Ternary Polymer Research Articles

Arginine-Biofunctionalized Ternary Hydrogel Scaffolds of Carboxymethyl Cellulose–Chitosan–Polyvinyl Alcohol to Deliver Cell Therapy for Wound Healing

Wound healing is important for skin after deep injuries or burns, which can lead to hospitalization, long-term morbidity, and mortality. In this field, tissue-engineered skin substitutes have therapy potential to assist in the treatment of acute and chronic skin wounds, where many requirements are still unmet. Hence, in this study, a novel type of biocompatible ternary polymer hybrid hydrogel scaffold was designed and produced through an entirely eco-friendly aqueous process composed of carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol and chemically cross-linked by citric acid, forming three-dimensional (3D) matrices, which were biofunctionalized with L-arginine (L-Arg) to enhance cellular adhesion. They were applied as bilayer skin biomimetic substitutes based on human-derived cell cultures of fibroblasts and keratinocytes were seeded and grown into their 3D porous structures, producing cell-based bio-responsive hybrid hydrogel scaffolds to assist the wound healing process. The results demonstrated that hydrophilic hybrid cross-linked networks were formed via esterification reactions with the 3D porous microarchitecture promoted by foam templating and freeze-drying. These hybrids presented chemical stability, physicochemical properties, high moisture adsorption capacity, surface properties, and a highly interconnected 3D porous structure well suited for use as a skin substitute in wound healing. Additionally, the surface biofunctionalization of these 3D hydrogel scaffolds with L-arginine through amide bonds had significantly enhanced cellular attachment and proliferation of fibroblast and keratinocyte cultures. Hence, the in vivo results using Hairless mouse models (an immunocompromised strain) confirmed that these responsive bio-hybrid hydrogel scaffolds possess hemocompatibility, bioadhesion, biocompatibility, adhesiveness, biodegradability, and non-inflammatory behavior and are capable of assisting the skin wound healing process.

Evaluation of the tribological performance and oxidative stability of a bi-functional lubricating oil additive prepared from corn cob extract

To meet the requirements of a circular economy, a class of sulfur- and phosphorus-free green bifunctional lubricating oil additives was developed based on corn cob extract as a naturally renewable biomass material. These additives can significantly enhance the friction-reducing, anti-wear properties, and oxidative stability of base oils. Results indicate that at an addition level of 4000 ppm, ternary polymer additive reduced the wear volume and surface roughness of steel friction pairs by 98.17 % and 97.63 %, respectively, and increased the oxidation induction period by 40.52 %. The improvement in tribological performance is attributed to the rigid ring structure preventing direct contact between friction pairs, and the chemical adsorption of carboxylic acid and anhydride groups with the metal, forming a dense friction film.

The effect of methacrylate ternary polymer on the low-temperature flowability of coal-based diesel

The effect of methacrylate ternary polymer on the low-temperature flowability of coal-based diesel

Electrochemical-mechanical coupled interfacial degradation model of Ternary polymer composite cathodes in all-solid-state batteries

Despite significant attention focused on the composite cathode composed of active particles, which is considered to increase the interfacial areas and satisfy high areal load, suffers from interfacial issues. In this article, we formulate an electrochemical-mechanical model of LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC) composite cathode coupling the relations between interfacial degradation, charge transformation, diffusion transport, and mechanical deformation under cyclic loads. Based on the transition state theory, we regard the interfacial degradation as an energy barrier dependent on the interfacial debonding state. Physical mismatch due to chemical expansion results in interfacial current distinction, anisotropic Li diffusion and excessive local stress. Compared to single-crystal NMC particles, the effect of interfacial separation and internal cracks triggers an extremely nonuniformity of Li distribution within random orientation polycrystalline-type particles. The external pressure in the range of operation can cause mechanical deformation to fill in the interface vacancies, which effectively alleviates the rapid growth of damage and provides a better cyclic performance. Moreover, soft polymer-based solid electrolytes take advantage of their flexible property to deal with solid-solid contact, providing considerable maintenance of interface stability. This present framework reveals the failure mechanism with electrochemical-mechanical coupled relations for composite cathode materials and broadens the design guidance toward improving interfacial integrity.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Poly(ethylene)oxide Ternary Solid Polymer Electrolytes Based on Ni/Al Layered Double Hydroxide

