Wenqiang Huang

PREPARATION OF POLYMER MICROSPHERES WITH PYRIDYL GROUP AND THEIR STABILIZED GOLD METALLIC COLLOIDS

Narrow disperse poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine) (poly(EGDMA-co-4-VPy)) microspheres were prepared by distillation-precipitation copolymerization of ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VPy) with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator in neat acetonitrile. The polymer microspheres containing pyridyl group were then utilized as stabilizer for gold metallic colloids with the diameter around 7 nm, which were prepared by the in situ reduction of gold chloride trihydrate with sodium borohydride through the coordination of the pyridyl group on the gel layer and surface of the microsphere with the gold metallic nano-particles. The catalytic properties of the pyridyl-functionalized microsphere-stabilized gold metallic colloids and the behavior of the stabilized-catalyst for the recycling were investigated with reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol as a model reaction.

PREPARATION OF POLY(ETHYLENEGLYCOL-co-ACRYLIC ACID) MICROSPHERES WITH DIVINYLBENZNE AS CROSSLINKER BY DISTILLATION-PRECIPITATION POLYMERIZATION

Monodisperse poly(poly(ethyleneglycol) methyl ether acrylate-co-acrylic acid) (poly(PEGMA-co-AA)) microspheres were prepared by distillation-precipitation polymerization with divinylbenzene (DVB) as crosslinker with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator in neat acetonitrile without stirring. Under various reaction conditions, four distinct morphologies including the sol, microemulsion, microgels and microspheres were formed during the distillation of the solvent from the reaction system. A 2D morphological map was established as a function of crosslinker concentration and the polar monomer AA concentration, in comonomer feed in the transition between the morphology domains. The effect of the covalent crosslinker DVB on the morphology of the polymer network was investigated in detail at AA fraction of 40 vol%. The ratios of acid to ethylene oxide units presenting in the comonomers dramatically affected the polymer-polymer interaction and hence the morphology of the resultant polymer network. The covalent crosslinking by DVB and the hydrogen bonding crosslinking between two acid units as well as between the acid and ethylene oxide unit played key roles in the formation of monodisperse polymer microspheres.

Organic negative-resistance devices using PPV containing electron-transporting groups on the main chain

A kind of novel structure polymer, a poly(phenylenevinylene) (PPV) derivative containing electron-transporting groups on the main chain (OPPV), was developed according to the polycondensation mechanism. The I–V characteristics at the low-voltage region with negative differential resistance were observed in the same model of organic light-emitting diodes with the OPPV polymer. The different external parameters, including the device structure, layer thickness, morphology, and homogeneity of indium tin oxide and the polymer, were also investigated. The performance improvement in the organic negative differential resistance and a possible mechanism are discussed.