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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
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Ion Exchange01:17

Ion Exchange

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Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules from a solution by reversibly exchanging them with mobile, or 'active', ions associated with the oppositely charged stationary phase. This method can be used to separate ions, soften and deionize water, and purify solutions. The polymers comprising the ion-exchange column are high-molecular-weight and chemically stable polymers, crosslinked to be porous and essentially insoluble. They are also functionalized with either acidic or...
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Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
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Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

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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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Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
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Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
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Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives

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Amorphous polymers separate small organic molecules with switchable selective states.

Jiani Li1, Changhui Liu1, Peiyao Yan1

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117585, Singapore.

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|August 8, 2025
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Amorphous polymers can now effectively separate small organic molecules, achieving high separation factors. This breakthrough challenges the need for structured pores in molecular separation, offering a simpler, cheaper alternative.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Separation Science

Background:

  • Structured porous materials like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) are known for small molecule separation.
  • Amorphous polymers have traditionally been overlooked for molecular separation due to their lack of defined pore structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate that amorphous polymers can be engineered for effective small organic molecule separation.
  • To challenge the paradigm that structured pores are essential for molecular separation.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of amorphous polymers with a balance of hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity and dynamic chain mobility.
  • Utilizing stimuli-responsive polymer states with switchable selectivities.

Main Results:

  • Achieved very large separation factors (~1000 and ~100,000) for small organic molecules.
  • Demonstrated that amorphous pores, not just structured ones, are effective for molecular separation.
  • Showcased multifunctional separation capabilities based on polarity, size, and reversible opposite selectivities.

Conclusions:

  • Amorphous polymers offer a viable and effective alternative to structured materials for molecular separation.
  • These polymers are multifunctional, capable of separating diverse molecules in complex solutions.
  • The developed polymers are simple, inexpensive, and suitable for widespread application.