Physical and Chemical Properties of Poly(ethylene)oxide Ternary Solid Polymer Electrolytes Based on Ni/Al Layered Double Hydroxide

High-Performance Ternary Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Using a Branched Polymer as the Guest Donor

High-Performance Ternary Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Using a Branched Polymer as the Guest Donor

Novel avenues for achieving simultaneous high-efficiency oil removal and sterilization: Designing a quaternary ammonium-hydrophobic ternary template copolymer

In treating complex sewage containing microorganisms, flocculation and disinfection typically occur as distinct stages, involving the addition of flocculants and disinfectants separately. To integrate oil removal and disinfection, a novel quaternary ammonium-hydrophobic ternary template polymer, TPAMA-DA, was engineered with capabilities for both flocculation and sterilization functions. Optimal copolymer characteristics were determined through Response Surface Methodology of the preparation parameters for TPAMA-DA. The copolymer prepared was applied to model wastewater, and the results indicate that, in emulsified oil and E. coli single systems, TPAMA-DA achieved removal rates of 95.71 % and 97.19 % for emulsified oil and OD600 (residual OD600 = 0.0239), respectively, showcasing superior oil removal and antibacterial capabilities compared to TPAMA and PAMA. Meanwhile, TPAMA-DA exhibited excellent oil removal efficiency across a broad range of pH environments, contrasting sharply with its pH-sensitive antibacterial properties. Surprisingly, applying TPAMA-DA to the oil-E. coli binary systems, it not only maintained high efficiency in oil removal but also showed certain pH adaptability in antibacterial activity, suggesting TPAMA-DA’s outstanding ability for simultaneous oil removal and antibacterial action in oil-E. coli binary systems. Impressively, SEM and 3D-EEM analyses confirm that TPAMA-DA disrupts the bacterial cell, resulting in the death of E. coli. These findings may pave the way for new avenues in the development of multi-functional, efficient, low-consumption, and environmentally friendly high-performance copolymers with dual capabilities for oil removal and sterilization.

Tunable polymer-based ternary one-dimensional photonic crystal with PVDF piezoelectric layer in the THz spectrum

This research introduces an innovative method for crafting adjustable one-dimensional photonic crystals by integrating a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric layer into a ternary polymer structure. The incorporation of PVDF as a piezoelectric polymer in the photonic crystal allows for the simulation of an electric field sensitive photonic crystal. Two structures of the photonic crystal are examined, one with a defect layer and one without, while the impact of piezoelectric parameters on the transmission spectrum is scrutinized. The computational outcomes clearly demonstrate that the photonic band gap can be efficiently modified by applying an external electric field in the THz frequency. Incorporating a defect mode that is sensitive to electric field allows for the creation of a narrow bandpass region (∼ 5 GHz) within a bandgap. This narrow region has the capacity to be precisely modified through the application of an external electrical field. This distinctive design proposal provides a means to govern and modify the optical characteristics of the crystal, rendering it a promising candidate for diverse photonic applications.

Exploring the Processing Potential of Polylactic Acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoate, and Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) Binary and Ternary Blends.

Biodegradable and bio-based polymers, including polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), stand out as sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics for a wide range of consumer applications. Studying binary and ternary blends is essential to exploring the synergistic combinations and efficiencies of three distinct biopolyesters. A comprehensive evaluation of melt-extruded binary and ternary polymer blends of PHA, PLA, and PBSA was conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a heterogeneous morphology characteristic of immiscible blends, with a predominant spherical inclusion morphology observed in the majority of the blends. An increased PBSA concentration led to an elevation in melt viscosity and elasticity across both ternary and binary blends. An increased PHA content reduced the viscosity, along with both storage and loss moduli in the blends. Moreover, a rise in PHA concentration within the blends led to increased crystallinity, albeit with a noticeable reduction in the crystallization temperature of PHA. PLA retained amorphous structure in the blends. The resultant bio-based blends manifested enhanced rheological and calorimetric traits, divergent from their pure polymer counterparts, highlighting the potential for optimizing material properties through strategic formulation adjustments.

