TY - JOUR A1 - Kolmangadi, Mohamed Aejaz A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - ZhuoQing, Li A1 - Yildirim, Arda A1 - Wuckert, E. A1 - Eutionnat, S. A1 - Demel, F. A1 - Huber, P A1 - Lasachat, S. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Side Chain Length-Dependent Dynamics and Conductivity in Self-Assembled Ion N2 - We study the molecular mobility and electrical conductivity of a homologous series of linear shaped columnar ionic liquid crystals ILCn, (n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) using broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), specific heat spectroscopy (SHS), and X-ray scattering. We aim to understand how the alkyl chain length influences the dynamics and electric conductivity in this system. Two dielectrically active relaxation modes are observed, the γ and the αcore process, that correspond to the localized fluctuations of the alkyl chains and cooperative motions of the aromatic core in the columns, respectively. Both the γ relaxation and the αcore process slow down with increasing alkyl chain length. SHS reveals one relaxation process, the αalkyl process that has a similar temperature dependence as that of the αcore process for ILC12, 14, and 16 but shifts to higher temperature for ILC8 and 10. For ILC12, 14, and 16, the absolute values of DC conductivity increase by 4 orders of magnitude at the transition from the plastic crystalline to hexagonal columnar phase. For ILC8 and 10, the DC conductivity behavior is similar to ionic liquids, where the conductivity is coupled with structural relaxation. Small-angle X-ray investigations reveal that both the intercolumnar distance and the disorder coherence length increase with alkyl chain length; conversely, the DC conductivity decreases monotonically. KW - Ionic Liquid Crystals PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c03023 SN - 1932-7447 VL - 126 IS - 27 SP - 10995 EP - 11006 PB - ACS AN - OPUS4-55194 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frunza, L. A1 - Zgura, I A1 - Ganea, C. P. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Molecular dynamics of alkyl benzoate liquid crystals in the bulk state and in the surface layer of their composites with oxide nanopowders N2 - This paper presents the results concerning monotropic nematic liquid crystals 4-pentylphenyl 40-alkyl benzoate (5PnB) (n = 3 or 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain). Their mesophase properties were supported by images of the polarized optical microscopy. Molecular dynamics in the bulk samples or in the composites prepared with aerosil A380 was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a large temperature range, appropriately chosen. Thermo gravimetric and infrared investigations were additionally performed. The data were compared with those of structurally related nematics like cyanophenyl pentyl benzoates, which have a cyan group instead of the pentyl chain. The dielectric spectra of the bulk 3P5B and 5P5B demonstrate a dielectric behavior with several relaxation processes as expected for nematic liquid crystals. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates (and of the dielectric strength) seems to have two distinguished regimes. Thus, in the isotropic state, at higher temperatures the data obey the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann law, whereas an Arrhenius law is fitted at lower temperature, in a close similarity to the behavior of a constrained dynamic glass transition. Samples with a high density of silica (larger than 7 g aerosil/1 g of 5PnB) were prepared to observe a thin layer adsorbed on the particle surface; it was estimated that almost each guest 5PnB molecule interacts with the aerosil surface. For the composites only one main relaxation process is observed at frequencies much lower than those for the corresponding bulk, which was assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. Infrared spectroscopy shows that these molecules interact with the surface by the ester carbonyl group leading to the monolayer self-assembly at liquid–solid interface. We note once more the importance of the functional unit(s) for the interaction with the hydroxyl groups on the aerosil surface. KW - Liquid crystals PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119374 SN - 0167-7322 VL - 359 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-54867 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Madkour, Sherif A. A1 - Gawek, Marcel A1 - Penner, P. A1 - Paneff, F. A1 - Zhang, X. A1 - Gölzhäuser, A. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Can Polymers be Irreversibly Adsorbed on Carbon Nanomembranes? A Combined XPS, AFM, and Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy Study N2 - Carbon nanomembranes are synthetic two-dimensional sheets with nanometer thickness, macroscopic lateral dimensions, and high structural homogeneity. They have great application potential in various branches of nanotechnology. Because of their full carbon structure, it is not clear whether macromolecules like poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) can be irreversibly adsorbed on their surface. Here, irreversible adsorption means that the polymer chains cannot be removed by a leaching process, which is assumed in technological transfer processes. However, if polar defects are present on the carbon nanomembranes (CNMs), it may occur that polymers can be irreversibly adsorbed. To address this question, PMMA was spin-coated on top of CNMs, annealed for a specific time at different temperatures, and then tried to be removed by a acetone treatment in a leaching approach. The samples were investigated in detail by atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy, where the latter method has been applied to CNMs for the first time. Unambiguously, it was shown that PMMA can be adsorbed on the surface of CNMs after annealing the sample above the glasstransition temperature of PMMA. The general occurrence of polar defects on the surface of CNMs and the adsorption of polymers open opportunities for advanced innovative hybrid materials combining the properties of the CNM with those of the polymer. KW - Carbon Nanomembranes KW - Irreversible adsorption KW - Broadband dielectric spectroscopy KW - XPS spctroscopy KW - Atomic force microscopy PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.2c01320 SN - 2637-6105 VL - 4 IS - 11 SP - 8377 EP - 8385 PB - ACS AN - OPUS4-56067 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yildirim, Arda A1 - Krause, Christina A1 - Huber, P. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Multiple glassy dynamics of a homologous series of triphenylene-based columnar liquid crystals – A study by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and advanced calorimetry N2 - Hexakis(n-alkyloxy)triphenylene) (HATn) consisting of an aromatic triphenylene core and alkyl side chains are model discotic liquid crystal (DLC) systems forming a columnar mesophase. In the mesophase, the molecules of HATn self-assemble in columns, which has one-dimensional high charge carrier mobility along the columns. Here, a homologous series of HATn with different length of the alkyl chain (n = 5,6,8,10,12) is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetric techniques including fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). The investigation of the phase behavior was done utilizing DSC experiments and the influence of the alkyl chain length on the phase behavior was revealed. By the dielectric investigations probing the molecular mobility, a c-relaxation due to localized fluctuations as well as two glassy dynamics, the acore- and aalkyl-relaxation, were observed in the temperature range of the plastic crystalline phase. Moreover, the observed glassy dynamics were further studied employing advanced calorimetry. All observed relaxation processes are attributed to the possible specific molecular fluctuations and discussed in detail. From the results a transition at around n = 8 from a rigid constrained (n = 5,6) to a softer system (n = 10,12) was revealed with increasing alkyl chain length. A counterbalance of two competing effects of a polyethylene-like behavior of the alkyl chains in the intercolumnar domains and self-organized confinement is discussed in the context of a hindered glass transition. KW - Discotic liquid crystals KW - Broadband dielectric spectroscopy KW - Advanced calorimetry PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119212 VL - 358 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-54721 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - BOOK A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina T1 - Dynamics ooof Composite Materials N2 - Historically, to tune the properties of a polymer or more general soft matter systems by a second phase is not a new concept and dates back to the 40s of the last century. Beside some successes, the improvement of the properties remained somehow limited. The expectations of the enhancement of the properties of composites changed by the developments of Toyota Central research in the 1990s. It was shown that the incorporation of 5 vol% exfoliated layers of a clay system into a polymer leads to a strong improvement of the mechanical and thermal properties. This discovery stimulated a broad research interest of both fundamental and applied character. Today, polymer-based nanocomposites have reached a billion-dollar global market. The corresponding applications span from components for transportation, commodity plastics with enhanced barrier and/or flame retardancy characteristics, to polymers with electrical properties for shielding, electronics, sensors, and solar cells as well as to live science. Important fields are filled rubbers, reinforced thermoplastics, or thermosets for automotive, aircraft/space and marine industries, but also membranes for separation processes as well as barrier layers, just to mention a few. For a variety of applications, the molecular mobility in nanocomposites is of great importance. This concerns the molecular mobility needed to form a percolating filler network in rubbers used in tires or in composites employed in electric shielding applications. In general, it is also essential for processing polymer-based nanocomposites. Furthermore, separation processes in composite materials for membranes require a certain molecular mobility. This also concern nanodielectrics used in electrical applications or sensors where the mobility of charge carriers can be related to the fluctuations of molecular groups etc. Finally, the molecular mobility can be taken as probe for structure on a molecular scale. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy is a powerful tool to investigate the molecular mobility in polymer systems. It is due to the extremely broad frequency and sensitivity range that can be covered by this technique. Information about localized and cooperative molecular fluctuations, polarization effects at interfaces, as well as charge transport processes can be deduced. Therefore, this book focusses on broadband dielectric spectroscopy of composite materials. Moreover, the dielectric studies are accompanied by mechanical spectroscopy, advanced calorimetry, NMR techniques, as well as transmission electron microscopy and X-ray scattering investigations. Besides a brief introduction to (nano)composites, the book aims to address fundamental aspects of the molecular mobility in this innovative group of materials. Selected examples with scientific interest and some cases with high industrial impact were chosen. Due to the breadth of the subject, unfortunately not all topics could be addressed in detail, such as processing for instance. Berlin, Andreas Schönhals July 2021 Paulina Szymoniak KW - Composite materials KW - Nanocomposites PY - 2022 SN - 978-3-030-89722-2 SN - 978-3-030-89723-9 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89723-9 VL - 2022 SP - 1 EP - 375 PB - Springer Nature CY - Cham, Switzerland AN - OPUS4-54538 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fahmy, Alaa A1 - Kolmangadi, Mohamed Aejaz A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Friedrich, J. T1 - Structure of plasma‐deposited copolymer films preparedfrom acrylic acid and styrene: Part III sulfonation andelectrochemical properties N2 - Acrylic acid-styrene copolymer films were deposited plasma-chemically more gently using the pulsed plasma mode instead of the continuous mode, with linear and some slightly branched chains and marginal crosslinking. Then, the styrene unit of copolymers was wet-chemically sulfonated by chlorosulfuric acid. On exposure to air, the formed 4-chlorosulfonic acid groups hydrolyze to sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H). FTIR, XPS and broadband dielectric spectroscopy were employed to characterize the composition, the structure, the functional groups, and the electrochemical performance for the copolymers. A high concentration of sulfonic acid-containing groups was obtained in the sulfonated PS sample. The values of the DC conductivity DC for the sulfonated sample of the AA/S copolymer are ca. five orders of magnitude higher than that of the not-sulfonated copolymer materials. KW - Plasma Polymers KW - Electrolyte membrane PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202100222 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-54539 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina ED - Schönhals, Andreas ED - Szymoniak, Paulina T1 - (Nano)Composite Materials—An Introduction N2 - The chapter gives a brief introduction to (nano)compositecomposite materials having the focus on polymer-based nanocomposites. The different dimensionalities of nanoparticles are introduced, along with their distribution in the matrix. Different application fields of polymer-based nanocomposites, like flame retardancy, filled rubbers, nanofilled thermosets and thermoplastics, separation membranes and nanodielectrics, are considered in greater detail. KW - Polymer-based nanocomposites KW - Nanoparticle KW - Distribution of nanoparticles KW - Filled rubbers KW - Filled thermosets and plastics KW - Separation membranes KW - Nanodielectrics PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89723-9_1 SP - 1 EP - 31 PB - Springer CY - Cham, Switzerland AN - OPUS4-54565 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Schönhals, Andreas ED - Schönhals, Andreas ED - Szymoniak, Paulina T1 - Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites—What Can Be Learned from Dielectric and Calorimetric Investigations? N2 - Epoxy-based nanocomposites are promisingmaterials for industrial applications (i.e., aerospace, marine, and automotive industries) due to their extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties. Regardless of the broad field of applications, there is still a considerable need to identify their structure–property relationships. Here, a detailed dielectric and calorimetric (DSC and fast scanning calorimetry) study on different epoxy-based nanocomposites was performed. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) cured with diethylenetriamine (DETA) was employed as the polymeric matrix, which was reinforced with three diverse nanofillers that exhibit different interaction strengths with the epoxy matrix (halloysite nanotubes, surface modified halloysite nanotubes, and taurine-modified layered double hydroxide). The structure, molecular mobility, and vitrification behavior are discussed in detail, focusing on the intrinsic structural and dynamic heterogeneity, as well as interfacial properties. KW - Nanocomposites KW - Epoxi nanocomposites KW - Dynamics KW - Interphase KW - Ridis amorphous fraction KW - Dielectric spectroscopy KW - Flash DSC KW - Temparatur modulated Flash DSC KW - Temperature modulated DSC PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89723-9_11 SP - 335 EP - 367 PB - Springer CY - Cham, Switzerland AN - OPUS4-54566 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zorn, R. A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Kolmangadi, Mohamed Aejaz A1 - Malpass-Evans, R. A1 - McKeown, N. A1 - Tyagi, M. A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Low frequency vibrations and diffusion in disordered polymers bearing an intrinsic microporosity as revealed by neutron scattering N2 - The microscopic diffusion and the low frequency density of states (VDOS) of PIM-EATB(CH3) are investigated by inelastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering where also the demethylated counterpart of PIM-EA-TB(H2) is considered. These intrinsic microporous polymers are characterized by large BET surface area values of several hundred m2/g and pore sizes between 0.5 and 2 nm. Detailed comparison is made to the archetype of polymers of intrinsic microporosity, PIM-1, and polynorbornenes also bearing a microporosity. Due to the wavelength of neutrons, the diffusion and vibrations can be addressed on microscopic length and time scales. From the inelastic neutron scattering experiments the low frequency density of states (VDOS) is estimated which shows excess contributions to the Debye-type VDOS known as Boson peak. It was found that the maximum frequency of the Boson peak decreases with increasing microporosity characterized by the BET surface area. However, besides the BET surface area, additional factors such as the backbone stiffness govern the maximum frequency of the Boson peak. Further the mean squared displacement related to microscopic motions was estimated from elastic fixed window scans. At temperatures above 175 K, the mean squared displacement PIM-EA-TB(CH3) is higher than that for the demethylated counterpart PIM-EA-TB(H2). The additional contribution found for PIM-EATB(CH3) is ascribed to the rotation of the methyl group in this polymer because the only difference between the two structures is that PIM-EA-TB(CH3) has methyl groups where PIM-EA-TB(H2) has none. A detailed comparison of the molecular dynamics is also made to that of PIM-1 and the microporous polynorbornene PTCNSi1. The manuscript focuses on the importance of vibrations and the localized molecular mobility characterized by the microscopic diffusion on the gas Transport in polymeric separation membranes. In the frame of the random gate model localized fluctuations can open or close bottlenecks between pores to enable the diffusion of gas molecules. KW - Polymer of intrisic microporosity KW - Neutron scattering KW - Boson peak KW - Methyl group rotation PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-538490 VL - 11 IS - 12 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-53849 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kolmangadi, Mohamed Aejaz A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Zorn, R. A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Wolff, M. A1 - Zamponi, M. A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Molecular mobility in high-performance polynorbornenes:A combined broadband dielectric, advanced calorimetry,and neutron scattering investigation N2 - The molecular dynamics of two addition type polynorbornenes, exo-PNBSiand PTCNSi1, bearing microporosity has been investigated by broadbanddielectric spectroscopy, fast scanning calorimetry, and neutron scattering. Bothpolymers have the same side groups but different backbones. Due to theirfavorable transport properties, these polymers have potential applications inseparation membranes for gases. It is established in literature that molecularfluctuations are important for the diffusion of small molecules through poly-mers. For exo-PNBSi, two dielectric processes are observed, which are assignedto Maxwell/Wagner/Sillars (MWS) process due to blocking of charge carriersat internal voids or pore walls. For PTCNSi1, one MWS-polarization process isfound. This points to a bimodal pore-size distribution for exo-PNBSi. A glasstransition for exo-PNBSi and for PTCNSi1 could be evidenced for the first timeusing fast scanning calorimetry. For Tgand the corresponding apparent activa-tion energy, higher values were found for PTCNSi1 compared to exo-PNBSi.For both polymers, the neutron scattering data reveal one relaxation process.This process is mainly assigned to methyl group rotation probably overlayedby carbon–carbon torsional fluctuations. KW - Advanced calorimetry KW - Dielectric spectroscopy KW - Neutron scattering KW - Polynorbornenes PY - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-547086 SN - 0032-3888 VL - 62 IS - 7 SP - 2143 EP - 2155 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-54708 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -