Ultra-High T Thermoset Fibers Obtained by Electrospinning of Functional Polynorbornenes.

Insertion polynorbornenes (PBNEs) are rigid-rod polymers that have very high glass transition temperatures (T). In this study, two functional PNBEs were electrospun in the presence of a variety of cross-linkers, resulting in fibers with Ts greater than 300 °C. The fibers are long (several mm), rigid, and with diameters that can be tuned in the range 300 nm-10 μm.

Diffusion Control of Organic Cathode Materials in Lithium Metal Battery.

Organic cathode materials for lithium batteries are becoming increasingly popular because they have high theoretical redox voltage, high gravimetric capacity, low cost, easy processing and sustainability. However, their development is limited by their solubility in the electrolyte, which leads to rapid deterioration of the battery upon cycling. We developed a Janus membrane, which consists of two layers - a commercial polypropylene separator (Celgard) and a 300-600 nm layer of exfoliated graphite that was applied by a simple and environmentally friendly process.

High-Capacity and Long-Cycle Life Aqueous Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery with the FePO Anode.

Aqueous lithium-ion batteries are emerging as strong candidates for a great variety of energy storage applications because of their low cost, high-rate capability, and high safety. Exciting progress has been made in the search for anode materials with high capacity, low toxicity, and high conductivity; yet, most of the anode materials, because of their low equilibrium voltages, facilitate hydrogen evolution. Here, we show the application of olivine FePO and amorphous FePO·2HO as anode materials for aqueous lithium-ion batteries.

A Simple and Efficient Protocol for the Catalytic Insertion Polymerization of Functional Norbornenes.

Norbornene can be polymerized by a variety of mechanisms, including insertion polymerization whereby the double bond is polymerized and the bicyclic nature of the monomer is conserved. The resulting polymer, polynorbornene, has a very high glass transition temperature, Tg, and interesting optical and electrical properties. However, the polymerization of functional norbornenes by this mechanism is complicated by the fact that the endo substituted norbornene monomer has, in general, a very low reactivity.

Bypassing the lack of reactivity of -substituted norbornenes with the catalytic rectification-insertion mechanism.

The catalytic 1,2-insertion polymerization of polar norbornenes (NBEs) leads to the formation of functional rigid macromolecules with exceptional thermal, optical and mechanical properties. However, this remarkable reaction is plagued by the low reactivity of the polar monomers, and most notably of those bearing a functional group in position. We have examined the polymerization mechanism of NBEs bearing one or two COMe groups either in or position catalyzed by the so-called naked allyl Pd SbF catalyst ().