ACS Applied Polymer Materials最新文献

Membrane separation technology has great potential for application in gas separation due to its environmentally friendly, efficient, and energy-saving advantages. Polyamide (PA) membrane is an ideal material for efficient separation of CO₂ due to its high amine density and excellent CO₂ affinity. This work presents a trio-modulated strategy that enhances the CO₂ separation performance of PA membranes by modifying the substrate, optimizing the preparation method, and incorporating fillers. Substrate modification facilitates the interfacial polymerization of a polyamide layer on a polysulfone substrate. PA membranes fabricated via vapor–liquid interfacial polymerization typically exhibit a low defect density and superior CO₂ separation performance. The incorporation of fillers (γ-cyclodextrin, namely γ-CD) can effectively loosen the microstructure of the PA membrane, and the CO₂-philic groups of γ-CD fillers furtherly enhance the selectivity of CO₂ through the facilitated transport mechanism. The prepared membranes display excellent CO₂ separation performance with CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 479.5, CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of 395.9, as well as a CO₂ permeance of 4179.8 GPU. The proposed strategy provides a facile and effective route to trio-modulated PA membranes for the study of CO₂ separation and can provide a avenue for the development of advanced membrane materials for CO₂ separation.

Redistribution layers (RDLs) are key structural components in advanced semiconductor packaging, where materials must combine low dielectric constant (D_k), photopatternability, and PFAS-free composition under low-temperature processing conditions. Conventional photosensitive polyimides (PSPIs), however, generally require thermal imidization above 350 °C and exhibit D_k above 3.0, limiting their integration with fine-pitch RDL architectures. Herein, we report a series of designed soluble PSPIs synthesized from hydroxyl-containing diamines─3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethyl-1,1′-spirobisindane-5,5′-diamino-6,6′-diol (DHSBI), 9,9′-Bis(4-aminophenyl)-9H-fluorene-2,7-diol (APFD), and 2-Amino-4-[1-(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexyl]phenol (AACP)─modified with methyl methacrylate (MMA) groups to introduce both photoreactivity and dielectric tunability. The incorporation of bulky, low-polarity MMA-functionalized diamines increases free volume and reduces chain packing, leading to significantly lower permittivity (D_k = 2.67 @ 40 GHz) while enabling direct UV patterning without additional thermal imidization. These PSPIs exhibit excellent pattern fidelity down to 20 μm, strong Cu adhesion, and a low curing temperature of 250 °C. The rational design of MMA-grafted diamine monomers demonstrates a viable route to low-D_k, photocurable, and environmentally sustainable PI systems for next-generation high-density semiconductor packaging.

Adhesives are an indispensable part of manufacturing, as they provide a quick and easy solution for attaching and connecting parts. In some cases, however, adhesives are expected to debond quickly and easily without damaging the bonding interface. In this work, a series of acrylate-based electrically debondable pressure-sensitive adhesives (EDPSAs) whose adhesive properties can be controlled by direct current (DC) voltage were prepared by blending ionic liquids (ILs) and polymers. This work investigated the electrical debonding behaviors of these EDPSAs and explored the interactions between the polymer networks and ILs. The experimental results show that with the help of polar aprotic monomers, adhesives with a minimal content of ILs can also achieve debonding, while the stimulus conditions are safe and fast. The peeling force of samples decreased from 10 N/25 mm to less than 0.1 N/25 mm after 15 s of stimulus with a DC voltage of 10 V, representing a reduction of more than 99%. This process, which is safe and fast while causing little damage to the bonding interface, meets the current expectations of industrial manufacturing and has a high potential for applications in a variety of fields such as consumer electronics, the electronics industry, vehicle engineering, aerospace engineering, and building technology.

In order to enhance the actuation performance of photoresponsive hydrogels in view of their slow response rate and limited functionality, a photoresponsive hydrogel was prepared in this study. The hydrogel was constructed with a thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) (P(NIPAM-AM)) matrix cross-linked by chitosan (CS) and incorporated a photothermal conversion component based on the Fe³⁺/tannic acid (TA) complex. We characterized the hydrogel’s microscopic morphology and measured its water absorption/desorption rates, mechanical properties, temperature sensitivity, photothermal conversion ability, actuation performance, and sensing performance. Results show that adding chitosan and acrylamide together produced a more tightly cross-linked structure. This improved the hydrogel’s mechanical strength, water retention, and actuation performance. Key performance values include a maximum stress of 101 kPa, maximum strain of 100%, and maximum bending angle of 104.8°. The hydrogel achieved a fast actuation response time of 0.732 s, a bending rate of 0.22 mm/s, and a conductivity of 1.154 (Ω·m)⁻¹. It also demonstrated efficient photothermal conversion, NIR-responsive actuation, and conductive sensing performance. This work provides a useful strategy for developing high-performance light-responsive smart materials and a practical solution for multifunctional flexible actuators.