Photon energy loss in ternary polymer solar cells based on nonfullerene acceptor as a third component

AbstractUnderstanding photon energy loss caused by the charge recombination in ternary blend polymer solar cells based on nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) is crucial for achieving further improvements in their device performance. In such a ternary system, however, the two types of donor/acceptor interface coexist, making it more difficult to analyze the photon energy loss. Here, we have focused on the origin of the voltage loss behind a high open‐circuit voltage (VOC) in ternary blend devices based on one donor polymer (poly(2,5‐bis(3‐(2‐butyloctyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)‐thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole) [PTzBT]) and two acceptors, including a fullerene derivative ([6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester [PCBM]) and an NFA ((2,2′‐((2Z,2′Z)‐(((4,4,9,9‐tetrakis(4‐hexylphenyl)‐4,9‐dihydro‐sindaceno[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene‐2,7‐diyl)bis(4‐((2‐ethylhexyl)oxy)thiophene‐5,2‐diyl))bis(methanylylidene))bis(5,6‐difluoro‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐indene‐2,1‐diylidene))dimalononitrile) [IEICO‐4F]), which exhibit VOC similar to that of fullerene‐based PTzBT/PCBM binary devices. From the temperature‐dependent VOC, we found that the effective interfacial bandgap is the same between them: the PTzBT/PCBM/IEICO‐4F ternary blend device is the same as the PTzBT/PCBM fullerene‐based binary device rather than the PTzBT/IEICO‐4F nonfullerene‐based binary device. This means that the recombination center of the ternary blend device is still the interface of PTzBT/PCBM regardless of the incorporation of a small amount of NFA. On the basis of detailed balance theory, we found that the radiative and nonradiative recombination voltage losses for PTzBT/PCBM/IEICO‐4F ternary devices significantly reduced compared to those of fullerene‐based PTzBT/PCBM binary counterparts. This is ascribed to the disappearance of charge transfer absorption due to overlap with the absorption of NFA and the reduction of energetic disorder due to the incorporation of NFA. Through this study, the role of NFAs in voltage loss is once again emphasized, and a ternary system capable of achieving high VOC resulting from significantly reduced voltage loss in ternary blend solar cells is proposed. Therefore, we believe that this research proposes the guidelines that can further enhance the power conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells.

Combining ternary, ionic liquid-based, polymer electrolytes with a single-ion conducting polymer-based interlayer for lithium metal batteries

Among the many approaches to improve the performance of lithium-metal batteries, ternary polyethylene oxide/ionic liquid/lithium salt electrolytes offer several advantages such as low flammability, high conductivity (vs. polyethylene oxide/lithium salt electrolytes) and, to a large extent, limiting the growth of dendrites at moderate currents. However, they suffer from relatively low mechanical strength for lithium metal confinement. Besides, the lithium transport numbers are very low, which is conducive to lithium depletion during plating at high current densities at the lithium/electrolyte interface. Thus, we show here that the combination of a ternary solid polymer electrolyte with a single-ion polymer-based conducting interlayer allows for a significant improvement of the cyclability of the lithium metal anode. This results in a strong improvement of the electrochemical performance of lithium-metal batteries using solid polymer electrolytes at 80 °C, with an 85% capacity retention after 350 cycles (vs. 60% after 62 cycles for the uncoated anode). This is attributed, via focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to a denser lithium deposit, better contact with the electrolyte and a reduced reactivity of electrolyte species with the interlayer.

