Certain embodiments are directed to the use of amide coupling chemistry to covalently link five different biofunctional groups onto an anionic water soluble poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) polymer. Two of the biofunctionalized PPEs are used in prototype applications, including pH sensing and flow cytometry labeling.

An ion-conducting material, a core-shell structure containing the ion-conducting material, an electrode prepared with the core-shell structure and a metal-ion battery employing the electrode are provided. The core-shell structure includes a core particle and an organic-inorganic composite layer formed on the surface of the core particle for encapsulating the core particle. The core particle includes lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel cobalt oxide, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide. Also, the organic-inorganic composite layer includes nitrogen-containing hyperbranched polymer and an ion-conducting material. The ion-conducting material is a lithium-containing linear polymer or a modified Prussian blue, wherein the modified Prussian blue has an ion-conducting group and the lithium-containing linear polymer has an ion-conducting segment.

An example of a bottlebrush polymer has a polymer backbone and a plurality of individual brush moieties bonded to the polymer backbone. The individual brush moieties include a ketone, a hydrophilic segment, and a surface adhesive terminal group. The brush moieties can be functionalized and/or cross-linked.

A method of reacting bis(R.sub.1) 5,5-dibromo-3,4-difluoro-[2,2:5,2:5,2-quaterthiophene]-3,3-dicarboxylate and bis(R.sub.2) 5,5-dibromo-3,4-difluoro-[2,2:5,2:5,2-quaterthiophene]-3,3-dicarboxylate to form the polymer:

##STR00001##

In this polymer R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted heteroaryl and an unsubstituted heteroaryl.

An organic photovoltaic device comprising a polymer:

##STR00001##

and an acceptor. In this organic photovoltaic device, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted heteroaryl and an unsubstituted heteroaryl.

A polymer comprising:

##STR00001##

In this embodiment, R and R, can be independently selected from the group consisting of: a halogen, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted aryl. Additionally, X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 can be independently selected from the group consisting of: O, S, Se, NR, and SiRR. Lastly, Ar and Ar can be identical or different and can be independently selected from the group consisting of: a substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted aryl.

An example of a bottlebrush polymer has a polymer backbone and a plurality of individual brush moieties bonded to the polymer backbone. The individual brush moieties respectively including a ketone, a hydrophilic segment, and a surface adhesive terminal group. The brush moieties can be functionalized and/or cross-linked.

The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for reducing or eliminating non-specific binding of at least one dye conjugate to cells in a biological sample. A dye conjugate is contacted with at least one zwitterionic or anionic surfactant before, during or after the dye conjugate is contacted with a blood sample, resulting in substantially reduced non-specific binding of the dye conjugate to cells in the biological sample.

The present invention relates to a non-aqueous ink composition containing (a) a polythiophene containing a repeating unit complying with formula (I); (b) metal oxide nanoparticles containing at least (b-1) a first metal oxide nanoparticle having an average primary particle diameter d.sub.1 and (b-2) a second metal oxide nanoparticle having an average primary particle diameter d.sub.2, wherein d.sub.1<d.sub.2; and (c) a liquid carrier containing one or more organic solvents, as well as a pile-up suppressor and a lifetime extension agent for an organic EL device, containing metal oxide nanoparticles containing at least the (b-1) and (b-2) described above, wherein d.sub.1<d.sub.2.

Radical cascade reactions enabling sequence-controlled ring-closing polymerization and ring-opening polymerization for the controlled synthesis of polymers with complex main-chain structures are provided. Facile syntheses leading to low-strain macrocyclic monomers consisting of the ring-opening triggers and extended main-chain structures are also provided. The present disclosure further provides methods for excellent control over polymer molecular weights and molecular weight distributions and high chain-end fidelity allows for the preparation of polymeric systems with well-defined architectures. Further provided are the general nature of the radical cascade-triggered transformations in polymer chemistry, and its application to the synthesis of polymers with diverse main-chain structural motifs with tailored functions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.