Effects of Neutral, Anionic and Cationic Polymer Brushes Grafted from Poly(para-phenylene vinylene) and Poly(para-phenylene ethynylene) on the Polymer’s Photoluminescent Properties

The conformation of a fluorescent polymer, in the solid state or in solution, plays a critical role in the polymer’s fluorescent properties. Thus, grafted side chains on a fluorescent polymer can directly influence its optical properties. In this study, the effect of grafted polymeric side chains on the photoluminescent properties of poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and poly(para-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) were investigated. Low-and high-molecular-weight grafts of neutral poly(n-butyl acrylate), cationic poly(trimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) and anionic poly(sulfopropyl acrylate) were grafted onto PPVs and PPEs, and the effect of the grafting on the graft copolymer’s absorption and emission wavelengths, the fluorescence intensity and the quantum yield were studied. The results indicate that in the case of the ionic grafts, contrary to the expectations, the polymers have a reduced quantum yield. This contrasts with the copolymers with uncharged side chains (PnBA), where a major increase in the quantum yield is seen for the self-quenching conjugated pristine polymers. These results reinforce that the molecular conformation of the polymer in a solid or solution plays a critical role in fluorescent polymers photoluminescent properties

Poly(para-Phenylene Ethynylene) (PPE)- and Poly(para-Phenylene Vinylene) (PPV)-Poly[(2-(Methacryloyloxy)Ethyl) Trimethylammonium Chloride] (PMETAC) Graft Copolymers Exhibit Selective Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a global health concern; as such, the need for new effective treatments and preventive measures is increasing. Poly(para-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE)- and poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV)-poly[(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl) trimethylammonium chloride] (PMETAC) graft copolymers were tested against a range of clinically and industrially relevant bacteria and results showed many of these conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPE’s) to be active. Of all of the compounds tested, PPE-g-PMETAC (low molecular weight, LMW) had greatest antimicrobial activity, especially against Enterococcus faecium, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii

Use of facile mechanochemical method to functionalize carbon nanofibers with nanostructured polyaniline and their electrochemical capacitance

A facile approach to functionalize carbon nanofibers [CNFs] with nanostructured polyaniline was developed via in situ mechanochemical polymerization of polyaniline in the presence of chemically treated CNFs. The nanostructured polyaniline grafting on the CNF was mainly in a form of branched nanofibers as well as rough nanolayers. The good dispersibility and processability of the hybrid nanocomposite could be attributed to its overall nanostructure which enhanced its accessibility to the electrolyte. The mechanochemical oxidation polymerization was believed to be related to the strong Lewis acid characteristic of FeCl3 and the Lewis base characteristic of aniline. The growth mechanism of the hierarchical structured nanofibers was also discussed. After functionalization with the nanostructured polyaniline, the hybrid polyaniline/CNF composite showed an enhanced specific capacitance, which might be related to its hierarchical nanostructure and the interaction between the aromatic polyaniline molecules and the CNFs

Bending continuous structures with SMAs: a novel robotic fish design

In this paper, we describe our research on bio-inspired locomotion systems using deformable structures and smart materials, concretely shape memory alloys (SMAs). These types of materials allow us to explore the possibility of building motor-less and gear-less robots. A swimming underwater fish-like robot has been developed whose movements are generated using SMAs. These actuators are suitable for bending the continuous backbone of the fish, which in turn causes a change in the curvature of the body. This type of structural arrangement is inspired by fish red muscles, which are mainly recruited during steady swimming for the bending of a flexible but nearly incompressible structure such as the fishbone. This paper reviews the design process of these bio-inspired structures, from the motivations and physiological inspiration to the mechatronics design, control and simulations, leading to actual experimental trials and results. The focus of this work is to present the mechanisms by which standard swimming patterns can be reproduced with the proposed design. Moreover, the performance of the SMA-based actuators’ control in terms of actuation speed and position accuracy is also addressed

Small-angle neutron scattering from poly(NIPA-co-AMPS) gels

The microstructure of the poly( N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamido- 2-methyl-1-propane sulphonic acid) gel, poly( NIPA-co-AMPS), was investigated as a function of temperature and cross-link density using the small angle neutron scattering technique. The sample temperature was varied in the range 30 to 55C. Two different behaviours of poly( NIPA-co-AMPS) gels were observed. At low temperature (30C), the magnitude of the scattered intensity increased with cross-link density suggesting that additional cross-links introduced more inhomogeneities in the gel network. At high temperatures the trend was reversed; that is the lower cross-link density, the higher the scattered intensity. Therefore, the role of cross-links at high temperature was to suppress microphase separation. The fitting of the experimental data with the Rabin and Panyukov theory indicated qualitative agreement