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Polymers
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State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022)
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State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022)

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 19149

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Shiao-Wei Kuo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials and Optoelectronic Science, Center of Crystal Research, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
Interests: diblock copolymers; polybenzoxazine; aggregation-induced emissions; mesoporous polymers; conjugated microporous polymers; polypeptide; POSS nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer science becomes very important field in the many industrial laboratories of the world to understand the properties of new materials such as fibers, rubber, coatings, adhesive and plastics. In Taiwan, many research groups are working hard in different fields such as polymer physics, polymer synthesis, polymer physical chemistry, polymer characterization, covalent organic framework, conjugated polymers, self-assembly block copolymer and conjugated microporous polymers. Taiwanese polymer professors and researchers keep working with different industries companies in Taiwan for developing new products which used in the water treatment, medicine, pharmaceutics, optoelectronic devices, and food areas. This Special Issue will give a great picture of state-of-the-art directions in the science and technology of polymers in Taiwan at the beginning of the 21st century.

Prof. Dr. Shiao-Wei Kuo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer physics
  • polymer synthesis
  • polymer physical chemistry
  • polymer characterization
  • covalent organic framework
  • conjugated polymers
  • self-assembly block copolymer
  • conjugated microporous polymers

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3724 KiB  
Article
Metal Complexes of the Porphyrin-Functionalized Polybenzoxazine
by Guohu Zhang, Ahmed F. M. EL-Mahdy, Lamiaa Reda Ahmed, Babasaheb M. Matsagar, Sameerah Al-Saeedi, Shiao-Wei Kuo and Kevin C.-W. Wu
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 449; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14030449 - 23 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2838
Abstract
New porphyrin-functionalized benzoxazine (Por-BZ) in high purity and yield was synthesized in this study based on 1H and 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic analyses through the reduction of Schiff base formed from tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) and salicylaldehyde and the subsequent reaction with [...] Read more.
New porphyrin-functionalized benzoxazine (Por-BZ) in high purity and yield was synthesized in this study based on 1H and 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic analyses through the reduction of Schiff base formed from tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) and salicylaldehyde and the subsequent reaction with CH2O. Thermal properties of the product formed through ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of Por-BZ were measured using DSC, TGA and FTIR spectroscopy. Because of the rigid structure of the porphyrin moiety appended to the benzoxazine unit, the temperature required for ROP (314 °C) was higher than the typical Pa-type benzoxazine monomer (ca. 260 °C); furthermore, poly(Por-BZ) possessed a high thermal decomposition temperature (Td10 = 478 °C) and char yield (66 wt%) after thermal polymerization at 240 °C. An investigation of the thermal and luminescence properties of metal–porphyrin complexes revealed that the insertion of Ni and Zn ions decreased the thermal ROP temperatures of the Por-BZ/Ni and Por-BZ/Zn complexes significantly, to 241 and 231 °C, respectively. The metal ions acted as the effective promoter and catalyst for the thermal polymerization of the Por-BZ monomer, and also improved the thermal stabilities after thermal polymerization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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19 pages, 11626 KiB  
Article
Cutaneous Regeneration Mechanism of β-Sheet Silk Fibroin in a Rat Burn Wound Healing Model
by Kai-Chieh Chou, Chun-Ting Chen, Juin-Hong Cherng, Ming-Chia Li, Chia-Cheng Wen, Sheng-I Hu and Yi-Wen Wang
Polymers 2021, 13(20), 3537; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13203537 - 14 Oct 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2623
Abstract
Therapeutic dressings to enhance burn wound repair and regeneration are required. Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein, induces cell migration and serves as a biomaterial in various dressings. SF dressings usually contain α-helices and β-sheets. The former has been confirmed to improve cell [...] Read more.
Therapeutic dressings to enhance burn wound repair and regeneration are required. Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein, induces cell migration and serves as a biomaterial in various dressings. SF dressings usually contain α-helices and β-sheets. The former has been confirmed to improve cell proliferation and migration, but the wound healing effect and related mechanisms of β-sheet SF remain unclear. We investigated the effects of β-sheet SF in vivo and in vitro. Alcohol-treated α-helix SF transformed into the β-sheet form, which promoted granulation formation and re-epithelialization when applied as lyophilized SF dressing (LSFD) in a rat burn model. Our in vitro results showed that β-sheet SF increased human dermal fibroblast (HDF) migration and promoted the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (fibronectin and type III collagen), matrix metalloproteinase-12, and the cell adhesion molecule, integrin β1, in rat granulation tissue and HDFs. This confirms the role of crosstalk between integrin β1 and ECM proteins in cell migration. In summary, we demonstrated that β-sheet SF facilitates tissue regeneration by modulating cell adhesion molecules in dermal fibroblasts. LSFD could find clinical application for burn wound regeneration. Moreover, β-sheet SF could be combined with anti-inflammatory materials, growth factors, or antibiotics to develop novel dressings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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13 pages, 2622 KiB  
Article
Solubilization Behavior of Homopolymer in Its Blend with the Block Copolymer Displaying the Feature of Lower Critical Ordering Transition
by Yu-Hsuan Lin, Chang-Cheng Shiu, Tien-Lin Chen, Hsin-Lung Chen and Jing-Cherng Tsai
Polymers 2021, 13(19), 3415; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13193415 - 05 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1409
Abstract
Blending with homopolymer offers a facile approach for tuning the microdomain morphology of block copolymer, provided that the homopolymer chains are uniformly solubilized in the corresponding microdomain to swell the junction point separation. Here we studied the solubilization behavior of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) homopolymer [...] Read more.
Blending with homopolymer offers a facile approach for tuning the microdomain morphology of block copolymer, provided that the homopolymer chains are uniformly solubilized in the corresponding microdomain to swell the junction point separation. Here we studied the solubilization behavior of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) homopolymer (h-P4VP) in the lamellar microdomain formed by its blends with a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PEO-b-P4VP) showing the feature of lower critical ordering transition (LCOT) in terms of weaker segregation strength at lower temperature. We revealed that, while the conventional criterion of homopolymer-to-block molecular weight ratio for attaining uniform solubilization was applicable to LCOT blend, there was an excess swelling of junction point separation upon the addition of homopolymer, leading to a decrease of interdomain distance with increasing homopolymer composition. This anomalous phenomenon was attributed to the reduction of interfacial free energy due to the incorporation of P4VP homopolymer into the microdomain interface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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15 pages, 7435 KiB  
Article
Epoxy-Based Interlocking Membranes for All Solid-State Lithium Ion Batteries: The Effects of Amine Curing Agents on Electrochemical Properties
by Tsung-Yu Yu, Shih-Chieh Yeh, Jen-Yu Lee, Nae-Lih Wu and Ru-Jong Jeng
Polymers 2021, 13(19), 3244; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13193244 - 24 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2390
Abstract
In this study, a series of crosslinked membranes were prepared as solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for all-solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASSLIBs). An epoxy-containing copolymer (glycidyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, PGA) and two amine curing agents, linear Jeffamine ED2003 and hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI), [...] Read more.
In this study, a series of crosslinked membranes were prepared as solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for all-solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASSLIBs). An epoxy-containing copolymer (glycidyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, PGA) and two amine curing agents, linear Jeffamine ED2003 and hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI), were utilized to prepare SPEs with various crosslinking degrees. The PGA/polyethylene oxide (PEO) blends were cured by ED2003 and PEI to obtain slightly and heavily crosslinked structures, respectively. For further optimizing the interfacial and the electrochemical properties, an interlocking bilayer membrane based on overlapping and subsequent curing of PGA/PEO/ED2003 and PEO/PEI layers was developed. The presence of this amino/epoxy network can inhibit PEO crystallinity and maintain the dimensional stability of membranes. For the slightly crosslinked PGA/PEO/ED2003 membrane, an ionic conductivity of 5.61 × 10−4 S cm−1 and a lithium ion transference number (tLi+) of 0.43 were obtained, along with a specific capacity of 156 mAh g−1 (0.05 C) acquired from an assembled half-cell battery. However, the capacity retention retained only 54% after 100 cycles (0.2 C, 80 °C), possibly because the PEO-based electrolyte was inclined to recrystallize after long term thermal treatment. On the other hand, the highly crosslinked PGA/PEO/PEI membrane exhibited a similar ionic conductivity of 3.44 × 10−4 S cm−1 and a tLi+ of 0.52. Yet, poor interfacial adhesion between the membrane and the cathode brought about a low specific capacity of 48 mAh g−1. For the reinforced interlocking bilayer membrane, an ionic conductivity of 3.24 × 10−4 S cm−1 and a tLi+ of 0.42 could be achieved. Moreover, the capacity retention reached as high as 80% after 100 cycles (0.2 C, 80 °C). This is because the presence of the epoxy-based interlocking bilayer structure can block the pathway of lithium dendrite puncture effectively. We demonstrate that the unique interlocking bilayer structure is capable of offering a new approach to fabricate a robust SPE for ASSLIBs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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13 pages, 2355 KiB  
Article
Biomimetic Mineralization of Tannic Acid-Supplemented HEMA/SBMA Nanocomposite Hydrogels
by Tai-Yu Chen, Shih-Fu Ou and Hsiu-Wen Chien
Polymers 2021, 13(11), 1697; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13111697 - 22 May 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3839
Abstract
This study developed a tannic acid (TA)-supplemented 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sulfobetaine methacrylate (HEMA-co-SBMA) nanocomposite hydrogel with mineralization and antibacterial functions. Initially, hybrid hydrogels were synthesized by incorporating SBMA into the HEMA network and the influence of SBMA on the chemical structure, water content, mechanical properties, [...] Read more.
