A fast-response phosphorescence sensor for dissolved oxygen (DO) detection based on PtOEP/TiO2/CB@PFFE sensing film was developed. The DO sensing film features a tri-layer structure, comprising a sensing layer, a light-scattering layer, and a light-blocking layer. Fluorinated polymer PFFE as matrix was synthesized via free radical polymerization using 4-trifluoromethyl styrene (TFMST), 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate (TFEMA) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) as monomers and 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as initiator. The sensing layer, light-scattering layer and light-blocking layer were fabricated by embedding platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP), TiO2 and carbon black (CB) in PFFE, respectively. The addition of light-scattering layer and light-blocking layer enhances the phosphorescence intensity and phosphorescence lifetime of the PtOEP/TiO2/CB@PFFE sensing film, further improving the detection sensitivity of the sensor. The PtOEP/TiO2/CB@PFFE sensor demonstrated a response time of 30s and a recovery time of 150s and exhibited excellent reproducibility, reversibility and stability. The Stern-Volmer constant (KSV) of the Stern-Volmer curve was 0.4584L/mg and the correlation coefficient (R) of the curve reached as high as 0.9993, indicating that the PtOEP/TiO2/CB@PFFE sensor exhibited high sensitivity for DO detection.

The scarcity of freshwater resources has spurred the development of solar-driven interfacial evaporation as a sustainable desalination technology. However, fabricating flexible, efficient, and scalable evaporators remains a challenge. Herein, we present a facile and production-friendly strategy for preparing flexible porous solar evaporators via a high internal phase emulsion templating method. A flexible porous scaffold is synthesized by copolymerizing styrene (St) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), with carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CCNTs) incorporated throughin situpolymerization. The CCNTs form hydrogen bonds with the polymer matrix, ensuring uniform dispersion and significantly enhancing broadband light absorption. By tuning the St/EHA ratio, the mechanical properties of the scaffold can be optimized, achieving a balanced tensile strength and elongation at a 1:1 mass ratio. The resulting evaporator features an open-cell pore network that maximizes light scattering, provides exceptional thermal insulation, and facilitates capillary water transport. Under one sun illumination, the evaporator demonstrates a high evaporation rate of 3.14kgm-2h-1. An outdoor test under natural sunlight with an average intensity of 460.6Wm-2 further confirms its practical potential, with an evaporation rate of 1.40kgm-2h-1. This work offers a simple, scalable, and versatile route to high-performance flexible solar evaporators, providing a promising solution for sustainable freshwater production.

Novel sustainable carbon dot as dual replacements for emulsion stabilizers and Photoinitiators in macroporous polymerized high internal phase emulsion fabrication.

Objective Nebulizers are medical devices that convert liquid solutions, such as saline or medication, into aerosols for direct airway delivery. Their effectiveness relies on interfaces, typically made from polymeric materials containing additives to enhance functionality and durability. This study aimed to characterize emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) from different components of five nebulizers, considering two exposure routes: inhalation and dermal contact. Materials and Methods Five nebulizers were assessed by analyzing emissions from individual components and from complete system configurations. VOC and SVOC emissions were quantified and short-term exposure (20 minutes) was assessed for infants and children. Estimated exposure levels were compared with toxicological reference values, including inhalation Derived No-Effect Levels (DNELs), to evaluate potential health risks via inhalation and dermal contact. Results All tested components emitted VOCs, with the highest concentrations detected in masks and whole-system configurations. Some identified compounds, including toluene, styrene, siloxane D4, and 2-ethylhexanoic acid, are suspected or recognized reproductive toxicants. Although measured levels were very low, inhalation represents a potential exposure route warranting a precautionary approach. Phenol, a suspected mutagen, reached concentrations up to 65.9 μg/m³, corresponding to 11.7% of the inhalation DNEL for a 20-minute exposure in infants and children. Dermal exposure levels were very low compared with toxicological reference values. Nevertheless, compounds such as benzyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, both recognized as EU-classified skin sensitizers, were detected. Cyclic siloxanes D5, D6, and D7 were also detected, with D6 showing the highest dermal intake. As these siloxanes are classified as Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) in the EU, long-term effects from bioaccumulation and environmental persistence should be considered. Discussion and Conclusions Although measured VOC and SVOC concentrations were low and below established toxicological thresholds, these findings underscore the need for preventive measures, particularly for sensitive populations such as infants and children. Inhalation appears to be the most relevant exposure pathway during use, while dermal exposure, though minimal, may contribute to sensitization risks. The presence of PBT-classified siloxanes further emphasizes the need to consider long-term human health and environmental implications. Overall, these findings support the implementation of preventive strategies and continued monitoring of material emissions in medical devices intended for vulnerable users.

Introduction: On February 3, 2023, a freight train containing 149 train cars operated by Norfolk Southern Railway derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Eleven of the derailed cars contained hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, isobutylene, n-butyl acrylate, and benzene residue. The Ohio Regional Poison Control Centers received calls from the community and health care providers affected by this incident. On February 6, railroad officials decided to perform a controlled burn with the train cars carrying 115,580 gallons of vinyl chloride due to the rising temperatures, which posed an explosion hazard. Methods: Retrospective case narrative reviews were performed on the phone calls received from the affected community to the Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC). The cases started in February 2023 and ended in October 2024. Data included the caller location and clinical effects/symptoms from the initial chemical spill, and the controlled burn was entered into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Results: 179 cases were reviewed, with the most common clinical effects/symptoms. The cases were included based on their distance from the derailment, < 1 mile, 5 miles, 20 miles, and > 20 miles radius. Conclusion: Understanding the health effects of chemical spills in a technological disaster will inform the creation of emergency and disaster management protocols for hospitals and first responders.

The adhesion performance of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) thin films on additively manufactured polymers is strongly governed by surface anisotropy induced during printing. In this study, PSA thin films based on 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and acrylic acid (AA) were deposited by initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) onto fused deposition modeling (FDM) printed PLA substrates with different raster orientations (0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°). The deposited films exhibited high optical transparency on glass, and thicknesses consistent with the targeted deposition. Adhesion performance was evaluated using tensile and three-point bending tests, revealing a strong dependence on raster orientation. The 0° raster orientation yielded the highest shear adhesion strengths, reaching 12.03 N/cm2 under tensile loading and 4.59 N/cm2 under bending, along with the largest failure displacements. In contrast, specimens printed at 90° exhibited an approximately 47% reduction in tensile shear adhesion strength and limited deformation prior to failure. SEM analysis showed that raster alignment parallel to the loading direction promoted extensive adhesive deformation and PSA fibrillation, whereas higher raster angles resulted in predominantly interfacial debonding. These results demonstrate that raster orientation is a critical design parameter for tuning PSA adhesion on FDM-printed PLA substrates without modifying adhesive chemistry.

A new class of transparent, flexible, and UV-resistant waterborne acrylic nanocomposite coatings was developed via an in situ emulsion polymerization strategy for exterior wood protection. The base copolymer, poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate–co–methyl methacrylate), was reinforced with cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and rutile TiO₂ nanoparticles. The in situ incorporation of the nanofillers within the aqueous polymerization medium enabled homogeneous nanoscale dispersion and enhanced interfacial bonding between the inorganic and organic phases. As a result, the optimized hybrid formulation containing 0.1 wt% CNC and 0.1 wt% TiO₂ (PA2) exhibited a sixfold increase in storage modulus, a + 13.6 °C shift in glass transition temperature, and preserved 73 % optical transmittance at 550 nm. The coatings showed superior UV-shielding efficiency, excellent thermal–mechanical stability, and good film-forming ability with low viscosity. FTIR and FESEM analyses confirmed the uniform distribution and effective integration of nanofillers in the polymer matrix. These findings demonstrate that synergistic CNC/TiO₂ reinforcement via in situ polymerization can yield sustainable and high-performance transparent coatings for wood and related substrates. • Transparent and flexible waterborne acrylic nanocomposite coatings were developed as protective finishes for exterior wood. • Using an in situ emulsion polymerization route promoted uniform nanoparticle distribution and reduced the risk of agglomeration at low filler loadings.

A fully automated continuous flow synthesizer for diblock copolymer (BCP) synthesis was constructed comprising elements of flow chemistry, automation, machine learning and in-line monitoring. A new method using in-line FTIR spectroscopic analysis for accurate determination of monomer conversion (with an error as low as 2% relative to an NMR spectroscopic baseline) is presented, thereby generating a reliable feedback system for reaction self-optimisation using the platform. By employing reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization at 100 °C, acrylates and acrylamides of different hydrophilicities (namely methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate, diethylene glycol ethyl ether acrylate, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate, acrylamide & N,N-dimethylacrylamide) were polymerized to make mixed BCPs, targeting different degrees of polymerization (15 to 100). Samples were collected automatically, and a BCP material library comprising 95 diblock copolymers (7 sets of double hydrophobic, 7 sets of amphiphilic and 3 sets of double hydrophilic monomer systems) with M n ranging from 1800 g mol-1 to 14 700 g mol-1, was obtained in a high-throughput manner, with minimal human intervention throughout the entire process.

ABSTRACT Branched polymers have garnered significant interest owing to their distinctive architectural characteristics. Herein, a chain transfer monomer (CTM), 2-(3-mercaptopropionyloxy) ethyl methacrylate (MPOEM), incorporating both sulphhydryl and vinyl functionalities, was synthesised via a conventional esterification reaction between hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 3-mercaptopropionic acid. This monomer was employed in the copolymerisation of styrene, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and methacrylic acid to fabricate high-solid-content acrylate copolymers with branched architectures through conventional free radical polymerisation. The development of branching and molecular weight parameters was ascertained using triple detection size exclusion chromatography (TD-SEC). The solution viscosity of the copolymers was evaluated employing a rotary rheometer (MCR301). The findings reveal that the shear viscosity of the branched acrylate copolymer (M w.MALLS = 17000 g/mol, g’ = 0.76) is diminished relative to its linear counterpart under conditions of comparable molecular weight.

The development of sustainable pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) derived from renewable resources is critical for reducing environmental impact and advancing carbon neutrality goals. However, achieving high biobased content often compromises key properties such as temperature resistance and mechanical durability. Herein, we report a sustainable acrylic PSA with approximately 50% biobased content, synthesized from renewable lauryl methacrylate (LMA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA), along with petroleum-derived 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). By incorporating the functional monomer GMA and subsequently cross-linking with aluminum acetylacetonate (AlACA), the adhesive properties were effectively tailored. The optimized PSA containing 10 wt % GMA exhibits a balanced performance with a tack of #5 steel ball, an outstanding shear time of 303 h at 25 °C (and 214.5 h at 80 °C), and a 180° peel strength of 7.7 N/25 mm. Furthermore, the PSA demonstrates exceptional high-temperature tolerance, retaining 75% of its peel strength after 24 h at 120 °C, along with excellent solvent resistance upon immersion in various chemicals. It also maintains 33% of its initial adhesion strength after 50 bonding-debonding cycles. Practical repair tests on diverse damaged materials further confirm its broad applicability. This work presents a sustainable, high-temperature resistant PSA alternative that supports the transition toward a circular economy.

Mussel-inspired catechol-containing polymers have a diverse range of potential applications arising from the intra- and inter-molecular interactions enabled by the catechol (CAT) group (i.e. 1,2-dihydroxybenzene). How such interactions underpin self-assembly of catechol-functionalized polymers in non-polar media is of fundamental interest and also critical to their applications but is poorly understood. Here, we have studied the self-assembled nanostructures of four novel catechol-containing polymers in n-dodecane, a model non-polar solvent, using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The polymers represented four different architectures - two diblock and two random copolymers, all consisting of a poly(acrylate) backbone with two side chains (a predominant non-polar ethylhexylacrylate (EHA) moiety and a polar catechol-containing moiety (2, 4, or 6wt% CAT)) in different connectivity. These were also compared with a control homopolymer containing only EHA sidechains. SANS measurements at polymer concentration of 1wt% in the temperature range T=20-70°C showed that the polymer architecture had a significant impact on the morphology of the self-assembled nano-aggregates. These results represent the first experimental observations of self-assembly behaviour of catechol-containing polymers in a non-polar solvent.

