Supramolecular polyisobutylenes (PIB) bearing mono- and bifunctional chain ends with hydrogen-bonding units were prepared, their association behavior in the melt state was investigated by dynamic rheology compared to aggregation solution, aiming at determining dynamics solid state. A preparation combining living cationic polymerization either azide/alkyne "click" reactions or nucleophilic substitution enabled a full end group transformation final PIB polymers, modified thymine...

In situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering experiments on thin films of block copolymers during annealing in neutral solvent vapors are reported. By removing the a controlled manner, period microphase separated morphology is found to increase with increasing copolymer concentration power law manner an exponent ∼ 2/3. venting systems at different rates removal process, kinetically arresting system, dried film can be varied. As service our authors and readers, this journal provides...

Abstract Supramolecular polymers are formed through non-covalent, directional interactions between monomeric building blocks. The assembly of these materials is reversible, which enables functions such as healing, repair, or recycling. However, supramolecular generally fail to match the mechanical properties conventional commodity plastics. Here we demonstrate how strong, stiff, tough, and healable can be accessed combination two metallosupramolecular with complementary that feature same...

To meet the increasing demand for patterning smaller feature sizes, a lithography technique is required with ability to pattern sub-20 nm features. While top-down photolithography approaching its limit in continued drive Moore's law, use of directed self-assembly (DSA) block copolymers (BCPs) offers promising route this challenge achieving nanometre sizes. Recent developments BCP and DSA BCPs are reviewed. tremendous advances have been made field, there still hurdles that need be overcome...

We present temperature-dependent SAXS measurements on symmetric poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) and poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) with added lithium triflate. Salt doping led to a strong increase of the order–disorder transition temperatures increased domain spacings. Based detailed analysis scattering data close transition, three contributions structural changes can be distinguished: an incompatibility between different monomers, additional volume salt, chain stretching due...

Real-time grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) experiments were used to study the self-assembly of cylinder-forming block copolymers (BCPs) in thin films during thermal annealing and solvent vapor annealing. BCP annealed near-neutral for on a hot plate under an inert gas atmosphere The initially ordered heated or swollen induce order–disorder transition (ODT) then cooled was removed, respectively. domain spacings BCPs as determined from situ GISAXS measurements removal...

The reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites can be achieved through alignment or percolation cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Here, we compare the efficacy these mechanisms in thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) elastomer containing thermally stable cotton CNCs. CNC was by melt spinning nanocomposite fibers, while a percolating network generated solvent casting films with contents up to 20 wt %. While both CNCs and PU matrix were entirely isotropic at all concentrations as confirmed wide-angle...

High-voltage cathode materials are important for the implementation of high-energy-density Li-ion batteries. However, with increasing cut-off voltages, interfacial instabilities between electrodes and electrolyte limit their commercial development. This study addresses this issue by proposing a new additive, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS). APTS stabilises interface LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) in LNMO‖Li half-cells due to its multifunctional character. The amino groups facilitate formation...

A few percent of transition metals impregnated inside some biological organisms in nature remarkably improve such organisms' mechanical stability. Although the lure to emulate them for development new biomimetic structural materials has been great, practical advances have rare because lack proper synthetic approaches. Multiple pulsed vapor phase infiltration proved successful preparation metal with highly improved The artificially infiltrated (Al, Ti, or Zn) from gas lead around 3 times...

High-aspect-ratio sub-15-nm silicon trenches are fabricated directly from plasma etching of a block copolymer mask. A novel method that combines reconstruction process and reactive ion is used to make the polymer Silicon characterized by various methods as master for subsequent imprinting different materials. nanoholes generated with cylindrical microdomains oriented normal surface. Detailed facts importance specialist readers published "Supporting Information". Such documents peer-reviewed,...

Mesoporous titania microspheres (MTMs) have been employed in many applications, including (photo)catalysis as well energy conversion and storage. Their morphology offers a hierarchical structural design motif that lends itself to being incorporated into established large-scale fabrication processes. Despite the fact device performance hinges on precise morphological characteristics of these materials, control over detailed mesopore structure tunability pore size remains challenge. Especially...

