistry and material science. PILs combine the unique properties of ionic liquids with the flexibility and properties of macromolecular architectures and provide novel properties and functions that are of huge potential in a multitude of applications, including solid ionic conductor, powerful dispersant and stabilizer, absorbent, precursor for carbon materials, porous polymers, etc. So far, the preparation of PILs with various forms in cations and anions has mostly focused on the conventional free radical polymerization of IL monomers. Recent progress in the preparation of PILs via controlled/“living” radical polymerizations points out an unprecedented opportunity to precisely design and control macromolecular architecture of IL species on a meso-/nanoscale within a polymer matrix. There are also newly emerging polymerization techniques that have appeared for the preparation of PILs which have further pushed the limit of the design of PILs. In this review, we try to summarize the current preparative strategies of PILs, providing a systematic and actual view on the polymer chemistry behind. A discussion of the properties and applications of PILs constitutes the second part of this review

Colloidal tornadoes in a vial under gravitational sedimentation

Collective motion in living matter is highly intriguing but can also be observed in charged colloidal systems. Collective motion observed in colloidal systems requires extensive material synthesis, external stimuli, and advanced characterization methods that might be highly costly to be employed for teaching. Besides that, colloidal systems can inherently possess dynamic movements. Generally, colloidal sedimentation is pictured as a linear movement, but under certain conditions autonomously activated sedimentation can be attained. In this demonstration, a simple formation of colloidal tornadoes will be explored by gravitational force as the sole stimulus. This demonstration is ideal for the general public for colloid chemistry learning, and these findings can be coupled to colloidal stability lectures

One-step method for the preparation of cationic nanocellulose in reactive eutectic media

A novel method based on the use of reactive eutectic media for the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals and their functionalization with positively charged functional groups in a one-step procedure is presented. With its ability to form strong hydrogen bonds, the eutectic medium serves as a cellulose-solubilizing agent, while the presence of a Leuckart reagent provides the reactivity toward the reductive amination of carbonyl groups in the cellulose chains. In the proposed method, amorphous cellulose domains are partially dissolved by undergoing aminolysis, resulting in the formation of water-dispersible nanocellulose products with high crystallinity.<br

Metal-free visible-light-induced dithiol–ene clicking via carbon nitride to valorize 4-pentenoic acid as a functional monomer

The necessity for more bio-based building blocks and processes have led to utilizing new polymerization approaches with a lower carbon footprint. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of a visible-light-induced dithiol–ene clicking reaction between lignocellulosic biomass-derivable 4-pentenoic acid (4-PEA) and different dithiols, i.e., 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), 2,2-(ethylenedioxy)diethanethiol (EDDT), and 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDT), using graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) as a metal-free photocatalyst. The formation of dicarboxylic acid functional monomers were confirmed using 1H NMR and FT-IR. Furthermore, polyamides were synthesized from the dicarboxylic acid functional monomers to demonstrate the applicability of the monomers yielding new polyamide end polymers

What is the ability emotional intelligence test (MSCEIT) good for? An evaluation using item response theory.

The ability approach has been indicated as promising for advancing research in emotional intelligence (EI). However, there is scarcity of tests measuring EI as a form of intelligence. The Mayer Salovey Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, or MSCEIT, is among the few available and the most widespread measure of EI as an ability. This implies that conclusions about the value of EI as a meaningful construct and about its utility in predicting various outcomes mainly rely on the properties of this test. We tested whether individuals who have the highest probability of choosing the most correct response on any item of the test are also those who have the strongest EI ability. Results showed that this is not the case for most items: The answer indicated by experts as the most correct in several cases was not associated with the highest ability; furthermore, items appeared too easy to challenge individuals high in EI. Overall results suggest that the MSCEIT is best suited to discriminate persons at the low end of the trait. Results are discussed in light of applied and theoretical considerations. © 2014 Fiori et al