The incorporation of biorecognition elements with electronic components into point-of-care testing (POCT) devices expands their capabilities and enables intricate quantitative assays. The combination of near field communication (NFC) technology and biosensors offers endless possibilities in this context, which has the potential to provide simple and intelligent sensing solutions for both electrical and nonelectrical parameter measurements. In an effort to tap into this potential, we present the first example of a screen-printed electrode (SPE)-based sensing platform for ethanol in serum samples. NFC-assisted electrochemical biosensors were created using SPE and altered by drop-casting two different diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated polymer nanoparticles (poly-DPP-Se; poly-DPP-SeSe) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) to construct an alcohol oxidase (AOx)-based electrochemical biosensor. The fabricated biosensors, SPE/PtNPs/poly-DPP-Se NPs/AOx and SPE/PtNPs/poly-DPP-SeSe NPs/AOx, respond linearly to ethanol in the ranges of 1.7–12.8 mM and 0.85–12.8 mM with 1.22 mM and 0.39 mM detection limits, respectively. K_Mapp, I_max, and sensitivity values were calculated for SPE/PtNPs/poly-DPP-Se NPs/AOx as 2.52 mM, 3.20 μA, and 2.27 μA mM^–1 cm^–2 and for SPE/PtNPs/poly-DPP-SeSe NPs/AOx as 0.4 mM, 2.51 μA, and 2.15 μA mM^–1 cm^–2, respectively. Excellent stability and electrocatalytic activity to electrooxidation of ethanol were achieved with the SPE/PtNPs/poly-DPP-SeSe NPs/AOx configuration. Furthermore, artificial serum samples were used to assess the sensor’s reliability. The experimental findings reveal that the proposed biosensors could provide ease of use, fast analysis times, portability, and reliability for food and healthcare research and applications.

Recent advances in organic synthesis and analytical science have focused on materials that achieve both high performance and sustainability. Such materials are designed to eliminate harmful metal ions from the environment and thereby contribute to both ecological safety and enhanced functional performance. Thus, a highly selective fluorescent probe, Th-2-NiC, has been synthesized and deployed to detect and eliminate aluminum ion (Al³⁺) from food and biological samples. A solution-phase detection by a fluorometric technique exhibited a sensitivity from 5 nM to 9.2 mM toward Al³⁺. Further, to provide effectiveness to real-time sample analysis, solid support to the probe was assisted by poly(stearyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) poly(SMA-co-EGDMA) monolith polymer synthesized by the radical-initiated bulk polymerization process. The mesoporosity of the probe-incorporated monolith was analyzed using spectroscopic, BET, and FE-SEM images. The constructed sensor material exhibits a prominent color change from pastel yellow to orange upon exposure to Al³⁺. ICP-OES data exhibiting a 99% recovery of Al³⁺ from aluminum-contaminated food samples emphasized the practical utility of the poly(SMA-co-EGDMA)Th-2-NiC. These trappings can be reverberated several times with a high recyclable rate of 99% at the seventh cycle, with RSD ≤ 1.3%, demonstrating the reproducibility of the sensor material. Furthermore, the adaptability of the probe in other solid supports was tested by constructing the Th-2-NiC/PVDF nanofiber. Notwithstanding the above outcome, an impressive tracking of Al³⁺ by Th-2-NiC in various biological contexts, like the MCF-7 cell line and hyacinth bean, is evident for the biocompatibility and in vitro imaging efficiency of the probe. Altogether, the synthesized probe exhibits multifunctional material behavior for an effective detection of aluminum from different samples in varying environments.