This study developed a tannic acid (TA)-supplemented 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sulfobetaine methacrylate (HEMA-co-SBMA) nanocomposite hydrogel with mineralization and antibacterial functions. Initially, hybrid hydrogels were synthesized by incorporating SBMA into the HEMA network and the influence of SBMA on the chemical structure, water content, mechanical properties, and antibacterial characteristics of the hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogels was examined. Then, nanoclay (Laponite XLG) was introduced into the hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogels and the effects evaluated of the nanoclay on the chemical structure, water content, and mechanical properties of these supplemented hydrogels. The 50/50 hybrid HEMA/SBMA hydrogel with 30 mg/mL nanoclay showed outstanding mechanical properties (3 MPa) and water content (60%) compared to pure polyHEMA hydrogels. TA then went on to be incorporated into these hybrid nanocomposite hydrogels and its effects investigated on biomimetic mineralization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed that bone-like spheroidal precipitates with a Ca/P ratio of 1.67% were observed after 28 days within these mineralized hydrogels. These mineralized hydrogels demonstrated an almost 1.5-fold increase in compressive moduli compared to the hydrogels without mineralization. These multifunctional hydrogels display good mechanical and biomimetic properties and may have applications in bone regeneration therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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11 pages, 5366 KiB  
Article
A Two-Step Microwave Annealing Process for PAN Pre-Oxidation through a TM-Mode Cavity
by Yan-Ren Chen, Hsien-Wen Chao, Hung-Chun Hsu, Cheng-Hsuan Chan, Wei-Hsiang Lin, Che-Wei Tsai and Tsun-Hsu Chang
Polymers 2021, 13(9), 1476; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13091476 - 03 May 2021
Viewed by 2159
Abstract
A novel microwave annealing system and a specific processing condition are proposed for the pre-oxidation of carbon fiber. The microwave annealing system consists of a TM-mode resonant cavity and a silicon carbide (SiC) susceptor. The TM-mode cavity enhances the electric field at the [...] Read more.
A novel microwave annealing system and a specific processing condition are proposed for the pre-oxidation of carbon fiber. The microwave annealing system consists of a TM-mode resonant cavity and a silicon carbide (SiC) susceptor. The TM-mode cavity enhances the electric field at the center. The SiC susceptor absorbs part of the microwave energy and converts it to heat. The enhanced fields and the SiC susceptor provide both nonthermal and thermal treatments for fibrous materials with various dielectric properties. Furthermore, a two-step microwave annealing process is used to oxidize polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results support the theory that the microwave annealing can achieve a high aromatic index of 66.39% in just 13 min, 9 times faster than the traditional processing time. The results of the Raman spectra also illustrate that the sheath-core factor of the microwave-heated specimen is closer to one than that of the conventional furnace-heated type, which agree with the images of the cross-section area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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13 pages, 5109 KiB  
Article
A Tröger’s Base-Derived Covalent Organic Polymer Containing Carbazole Units as a High-Performance Supercapacitor
by Ahmed F. M. EL-Mahdy, Johann Lüder, Mohammed G. Kotp and Shiao-Wei Kuo
Polymers 2021, 13(9), 1385; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13091385 - 24 Apr 2021
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 2754
Abstract
Porous organic polymers have been received considerable attention due to their heteroatom-containing structures and high surface areas, which can offer high electrochemical performance in energy applications. The majority of reported Tröger’s base-functionalized porous organic polymers have been applied as effective candidates for sensing [...] Read more.
Porous organic polymers have been received considerable attention due to their heteroatom-containing structures and high surface areas, which can offer high electrochemical performance in energy applications. The majority of reported Tröger’s base-functionalized porous organic polymers have been applied as effective candidates for sensing and gas separation/adsorption, while their use as electrode materials in supercapacitors is rare. Here, a novel covalent microporous organic polymer containing carbazole and Tröger’s base CzT-CMOP has been successfully synthesized through the one-pot polycondensation of 9-(4-aminophenyl)-carbazole-3,6-diamine (Cz-3NH2) with dimethoxymethane. The polycondensation reaction’s regioselectivity was studied using spectroscopic analyses and electronic structure calculations that confirmed the polycondensation occurred through the second and seventh positions of the carbazole unit rather than the fourth and fifth positions confirmed by first-principles calculations. Our CzT-CMOP exhibited high thermal stability of approximately 463.5 °C and a relatively high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 615 m2 g−1 with a nonlocal density functional theory’s pore size and volume of 0.48 cm3 g−1 and 1.66 nm, respectively. In addition, the synthesized CzT-CMOP displayed redox activity due to the existence of a redox-active carbazole in the polymer skeleton. CzT-CMOP revealed high electrochemical performance when used as active-electrode material in a three-electrode supercapacitor with an aqueous electrolyte of 6 M KOH, and it showed specific capacitance of 240 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 with excellent stability after 2000 cycles of 97% capacitance retention. Accordingly, such porous organic polymer appears to have a variety of uses in energy-related applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Taiwan (2021,2022))
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