Decarboxylation of Poly[N-(acryloyloxy)phthalimide] as a Versatile Tool for Postpolymerization Modification.

Herein the decarboxylation of poly[N-(acryloyloxy)phthalimide] (PAP) for the synthesis of functionalized polymers is reported. PAP homopolymer and block copolymers are used as precursor polymers for the straightforward functionalization via decarboxylation and subsequent Michael-type addition or nitroxide radical coupling (NRC).

Polarized X-ray scattering reveals non-crystalline orientational ordering in organic films.

Molecular orientation critically influences the mechanical, chemical, optical and electronic properties of organic materials. So far, molecular-scale ordering in soft matter could be characterized with X-ray or electron microscopy techniques only if the sample exhibited sufficient crystallinity. Here, we show that the resonant scattering of polarized soft X-rays (P-SoXS) by molecular orbitals is not limited by crystallinity and that it can be used to probe molecular orientation down to size scales of 10 nm.

Structure, morphology and interface properties of ultrathin SnTTBPP(OH)2-films adsorbed on Ag(100).

The molecular interaction of dihydroxo[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)porphyrinato]-tin(IV) (SnTTBPP(OH)(2)), the structural order and growth of ultrathin films on Ag(100) have been studied by means of low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and synchrotron based photoelectron spectroscopy, i.e., X-ray photoemission (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS/XANES) spectroscopy.

Surface sensitivity in scanning transmission x-ray microspectroscopy using secondary electron detection.

The successful integration of electron detection into an existing scanning transmission x-ray microspectroscope (STXM) at the Swiss Light Source is demonstrated. In conventional x-ray detection using a photomultiplier, STXM offers mainly bulk sensitivity combined with high lateral resolution. However, by implementation of a channeltron electron multiplier, the surface sensitivity can be established by the detection of secondary electrons emitted from the sample upon resonant excitation.