Abstract Optical metamaterials are artificially engineered architectures that exhibit desired optical properties not found in nature. Bespoke design requires the ability to define shape, size, orientation, and composition of material structures on nanometer length scale. Bottom‐up self‐assembly methods, such as block copolymer (BCP) templating, offer unique pathways tailored features, at spatial resolution routinely achieved by conventional top‐down techniques. In this review, authors...

Topological polymer networks with sliding cross-link points, the "sliding gels" (also called slide-ring gels), are a new class of supramolecular based on intermolecularly cross-linked α-cyclodextrins/poly(ethylene glycol) polyrotaxane precursors. The points such not fixed but can slide along template chain polyrotaxanes. main parameters governing gel properties number cyclodextrins per polyrotaxane, cross-linking density, and nature swelling solvent. Small-angle neutron scattering,...

Abstract Due to the rising need for clean energy, thermoelectricity has raised as a potential alternative reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Specifically, thermoelectric devices based polymers could offer an efficient path near-room temperature energy harvesters. Thus, control over properties of conducting is crucial and, herein, structural, electrical and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films doped with p-toluenesulfonate (Tos) molecules were investigated regards film...

Highly-ordered arrays with sub-10 nm features are produced topographical-directed self-assembly of low-molecular-weight poly(1,1-dimethyl silacyclobutane)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate). This system turns out to be high interest for lithographic applications since the domain orientation is solely controlled through polymer layer thickness, while promotion microphase separation obtained by a short thermal annealing process under mild conditions.

Fast, low-cost, and efficient energy storage technologies are urgently needed to balance the intermittence of sustainable sources. High-power capacitors using organic polymers offer a green scalable answer. They require dielectrics with high permittivity (εr) breakdown strength (EB), which bio-based poly(hydroxy urethane)s (PHUs) can provide. PHUs combine concentrations hydroxyl carbamate groups, thus enhancing their εr, highly tunable glass transition (Tg), dictates regions low dielectric...

This work focuses on the synthesis of polyrotaxanes with high molecular weight template poly(ethylene glycol) PEG (20 kg mol) having various and well-defined amounts α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) per chain from 3 up to 125. is complexation degree polyrotaxane defined be average number cyclodextrin molecules chain. The usual route has been used for values , while sparsely complexed have synthesized an original one pot in water. Furthermore, a systematic study was carried out understand control as...

The addition of a block copolymer to the polymer/fullerene blend is novel approach fabrication organic solar cells. (P3HT-b-P4VP) used as nanostructuring agent in active layer. A significant enhancement cell efficiency observed, correlation with morphology control, both before (as-cast) and after annealing process. Detailed facts importance specialist readers are published "Supporting Information". Such documents peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They made available submitted by...

By using different polysaccharide and polysulfonylimide type polyelectrolytes for the synthesis of aqueous PEDOT:polyelectrolyte dispersions, influence polyelectrolyte backbone anionic groups on properties resulting complex has been studied. The obtained systems were characterized regarding doping morphology complexes in dispersion as well optoelectronic dry films. Polyelectrolytes with high molar mass, a rigid backbone, strongly acidic functionalities resulted highly conducting films, while...

Fourier transform rheology (FTR) consists of analyzing the frequency spectrum nonlinear torque response obtained during large-amplitude oscillatory shear. In present work, analysis has been carried out in whole complex space and was especially focused on study third harmonic I*3/I1 (= I*(3ω1)/I1, where I1 is intensity at fundamental ω1), I3/I1 |I*3/I1|), phase shift Φ3 I*3/I1. The accuracy FTR to characterize architecture linear, sparsely, densely branched polyethylene regarding number...

Herein we propose an approach toward the optimization of photovoltaic performance bulk heterojunctions by tuning composition active layer with respect to molecular weight semiconducting polymer. We used a poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) blend as typical system and varied P3HT polymer in order determine its influence on heterojunction morphology well optoelectronic characteristics device. have systematically mapped out phase diagram for different...

