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Novel multi end-functionalised polymers. Additives to modify polymer properties at surfaces and interfaces (2006)
Journal Article
Pillay Narrainen, A., Hutchings, L., Ansari, I., Clarke, N., & Thompson, R. (2006). Novel multi end-functionalised polymers. Additives to modify polymer properties at surfaces and interfaces. Soft Matter, 2(2), 126-128. https://doi.org/10.1039/b516439g

Fréchet-type poly(arylether) dendrons with up to eight trifluoromethyl peripheral groups have been used as initiators in the copper mediated living radical polymerisation of d8-styrene, the surface adsorption behaviour and resulting properties of the... Read More about Novel multi end-functionalised polymers. Additives to modify polymer properties at surfaces and interfaces.

Surface-active fluorocarbon end-functionalized polylactides (2006)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L., Narrainen, A., Eggleston, S., Clarke, N., & Thompson, R. (2006). Surface-active fluorocarbon end-functionalized polylactides. Polymer, 47(24), 8116-8122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2006.09.050

The synthesis and surface properties of a 2 × C8F17 fluorocarbon di-functionalized poly(d,l-lactide), “F2PLA” are described. Small fractions 5% w/w of F2PLA, when blended with unfunctionalized poly(d,l-lactide), “PLA”, render the surface both hydroph... Read More about Surface-active fluorocarbon end-functionalized polylactides.

In situ water permeation measurement using an external He-3(2+) ion beam (2006)
Journal Article
Clough, A., Collins, S., Gauntlett, F., Hodgson, M., Jeynes, C., Rihawy, M., …Thompson, R. (2006). In situ water permeation measurement using an external He-3(2+) ion beam. Journal of Membrane Science, 285(1-2), 137-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2006.08.014

A new approach for water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) measurement is demonstrated that uses an external ion beam. ‘Sandwich’ specimens were prepared comprising two films of the barrier material (PET) surrounding a thin film of hydrophilic poly(eth... Read More about In situ water permeation measurement using an external He-3(2+) ion beam.

Interfacial structure in conjugated polymers: Characterization and control of the interface between poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (2006)
Journal Article
Higgins, A., Martin, S., Geoghegan, M., Heriot, S., Thompson, R., Cubitt, R., …Jones, R. (2006). Interfacial structure in conjugated polymers: Characterization and control of the interface between poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole). Macromolecules, 39(19), 6699-6707. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma060072w

Specular neutron reflectivity and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) are used to measure the interfacial width between poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) in a 500 nm bilayer. Annealing at temperature... Read More about Interfacial structure in conjugated polymers: Characterization and control of the interface between poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole).

Surface adsorption of polar end-functionalised polystyrenes (2006)
Journal Article
Narrainen, A., Clarke, N., Eggleston, S., Hutchings, L., & Thompson, R. (2006). Surface adsorption of polar end-functionalised polystyrenes. Soft Matter, 2(11), 981-985. https://doi.org/10.1039/b608688h

Due to their inherently high surface energy, polar end-functionalised polymers do not normally adsorb to the external surfaces of blends. However, adsorption of polar functionalities can be induced rapidly by annealing in a polar environment such as... Read More about Surface adsorption of polar end-functionalised polystyrenes.

Self-diffusion and viscoelastic measurements of polystyrene star polymers. (2005)
Journal Article
Clarke, N., Colley, F., Collins, S., Hutchings, L., & Thompson, R. (2005). Self-diffusion and viscoelastic measurements of polystyrene star polymers. Macromolecules, 39(3), 1290-1296. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma051973s

A series of hydrogenous and deuterated four-arm polystyrene stars with low polydispersity have been synthesized by anionic polymerization. Self-diffusion data have been obtained using helium-3 nuclear reaction analysis, and rheology has been employed... Read More about Self-diffusion and viscoelastic measurements of polystyrene star polymers..

Solvent accelerated polymer diffusion in thin films (2005)
Journal Article
Thompson, R., McDonald, M., Lenthall, J., & Hutchings, L. (2005). Solvent accelerated polymer diffusion in thin films. Macromolecules, 38(10), 4339-4344. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma050317p

We have investigated the absorption of cyclohexane vapor into polystyrene films and the resulting polymer interdiffusion that is enabled by this process. The swelling of films due to solvent absorption was relatively insensitive to the film thickness... Read More about Solvent accelerated polymer diffusion in thin films.

