Carbonate-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers for Mimicking Nanoscale Polycarbonate Surfaces

Abstract

Two carbonate-terminated alkanethiol molecules having different positional isomers of a six-membered cyclic carbonate group, 3-COC12SH and 2-COC12SH, were synthesized and used to generate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold to serve as mimics of the surfaces of commercially available poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC). The adsorbate molecules were characterized using 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The corresponding SAMs on gold were characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, polarization-modulation infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The contact angle data showed that the wettabilities of both SAMs were largely similar to each other and to the PEC samples for a wide range of contacting probe liquids (with water correlating particularly well with PEC and both SAMs). As a whole, the wettability data suggest that the carbonate-terminated SAMs can serve as mimics of nanoscale polycarbonate surfaces and can be used to investigate the interfacial properties of polycarbonates without interference from the surface reconstruction.

Improving the performance of a SnS2 cathode with interspace layer engineering using a Na+ insertion/extraction method for aqueous zinc ion batteries

“…The typical peaks at 161.7 and 162.9 eV may have been assigned to S 2p 3/2 and S 2p 1/2 orbits of S 2− , respectively. 49,50,61 Fig. 2a shows the Na + insertion and extraction schematic in the SnS 2 cathodic structure, which creates a layered structure in SnS 2 during the insertion stage.…”

“…The typical peaks at 161.7 and 162.9 eV may have been assigned to S 2p 3/2 and S 2p 1/2 orbits of S 2− , respectively. 49,50,61…”

Nature‐Inspired Directional Microneedle Structures for Reversible Gripping on Skin and Fibrous Materials

“…The activated PDMS was then immersed in a solution of OTS–toluene (0.4 vol%) for 2 h thereby lowering the surface energy of the PDMS interface and making it more hydrophobic (Figure 2B). [23a‐c,32] A new PDMS solution (10:1) was then added to the modified textured PDMS and completely cured. The second layer of PDMS could be peeled off easily, and a microneedle inverse mold was prepared (Figure 2C).…”

Direct ocean capture: the emergence of electrochemical processes for oceanic carbon removal

“…Electrochemical CO 2 separation methods can be grouped into four broad classes according to the mechanism that drives the separation of CO 2 : (1) electrochemical generation of nucleophiles, 111–113 (2) electrochemical modulation of proton concentration, 114–118 (3) electrochemical capacitive absorption, 119–121 and (4) electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR). 110,122–125 To the authors’ knowledge, research on the application of electrochemical techniques to DOC, hereafter referred to as eDOC, has thus far been limited to electrochemical modulation of proton concentration methods, also known as ‘pH swing’.…”