Thermodynamic analysis of alkali metal complex formation of polymer-bonded crown ether.

The complex formation of two crown ethers with colored alkali metal salts was investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Complexation was accomplished with free benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) and 15-crown-5 bonded to a diblock copolymer (Poly15C5). The diblock copolymer was synthesized by two controlled polymerization techniques and copper(i)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Depending on the inserted cation, 1 : 1- or 1 : 2-complexes are formed. A significant difference of the stability constants was determined by concentration dependence solvent extraction with sodium or potassium salt. For Poly15C5 the stability constants increase for both salts compared to the stability constants of B15C5, which suggests a more effective complexation. Evaluation of the thermodynamics (ΔH, ΔS, ΔG) of cation complexation was achieved by temperature dependence phase extraction on the basis of established thermodynamic equations. Remarkably, in all cases the entropic gain seems to be the major propulsion facilitating the complexation between alkali metal salts and crown ethers. Indeed, by using Poly15C5 a more pronounced dependency of enthalpy and entropy on the complex formation is calculated.

Toward Predicting the Formation of Integral-Asymmetric, Isoporous Diblock Copolymer Membranes.

The self-assembly and nonsolvent-induced phase separation (SNIPS) process of block copolymers and solvents enables the fabrication of integral-asymmetric, isoporous membranes. An isoporous top layer is formed by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) and imparts selectivity for ultrafiltration of functional macromolecules or water purification. This selective layer is supported by a macroporous bottom structure that is formed by nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) providing mechanical stability. Thereby the permeability/selectivity tradeoff is optimized. The SNIPS fabrication involves various physical phenomena-e.g., evaporation, self-assembly, macrophase separation, vitrification - and multiple structural, thermodynamic, kinetic, and process parameters. Optimizing membrane properties and rationally designing fabrication processes is a challenge which particle simulation can significantly contribute to. Using large-scale particle simulations, it is observed that 1) a small incompatibility between matrix-forming block of the copolymer and nonsolvent, 2) a glassy arrest that occurs at a smaller polymer concentration, or 3) a higher dynamical contrast between polymer and solvent results in a finer, spongy substructure, whereas the opposite parameter choice gives rise to larger macropores with an elongated shape. These observations are confirmed by comparison to experiments on polystyrene (PS)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) diblock copolymer membranes, varying the chemical nature of the coagulant or the temperature of coagulation bath.