Polymer brush surfaces that alter their physical properties in response to chemical stimuli have the capacity be used as new surface-based sensing materials. For such surfaces, detecting polymer conformation is key capabilities. Herein, we report on FRET-integrated ultrathin (<70 nm) exhibit stimuli-dependent FRET with changing conformation. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) polymers were chosen due exceptional sensitivity liquid mixture compositions and ability assembled into well-defined...

Co-nonsolvency occurs if a mixture of two good solvents causes the collapse or demixing polymers into polymer-rich phase in certain range compositions these solvents. In this work, we systematically study co-nonsolvency behavior poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes different grafting densities series alcohol–water binary mixtures with increasing hydrophobic parts ranging from methanol to 1-butanol by using ellipsometry. We report strong transition alcohol concentration water-rich phase, which...

Polymer brushes, consisting of densely end-tethered polymers to a surface, can exhibit rapid and sharp conformational transitions due specific stimuli, which offer intriguing possibilities for surface-based sensing the stimuli. The key toward unlocking these is development methods readily transduce signals from polymer changes. Herein, we report on single-fluorophore integrated ultrathin (<40 nm) brush surfaces that changing fluorescence properties based conformation. basis our change in...

Exfoliation of layered inorganic nanomaterials into single-layered sheets has been widely interested in materials chemistry and composite fabrication. Here, we report the exfoliation zirconium phosphate nanoplatelets by using small molecule intercalating agents ionic liquids, which opens a new platform for fabricating from synthetic compounds.

Despite the fact that observation of cononsolvency was reported as early four decades ago, its phase-transition mechanism is still under debate. In this work, we provided a comprehensive study phase behaviors poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) in sulfoxide or sulfone aqueous solutions. We observed sharp collapse transition PNiPAAm brushes but not solutions by equilibrium measurements situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. found hydrogen-bond formation between oxygens and amide hydrogens polymer...

When the topology of polymer brushes is changed from linear to cyclic or looped, many brush properties will be improved. Yet, whether such a variation also affects (vapor-)solvation and swelling has remained unclear. In fact, in recent publication, Vagias co-workers (Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2023, 44 (9), 2300035) reported an unequal for challenged theoreticians develop new Flory-Huggins theory that includes effects. this letter, we address challenge employ molecular dynamics...

In this study, the cononsolvency transition of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) brushes in aqueous ethanol mixtures was studied by using Vis-spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) discussed conjunction with adsorption-attraction model. We proved that PNiPAAm showed features a volume phase transition, such as sharp collapse, reaching maximum decrease thickness for very narrow composition range 15% to 17%. These observations are agreement recently published preferential adsorption model effect.

Cononsolvency occurs if a mixture of two good solvents causes the collapse or demixing polymers into polymer-rich phase in certain range compositions these solvents. The better solvent is usually called cosolvent, and other common solvent. An unsolved problem understanding cononsolvency transition role various polymer–solvent cosolvent–solvent interactions. In this work, using mean-field model, we offer comprehensive quantitative theoretical study effect neutral immobilized polymers,...

Stimulus response of polymer-decorated nanopores/nanochannels is a fascinating topic both in polymer science and modern nanotechnology; however, it still challenging for standard analytical methods to characterize these switchable nanopores/nanochannels. In this study, based on the physics translocation, we developed an method thus first time were able quantitatively measure effective thickness layer around rim nanopores. As application example method, studied translocation dynamics...

Using analytical techniques and Langevin dynamics simulations, we investigate the of polymer translocation through a nanochannel embedded in two dimensions under an applied external field. We examine time for various ratio channel length $L$ to $N$. For short channels $L\ll N$, $\tau \sim N^{1+\nu}$ weak driving force $F$, while $\tau\sim F^{-1}L$ long $L\gg independent chain Moreover, observe minimum as function $L/N$ different forces widths. These results are interpreted by waiting single segment.

Y₂O₃-stabilized ZrO₂ nanoparticles are prepared through a modified precipitation–calcination method by using surfactants and their tribological performances have been investigated in base mineral oil commercial formulated lubricating oils.

Two-dimensional (2D) inorganic layered nanoplatelets exhibit superior lubricating properties in both solid states and oil dispersions. In this paper, we have systematically investigated the effects of surface interlayer modifications on tribological performance α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) mineral oil. The pristine ZrP were first reacted with silanes different alkyl chains to achieve outer modifications, followed by intercalation amines alter spacing. Friction anti-wear studies various oils...

Abstract Polymer brush surfaces that alter their physical properties in response to chemical stimuli have the capacity be used as new surface‐based sensing materials. For such surfaces, detecting polymer conformation is key capabilities. Herein, we report on FRET‐integrated ultrathin (&lt;70 nm) exhibit stimuli‐dependent FRET with changing conformation. Poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) polymers were chosen due exceptional sensitivity liquid mixture compositions and ability assembled into...

Purification and separation by nanofiltration is a fascinating interdisciplinary topic that being actively studied both in polymer science nanoscience/nanotechnology. However, comprehensive understanding of the mechanism based on sound physical foundation for process aqueous solutions remains very challenging not well established. To confront this issue, study we developed model motivated classic physics permeation chains confining channels Brownian motion pressure field, thus generalizing...

Combining the Langevin Dynamics method and Computational Fluid method, under conditions of Knudsen number Kn ≤ 10−1, we investigated dynamics a linear polymer transported into channel width D = 4σ embedded in two dimensions, driven by force-mimicked steady convergent microfluidics. We have proven that critical volume-flow rate Jc ∼ kBT/η 1/η exists transport, independent chain length. Once has found pore entrance advance, find transport time, τ, is proportional to length N, but inversely J;...

We study the reentrant condensation of sparsely charged polyelectrolytes in dilute solutions multivalent ions, whose phase-transition mechanism remains under debate. propose a mean-field model by recasting concept "physical crosslinking" effect, which can predict essential features including phase diagram polyelectrolyte. The unveils that strong adsorption between ionic monomers and ions be at origin peculiar phenomenon rather low concentrations salts trigger both collapse re-entry...

We explore the reentrant condensation of polyelectrolytes triggered by multivalent salts, whose phase-transition mechanism remains under debate. propose a theory to study condensation, which separates electrostatic effect into two parts: short-range gluonic because sharing ions ionic monomers and long-range correlation from all ions. The suggests that governs requiring minimum coupling energy initiate phase transition. This explains why diluted salts with selective multivalency trigger...

We theoretically study the reentrant condensation of a polyelectrolyte in presence an oppositely-charged surfactant,a phenomenon whose phase-transition mechanism remains under discussion. focus on adsorption and attraction effects surfactant near/on polymer chains, ignore their own non-essential mixing if molecules are far away from chains. This approach allows us to construct simple mean-field theory solve it analytically, finally rationalize essential features (such as "egg shape" spinodal...

Though archaeological and historical-document evidences for the cliff necropolises in ancient China were reported literature, bioarchaeological analysis them is still absent. It therefore aim of this paper presents first skeletal samples from Iron Age China. In work, remains 16 individuals (two males, three females, seven unsexed adults, one subadult, indeterminate sex age individuals) Wangyuancun site (on border Chengdu Plain, China) examined stature, dental pathologies, linear enamel...

Graphene oxide (GO) has continued to prompt fantastic discoveries and applications; however, the highly extended two-dimensional π-conjugation of pristine graphene sheets leads aggregation GO in strong brine, which impairs applications GO. In this work with covalently-bound oligomeric ethylene-glycol brushes (termed as GOC) was prepared using graphite a raw material. The synthesized GOC investigated by holistic combination experimental characterizations molecular dynamic simulations. Our...