In the field of electrochemical detection, ferrocene has a promising application prospect in view of its impact as a component of molecular receptors and sensing materials. In this review, we aim to describe the principle of ferrocene-based electrochemical detection and further discuss its design and performances. In particular, two forms of detection, molecular recognition and sensing systems, were specified. Ferrocene-based molecular receptors with all kinds of structures covering derivatives, polymers, and supramolecular receptors are presented. Benefits of their structures to the recognition behavior are compared and discussed. In electrochemical sensors, the ferrocenecontaining component is used as a mediator or a label. The architectural design, enhancement effect of additives, and the structures of ferrocene-containing components in the corresponding sensors are discussed in this review. Among sensors with different structures, film-type, sandwich-type, and displacement-type sensors are the main architecturally designed sensors. In addition, auxiliary materials such as conducting carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphene oxide), nanoparticles (magnetic nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles), and modified saccharides which provide synergy in the conductivity and biocompatibility for ferrocene-containing sensors will be discussed as well.

Self-healing polymers, which can spontaneously recover themselves after being ruptured, result in enhanced lifetimes for materials and open up a fascinating direction in material science. Macrocycle-based host-guest interactions, one of the most crucial non-covalent interactions, play a key role in self-healing material fabrication. This review aims to highlight the very recent and important progress made in the area of self-healing polymer materials by focusing on cyclodextrins (CDs), crown ethers, cucurbit[n]urils (CBs), calix[n]arenes and pillar[n]arenes with special guest groups and tailored structures. In addition, we also propose future research directions and hope that this review can in a way reflect the current situation and future trends in this developing area.

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ABSTRACT:The aliphatic waterborne polyurethaneureas (WPU) with different isocyanate index (R) were synthesized by isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and polyester glycol via prepolymer mixing method. The effects of the R value on the structure and the properties of the resultant polymers have been analyzed. The polymer with a certain R value (R ¼ 1.44) exhibited excellent mechanical properties with both high tensile strength (55 MPa) and high elongation at break (1400%). The water resistance and the thermal stabilities of WPUs have been improved with the increase of R. The results were interpreted in terms of the structures associated with the micro-phase separation. According to differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, the microphase separation degree was elevated by increasing R value. FTIR spectrum showed the more R value, the more hydrogen bonded urea groups. No crystallinity was found in X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showing the typical amorphous morphologies of IPDI-based WPUs. Thus the primary driving force for microphase separation was the hydrogen bonding between urethane and urea groups, making significant influence on the properties of WPUs, as shown in dynamic mechanical analyzes.

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Aromatic azobenzene derivatives are outstanding organic photochromic compounds that possess unique photochemical properties. These compounds are widely used in research and development for various applications, especially in information storage, owing to their ability to isomerize between cis (Z) and trans (E) forms under the influence of light of different wavelengths. On account of these advantages, many efforts have been made to generalize the use of azobenzene derivatives. Furthermore, ferrocene-based polymers and derivatives are promising candidates for functional materials due to their unique redox properties. By interlinking ferrocene with azobenzene, novel functional materials can be obtained that will integrate the excellent properties of both and will provide new applications in various fields including information storage, ion recognition, molecular devices, etc. This article provides an overview of the synthesis, properties and applications of novel ferrocene-based polymers and derivatives containing azobenzene units.

Burning rate catalysts are of great importance in solid composite propellants for their unique property of accelerating combustion speed. Among various kinds of burning rate catalysts, ferrocene and its derivatives exhibit excellent catalytic effects and have become the most widely used burning rate catalysts. However, these simple ferrocenyl compounds trend to migrate in solid composite propellants during storage, which causes great damage to the propellants, equipment and environment and can even affect personal safety. The exploration of novel anti‐migratory ferrocene‐based compounds has become an advanced research hotspot in the field of burning rate catalysis. This review focuses on recent progress on the synthesis and catalytic properties of ferrocene‐based polymers and ferrocene derivatives as burning rate catalysts. Two main aspects of anti‐migratory exploration, i.e. synthesis of ferrocene‐based polymers and modification of the side groups of ferrocene, are summarized. Ferrocene‐based polymers can be obtained via condensation polymerization, addition polymerization, ring‐opening polymerization, polymer reactions, etc. Ferrocenyl compounds with active groups and ferrocene‐based metal coordination compounds were developed instead of the methods of lengthening the carbon chain of side groups and improving molecular polarity. Also, possible mechanisms of burning rate catalytic activity and migration are discussed and analyzed. Finally, the key points of the development of ferrocene‐based burning rate catalysts and solid composite propellants are proposed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.