Scanning electric potential microscopy (SEPM) together with noncontact AFM images were obtained from the surfaces of two latex films: the first is a self-arrayed poly(styrene-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) macrocrystal, while the other is a thin film formed by coagulation of polystyrene particles at the latex liquid surface, under exposure to chloroform vapor. In both cases, large electric potential differences are detected by the microscope probe between adjacent domains in the films. Domains with positive or negative potentials reach a few hundred nanometers in size. These dielectric films are thus mosaics of electrically charged domains, and their electroneutrality is only observed at the macroscopic level.
Homopolymer polystyrene films tinted with methylene blue and other hydrophilic cationic dyes are
made following a new two-step procedure: dye adsorption in latex particles, followed by polymer plasticization
with a suitable solvent. The dyed polymer is soluble in nonpolar solvents, and the dyes do not phase
separate, even in nonsolvents for the pure dye salts. Microanalytical data on the particles and films were
acquired using energy-loss spectroscopy imaging (ESI-TEM) and scanning electric potential microscopy
(SEPM). The results are interpreted considering that (i) the polystyrene latex particles have a mild ionomer
character, due to the charged sulfate groups arising from the polymerization initiator and bound to the
chain ends; (ii) there is formation of ion pairs made out of dye cation and chain-end sulfate; (iii) the cationic
dye self-associates, as evidenced by a pronounced metachromatic behavior. A nonpolar polymer can thus
be made compatible with a basic dye without any special chain modification, just by using this new procedure
based on dye sorption followed by diffusion.
This work reviews new probe and electron microscopy approaches for the detection of charged domains in insulating polymers, as well as for the identification of the charge‐bearing species: scanning electric potential microscopy (SEPM), electric force microscopy (EFM) and energy‐loss spectroscopy imaging in the transmission electron microscope (ESI‐TEM). The SEPM and EFM micrographs show patterned domains bearing excess electric charges and extending for tens of nanometers, in polymer latex particles and films. The charged species are identified by ESI‐TEM as emulsion polymerization initiator and surfactant residues, as well as the associated counter‐ions. Charged domains are also observed in common thermoplastic polymers, producing unexpectedly large electric potential gradients.
No atual cenário da bioeconomia, a aplicação de óleos vegetais como matéria-prima renovável tem se diversificado nas mais diferentes áreas científicas e tecnológicas. Em alguns casos, o óleo vegetal se tornou o substituto de fontes não renováveis na geração de tecnologias. Tal questão se mostra relevante, com o uso de óleos vegetais para geração de energia e combustível, com uma grande diversidade de fontes e alinhada a condições edafoclimáticas de cada país. Nesse cenário, o objetivo deste estudo é apresentar a evolução tecnológica da aplicação industrial de óleos vegetais para produção de combustíveis num período de dez anos (2008–2017) e apontar as tendências de mercado. Por meio do levantamento de documentos patentários de 18 espécies oleaginosas, fez-se a aplicação da metodologia de captação de sinais para análise de tendências tecnológicas. Ao final, mostrou-se que a área de “energia e combustíveis” não teve evolução gradativa, na contramão de uma proposta mundial de migração para tecnologias geradas a partir de fontes renováveis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.