Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

All Outputs (56)

Predicting Oligomer/Polymer Compatibility and its Impact on Nanoscale Segregation in Thin Films (2017)
Journal Article
Sabattié, E., Tasche, J., Wilson, M. R., Skoda, M. W., Hughes, A. V., Lindner, T., & Thompson, R. (2017). Predicting Oligomer/Polymer Compatibility and its Impact on Nanoscale Segregation in Thin Films. Soft Matter, 13(19), 3580-3591. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7sm00048k

Compatibility between oligomers and polymers was systematically assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and correlated with similarity in saturation and solubility parameter. These measurements enabled validation of detailed volume of... Read More about Predicting Oligomer/Polymer Compatibility and its Impact on Nanoscale Segregation in Thin Films.

Understanding and controlling morphology evolution via DIO plasticization in PffBT4T-2OD/PC71BM devices (2017)
Journal Article
Zhang, Y., Parnell, A. J., Pontecchiani, F., Cooper, J. F., Thompson, R. L., Jones, R. A., …Bernardo, G. (2017). Understanding and controlling morphology evolution via DIO plasticization in PffBT4T-2OD/PC71BM devices. Scientific Reports, 7, Article 44269. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44269

We demonstrate that the inclusion of a small amount of the co-solvent 1,8-diiodooctane in the preparation of a bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic device increases its power conversion efficiency by 20%, through a mechanism of transient plasticisation.... Read More about Understanding and controlling morphology evolution via DIO plasticization in PffBT4T-2OD/PC71BM devices.

Distortion of Chain Conformation and Reduced Entanglement in Polymer–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites (2016)
Journal Article
Weir, M., Johnson, D., Boothroyd, S., Savage, R., Thompson, R., King, S., …Clarke, N. (2016). Distortion of Chain Conformation and Reduced Entanglement in Polymer–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites. ACS Macro Letters, 5(4), 430-434. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00100

We study the conformations of polymer chains in polymer–graphene oxide nanocomposites. We show that the chains have a reduced radius of gyration that is consistent with confinement at a solid interface in the melt, as is expected for well-dispersed,... Read More about Distortion of Chain Conformation and Reduced Entanglement in Polymer–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites.

Extrinsic Wrinkling and Single Exfoliated Sheets of Graphene Oxide in Polymer Composites (2016)
Journal Article
Weir, M. P., Johnson, D. W., Boothroyd, S. C., Savage, R. C., Thompson, R. L., Parnell, S. R., …Clarke, N. (2016). Extrinsic Wrinkling and Single Exfoliated Sheets of Graphene Oxide in Polymer Composites. Chemistry of Materials, 28(6), 1698-1704. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b04502

We study the conformation of graphene oxide as the filler in nanocomposites of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) using inverse-space scattering techniques and atomic force microscopy. By subtracting the polymer scattering to estimate the scat... Read More about Extrinsic Wrinkling and Single Exfoliated Sheets of Graphene Oxide in Polymer Composites.

A facile route for rubber breakdown via cross metathesis reactions (2016)
Journal Article
Smith, R., Boothroyd, S., Khosravi, E., & Thompson, R. (2016). A facile route for rubber breakdown via cross metathesis reactions. Green Chemistry, 18(11), 3448-3455. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5gc03075g

A new approach towards reprocessing cross-linked rubbery materials by catalytic disassembly of polymer chains, which eliminates the need for energy intensive mechanical processes, is demonstrated. First and second generation (G1 and G2) Grubbs’ ruthe... Read More about A facile route for rubber breakdown via cross metathesis reactions.

Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers (2016)
Journal Article
Hart, J. M., Kimani, S. M., Hutchings, L. R., Grillo, I., Hughes, A. V., Clarke, N., …Thompson, R. L. (2016). Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers. Macromolecules, 49(4), 1434-1443. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.5b02318

A masterbatch additive for the enhanced dispersal of bare silica nanoparticles in polybutadiene is demonstrated using tetrahydroxyl end-functional polybutadienes (“4OH-PBd”). Neutron reflectometry and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) confirm the... Read More about Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers.

Surfactant and Plasticizer Segregation in Thin Poly(vinyl alcohol) Films (2015)
Journal Article
Briddick, A., Li, P., Hughes, A., Courchay, F., Martinez, A., & Thompson, R. (2016). Surfactant and Plasticizer Segregation in Thin Poly(vinyl alcohol) Films. Langmuir, 32(3), 864-872. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b03758

The vertical depth distributions of individual additive components [cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), deuterated pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (d25-C12E5), and deuterated glycerol (d-glycerol)] in PVA films have been isolated and explor... Read More about Surfactant and Plasticizer Segregation in Thin Poly(vinyl alcohol) Films.

