Chemoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of α-Methylene-δ-valerolactone Catalyzed by a Simple Organoaluminum Complex to Prepare Closed-Loop Recyclable Functional Polyester.

α-Methylene-δ-valerolactone (MVL) as a bio-renewable bifunctional monomer has shown great promise to prepare closed-loop recyclable polyester with pendent functionalizable double bond. However, the chemoselective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of MVL still faces challenges including low polymerization temperature, expensive catalyst as well as high catalyst loading. In this contribution, we present the chemoselective and controlled ROP of MVL using a simple organoaluminum complex [MeAl(BHT)] (BHT=2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy), which can be easily prepared from commercially available trimethylaluminum and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol without purification.

Ca Solubility in a BiFeO-Based System with a Secondary BiO Phase on a Nanoscale.

In BiFeO (BFO), BiO (BO) is a known secondary phase, which can appear under certain growth conditions. However, BO is not just an unwanted parasitic phase but can be used to create the super-tetragonal BFO phase in films on substrates, which would otherwise grow in the regular rhombohedral phase (R-phase). The super-tetragonal BFO phase has the advantage of a much larger ferroelectric polarization of 130-150 μC/cm, which is around 1.

Study on Ca Segregation toward an Epitaxial Interface between Bismuth Ferrite and Strontium Titanate.

Segregation is a crucial phenomenon, which has to be considered in functional material design. Segregation processes in perovskite oxides have been the subject of ongoing scientific interest, since they can lead to a modification of properties and a loss of functionality. Many studies in oxide thin films have focused on segregation toward the surface using a variety of surface-sensitive analysis techniques.

Construction of Highly Catalytic Porous TiOPC Nanocomposite Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Developing low-cost, durable, and highly catalytic counter electrode (CE) materials based on earth-abundant elements is essential for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this study, we report a highly active nanostructured compositional material, TiOPC, which contains titanium, oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon, for efficient CE in I/I electrolyte. The TiOPC nanocomposites are prepared from carbon thermal transformation of TiPO in an atmosphere of nitrogen at high temperature, and their catalytic performance is regulated by changing the carbon content in the nanocomposites.

Determination of phosphatidylserine in milk-based nutritional products using online derivatization high-performance liquid chromatography.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) has received interest for its ability to improve cognitive abilities and behaviors. A new method for determining PS in milk-based nutritional products has been developed. The method includes a quick and simple sample preparation procedure, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence detection (FLD) with an on-line 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (FMOC) derivatization.