Importance of Primary and Secondary Hydrogen Bonding Interactions of Polyols on the Plasticization of Chitosan.

Molecular-level interactions between glucosamine and glycerol have shed light on the specific binding motif required for the plasticization of chitosan with glycerol via the gel theory mechanism. Here, we describe a spectroscopic study of the intermolecular interactions between the monomeric repeat unit of chitosan, glucosamine, and simplified 1,2- and 1,3-diol units of glycerol (i.e, 1,3-propanediol and ethylene glycol).

Tuning glycerol plasticization of chitosan with boric acid.

Chitosan-based bioplastics are attractive biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics. However, optimizing the properties of chitosan materials to fit a particular application or obtain a desired property is not a trivial feat. Here, we report the tunability of glycerol-plasticized chitosan films with the addition of boric acid.

Understanding the Molecular-Level Interactions of Glucosamine-Glycerol Assemblies: A Model System for Chitosan Plasticization.

Glycerol is the most widely used plasticizer for the biopolymer chitosan. However, there remains a lack of understanding of the molecular-level interactions between chitosan and glycerol. Here, we describe an in-depth spectroscopic study of the intermolecular interactions between the monomeric repeating unit of chitosan, glucosamine, and the plasticizer glycerol.

Conductance of single cobalt chalcogenide cluster junctions.

Understanding the electrical properties of semiconducting quantum dot devices have been limited due to the variability of their size/composition and the chemistry of ligand/electrode binding. Furthermore, to probe their electrical conduction properties and its dependence on ligand/electrode binding, measurements must be carried out at the single dot/cluster level. Herein we report scanning tunneling microscope based break junction measurements of cobalt chalcogenide clusters with Te, Se and S to probe the conductance properties.

Alpha-iminocarboxamidato nickel complexes.

Polyolefins constitute a vast class of macromolecules that range from everyday plastics to sophisticated materials used as hip-replacement joints and in bulletproof vests. By tailoring the molecular structure of the backbone, researchers can tune the bulk properties of these materials for specific product applications. Transition-metal complexes that mediate the polymerization of ethylene, 1-alkenes, and related monomers provide an important tool for industrial preparation.