Deuterated Carbohydrate Probes as ‘Label-Free’ Substrates for Probing Nutrient Uptake in Mycobacteria by Nuclear Reaction Analysis (2015)
Journal Article
Lowery, R., Gibson, M., Thompson, R., & Fullam, E. (2015). Deuterated Carbohydrate Probes as ‘Label-Free’ Substrates for Probing Nutrient Uptake in Mycobacteria by Nuclear Reaction Analysis. Chemical Communications, 51(23), 4838-4841. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4cc09588j

Understanding and probing small molecule uptake in cells is challenging, requiring sterically large chemical labels, or radioactive isotopes. Here, the uptake of deuterated sugars by Mycobacterium smegmatis, a non-pathogenic model of Mycobacterium tu... Read More about Deuterated Carbohydrate Probes as ‘Label-Free’ Substrates for Probing Nutrient Uptake in Mycobacteria by Nuclear Reaction Analysis.

Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives (2015)
Journal Article
James, C. D., Jeynes, C., Barradas, N. P., Clifton, L., Dalgliesh, R. M., Smith, R. F., …Thompson, R. L. (2015). Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 89, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2015.03.002

Surface modification of amorphous PET in incompatible blends is demonstrated using fluorocarbon end-functional polystyrenes. Contact angles with water and decane were consistent with high levels of surface fluorocarbon, even for spin-cast films with... Read More about Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives.

Molecular weight dependent vertical composition profiles of PCDTBT:PC71BM blends for organic photovoltaics (2014)
Journal Article
Kingsley, J. W., Marchisio, P. P., Yi, H., Iraqi, A., Kinane, C. J., Langridge, S., …Parnell, A. J. (2014). Molecular weight dependent vertical composition profiles of PCDTBT:PC71BM blends for organic photovoltaics. Scientific Reports, 4, Article 5286. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep05286

We have used Soxhlet solvent purification to fractionate a broad molecular weight distribution of the polycarbazole polymer PCDTBT into three lower polydispersity molecular weight fractions. Organic photovoltaic devices were made using a blend of the... Read More about Molecular weight dependent vertical composition profiles of PCDTBT:PC71BM blends for organic photovoltaics.

Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants (2014)
Journal Article
Kimani, S., Thompson, R., Hutchings, L., Clarke, N., Billah, S., Sakai, V., & Rogers, S. (2014). Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants. Macromolecules, 47(6), 2062-2071. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma402158b

Multihydroxyl end functional polyethylenes have been prepared with controlled molecular weight, microstructure, and functionalization. These materials, designed as interfacially active blend additives for polar interfaces, are thermally stable up to... Read More about Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants.

Surface Modification of Polyethylene with Multi-End-Functional Polyethylene Additives (2012)
Journal Article
Hardman, S., Hutchings, L., Clarke, N., Kimani, S., Mears, L., Smith, E., …Thompson, R. (2012). Surface Modification of Polyethylene with Multi-End-Functional Polyethylene Additives. Langmuir, 28(11), 5125-5137. https://doi.org/10.1021/la205158n

We have prepared and characterized a series of multifluorocarbon end-functional polyethylene additives, which when blended with polyethylene matrices increase surface hydrophobicity and lipophobicity. Water contact angles of >112° were observed on sp... Read More about Surface Modification of Polyethylene with Multi-End-Functional Polyethylene Additives.

Quantitative evaluation of evaporation rate during spin-coating of polymer blend films: Control of film structure through defined-atmosphere solvent-casting (2010)
Journal Article
Mokarian-Tabari, P., Geoghegan, M., Howse, J., Heriot, S., Thompson, R., & Jones, R. (2010). Quantitative evaluation of evaporation rate during spin-coating of polymer blend films: Control of film structure through defined-atmosphere solvent-casting. The European Physical Journal E, 33(4), 283-289. https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2010-10670-7

Aggregation, adsorption, and surface properties of multiply end-functionalized polystyrenes (2007)
Journal Article
Ansari, I., Clarke, N., Hutchings, L., Narrainen, A., Terry, A., Thompson, R., & Webster, J. (2007). Aggregation, adsorption, and surface properties of multiply end-functionalized polystyrenes. Langmuir, 23(8), 4405-4413. https://doi.org/10.1021/la0635810

The properties of polystyrene blends containing deuteriopolystyrene, multiply end-functionalized with C8F17 fluorocarbon groups, are strikingly analogous to those of surfactants in solution. These materials, denoted FxdPSy, where x is the number of f... Read More about Aggregation, adsorption, and surface properties of multiply end-functionalized polystyrenes.