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Related Concept Videos

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

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Unlike small molecules with definite molecular weights, polymers are a mixture of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, each with a unique molecular weight.  So, the molecular weight of a polymer is expressed as an average value based on the average size of the polymer chains. The two most common forms of averages used for polymers are the number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight.
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Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

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For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
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Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

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Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
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Molecular Models02:00

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Physical models representing molecular architectures of chemical compounds play essential roles in understanding chemistry. The use of molecular models makes it easier to visualize the structures and shapes of atoms and molecules.
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Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility02:34

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Intermolecular forces are attractive forces that exist between molecules. They dictate several bulk properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (miscibilities) of substances. Molar mass, molecular shape, and polarity affect the strength of different intermolecular forces, which influence the magnitude of physical properties across a family of molecules.
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High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)01:15

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The resolution of a mass spectrometer depends on the efficiency of separating ions with different ion masses. The mass of an atom is approximated to the sum of the masses of protons and neutrons inside, considering the masses of protons and neutrons as equal. However, the masses of the proton (1.6726 × 10−24 g) and neutron (1.6749 × 10−24 g) are not truly equal. There is a minor error in the expression of atomic masses relative to the simplest atom of hydrogen. For...
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Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
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Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

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Visualizing molecular weights differences in supramolecular polymers.

Qingyun Li1, Hanwei Zhang1, Kai Lou1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Materials Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 24, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces an anion-responsive supramolecular polymer that changes fluorescence color with molecular weight. This allows for easy monitoring of supramolecular polymerization extent and number-average molecular weight (Mn).

Keywords:
J-aggregatefluorescencemolecular weightself-assemblysupramolecular polymers

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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
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Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Determining molecular weight (Mn) is crucial for supramolecular polymer chemistry.
  • Traditional methods lack simple correlations between optical properties and Mn in many supramolecular systems.
  • Existing techniques for Mn inference in supramolecular polymers can be complex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a novel anion-responsive supramolecular polymer with fluorescence color changes linked to molecular weight.
  • To establish a correlation between the degree of polymerization and optical emission.
  • To demonstrate anion-mediated regulation of supramolecular polymerization and Mn monitoring.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of an anion-responsive supramolecular polymer [M1·Zn(OTf)2]n.
  • Investigation of fluorescence color shifts with varying monomer concentrations.
  • Theoretical estimation of the average degree of polymerization (DPcal).
  • Analysis of anion-induced changes in supramolecular polymerization and Mn.

Main Results:

  • The supramolecular polymer [M1·Zn(OTf)2]n exhibits monotonic fluorescence color changes with increasing Mn.
  • DPcal increased from 16.9 to 84.5 as monomer concentration rose from 0.08 mM to 2.00 mM.
  • Fluorescence shifted from green to yellow to orange, indicating a red shift in emission maximum (λ).
  • A direct relationship between DPcal and λ was established.
  • Anion introduction effectively regulated supramolecular polymerization and Mn, monitored via fluorescence.

Conclusions:

  • The developed supramolecular polymer provides a straightforward method for Mn determination.
  • Fluorescence color serves as a reliable indicator of supramolecular polymerization extent.
  • Anion responsiveness offers a tunable mechanism for controlling and monitoring supramolecular polymer characteristics.