Functional Polyolefins for Energy Applications

Abstract

Polyolefins, including polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), represent more than half of commercial polymers produced in the world. They are known to be costeffective and good performing materials used in a broad range of commodity applications that influence our everyday lives. On the other hand, less attention has been paid to their specialty applications, commonly requiring the material to have multiple performance functions. The limitations and shortcomings of polyolefins have stemmed from lack of functionality and structure diversity, which are compounded with the long-standing challenges in the chemical modification (functionalization) of polyolefins. In the past two decades, in conjunction with advances in metallocene catalysis, a new method based on the "reactive" polyolefin approach has emerged, which affords a new class of functional polyolefins with high molecular weight and well-controlled molecular structures that have functional groups located at chain ends, side chains, and block/graft segments. In addition to forming distinctive multiple phase morphology with shape hydrophobic−hydrophilic microphase separation and surface properties, some functional polyolefins with flexible polar (or ionic) groups offer excellent mobility for polarization, ion conductivity, etc. They present potentials for polyolefins in high-value, specialty applications. In this paper, I will cover three energy-related areas, including polymer film capacitors for electric energy storage, ion exchange membranes for hydrogen energy, and oil superabsorbent polymers for oil spill recovery, to discuss the effects of new polyolefin structures on their performances and the future perspectives. The objective is to provide examples that reveal underlying benefits of this new class of high-performance, cost-effective functional polyolefin materials and hopefully inspire more researchers to explore their applications.

Structural, dynamic and photophysical properties of a fluorescent dye incorporated in an amorphous hydrophobic polymer bundle

“…18,19 Among many different kinds of "smart" polymers, functionalized polyolefins have attracted a lot of attention, and their synthesis and application have been recently reviewed. 20,21 However, due to the complexity of the intramolecular and intermolecular interactions inside these systems it is difficult to disclose and identify precisely, from an experimental point of view, the factors responsible for the variation of the properties of the molecules and relate them to specific three dimensional configurations. In order to obtain effective devices and to identify structural modifications which could affect the required characteristics, comprehensive knowledge of the treated materials and their related compounds is fundamental.…”

Aminopyridine stabilized group-IV metal complexes and their applications

“…It is believed that the catalysts having molar mass distribution equal to 2 are real single-site catalysts [4]. Keeping in mind this definition, the catalytic behavior of complexes 11-16 is close to (Me) 2 single-site catalysts. Even further low molecular weight distribution (1.9-2.4) was observed for ethylene-propylene, ethylene-propylene-norbornene and propylene-norbornene copolymers obtained from these catalysts [39].…”

“…To synthesize bis-Ap complex (9), the ligand was first deprotonated using NaH, and then, sodium salt of the ligand was reacted with TiCl 4 (Scheme 5) [39]. Whereas complex 10 was synthesized by reacting the TiCl 4 (THF) 2 with two equivalents of MeLi and subsequent reaction with sodium salt of aminopyridine ligand (Scheme 6) [39]. Crystal structure of complex 9 has no symmetry elements, and the overall geometry of the complex is distorted octahedral due to presence of two four-membered chelate rings of the two aminopyridinato ligands (Fig.…”

“…Global need for olefinic and other polymers is tremendously growing every year, for example, consumption of only polyethylene and polypropylene was 90,327 and 60,904 thousand metric tons, respectively, during the year 2014 [2]. Major industrial production of these polymers primarily utilizes group-IV metal catalysts [3][4][5][6].…”

Copolymerization of 4-methyl-1-pentene with α,ω-alkenols

“…Such material is desired because it combines the polarity and non-polarity into an integral whole. It could be utilized extensively as the modifier of a polymer to improve the property; furthermore, it could be hopefully used in the areas of energy, information and environmental protection [3]. Direct copolymerization of olefin monomer with vinyl comonomer with a polar group(s) by using Ziegler-Natta polymerization is straightforward and efficient to obtain these functional polyolefin materials.…”