Open Access

Janus polytricyclononenes (PTCN) with rigid backbones and flexible n-alkyl (n = propyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl) are novel, innovative materials that show potential in separating hydrocarbons. These superglassy polymers were designed to show an enhanced and controllable gas permeability via flexible alkyl side chains that promote mass transport, as opposed to conventional microporous polymers, where permeability is a function of the free-volume entities. PTCNs, investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), show nanophase separation between the n-alkyl side chains and the backbones. The size of the nanodomains increases with the length of the n-alkyl side groups. In addition, for the alkyl chain-rich nanodomains a distinct α-relaxation was found by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC). The glass transition of the backbone-rich domains, which is beyond or near to the degradation of the materials, was evidenced by fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) by decoupling it from decomposition, employing high heating rates up to 104 K/s. Further, Janus PTCNs were studied by quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) employing the backscattering IN16B (ILL, Grenoble) and time of flight FOCUS (PSI, Villigen) instruments. For an overview of dynamic processes setting in at different temperatures inelastic (IFWS) and elastic fixed window scans (EFWS) were conducted. IFWS showed that the segmental motions of alkyl-rich nanodomains shift to higher temperatures with increasing alkyl chain length, which agrees with SAXS and BDS findings. For the lowest side chain lengths an additional low temperature relaxation process was found, assigned to methyl group rotations.

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on phosphinine and thiophene building blocks have been synthesized with two different side groups. The materials are denoted as CPSF-MeO and CPSF-EtO where CxxF correspond to the covalent framework, whereas P and S are related to heteroatoms phosphorous and sulfur. MeO and EtO indicate the substituents, i.e. methoxy and ethoxy. Their morphologies were studied by scanning electron microcopy and X-ray scattering. The absence of crystalline reflexes in the X-ray pattern reveal that both materials are amorphous and can be considered as glasses. Furthermore, N2 adsorption measurements indicate substantial Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area values pointing to the formation of three-dimensional pores by stacking of the aromatic 2D layer. An analysis of the porosity of both COFs showed a mean radius of the pores to be of ca. 4 nm, consistent with their chemical structure. The COFs form nanoparticles with a radius of around 100 nm. The thermal behavior of the COFs was further investigated by fast scanning calorimetry. These investigations showed that both COFs undergo a glass transition. The glass transition temperature of CPSF-EtO is found to be ca. 100 K higher than that for CPSF-MeO. This large difference in the glass transition is discussed to be due to a change in the interaction of the COF sheets induced by the longer ethoxy group. It might be assumed that for CPSF-EtO more individual COF sheets assemble to larger stacks than for CPSF-MeO. This agrees with the much larger surface area value found for CPSF-EtO compared to CPSF-MeO. To corroborate the results obtained be fast scanning calorimetry dielectric measurements were conducted which confirm the occurrence of a dynamic glass transition. The estimated temperature dependence of the relaxation rates of the dielectric relaxation and their absolute values agrees well with the data obtained by fast scanning calorimetry. Considering the fragility approach to the glass transition, it was further found that CPSF-MeO is a fragile glass former whereas CPSF-EtO behaves as a strong glass forming material. This difference in the fragility points also to distinct differences in the interaction between the 2D COF molecules in both materials.

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.

The growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer of poly(2-vinylpiridine) on silicon oxide is studied using a leaching technique which is based on the Guiselin brushes approach. The adsorbed layer is grown from a 200 nm thick P2VP film for several annealing time periods at different annealing temperatures. Then the film is solvent-leached, and the height of the remaining adsorbed layer is measured by atomic force microscopy. At the lowest annealing temperature only a linear growth regime is observed, followed by a plateau. Here, the molecular mobility of segments is too low to allow for a logarithmic growth. At higher annealing temperatures, both linear and logarithmic growth regimes are observed, followed by a plateau. At even higher annealing temperatures, the growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer changes. A linear growth followed by logarithmic growth kinetics is observed for short annealing time periods. For longer annealing time periods, an upturn of the growth kinetics is observed. At the highest annealing temperature, only a logarithmic growth regime is found. The change in the growth kinetics is discussed by an alteration in the structure of the adsorbed layer. Moreover, the interaction between the polymer segments and the substrate becomes weaker due to both enthalpic and entropic effects. Therefore, at high annealing temperatures the polymer segments might more easily desorb from the substrate.

The synthesis of composite membranes based on PVA, PPy, and sulfonated–hydrolyzed TMPS was investigated for application in proton–exchange membrane fuel cells. FT–IR confirmed the hydrolysis of TMPS through the appearance of Si–OH vibrations, disappearance of Si–O–CH3 bands, reduced CH3 stretching intensity (2840 cm− 1), and successful sulfonation of the phenyl ring (1030 cm− 1). XPS verified the introduction of sulfonic acid groups by identifying S2p peaks between 166–170 eV. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed an incorporation of PPy and that the membrane morphology altered by silanol leading to an increased surface roughness and inducing phase separation in comparison to pure PVA. The PVA–PPy–Si membrane which did not undergo phase separation demonstrated improved mechanical stability (maximum stress 5.91 MPa), reduced methanol uptake (22%, lower than Nafion’s 30%), and enhanced thermal resistance compared to PVA–PPy and PVA–Si. It also exhibited a high ion–exchange capacity (1.5mmol g− 1, exceeding Nafion® at 0.9mmol g− 1 ) and a proton conductivity of 0.036 S/cm, twice that of Nafion 117. These combined properties identify the PVA–PPy–Si composite as a promising high–performance polyelectrolyte membrane for fuel cell applications.