Five hydrophobic eutectic solvents based on menthol and thymol were prepared and incorporated into a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) network to form eutectogel membranes. The two most promising eutectogels were further optimized by adding ethyl hexylacrylate (HA) to the eutectogel formulation to improve the compatibility between the eutectic solvent and polymer network and to enhance the water resistance of the resulting membranes. Thermal analysis confirmed the successful formation and integration of eutectic solvents within the polymer network. Rheological studies demonstrated the rubber-like behavior of the prepared hydrophobic eutectogels, with menthol-based variants exhibiting superior mechanical properties. Finally, sorption experiments were conducted using the optimized octanoic acid:menthol PEGDA-HA eutectogel to evaluate its efficiency in removing various contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including diclofenac, iopromide, cefazolin, bisphenol A, and dichlorophenol. The results revealed high sorption capacities for bisphenol A (3213 mg⋅kg-1) and dichlorophenol (2981 mg⋅kg-1), followed by diclofenac (1490 mg⋅kg-1), whereas minimal sorption capacities were observed for iopromide and cefazolin. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of hydrophobic eutectogels as efficient and tunable materials for water purification, paving the way for their application in the environmental remediation of different emerging pollutants related to global change and human activities.

A serious toxic chemical spill occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, USA, when 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern Train derailed and spilled hazardous industrial organic chemicals including vinyl chloride, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, isobutylene, butyl acrylate, and benzene into a small stream, Sulfur Run, in a sub-watershed of the Ohio River, killing thousands of fish and other aquatic organisms. Benthic diatoms were sampled 92 days after the spill, on May 17 2023, as a surrogate to assess water quality and evaluate the ecological resilience of diatoms to an episodic organic chemical spill. Diatom community metrics included non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination, Multiple Response Permutation Procedures (MNPP) statistics, predominant diatoms, diatom water quality indices, trophic state, and diversity. Despite 92 days of recovery and “stream clean-up” measures, all metrics of diatom community structure in Sulfur Run, the polluted stream, and Leslie Run downstream from the confluence of Sulfur Run, remained statistically significantly different (lower quality) than in Leslie Run above the Sulfur Run confluence. Although the differences were relatively subtle, their high significance and range across a spectrum of diatom community metrics lend credence to the conclusion that the chemical spill caused alterations in the diatom community and support the contention that the effect on the diatoms was structural, i.e., affecting species composition rather than productivity. The study demonstrates the value of diatoms in assessing environmental impacts and confirms their potential for monitoring water quality restoration from episodic hazardous organic chemical spills.

Thermally stable PSA film with reduced adhesion after thermal and UV treatment

Abstract Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are highly valued in massive fields of actuators and sensors due to their unique advantages of large actuation strain, fast response speed, high energy density and excellent elasticity. The challenge of balancing the elastic modulus, actuation strain and response speed of DE actuators to stably enhance the actuation performance remains a major issue. In this work, a novel DE was prepared by employing polyurethane acrylate (CN9021) as a crosslinker, n-butyl acrylate as a base monomer and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) as a functional flexible monomer via a UV curing method. The swelling test indicates a reduction of crosslinking density with the increment of 2-EHA concentration in EHA films. As a consequence, the elastic modulus displays a notable decline while the dielectric constant slightly rises, leading to an enhancement of the actuation sensitivity. More specifically, the elastic modulus of our fabricated EHA-1 is only one-third of the commercial VHB-4910. The developed DEs achieve an actuation strain of nearly 150% with low viscoelasticity and mechanical loss resulting in high response speed and broad operating frequency range to the input dynamic voltages. All these actuation performances are superior to VHB-4910. This work provides a promising strategy for developing DEs with balanced performance and superior actuation characteristics.

