Advances in Macromolecules

Macromolecules with nanoscale size are actually object of dramatic interest due to the expectations in several technological applications ranging from optoelectronics to biomedicine. In this chapter the most investigated methods suitable for the achievement of nanostructured macromolecules are reported together with a variety of examples of chemical structures and properties. Self-assembly, template assisted, grafting, electrochemical and emulsion polymerizations, as well as electrospinning technique are described highlighting the variety of materials, mainly polymers, that are prepared in a range of shapes and dimensions which are most appropriate for a desired property. The same macromolecule can be obtained, for example, with the structure of a nanosphere or of a nanorod, which in turn can be hollow or solid, thus being promising for different applications. The structure-property correlation will be outlined for many of the cited macromolecules throughout the chapter. Moreover, the mix of methods based on different approaches to generate nanostructures is also reported since often there is not a defined line of separation between them. Finally, a sub-chapter is dedicated to the advances in several fields of emerging technology and to the perspectives of future applications for nanostructured macromolecules.

In the last years, the request of optoelectronic devices with wide bandwidth and fast response has strongly promoted the research on innovative second order nonlinear optical materials. A suitable alternative to traditional crystalline inorganic materials is the exploitation of polymeric and hybrid organic-inorganic materials doped or functionalized with nonlinear optical chromophores. The basic requirement is the noncentrosimmetric alignment of the active molecules. In this chapter we will review the main techniques for such purpose. Moreover some of the main optoelectronic devices important for high bit rate optical communication and optical computing systems will be illustrated. In particular Mach-Zehnder modulators, microring resonators, switches and filters based on innovative materials will be reviewed.

Surface properties of materials play an important role in a number of applications of technologically relevant materials. In the framework of the interest to the soft matter nanostructured systems it emerges the relevance of the task by surface and interfaces, providing the effectiveness of adhesion, presence of molecular organization at nanoscale and surface active sites. In this chapter the information gained about surface study of functional and nanostructured materials have been reviewed as concerning two main investigation methodologies: NEXAFS (Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). A rather extensive, even if not exhaustive, description of the fundamental basis of the two selected spectroscopies has been illustrated, developing all concepts from an elementary level. Special attention, concerning the investigation methods, has been dedicated to the use of synchrotron plants as sources of radiation with all the peculiarity deriving from this. Several selected, state-of-the-art, significant investigations have been taken as major examples and the achievable information have been discussed, ranging from simple to complex molecular systems.

The role of nanomaterials and nanotechnology in life sciences is yet to be fully understood, as it has resulted in the constantly developing field of nanobiotechnology. In fact, nanomaterials can interact with biomacromolecules as well as with living systems and these interactions can be used to develop new materials and technologies which are foreseen to revolutionize our understanding of biological phenomena. This chapter deals with the synthesis of biologically functionalized nanoparticles and their interface properties as well as with their innovative applications, in particular in the biomedical field, in imaging and therapy.