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We have successfully developed easy-to-use and rapid immunosensor devices based on extended-gate type polymer field-effect transistors (PFETs). The designed PFET was operated under low-voltage conditions, being able to apply for the detection of proteins in water. As a consequence, label-free detection of glycoproteins was achieved by the extended-gate PFETs functionalized with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. We believe that PFET-based immunoassays will be an attractive platform for on-site monitoring devices in healthcare applications in the near future.
Highly porous organic structures are synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole derivatives in a concentrated monomer and oxidant solution. The rapid polymerization of pyrrole derivatives by oxidation with FeCl3 in CHCl3 as a cosolvent for the monomer and the oxidant leads to nanometer-scale branching morphologies that have a specific surface area of ~900 m2 g−1 with bimodal pore-size distribution.
The effect of trialkylaluminium compound (AlR3, where R = Me, Et, iBu) addition on the performance of the transition metal complex/AliBu3/Ph3CB(C6F5)4 catalysts in ethylene/1-olefin copolymerization was investigated. It was shown that AlR3 may affect the catalytic properties of the system (activity, comonomer incorporation, and copolymer microstructure). This influence is dependent on the type of organoaluminum compound and on the structure of the complex, i.e., on the structure of the ligand and on the type of transition metal.
High-molecular-weight (HMw) sulfonated polyimide thin films with a semialiphatic main chain exhibited an oriented lamellar structure and high proton conductivity (1.5 × 10-1 S cm-1) under humidified conditions. Low-molecular-weight (LMw) sulfonated polyimide thin films with the same semialiphatic backbone exhibited a nonoriented lamellar structure and low proton conductivity (3.0 × 10-2 S cm-1) under humidified conditions. The results indicate that, in sulfonated polyimide thin films with semialiphatic main chain, the lamellar orientation greatly contributes to the high proton conductivity.
The friction properties of a dilute solution of block copolymer additives in a base lubricant oil confined between mica surfaces were investigated using the surface forces apparatus. Friction force, sliding film thickness, and contact geometry were evaluated in detail, and the results were compared to those of the solutions of a different block copolymer additive having similar molecular structure. The relationship between the chemical structure of additives, confined structures between surfaces, and friction mechanisms were discussed, which shed new light of the design of low-friction surfaces in oil-based lubrication.
The adhesion force between the tentacle of a live cypris and polymer brushes on the sidewall of cover glass was directly measured by scanning probe microscopy in seawater. The cypris was immobilized on the cantilever with glue, and then forced to make contact with the modified surface. When the tentacle was detached by moving the cantilever away from the surface, the torsion of the cantilever caused the laser deflection on the photodiode corresponding to the adhesion force. Polymer brush surfaces exhibited extremely low adhesion to the cypris larva.
Ion-conductive and electrochemical properties of solid polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) and magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, Mg(TFSI)2, with small amount of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, LiFSI were investigated. The addition of LiFSI improved the ionic conductivity of PEC-Mg(TFSI)2, from ~2.3 × 10−6 S cm−1 to ~1.0 × 10-5 S cm−1 at 80 °C. Cyclic voltammetry measurements for PEC-based electrolytes revealed that the plating/stripping reaction of Mg/Mg2+ is enhanced by the addition of LiFSI.
Taking advantage of the flexible movement for the benzotriazole in the side chains, the resulting membranes exhibit encouraging proton conductivities and fuel cell performance.
Conducting polymers were synthesized via in situ polymerization, using nanoclay bentonite sodium and its modified form. The polymer nanoclay modified form showed enhanced solubility compared to the original polymers and improved thermal stability, along with higher corrosion inhibition efficiency and aggregation-induced emission with luminescence dependent on the aggregate structure.
Conjugated polymers of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and thiophene, especially 2,5-di-2-thienyl-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene, were characterized by their molecular packing orientation with a π-π stacking distance of 3.6 Å and a high field-effect hole mobility on the order of 10−2 cm2/Vs. A perovskite solar cell, fabricated with the genuine or both oxidizing and salt dopant-free polymer as a hole-transporting layer, displayed a high photo-conversion efficiency of 16.3% with high durability.
We designed elastin-like proteins (ELPs) composed of repetitive VPGIG sequences with or without the RGD cell adhesion motif (ELP-RGD/ELP-Ctrl) and used tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC) as a chemical crosslinker to generate hydrogels. The ELP-RGD and ELP-Ctrl gels were used as substrates for cardiac differentiation culture of murine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Cells on the ELP-RGD gel showed four times higher expression of the contractile protein gene, troponin T type 2 (TnT2), than those on a collagen type I gel, which is an effective substrate for iPSC cardiac differentiation.
