More Like this

1. Organic X-Ray Radioluminescent Crystalline Colloidal Arrays Encapsulated in Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Methacrylate Based Hydrogel Films

   https://doi.org/10.1364/BODA.2021.JW1A.12  

   Mell, Sarah; Jones, Haley W.; Bandera, Yuriy; Foulger, Stephen H. (January 2021, Biophotonics Congress 2021)

   Due to Coulombic forces, X-ray active copolymer nanoparticles self-assembled into crystalline colloidal arrays which were stabilized through encapsulation in hydrogels. The system was able to emit blue light when pumped with an X-ray source. 

   more » « less
2. A poly(ethylene glycol) three-dimensional bone marrow hydrogel

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121270  

   Jansen, Lauren E.; Kim, Hyuna; Hall, Christopher L.; McCarthy, Thomas P.; Lee, Michael J.; Peyton, Shelly R. (January 2022, Biomaterials)
3. Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Based Electro‐Active Ionic Elastomer

   https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201900636  

   Rajapaksha, Chathuranga Prageeth Hemantha; Feng, Chenrun; Piedrahita, Camilo; Cao, Jinwei; Kaphle, Vikash; Lüssem, Björn; Kyu, Thein; Jákli, Antal (February 2020, Macromolecular Rapid Communications)

   Abstract Preparation and low voltage induced bending (converse flexoelectricity) of crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), modified with thiosiloxane (TS) and ionic liquid (1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) (IL) are reported. In between 2µm PEDOT:PSS electrodes at 1 V, it provides durable (95% retention under 5000 cycles) and relatively fast (2 s switching time) actuation with the second largest strain observed so far in ionic electro‐active polymers (iEAPs). In between 40 nm gold electrodes under 8 V DC voltage, the film can be completely curled up (270° bending angle) with 6% strain that, to the best of the knowledge, is unpreceded among iEAPs. These results render great potential for the TS/PEGDA/IL based electro‐active actuators for soft robotic applications. 

   more » « less
4. Effect of Poly(ethylene glycol)–Poly(propylene glycol) Triblock Copolymers on Autogenous Shrinkage and Properties of Cement Pastes

   https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010283  

   Masoule, Mohammad_Sadegh Tale; Ghahremaninezhad, Ali (January 2024, Buildings)

   This study investigates the hydration, microstructure, autogenous shrinkage, electrical resistivity, and mechanical properties of Portland cement pastes modified with PEG-PPG triblock copolymers with varied molecular weights. The early age properties including setting time and hydration heat were examined using the Vicat test and isothermal calorimetry. The hydration products and pore size distribution were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption, respectively. Mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were evaluated using the compressive strength test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was shown that the addition of the copolymers reduced the surface tension of the cement paste pore solution due to the presence of a hydrophobic block (PPG) in the molecular structure of the copolymers. The setting time and hydration heat were relatively similar in the control paste as well as the pastes modified with the copolymers. The results showed that copolymers were able to reduce the autogenous shrinkage in the paste due primarily to a reduction in pore solution surface tension. TGA showed a slight increase in the hydration degree of the paste modified with the copolymers. The compressive strength was reduced in the pastes modified with the copolymers that showed an increased volume of air voids. The addition of copolymers did not affect the electrical resistivity of the pastes except in the case where there was a large volume of air voids, which acted as electrical insulators. 

   more » « less
5. Hydration sphere structure of architectural molecules: poly-ethylene glycol and poly-oxymethylene oligomers

   Rozza, Ahmed M.; Vanpoucke, Danny E.P.; Krammer, Eva-Maria; Bouckaert, Julie; Blossey, Ralf; Lensink, Mark F.; Ondrechen, Mary Jo; Bakó, Imre; Oláh, Julianna; Roos, Goedele (August 2023, Journal of molecular liquids)

   Non-toxic, chemically inert, organic polymers as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyoxymethylene (POM) have versatile applications in basic research, industry and pharmacy. In this work, we aim to characterize the hydration structure of PEG and POM oligomers by exploring how the solute disturbs the water structure compared to the bulk solvent and how the solute chain interacts with the solvent. We explore the effect of (i) the C–C–O (PEG) versus C-O (POM) constitution of the chain and (ii) chain length. To this end, MD simulations followed by clustering and topological analysis of the hydration network, as well as quantum mechanical calculations of atomic charges are used. We show that the hydration varies with chain conformation and length. The degree of folding of the chain impacts its degree of solvation, which is measurable by different parameters as for example the number of water molecules in the first solvation shell and the solvent accessible surface. Atomic charges calculated on the oligomers in gas phase are stable throughout conformation and chain length and seem not to determine solvation. Hydration however induces charge transfer from the solute molecule to the solvent, which depends on the degree of hydration. 

   more » « less