Abstract Biopolymers offer vast potential for renewable and sustainable devices. While nature mastered the use of biopolymers to create highly complex 3D structures optimized their photonic response, artificially created still lack nature's diversity. To bridge this gap between natural engineered biophotonic structures, fundamental questions such as formation process interplay structural order disorder must be answered. Herein, biological characterization techniques are reviewed, focusing on...

We report the first in situ measurement of helical pitch nanofilament B4 phase bent-core liquid crystals using linearly polarized, resonant soft X-ray scattering at carbon K-edge. A strong, anisotropic peak corresponding to half-pitch twisted smectic layer structure was observed. The equilibrium NOBOW is found be 120 nm, essentially independent temperature. However, can tuned by mixing guest organic molecules with host, followed thermal annealing.

ABSTRACT Thin films of asymmetric poly(styrene‐ b ‐4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐ ‐P4VP) block copolymers are studied by means in situ grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) during solvent vapor annealing tetrahydrofuran, a selective for the PS majority copolymer. Upon swelling, PS‐ ‐P4VP form hexagonal arrays spherical P4VP microdomains matrix 7–9 layers thick. Deswelling induces transition from to face‐centered orthorhombic (fco) symmetry, which is stable only at ∼7 microdomains....

Gold gyroid optical metamaterials are known to possess a reduced plasma frequency and linear dichroism imparted by their intricate subwavelength single morphology. The anisotropic properties are, however, only evident when large individual domain is investigated. Multidomain metamaterials, fabricated using polyisoprene-b-polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock terpolymer consisting of multiple small domains with random orientation handedness, instead exhibit isotropic properties....

Over the past two decades, metamaterials have led to an increasing number of biosensing and nanophotonic applications due possibility a careful control light propagating through subwavelength features. Chiral nanostructures (characterized by absence any mirror symmetry), in particular, give rise unique chiro-optical properties such as circular dichroism optical activity. Here, we present gyroid metamaterial with periodicity 65 nm exhibiting strong at visible wavelengths. Our bottom-up...

The composite solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), a soft copolymer reinforced with cellulose nanofibers, provides both high ionic conductivity and stiffness to suppress dendrite growth, thereby enabling high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.

ABSTRACT A novel design strategy for versatile soft‐etchable miktoarm block copolymers based on polystyrene (PS) and polylactide (PLA) in a three‐arm star‐like architecture is presented. Living anionic polymerization was employed the PS block, followed by end functionalization with DL‐1,2‐isopropylidene glyceryl glycidyl ether (IGG), yielding one hydroxyl group two additional, protected OH groups at ω‐terminus. This synthetic route permits selective substitution of free an azide group,...

Abstract Optical metamaterials offer the tantalizing possibility of creating extraordinary optical properties through careful design and arrangement subwavelength structural units. Gyroid‐structured possess a chiral, cubic, triply periodic bulk morphology that exhibits redshifted effective plasma frequency. They also exhibit strong linear dichroism, origin which is not yet understood. Here, interaction light with gold gyroid studied correlation between surface its dichroism found. The...

The structural, thermomechanical, and viscoelastic properties of metallosupramolecular polymers (MSPs) can be controlled through the choice multiligand monomer nature metal salt from which these materials are assembled. This versatility dynamic certain metal–ligand (ML) complexes make MSPs very interesting for design stimuli-responsive materials. We here report on investigation structure–property relationships based a macromonomer formed by terminating telechelic poly(ethylene-co-butylene)...

Abstract Solid polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries promise improvements in safety and energy density if their conductivity can be increased. Nanostructured block‐copolymer specifically have the potential to provide both good ionic mechanical properties. This study shows that previously neglected nanoscale composition of electrolyte close electrode surface has an important effect on impedance measurements, despite its negligible extent compared bulk electrolyte. Using standard...

Abstract Structural color originates from the interference of light with periodic structures that feature characteristic length scales on order wavelength visible light. Long‐range in photonic usually causes iridescence, and increasing disorder renders colors angle‐independent. Random distributes scattering intensity over all wavelengths, producing white absence absorption. Various non‐iridescent, vivid patterns are found Sternotomini longhorn beetles. Herein, Sternotomis virescens is...