Ternary polymer solar cells using two nonfullerene acceptors with cascading energy level and complementary absorptions

In this paper, we have fabricated ternary PSC with BTP-eC9 as the host acceptor, IT-M as the guest acceptor, and PM6 as donor. The optimized ternary PSC (PM6:BTP-eC9:IT-M ratio is 1:1.2:0.2) has the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.06 % compared to the PM6:BTP-eC9 binary PSC (16.46 %) and PM6:L8-BO reference binary PSC (16.92 %). We systematically investigated the effect of blend acceptors on morphology, photovoltaic performance and charge carrier dynamics. After the addition of IT-M to PM6:BTP-eC9 binary film, the highest JSC (from 26.39 to 26.82 mA cm−2) was achieved for optimized ternary PSCs compared to PM6:BTP-eC9 binary PSC, which was attributed to the high efficiency of light absorption in the medium to long-wavelength region of IT-M. Shallower lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) level of IT-M enlarged the optical bandgap, which leads to an increase in the open-circuit voltage (VOC, from 0.86 V to 0.875 V). In addition, a small amount of IT-M improves the surface and bulk morphology and crystallinity of the ternary film. The ternary films shown high charge mobility ability. This work demonstrates that supplementing the light absorption and broadening the optical bandgap of PM6:BTP-eC9 binary films by IT-M as third component can effectively improve the PCE and obtain higher photovoltaic performance than that of PM6:BTP-eC9 binary PSCs and PM6:L8-BO reference binary PSCs.

Facile preparation and application of ternary hybrid of POSS/DOPO/F macromolecular as highly-effective epoxy modifier

In order to easily achieve the multifunctionality of epoxy resin, this paper designs and synthesizes a ternary hybrid copolymer containing POSS/DOPO/F. This method not only facile combines POSS with DOPO, but also introduces F element to further reduce the surface energy of epoxy composite materials. Research has found that the POSS/DOPO/F ternary hybrid copolymer can achieve a UL-94 flame retardant rating of V-0 with just 5 wt% of the modifier, and the limit oxygen index of epoxy composites is 32% (23.1% higher than pure epoxy resin). The residual char after combustion is denser and the carbonization rate is higher. Furthermore, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the flame retardant mechanism of POSS/DOPO/F ternary hybrid copolymer epoxy composites using TGA-FTIR technology and EDS. In addition, the introduction of ternary hybrid polymers effectively improves the mechanical properties of epoxy composite materials and significantly reduces the surface energy of the composite materials.

Optimizing Adsorption‐Redox Sites and Charge Transfer of Ternary Polymer Photocatalyst with P─N Linkage for CO2 Conversion Coupled with Antibiotics Removal

AbstractThe rational design of bifunctional photocatalysts with high adsorption and enrichment characteristics and excellent photocatalytic redox activity is an effective way to address environmental pollution and energy shortage crisis. In this study, cyclophosphazene‐derived porous organic polymer (PCPD) microspheres with P─N linkage are coated with graphene oxide (GO) and loaded with Ag0 nanoparticles (NPs) to prepare covalently bonded xAg‐rGO/PCPD composites. The catalyst with the highest specific surface area (denoted as 2.5Ag‐rGO/PCPD) shows excellent adsorption capacity for fluoroquinolone antibiotics, removing 96.2% of ciprofloxacin (CIP) through adsorption. By applying the catalyst with the best photocatalytic redox activity (denoted as 5Ag‐rGO/PCPD), 82.97% of refractory sulfonamide antibiotics are removed through adsorption‐degradation, and 635.3 µmol g−1 of CO and 162.3 µmol g−1 of CH4 are generated as products of CO2 photoreduction alone. Among the co‐catalytic systems, the highest CO yield of 9.16 µmol g−1 is obtained by coupling CO2 reduction with levofloxacin (LVX) degradation to harness the electron‐donating power of the pollutant molecule. This study is expected to provide useful guidance for the rational design of bifunctional photocatalysts.