We report the synthesis, phase behavior, and viscoelastic mechanical properties of a new type multiblock copolymer composed glassy poly(cyclohexylethylene) (C), semicrystalline poly(ethylene) (E), elastomeric poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) (P). Five nearly monodisperse CECEC−P hexablock terpolymers one (CECEC)2−P undecablock were synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization followed catalytic hydrogenation. These copolymers, which contain equal volume fractions P compositionally symmetric...

A poly(ionic liquid)‐based block copolymer (PIL BCP), namely, poly(vinyl acetate)‐ b ‐poly( N ‐vinyl‐3‐butylimidazolium bromide), PVAc‐ ‐PVBuImBr, is synthesized by sequential cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization (CMRP). PVAc precursor first prepared at 30 °C in bulk CMRP of VAc, using bis (acetylacetonato)cobalt(II), Co(acac) 2 , and a source (V‐70). Growth PVBuImBr from PVAc‐Co(acac) accomplished DMF/MeOH (2:1, v/v). This PIL BCP self‐assembles the sub‐micron size range into aggregated...

This work aims to characterize phase change materials (PCM) for thermal energy storage in buildings (thermal comfort). Fatty acids, biobased organic PCM, are attractive candidates integration into active or passive systems targeted application. Three pure fatty acids (capric, myristic and palmitic acids) two eutectic mixtures (capric-myristic capric-palmitic studied this paper. Although the main properties of have already been investigated reported literature, information available on is...

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting offers a great alternative to traditional techniques in tissue reconstruction, based on seeding cells manually into scaffold, better reproduce organs' complexity. When suitable bioink is engineered with appropriate physicochemical properties, such process can advantageously provide spatial control of the patterning that improves reconstruction. The design an adequate must fulfill long list criteria including biocompatibility, printability, and stability. In...

We have overcome the cost and time consumption limitations of common lithography techniques used to control self-assembly block copolymers into highly ordered 2D arrays through use a guiding pattern created from polymeric sub-layer. The is sinusoidal surface-relief grating interferometrically inscribed onto an azobenzene containing copolymer sub-layer leading defect-free single grain domains.

We report the increased crystallization of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in donor–acceptor mixture [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with P3HT by addition a block copolymer, P3HT-b-PI, where PI refers to polyisoprene. The photovoltaic performance devices created using this blend is markedly improved diblock copolymer. have characterized structure thin films P3HT-b-PI containing mixtures optical microscopy, scanning force UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, neutron reflectometry,...

In this work, we exemplify the sequential approach recently discovered, where group transfer polymerization (GTP) of methacrylic monomers is carried out in n-heptane as a nonpolar medium, with former monomer leading to an n-heptane-soluble dispersing block and other forming n-heptane-insoluble structuring block. This approach, called polymerization-induced self-assembly (GTPISA), applied here directly elaborate nanoparticles stable n-heptane. GTPISA achieved at RT presence...

Refrigeration systems based on electrocaloric materials are considered as potential alternatives for the current vapor compression--based devices. These offer efficiencies closer to Carnot limits, while also being compatible with miniaturization, compactness, and integration into electronics wearables. Several prototypes have been proposed that mostly rely mechanical fluid motion heat transfer, which prevent these from reaching higher operation frequency, good thermal contact, low loss....

We describe the synthesis and phase behavior of a nearly monodisperse poly(cyclohexylethylene-b-ethylene-b-cyclohexylethylene-b-ethylene-b-cyclohexylethylene-b-ethylene-alt-propylene) (CECEC-P) hexablock terpolymer, synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization followed catalytic hydrogenation. This multiblock copolymer, which contains equal volume fractions P compositionally symmetric CECEC, microphase separates through chemical incompatibility between C, E, exhibits complex morphology...

In this paper we report a synoptic methodology to evaluate and optimize the long-range order induced by graphoepitaxy of block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly. The authors focus study on BCP that produces hexagonally packed arrays cylinders oriented perpendicular substrate with film thickness greater than trench depth. Prepatterned structures used in approach have been generated e-beam lithography commercial hydrogen silesquioxane resist. A suitable surface modification was accomplished...