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Enhanced Thermal Stability (enhanced + thermal_stability)
Selected AbstractsEnhanced Thermal Stability and Efficiency of Polymer Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells by Low-Temperature Drying of the Active LayerADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Ching Lin Abstract This study addresses two key issues, stability and efficiency, of polymer solar cells based on blended poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) by demonstrating a film-forming process that involves low-temperature drying (,5,°C) and subsequent annealing of the active layer. The low-temperature process achieves 4.70% power conversion efficiency (PCE) and ,1250,h storage half-life at 65,°C, which are significant improvements over the 3.39% PCE and ,143,h half-life of the regular room-temperature process. The improvements are attributed to the enhanced nucleation of P3HT crystallites as well as the minimized separation of the P3HT and PCBM phases at the low drying temperature, which upon post-drying annealing results in a morphology consisting of small PCBM-rich domains interspersed within a densely interconnected P3HT crystal network. This morphology provides ample bulk-heterojunction area for charge generation while allowing for facile charge transport; moreover, the P3HT crystal network serves as an immobile frame at heating temperatures less than the melting point (Tm) of P3HT, thus preventing PCBM/P3HT phase separation and the corresponding device degradation. [source] Poly(styrene- b -tetrahydrofuran)/clay nanocomposites by mechanistic transformationJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 8 2009Zuleyha Yenice Abstract Synthesis of poly(styrene- block -tetrahydrofuran) (PSt- b -PTHF) block copolymer on the surfaces of intercalated and exfoliated silicate (clay) layers by mechanistic transformation was described. First, the polystyrene/montmorillonite (PSt/MMT) nanocomposite was synthesized by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from initiator moieties immobilized within the silicate galleries of the clay particles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed the existence of both intercalated and exfoliated structures in the nanocomposite. Then, the PSt- b -PTHF/MMT nanocomposite was prepared by mechanistic transformation from ATRP to cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP). The TGA thermogram of the PSt- b -PTHF/MMT nanocomposite has two decomposition stages corresponding to PTHF and PSt segments. All nanocomposites exhibit enhanced thermal stabilities compared with the virgin polymer segments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2190,2197, 2009 [source] Development of a cytokine analog with enhanced stability using computational ultrahigh throughput screeningPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 5 2002Peizhi Luo Abstract Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used worldwide to prevent neutropenia caused by high-dose chemotherapy. It has limited stability, strict formulation and storage requirements, and because of poor oral absorption must be administered by injection (typically daily). Thus, there is significant interest in developing analogs with improved pharmacological properties. We used our ultrahigh throughput computational screening method to improve the physicochemical characteristics of G-CSF. Improving these properties can make a molecule more robust, enhance its shelf life, or make it more amenable to alternate delivery systems and formulations. It can also affect clinically important features such as pharmacokinetics. Residues in the buried core were selected for optimization to minimize changes to the surface, thereby maintaining the active site and limiting the designed protein's potential for antigenicity. Using a structure that was homology modeled from bovine G-CSF, core designs of 25,34 residues were completed, corresponding to 1021,1028 sequences screened. The optimal sequence from each design was selected for biophysical characterization and experimental testing; each had 10,14 mutations. The designed proteins showed enhanced thermal stabilities of up to 13°C, displayed five-to 10-fold improvements in shelf life, and were biologically active in cell proliferation assays and in a neutropenic mouse model. Pharmacokinetic studies in monkeys showed that subcutaneous injection of the designed analogs results in greater systemic exposure, probably attributable to improved absorption from the subcutaneous compartment. These results show that our computational method can be used to develop improved pharmaceuticals and illustrate its utility as a powerful protein design tool. [source] Thermal stability of surfactants with amino and imido groups in poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay compositesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008Xuepei Yuan Abstract Effects of thermal stability of surfactants with amino and imido groups on thermal properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/clay composites were studied. The imidosilane surfactant was synthesized successfully from the imide reaction between amino silane and phthalic anhydride. TGA shows that imidosilane decomposition behaviors have two major stages according to the degradations of different functional groups. After melt extrusion, the decomposition of amino functional groups in amino surfactants decreases the thermal stability of organoclay and accelerates the degradation behaviors of PET composites. Because of the enhanced thermal stability of imidosilane surfactants, PET/imido-palygorskite (PT) composites represent enhanced thermal stability, good dispersion and low thermal expansion. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Emulsion synthesis of nanoparticles containing PEDOT using conducting polymeric surfactant: Synergy for colloid stability and intercalation dopingJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 7 2008Chi-an Dai Abstract Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a widely used conductive aqueous dispersion synthesized by using emulsion polymerization method. To further enhance its solution processability and conductivity of PEDOT derivatives, we proposed to replace the nonconductive PSS with conductive poly[2-(3thienyl)-ethoxy-4-butylsulfonate] (PTEB) as surfactant for the emulsion polymerization of PEDOT. The reaction involved colloid stabilization and doping in one step, and yielded PEDOT:PTEB composite nanoparticles with high electrical conductivity. Contrary to its counterpart containing nonconductive surfactant, PEDOT: PTEB showed increasing film conductivity with increasing PTEB concentration. The result demonstrates the formation of efficient electrical conduction network formed by the fully conductive latex nanoparticles. The addition of PTEB for EDOT polymerization significantly reduced the size of composite particles, formed stable spherical particles, enhanced thermal stability, crystallinity, and conductivity of PEDOT:PTEB composite. Evidence from UV,VIS and FTIR measurement showed that