Highly Crystalline, Nanostructured Polyimide Microparticles via Green and Tunable Solvothermal Polymerization

Abstract

Herewith, we report a straightforward, experimentally simple, and environmentally benign synthetic strategy toward cyclocondensation polymers. Using a fully aromatic polyimide as model system, we demonstrate that products of extraordinary crystallinity can be generated in various protic, polar solvents (ethanol, iso-propyl alcohol, and glycerine) as well as in their mixtures with H2O via solvothermal polymerization. Depending on the type of solvent and the employed solvent composition, respectively, several physicochemical solvent properties (density, viscosity, polarity, and ionic product) can be intentionally adjusted to generate a plethora of morphologically different microparticlespartly with highly ordered structures down to the nanorangewhile maintaining full crystallinity. The method developed here is a highly valuable addition to the to date rather limited number of synthetic approaches toward high-performance polyimides and, as we believe, for cyclocondensation polymers in general.

Sulfone‐containing Conjugated Polyimide 2D Nanosheets for Efficient Water Oxidation

“…The XRD diffraction pattern depicted in Figure 1(c) indicated the crystalline nature of the synthesized sPI. The spectral pattern of the polyimide was essentially marked by the presence of several prominent peaks in the 10–30° 2θ range [40,41] . The peaks appeared to be relatively broad and are diffused due to the semi‐crystalline nature.…”

“…The spectral pattern of the polyimide was essentially marked by the presence of several prominent peaks in the 10-30°2θ range. [40,41] The peaks appeared to be relatively broad and are diffused due to the semi-crystalline nature. The diffraction peaks appeared at 2 theta values 2θ = 12.0, 13.5, 15.9,16.8, 18.2, 23.7, 25.2°.…”

New High-Performance Materials: Bio-Based, Eco-Friendly Polyimides

“…The potential usage of the method was recently broadened by the successful PI synthesis in various protic polar solvents (ethanol, isopropanol, and glycerin) or several aqueous mixtures therefrom. This unlocks the employment of new building blocks and fine tuning of reaction conditions toward desired PI morphologies [134].…”

Designed Synthesis of a 1D Polymer in Twist‐Stacked Topology via Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Polymerization

“…Semicrystalline one‐dimensional (1D) polymers have both amorphous domains and crystalline domains, which adopt lamellar packing (Figure a) . Though rare, polymers having a high degree of crystallinity are also known . Crystalline polymers, in view of their close packing, are denser, stronger, and stiffer than amorphous polymers, and they usually exhibit a high impact resistance .…”

“…[5] Though rare, polymers having a high degree of crystallinity are also known. [6] Crystalline polymers, in view of their close packing, are denser, stronger, and stiffer than amorphous polymers, and they usually exhibit a high impact resistance. [7] The high crystallinity in Kevlar is responsible for its ability to stop a penetrating bullet.…”