Simultaneous usage of sulforaphane nanoemulsion and tannic acid in ternary chitosan/gelatin/PEG hydrogel for knee cartilage tissue engineering: In vitro and in vivo study

The therapeutic potential of tissue engineering in addressing articular cartilage defects has been a focal point of research for numerous years. Despite its promising outlook, a persistent challenge within this domain is the lack of sufficient functional integration between engineered and natural tissues. This study introduces a novel approach that employs a combination of sulforaphane (SFN) nanoemulsion and tannic acid to enhance cartilage tissue engineering and promote tissue integration in a rat knee cartilage defect model. To substantiate our hypothesis, we conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The SFN nanoemulsion was characterized using DLS, zeta potential, and TEM analyses. Subsequently, it was incorporated into a ternary polymer hydrogel composed of chitosan, gelatin, and polyethylene glycol. We evaluated the hydrogel with (H-SFN) and without (H) the SFN nanoemulsion through a comprehensive set of physicochemical, mechanical, and biological analyses. For the in vivo study, nine male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: no implant (Ctrl), H, and H-SFN. After inducing a cartilage defect, the affected area was treated with tannic acid and subsequently implanted with the hydrogels. Four weeks post-implantation, the harvested cartilage underwent histological examination employing H&E, safranin O/fast green, alcian blue, and immunohistochemistry staining techniques. Our results revealed that the SFN nanodroplets had an average diameter of 75 nm and a surface charge of −11.58 mV. Moreover, degradation, swelling rates, hydrophilicity, and elasticity features of the hydrogel incorporating SFN were improved. Histopathological analysis indicated a higher production of GAGs and collagen in the H-SFN group. Furthermore, the H-SFN group exhibited superior cartilage regeneration and tissue integration compared to the Ctrl and H groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest the importance of considering cell protective properties in the fabrication of scaffolds for knee cartilage defects, emphasizing the potential significance of the proposed SFN nanoemulsion and tannic acid approach in advancing the field of cartilage tissue engineering.

Providing a Photovoltaic Performance Enhancement Relationship from Binary to Ternary Polymer Solar Cells via Machine Learning.

Ternary polymer solar cells (PSCs) are currently the simplest and most efficient way to further improve the device performance in PSCs. To find high-performance organic photovoltaic materials, the established connection between the material structure and device performance before fabrication is of great significance. Herein, firstly, a database of the photovoltaic performance in 874 experimental PSCs reported in the literature is established, and three different fingerprint expressions of a molecular structure are explored as input features; the results show that long fingerprints of 2D atom pairs can contain more effective information and improve the accuracy of the models. Through supervised learning, five machine learning (ML) models were trained to build a mapping of the photovoltaic performance improvement relationship from binary to ternary PSCs. The GBDT model had the best predictive ability and generalization. Eighteen key structural features from a non-fullerene acceptor and the third components that affect the device's PCE were screened based on this model, including a nitrile group with lone-pair electron, a halogen atom, an oxygen atom, etc. Interestingly, the structural features for the enhanced device's PCE were essentially increased by the Jsc or FF. More importantly, the reliability of the ML model was further verified by preparing the highly efficient PSCs. Taking the PM6:BTP-eC9:PY-IT ternary PSC as an example, the PCE prediction (18.03%) by the model was in good agreement with the experimental results (17.78%), the relative prediction error was 1.41%, and the relative error between all experimental results and predicted results was less than 5%. These results indicate that ML is a useful tool for exploring the photovoltaic performance improvement of PSCs and accelerating the design and application with highly efficient non-fullerene materials.

Correlating Aggregation Ability of Polymer Donors with Film Formation Kinetics for Organic Solar Cells with Improved Efficiency and Processability.

Film formation kinetics significantly impact molecular processability and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells. Here, two ternary random copolymerization polymers are reported, D18─N-p and D18─N-m, to modulate the aggregation ability of D18 by introducing trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridine unit at para- and meta-positions, respectively. The introduction of pyridine unit significantly reduces material aggregation ability and adjusts the interactions with acceptor L8-BO, thereby leading to largely changed film formation kinetics with earlier phase separation and longer film formation times, which enlarge fiber sizes in blend films and improve carrier generation and transport. As a result, D18─N-p with moderate aggregation ability delivers a high PCE of 18.82% with L8-BO, which is further improved to 19.45% via interface engineering. Despite the slightly inferior small area device performances, D18─N-m shows improved solubility, which inspires to adjust the ratio of meta-trifluoromethyl pyridine carefully and obtain a polymer donor D18─N-m-10 with good solubility in nonhalogenated solvent o-xylene. High PCEs of 13.07% and 12.43% in 1 cm2 device and 43 cm2 module fabricated with slot-die coating method are achieved based on D18─N-m-10:L8-BO blends. This work emphasizes film formation kinetics optimization in device fabrication via aggregation ability modulation of polymer donors for efficient devices.