The ever-increasing demand for safe and high-energy-density batteries urges the exploration of ultrathin, lightweight solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high flexibility, reduced interfacial resistance and excellent processability have been attracting significant attentions. However, reducing the thickness of SPEs to be comparable with that of commercial separators increases the risk of short-circuiting. Herein, an ultrathin (≈7 μm), flexible and mechanical robust SPE was constructed from a rationally designed multi-functional polymer network, i.e., poly[2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate-r-(2-ethylhexyl acrylate)-r-methyl methacrylate-r-1,4-bis(acryloyloxy)butane] (PTEM) and porous polyethylene (PE). The resultant PTEM@PE electrolyte possesses a high tensile strength of 128.0 MPa with extensibility up to 34.8%, which could effectively prevent short-circuiting and minimize the interfacial resistance of cells. The obtained all-solid-state Li|PTEM@PE|LiFePO4 cell exhibited stable cycling performance over 1500 cycles at 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 74.4%. With high-voltage NCM811 as the cathode, the cell fabricated with PTEM@PE showed a remarkable capacity retention of 84.2% over 500 cycles. Even with the high-mass loading (≈3 mA h cm-2) NCM811 cathode, the cell could be operated at ambient temperature, demonstrating superior ion-migration kinetics. The current design provides a promising strategy to develop ultrathin and multifunctional solid electrolytes for safe, long-cycling and high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries.

This study delves into the distinctive selective property exhibited by a non-conjugated cholesterol-based polymer, poly(CEM11-b-EHA7), in sorting semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) within isooctane. Comprised of 11 repeating units of cholesteryloxycarbonyl-2-hydroxy methacrylate (CEM) and 7 repeating units of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), this non-conjugated polymer demonstrates robust supramolecular interactions across the sp2 surface structure of carbon nanotubes and graphene. When coupled with the Double Liquid-Phase Extraction (DLPE) technology, the polymer effectively segregates s-SWCNTs into the isooctane phase (nonpolar) while excluding metallic SWCNTs (m-SWCNTs) in the water phase (polar). DLPE proves particularly efficient in partitioning larger-diameter s-SWCNTs (0.85-1.0 nm) compared to those dispersed directly in isooctane by poly(CEM11-b-EHA7) using direct liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) techniques for diameters ranging from 0.75 to 0.95 nm. The DLPE method, bolstered by poly(CEM11-b-EHA7), successfully eliminates impurities from s-SWCNT extraction, including residual metallic catalysts and carbonaceous substances, which constitute up to 20% of raw HiPCO SWCNTs. DLPE emerges as a scalable and straightforward approach for selectively extracting s-SWCNTs in nonpolar, low-boiling-point solvents like alkanes. These dispersions hold promise for fabricating fast-drying s-SWCNT inks, which are ideal for printed and flexible thin-film transistors.

In this study, colloidal crystal (CC) films with visible light reflection were successfully fabricated by casting the suspension of silica particles surface-modified with poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (PEHA) chains on the surface of glass substrate. The reflection peak wavelength could be easily tuned by changing the molecular weight of PEHA. Additionally, the CC films with visible reflection could be formed on the glass substrates owing to the intrinsic physical property of strong adhesion of PEHA. From these results, it was suggested that such PEHA-grafted silica particles can be practically used as the paintable color materials.

The achievement of underwater bonding and maintaining bond stability are significant challenges due to interfacial water and hydration weakening adhesive bonds. In this study, a dry pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) was successfully developed through a one-step synthesis involving the random copolymerization of ethylene glycol phenyl ether acrylate (PEA), 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA), and acrylic acid (AA). This PSA displayed good hydrophobicity, moderate Young’s modulus, and tensile strength, forming strong interfacial bonds with various substrates in water. The effect of the aromatic monomer PEA content on the adhesive properties, shear properties, and heat resistance of PSA was systematically investigated. Notably, at 10 mol % PEA content (P-AEP10), the PSA exhibited remarkable mechanical strength and bond strength, with an elastic modulus of 0.5353 MPa and tensile strength of 0.6882 MPa. The underwater peel strengths were 936.7 N/m (SS) and 1569.3 N/m (PET). The results indicate that π–π interactions significantly enhance the cohesive strength of the copolymer, enabling P-AEP10 to maintain excellent adhesive performance in water at 80 °C, with the static shear failure time extended to 880 h at room temperature. Additionally, the results obtained from underwater repair experiments demonstrated that the PSA did not exhibit secondary leakage for a period of 100 days following the repair procedure, thereby further substantiating its suitability for underwater repair and bonding applications. In conclusion, this study offers significant theoretical support and a practical foundation for the development and utilization of dry PSAs.

Surfactants can compete with microplastics for surfaces using adhesives as substrates for microplastic sequestration