Absorption and Isomerization of Azobenzene Guest Molecules in Polymeric Nanoporous Crystalline Phases

PPO co-crystalline (CC) films including azobenzene guest molecules have been prepared and characterized by WAXD, FTIR and UV-Visible measurements. Isomerization reactions of azobenzene (photo-induced trans to cis and spontaneous cis to trans) included in α and β nanoporous-crystalline (NC) phases leading to CC phases, or simply absorbed in amorphous phase have been studied on thick and thin films. Spectroscopic analysis shows that photo-isomerization of azobenzene occurs without expulsion of azobenzene guest molecules from crystalline phases. Sorption studies of α and β NC films immersed into photo-isomerized azobenzene solution reveal a higher selectivity of the β NC phase toward cis azobenzene isomer than the α NC phase, inducing us to propose the β NC phase as particularly suitable for absorbing spherically bulky guest molecules.

Free-energy landscape of polymer-crystal polymorphism

Polymorphism rationalizes how processing can control the final structure of a material. The rugged free-energy landscape and exceedingly slow kinetics in the solid state have so far hampered computational investigations. We report for the first time the free-energy landscape of a polymorphic crystalline polymer, syndiotactic polystyrene. Coarse-grained metadynamics simulations allow us to efficiently sample the landscape at large. The free-energy difference between the two main polymorphs, α and β, is further investigated by quantum-chemical calculations. The results of the two methods are in line with experimental observations: they predict β as the more stable polymorph under standard conditions. Critically, the free-energy landscape suggests how the α polymorph may lead to experimentally observed kinetic traps. The combination of multiscale modeling, enhanced sampling, and quantum-chemical calculations offers an appealing strategy to uncover complex free-energy landscapes with polymorphic behavior.

Electrostatically Active Polymer Hybrid Aerogels for Airborne Nanoparticle Filtration

The role of electrostatic force on separation of airborne nanoparticles is evaluated in this work by considering a hybrid monolithic aerogel of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The sPS part accounts for open pore structures in the monolith, while the PVDF chains contribute spontaneous polarity for particle capture by the electrostatic force. The hybrid aerogels are fabricated by thermoreversible gelation of sPS from a solution with PVDF in tetrahydrofuran followed by supercritical drying of the gel. sPS is present as the δ-form clathrate crystalline phase and PVDF as α- and γ-form crystalline phases in the hybrid. The presence of PVDF induces significant static charges on the surfaces of hybrid aerogels. The filtration efficiency is determined by passing airborne NaCl nanoparticles with diameter in the range 25-150 nm through the filter media. The experimental data reveal that air permeability of the hybrid system (∼10^-10 m²) is close to that of sPS monoliths. The hybrid materials show filtration efficiency ≥99.999% in comparison to 98.889% observed for a sPS monolith with the same solid content.

Rearrangement of Nanoporous Cavity Structures in Crystalline Syndiotactic Polystyrene Associated with Stress-Induced Phase Transition

This work demonstrates the possibility of rearranging nanoporous cavity structures in crystalline syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) by applying external stresses. A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed for the s-PS crystal with increasing or decreasing of each stress tensor component, starting from the nanoporous ε form. Upon uniaxial compression along the b-axis, the ε form was transformed into a lower density porous form, accompanied by significant elongation of the a-axis. The new form, named the S-I form, was stable only under the stress and was transformed into the γ form after release of the stress. The cavity structure was drastically changed by the transition. The straight cylindrical channels in the ε form, which may be used for the separation of organic solvents, were rearranged to narrower zigzag channels in the S-I form, which is suitable for the precise separation of gases. The molecular cavities disappeared after release of the stress, associated with the transition to the γ form.

Synergistic hybrid organic-inorganic aerogels

A class of inorganic-organic hybrid mesoporous aerogel structure was synthesized by growing gel in a gel. In Type 1, silica gels were grown inside the macropores of thermoreversible syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) gel, while Type 2 hybrid aerogels were obtained by thermoreversible gelation of sPS chains in the mesopores of preformed silica gel. The hybrid gels were converted into aerogels by exchanging the solvent with liquid carbon dioxide followed by supercritical drying. The hybrid aerogels presented cocontinuous networks of pearl-necklace silica particles and crystalline strands of sPS and exhibited the "petal effect" due to the presence of superhydrophobic sPS and hygroscopic silica. The compressive modulus and compressive strain show large enhancements over sPS and silica aerogels indicating synergy, although Type 1 hybrid aerogels were found to be more robust. The hybrid aerogels showed fast absorption and high absorption capacity for a representative hydrocarbon liquid.

Tailoring of morphology and surface properties of syndiotactic polystyrene aerogels

This study evaluates a method for rendering syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) aerogels hydrophilic using polyethylene oxide (PEO) of different molecular weights. The highly porous sPS aerogels are inherently hydrophobic although applications involving absorption of moisture and removal of particulate solids may benefit from the high surface area of sPS aerogels provided some degree of hydrophilicity is induced in these materials. In this work, sPS gels are prepared by thermo-reversible gelation in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of PEO. The gels are dried under supercritical conditions to obtain aerogels. The aerogels are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen-adsorption porosimetry, helium pycnometry, and contact angle measurements. The data reveal that the pore structures and surface energy can be controlled by varying the concentration and molecular weight of PEO and using different cooling rates during thermo-reversible gelation. In the first case, sPS aerogels, aerogels containing PEO of a low molecular weight or low concentration show superhydrophobic surface presenting the "lotus effect". In the second case, PEO at a higher concentration or with higher molecular weight forms phase-separated domains yielding new hydrophilic macropores (>10 μm) in the aerogel structures. These macropores contribute to the superhydrophobic surface with the "petal effect". The cooling rate during gelation shows a strong influence on these two cases.

Probing the surfaces of heterogeneous catalysts by in situ IR spectroscopy

This critical review describes the reactivity of heterogeneous catalysts from the point of view of four simple, but essential for Chemistry, molecules (namely dihydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide and ethylene) that are considered as probes or as reactants in combination with "in situ" controlled temperature and pressure Infrared spectroscopy. The fundamental properties of H(2), CO, NO and C(2)H(4) are shortly described in order to justify their different behaviour in respect of isolated sites in different environments, extended surfaces, clusters, crystalline or amorphous materials. The description is given by considering some "key studies" and trying to evidence similarities and differences among surfaces and probes (572 references).