strong molecular interaction between PTEB and PEDOT resulted in the doping of PEDOT chains. X-ray analysis further demonstrated that PTEB chains were intercalated in the layered crystal structure of PEDOT. The emulsion polymerization of EDOT using conducting surfactant, PTEB demonstrated the synergistic effect of PTEB on colloid stability and intercalation doping of PEDOT during polymerization resulting in significant conductivity improvement of PEDOT composite nanoparticles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2536,2548, 2008 [source] Synthesis and Characterization of Organic/Inorganic Polyrotaxanes from Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane and Poly(ethylene oxide)/, -Cyclodextrin Polypseudorotaxanes via Click ChemistryMACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 9 2009Ke Zeng Abstract Organic/inorganic polyrotaxanes were synthesized via Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between 3-azidapropylhepta(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) POSS and dialkyne-terminated PEO/, -cyclodextrin polypseudorotaxanes. The organic/inorganic hybrid polyrotaxanes were characterized by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy and WAXRD. It was found that the nanosized POSS blocking agents significantly affected the crystal structures of polyrotaxanes. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the organic/inorganic hybrid polyrotaxanes exhibited enhanced thermal stability compared to their parent polypseudorotaxanes, in terms of rate of thermal degradation and the summation of char and ceramic yields. [source] Structure of XynB, a highly thermostable ,-1,4-xylanase from Dictyoglomus thermophilum Rt46B.1, at 1.8,Å resolutionACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 11 2000Andrew A. McCarthy Microorganisms employ a large array of enzymes to break down the cellulose and hemicelluloses of plant biomass. These enzymes, especially those with high thermal stability, have many uses in biotechnology. We have solved the crystal structure of a ,-1,4-xylanase, XynB, from the extremely thermophilic bacterium Dictyoglomus thermophilum, isolate Rt46B.1. The protein crystallized from 1.6,M ammonium sulfate, 0.2,M HEPES pH 7.2 and 10% glycerol, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 91.3, c = 44.9,Å and space group P43. The structure was solved at high resolution (1.8,Å) by X-ray crystallography, using the method of isomorphous replacement with a single mercury derivative, and refined to a final R factor of 18.3% (Rfree = 22.1%). XynB has the single-domain fold typical of family 11 xylanases, comprising a jelly roll of two highly twisted ,-sheets that create a deep substrate-binding cleft. The two catalytic residues, Glu90 and Glu180, occupy this cleft. Compared with other family 11 xylanases, XynB has a greater proportion of polar surface and has a slightly extended C-terminus that, combined with the extension of ,-strand A5, gives additional hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic packing. These factors may account for the enhanced thermal stability of the enzyme. [source] Supramolecular assembly of collagen triblock peptidesBIOPOLYMERS, Issue 4 2003Raquel Martin Abstract The relationship between primary sequence and collagen triple-helix formation is relatively well characterized, while higher levels of structural assembly from these sequences is poorly understood. To address this gap, a new collagen-like triblock peptide design was used to study the relationship between amino acid sequence and supramolecular assembly. Four collagen-like peptides with the sequence (Glu)5(Gly,Xaa,Hyp,Gly,Pro,Hyp)6(Glu)5 and corresponding to Xaa = alanine, proline, serine, or valine, and an analogous peptide without the glutamic acid end blocks, were solubilized in water at high concentrations (20,150 mg/mL) and analyzed in optical polarizing microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Some of the peptides self-assembled into supramolecular structures, the nature of which was determined by the core collagen-like sequence. The globular end blocks appeared necessary for these short triple-helix-forming peptides to spontaneously organize into supramolecular structures in solution and also provided enhanced thermal stability based on CD analysis. The results indicate a strong dependence of the peptide triblock assembly behavior on the identity of the guest residue Xaa; nematic order when Xaa was valine, no organization when Xaa was serine, and banded spherulites displaying a cholesteric-like twist when Xaa was proline or alanine. According to these results, the identity of the amino acid in position Xaa of the triplet Gly,Xaa,Yaa dramatically determined the type of supramolecular assembly formed by short triple helices based on collagen-triblock like sequences. Moreover, the structural organization observed for these collagen-triblock peptides was analogous to some assemblies observed for native collagen in vivo and in vitro. The amino acid sequence in the native collagen proteins may therefore be a direct determinant of the different supramolecular architectures found in connective tissues. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 70:435,444, 2003 [source] A thermostable triple mutant of pyranose 2-oxidase from Trametes multicolor with improved properties for biotechnological applicationsBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Oliver Spadiut Abstract In order to increase the thermal stability and the catalytic properties of pyranose oxidase (P2Ox) from Trametes multicolor toward its poor substrate D-galactose and the alternative electron acceptor 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ), we designed the triple-mutant T169G/E542K/V546C. Whereas the wild-type enzyme clearly favors D-glucose as its substrate over D-galactose [substrate selectivity (kcat/KM)Glc/(kcat/KM)Gal = 172], the variant oxidizes both sugars equally well [(kcat/KM)Glc/(kcat/KM)Gal = 0.69], which is of interest for food biotechnology. Furthermore, the variant showed lower KM values and approximately ten-fold higher kcat values for 1,4-BQ when D-galactose was used as the saturating sugar substrate, which makes this enzyme particularly attractive for use in biofuel cells and enzyme-based biosensors. In addition to the altered substrate specificity and reactivity, this mutant also shows significantly improved thermal stability. The half life time at 60°C was approximately 10 h, compared to 7.6 min for the wild-type enzyme. We performed successfully small-scale bioreactor pilot conversion experiments of D -glucose/D -galactose mixtures at both 30 and 50°C, showing the usefulness of this P2Ox variant in biocatalysis as well as the enhanced thermal stability of the enzyme. Moreover, we determined the crystal structure of the mutant in its unligated form at 1.55 Å resolution. Modeling D-galactose in position for oxidation at C2 into the mutant active site shows that substituting Thr for Gly at position 169 favorably accommodates the axial C4 hydroxyl group that would otherwise clash with Thr169 in the wild-type. [source] | |||||||||||||