The correlation of the binding mechanism of the polypyrrole-carbon capacitive interphase with electrochemical stability of the composite electrode.

Carbon-polymer composites have great application potential in the field of organic batteries, capacitors, capacitive water desalination reactors and as the conductive platforms for electrochemical sensors. Although numerous studies have been carried out with respect to the synthesis, the optimization of composition, the carbon type and the morphology control, there is still a lack of understanding about which kind of intermolecular connection between carbon and polymer phases is preferential, and how the system should be designed to achieve the application demand of long-term electrochemical stability. Herein, we propose two model systems that employ the most well-known commercial carbons (SWCNTs and carbon black Vulcan XC72-R) to generate polypyrrole-C composites and validate the type of chemical bonding that is preferential to maintain electrochemical stability.

Determination of the relative ligand-binding strengths in heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes by ESI-Q-TOF tandem mass spectrometry.

An electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been utilized to investigate the relative ligand-binding strengths in a series of heteroleptic-charged iridium(III) complexes of the general formula [(C^N)(2) Ir(III) (S-tpy)](PF(6) ) by using variable collision energies. Collision-induced dissociation experiments were performed in order to study the stability of the Ir(III) complexes that are, for instance, suitable phosphors in light-emitting electrochemical cells. The ratio of signal intensities belonging to the fragment and the undissociated complex depends on the collision energy applied for the tandem mass spectra (MS/MS) analysis.

Thermoresponsive poly(2-oxazine)s.

The monomers 2-methyl-2-oxazine (MeOZI), 2-ethyl-2-oxazine (EtOZI), and 2-n-propyl-2-oxazine (nPropOZI) were synthesized and polymerized via the living cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) under microwave-assisted conditions. pEtOZI and pnPropOZI were found to be thermoresponsive, exhibiting LCST behavior in water and their cloud point temperatures (T(CP)) are lower than for poly(2-oxazoline)s with similar side chains. However, comparison of poly(2-oxazine) and poly(2-oxazoline)s isomers reveals that poly(2-oxazine)s are more water soluble, indicating that the side chain has a stronger impact on polymer solubility than the main chain.