Optically Transparent, Amphiphilic Networks Based on Blends of Perfluoropolyethers and Poly(ethylene glycol)

Abstract

Amphiphilic networks of perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been achieved to yield optically transparent, mechanically robust films over a wide range of compositions. Telechelic diols of these oligomers were transformed to a photocurable dimethacryloxy form (DMA) and free radically cured at various composition weight ratios to yield free-standing films. Clear and colorless amphiphilic networks could be achieved when low molar mass versions of both the PFPE-DMA (1 kg/mol) and the PEG-DMA (550 g/mol) were used. The bulk morphologies of the samples were extensively characterized by a variety of techniques including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanic thermal analysis, small-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and optical microscopy, which strongly suggest that nanoscopic to macroscopic phase-separated materials could be achieved. By incorporating a threshold amount of PFPEs into PEG-based hydrogel networks, water swelling could be significantly reduced, which may offer a new strategy for a number of medical device applications. Along these lines, strong inhibition of nonspecific protein adsorption could be achieved with these amphiphilic network materials compared with an oligo(ethylene glycol)-based self-assembled monolayer coated surface.

Phase Behavior and Electrochemical Characterization of Blends of Perfluoropolyether, Poly(ethylene glycol), and a Lithium Salt

“…Immiscibility was also shown to occur in PFPE-DMA and 700 g/mol PEG-DMA blends that consisted of high weight fractions of PEG-DMA. 26 Binary mixtures of PFPE and PEG are miscible when the weight fraction of PFPE exceeds 0.6, consistent with previous studies. 26 The large region of miscibility in Figure 1B comprising ternary mixtures rich in PFPE can be anticipated from the phase behavior of PFPE/PEG and PFPE/LiTFSI binary mixtures.…”

Stability in alkaline aqueous electrolyte of air electrode protected with fluorinated interpenetrating polymer network membrane

“…1). Such a limited phase separation is in agreement with that observed on amphiphilic networks based on Fluorolink and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) dimethacrylate [22]. Indeed, these amphiphilic networks, whichever their initial oligomer proportion, show bulk morphologies with separated phases between 1 and 100 mm length with 550 and 750 g mol À1 PEO, respectively.…”

Nonflammable perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes for lithium batteries

“…PEO-based electrolytes typically exhibit t + values between 0.1 and 0.5 (16)(17)(18)(19)(20), leading to strong salt concentration gradients across the electrolytes that limit power density. Recently, we reported the surprising miscibility of PEO with its perfluorinated analog, known as perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs) (21). Building upon this work, we found that various lithium salts were soluble not only in blends of PEO and PFPEs, but also directly in pure PFPEs.…”