Efficient Moisture-Induced Energy Harvesting from Water-Soluble Conjugated Block Copolymer-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide.

This Research Article demonstrates a very simple approach of a moisture-induced power-generating phenomenon using water-soluble rod-coil conjugated block copolymer (poly(3-hexythiophene)--poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (P3HT--PSSA)-modified reduced graphene oxide. The block copolymer-modified reduced graphene oxide (BCP-RGO) was prepared by noncovalent surface functionalization cum in situ reduction of graphene oxide. A simple device made from BCP-RGO can generate voltage upon exposure to water vapor or under different humidity conditions.

Metal-Immobilized Micellar Aggregates of a Block Copolymer from a Mixed Solvent for a SERS-Active Sensing Substrate and Versatile Dip Catalysis.

Here, we have reported micellar aggregations of an amphiphilic block copolymer in mixed solvent and their subsequent use as a template for the fabrication of a very dense, tunable metal nanoparticle-decorated surface for SERS and flexible dip catalysis applications. A silver nanoparticle-immobilized layer on silicon substrates shows excellent SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering)-based sensing performance for model analyte rhodamine B up to 10 M concentration with a well-defined calibration curve. Furthermore, a facile approach to the preparation of metal NP-immobilized BCP membranes as efficient dip catalyst for two model reactions (the reduction of nitrophenol and the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of iodobenzene or 2,7-diiodofluorene with phenyl boronic acid) is also demonstrated.

Electrochemical and Electronic Properties of Transparent Coating from Highly Solution Processable Graphene Using Block Copolymer Supramolecular Assembly: Application toward Metal Ion Sensing and Resistive Switching Memory.

Here, we have discussed the preparation of a highly solution processable graphene from a novel supramolecular assembly consisting of block copolymer polystyrene--poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS--P4VP) and pyrenebutyric acid (PBA)-modified reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The PBA molecules anchored on the graphene surface form supramolecules with PS--P4VP through H-bonding between the carboxylic acid group of 1-pyrenebutyric acid and the pyridine ring of P4VP. The formation of a supramolecular assembly results in a highly stable solution of reduced graphene oxide in common organic solvents, such as 1,4-dioxane and chloroform.