Anionic Hybrid Copolymerization of Sulfur with Acrylate: Strategy for Synthesis of High-Performance Sulfur-Based Polymers.

Copolymerization of elemental sulfur (S) with vinyl monomers to develop new polymer materials is significant. Here, for the first time, we report the anionic hybrid copolymerization of S with acrylate at 25 °C, yielding a copolymer with short polysulfide segments; i.e.

Noncovalent Postmodification Guided Reversible Compartmentalization of Polymeric Micelles.

Compartmentalized micelles (CMs) are promising tailor-made soft matters that mimic natural designed structures and functions. Despite the structure of complex CMs, manipulating CM structures accessibly and reversibly remains elusive. Here, we report the fabrication of CMs via a generally valid noncovalent postmodification process.

Remarkable untangled dynamics behavior of multicyclic branched polystyrenes.

A typical multicyclic branched-topology polystyrene (c-BPS) with high molecular weight (30 K ≤ Mw MALLS ≤ 300 K g mol-1) and narrow dispersity (1.2 ≤ Đ ≤ 1.3) was efficiently synthesized by combining atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) techniques.

Highly Efficient Amide Michael Addition and Its Use in the Preparation of Tunable Multicolor Photoluminescent Polymers.

The amide bond is one of the most pivotal functional groups in chemistry and biology. It is also the key component of proteins and widely present in synthetic materials. The majority of studies have focused on the formation of the amide group, but its postmodification has scarcely been investigated.

Highly Branched Copolymers with Degradable Bridges for Antifouling Coatings.

The antifouling properties of traditional self-polishing marine antifouling coatings are mainly achieved based on their hydrolysis-sensitive side groups or the degradable polymer main chains. Here, we prepared a highly branched copolymer for self-polishing antifouling coatings, in which the primary polymer chains are bridged by degradable fragments (poly-ε-caprolactone, PCL). Owing to the partial or complete degradation of PCL fragments, the remaining coating on the surface can be broken down and eroded by seawater.

Few-Layer Clayenes for Material and Environmental Applications.

Here, we coined the term "clayene" for a single layer of clay and "few-layer clayene" for clays with 2-10 layers. Few-layer clayenes, which are Fe-rich and mica-type, were prepared hydrothermally at 200 °C and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) to determine the crystalline phases and morphology, respectively. Chemical composition by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the iron-rich mica composition, and the latter also revealed the presence of both Fe and Fe.

Novel inorganic tin phosphate gel: multifunctional material.

Here, we report a remarkable 15 Å nanolayered tin phosphate, Sn(HPO)·3HO (SnP-H or SnP), and its clay-like gel, which are multifunctional and are prepared using earth-abundant Sn and P chemicals by a facile, environmentally benign and potentially cost-effective process. This new energy material is discovered here as the best proton conductor among all the known layered phosphates with a very high proton conductivity of over 1 × 10 S cm at 100 °C for potential use in PEM fuel cells. But it is also a very good capacitor material with fast Li-storage kinetics (charging time of 13 s).

Light and Temperature as Dual Stimuli Lead to Self-Assembly of Hyperbranched Azobenzene-Terminated Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide).

Hyperbranched poly(-isopropylacrylamide)s (HBPNIPAMs) end-capped with different azobenzene chromophores (HBPNIPAM-Azo-OC₃H₇, HBPNIPAM-Azo-OCH₃, HBPNIPAM-Azo, and HBPNIPAM-Azo-COOH) were successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of -isopropylacrylamide using different azobenzene-functional initiators. All HBPNIPAMs showed a similar highly branched structure, similar content of azobenzene chromophores, and similar absolute weight/average molecular weight. The different azobenzene structures at the end of the HBPNIPAMs exhibited reversible isomerization behavior under alternating UV and Vis irradiation, which lowered the critical solution temperature (LCST) due to different self-assembling behaviors.

Nanolayered tin phosphate: a remarkably selective Cs ion sieve for acidic waste solutions.

Herein, we report a unique tin phosphate that is remarkably selective to (137)Cs(+) from extremly acidic solutions because of its special layered structure with an unusually large interlayer space. This acidic exchanger is superior to other existing materials in terms of its selectivity and capacity for (137)Cs(+) from acidic solutions.

Quadrangular prism: a unique self-assembly from amphiphilic hyperbranched PMA-b-PAA.

The novel hyperbranched poly(methyl acrylate)-block-poly(acrylic acid)s (HBPMA-b-PAAs) are successfully synthesized via single-electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP), followed with hydrolysis reaction. The copolymer solution could spontaneously form unimolecular micelles composed of the hydrophobic core (PMA) and the hydrophilic shell (PAA) in water. Results show that the size of spherical particles increases from 8.