Diffusion mediated thermally induced phase separation for preparing poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes with enhanced separation performances

Thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process is an appealing method for preparing poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes for separation. In this work, we developed a diffusion mediated thermally induced phase separation (d-TIPS) to prepare PVDF membranes with great molecules separation performances. We investigated the thermodynamics of ternary polymer solutions including PVDF, caprolactam (CPL), and Polyethylene glycol (PEG). We controlled liquid–liquid phase separation and the CPL diffusion by adjusting the addition of PEG and molecular weight to modulate the evolution of morphology from spherulitic to bicontinuous structure. The resulting membrane was characterized by morphology, surface chemistry, tensile strength, water contact angle, and perm-selectivity. The membrane was further stretched for enhanced strength, permeance, and rejection. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the diffusion mediated thermally induced phase separation and shows the great potential of PVDF membranes in macromolecules separation.

Enhanced performance of solid polymer electrolytes combining poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), metal-organic framework and ionic liquid for advanced solid state lithium-ion batteries

The search for sustainable and high-performance materials for lithium-ion batteries is leading to significant advances in solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) technology. However, the current drawbacks of this approach prove the need for further research and development in the field. Herein, novel ternary solid polymer electrolytes have been developed using varying loads of MOF-808 metal-organic framework and [BMIM][SCN] ionic liquid (IL) incorporated in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) matrix. The solid polymer electrolytes were evaluated at morphological, structural, thermal, mechanical and electrochemical levels, and their performance in cycling battery testing was assessed. The results showed a homogeneous structure throughout all the samples and a good dispersion of the distinct components. The polymer polar phase and degree of crystallinity of the samples are increased with increasing IL content, and the thermal and mechanical properties are appropriate for battery application. The ionic conductivity of the samples reaches maximum values of 4.68 × 10−5 S‧cm−1 at room temperature, lithium transference numbers up to 0.65, and high electrochemical stability, making them well-suited for battery applications. The assembled stability after 50 cycles at C/10 with a discharge capacity value of 150 mAh‧g−1 at room temperature was tested/derived. The obtained results show the potential of this system for high performance room temperature solid polymer electrolytes.

Thermal stability of binary and ternary biodegradable polymer blends assessed by isoconversional kinetic analysis

Here we report on kinetic analysis of thermal degradation of polymer blends based on incremental isoconversional method coupled with mathematical deconvolution of thermogravimetric curves based on Fraser–Suzuki peak function. The measured kinetic envelope was decomposed into contributions approximately corresponding to degradation of each constituent of a polymer blend. Kinetic parameters from isoconversional analysis were further used for estimating the effect of blending on thermal stability of the constituents. Compared to routinely used parameters such as degradation onset temperature or DTG-peak temperature, the deconvolution analysis allows to determine stability of all components in a mixture regardless of their relative content. Here we also show that deconvolution analysis can be carried out directly on integral α(T) curves, thus bypassing the work with differential data dα/dt. Isoconversional analysis of deconvoluted α(T) curves allows to calculate various parameters for assessing the potentially accelerating or inhibiting effect on thermal degradation, for example, by means of decomposition half-time t0.5. The results can be made more robust by utilizing relative criteria for stability such as t0.5(blend)/t0.5(neat polymer). Using this approach, detrimental effect of PHBV and PBAT on thermal stability of PLA above 300 °C was confirmed. On the other hand, stability of PHBV in both binary and ternary mixtures was improved compared to neat polymer.