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs), characterized by the presence of pyridine nitrogen in their triazine units, show great promise for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) reactions. In this work, two thiophene-bridged CTFs are designed and synthesized, TA-BD and TA-TD, using 2,2′-bithiophene (BT) and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) unit, respectively, as the π-conjugated linkers. These frameworks were prepared via a condensation reaction between the respective dialdehydes and p-phenylene terephthalamide. Among the CTFs, TA-BD exhibited a significantly higher hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 9.14 μmol h^–1 (10 mg of catalyst), which is 6.3 times greater than that of TA-TD (1.45 μmol h^–1). Further investigation of the photoelectric properties revealed that the incorporation of a BT linker in TA-BD, compared to TT in TA-TD, results in a stronger thermodynamic driving force and improved charge separation and transfer. Upon photodeposition of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) onto the CTFs, the resulting nanocomposites demonstrated dramatically enhanced PHE activity. Under identical conditions, 10 mg Pd@TA-BD (3 wt %) achieved a HER rate of 76.16 μmol h^–1, 8.3 times higher than that of bare TA-BD and approximately 4.3 times higher than that of Pd@TA-TD (3 wt %).

Marine biofouling imposes significant economic and ecological challenges to maritime activities. Hydrogels are considered effective antifouling materials owing to their highly hydrated surfaces. Herein, nanocomposite hydrogels incorporating ionic liquid-functionalized gallium-based liquid metal (IL-GLM) were successfully fabricated. The ionic liquid (VBBIm⁺Cl^–) was grafted onto the surface of GLM through free radical polymerization, enhancing dispersibility and antifouling efficiency. The resulting IL-GLM microgels were embedded into an acrylic acid/acrylamide hydrogel matrix to form IL-GLM@gel nanocomposite coatings. These coatings exhibited superior antifouling activity and mechanical performance, arising from the synergistic effects of Ga³⁺ release and ionic liquid functionality. Notably, IL-GLM@gel achieved antibacterial and microalgae removal rates exceeding 95 and 85%, respectively, and an increase in tensile strength by 119% and elongation of break by 57%. This study demonstrates that IL-GLM@gel hydrogels hold strong potential as advanced antifouling coatings for marine applications.

High-temperature proton exchange membranes (HTPEMs) often suffer from issues including oxidative degradation, leaching of proton conductors, and drastic reduction in the proton conductivity under low relative humidity (RH). Herein, a hybrid proton conductor (ZrHPA) is designed to address the acid-leaching issue while pursuing good proton conductivity at low RH. A series of benzimidazole-containing copolymers (PBESK) with no vulnerable N–H bonds are designed to solve the oxidative degradation problem. Moreover, PBESK is covalently cross-linked so that the mechanical, oxidative, and dimensional stability of the membranes has been enhanced. The designed N–H bond-free structure of PBESK and covalent cross-linking both enhanced the oxidative stability of the composite membrane (APBESK/ZrHPA). Notably, the APBESK2/ZrHPA(50%) composite membrane presented a proton conductivity (measured at 180 °C) of 0.165, 0.087, and 0.050 S cm^–1 at 100%, 50%, and 0% RH, respectively. Its proton conductivity at 0 RH remained 99.0%, 98.2%, and 97.0% after 24, 48, and 96 h of immersion in boiling deionized water under reflux, exhibiting good durability. This work offers a template for the design of future high-performance HTPEMs in long-term operation.

To overcome the mechanical property compromises typically caused by reactive flame retardants while imparting excellent flame retardancy to epoxy resin (EP), this work designed a multifunctional phosphorus–silicon synergistic reactive flame retardant (PTSi). The aim was to achieve simultaneous enhancement of both flame retardancy and mechanical properties. The curing kinetics of the EP/PTSi system were studied using nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry. Results revealed that adding only 1 wt % PTSi significantly reduced the activation energy of the curing process from 52.37 to 47.96 kJ/mol, thus accelerating the curing reaction. Furthermore, with a mere 2 wt % PTSi loading (PTSi-2), the cured product exhibited a notable increase in limiting oxygen index (LOI) from 22.6% to 28.5%, achieving UL-94 V-0 certification. Compared to pure EP, PTSi-2 reduced total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) by 25.3% and 43.1%, respectively, thereby enhancing fire safety. The high amino group content in PTSi promoted the uniform dispersion of phosphorus and silicon elements, while mitigating rigidity loss through increased cross-linking density, resulting in an 11.2% improvement in tensile strength for PTSi-1. Additionally, the incorporation of flexible Si–O segments led to an 86.3% improvement in impact strength. This study provides a promising strategy for developing reactive flame retardants that synergistically enhance both flame resistance and mechanical performance.