Surface segregation and self-stratification in blends of spin-cast polyfluorene derivatives (2005)
Journal Article
Higgins, A., Martin, S., Thompson, R., Chappell, J., Voigt, M., Lidzey, D., …Geoghegan, M. (2005). Surface segregation and self-stratification in blends of spin-cast polyfluorene derivatives. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 17(8), 1319-1328

We have used helium-3 nuclear reaction analysis to study the morphology of spin-cast blends of poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene) (178) and poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) as a function of composition, casting solvent, and initial solvent con... Read More about Surface segregation and self-stratification in blends of spin-cast polyfluorene derivatives.

Solvent vapor mediated polymer adsorption in thin films (2004)
Journal Article
Kiff, F., Richards, R., & Thompson, R. (2004). Solvent vapor mediated polymer adsorption in thin films. Langmuir, 20(11), 4465-4470. https://doi.org/10.1021/la035825b

The effectiveness of a "solvent annealing" process was investigated for thin (similar to150 nm) polystyrene films, in which the diffusion and reorganization of polymer chains were mediated by the controlled absorption of cyclohexane vapor. Results we... Read More about Solvent vapor mediated polymer adsorption in thin films.

Correlating structure with fluorescence emission in phase-separated conjugated-polymer blends (2003)
Journal Article
Chappell, J., Lidzey, D., Jukes, P., Higgins, A., Thompson, R., O'Connor, S., …Jones, R. (2003). Correlating structure with fluorescence emission in phase-separated conjugated-polymer blends. Nature Materials, 2(9), 616-621

Blends of conjugated polymers are frequently used as the active semiconducting layer in light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic devices. Here we report the use of scanning near-field optical microscopy, scanning force microscopy and nuclear-reaction a... Read More about Correlating structure with fluorescence emission in phase-separated conjugated-polymer blends.

Film thickness effects on the distribution of high-molecular-weight heterotelechelic polymers (2002)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L., Richards, R., Thompson, R., & Bucknall, D. (2002). Film thickness effects on the distribution of high-molecular-weight heterotelechelic polymers. The European Physical Journal E, 8(2), 121-128

High-molecular-weight heterotelechelic deuteriopolystyrene, NDPSF, possessing an amine functional group at one end of the chain and a fluorocarbon group at the other was tethered to a silicon substrate by its amine functional group. These layers were... Read More about Film thickness effects on the distribution of high-molecular-weight heterotelechelic polymers.

Interface development in polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate) bilayer films (2001)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L., Richards, R., Thompson, R., Clough, A., & Langridge, S. (2001). Interface development in polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate) bilayer films. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, 39(20), 2351-2362

We report the effect of annealing over a range of temperatures and times on the mixing, stability, and interfacial width in thin bilayer films of bisphenol A-polycarbonate (PC) on deuterated poly(methyl methacrylate) (dPMMA). These bilayer films were... Read More about Interface development in polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate) bilayer films.

Small-angle neutron scattering from single arm labeled polybutadiene star polymers in dilute solution (2001)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L., Richards, R., Reynolds, S., & Thompson, R. (2001). Small-angle neutron scattering from single arm labeled polybutadiene star polymers in dilute solution. Macromolecules, 34(16), 5571-5578

Dilute cyclohexane solutions of polybutadiene star polymers with 3, 4, 8, and 12 arms wherein one arm is perdeuterated have been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering. The scattering cross sections obtained showed a characteristic peak at fi... Read More about Small-angle neutron scattering from single arm labeled polybutadiene star polymers in dilute solution.

Partitioning of a heterotelechelic polystyrene to separate interfaces of thin films (2001)
Journal Article
Hutchings, L., Richards, R., Thompson, R., Bucknall, D., & Clough, A. (2001). Partitioning of a heterotelechelic polystyrene to separate interfaces of thin films. The European Physical Journal E, 5(4), 451-464

Heteratelechelic deuteropolystyrenes have been synthesised with a tertiary amine functionality at one end and a fluorocarbon group at the other end of the polymer chain. A layer of this polymer. circa 120 Angstrom thick, has been attached to the surf... Read More about Partitioning of a heterotelechelic polystyrene to separate interfaces of thin films.