@article{SchmidtTurgutLeetal.2020,
  author    = {Schmidt, Aaron C. and Turgut, Hatice and Le, Dao and Beloqui, Ana and Delaittre, Guillaume},
  title     = {Making the best of it: nitroxide-mediated polymerization of methacrylates via the copolymerization approach with functional styrenics},
  series = {Polymer Chemistry},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Polymer Chemistry},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)},
  address   = {Cambridge},
  doi       = {10.1039/C9PY01458F},
  pages     = {593 -- 604},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The SG1-mediated solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA, Mₙ = 300 g mol⁻¹) in the presence of a small amount of functional/reactive styrenic comonomer is investigated. Moieties such as pentafluorophenyl ester, triphenylphosphine, azide, pentafluorophenyl, halide, and pyridine are considered. A comonomer fraction as low as 5 mol\% typically results in a controlled/living behavior, at least up to 50\% conversion. Chain extensions with styrene for both systems were successfully performed. Variation of physical properties such as refractive index (for MMA) and phase transition temperature (for OEGMA) were evaluated by comparing to 100\% pure homopolymers. The introduction of an activated ester styrene derivative in the polymerization of OEGMA allows for the synthesis of reactive and hydrophilic polymer brushes with defined thickness. Finally, using the example of pentafluorostyrene as controlling comonomer, it is demonstrated that functional PMMA-b-PS are able to maintain a phase separation ability, as evidenced by the formation of nanostructured thin films.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{EckertAbbasiMangetal.2020,
  author    = {Eckert, Alexander and Abbasi, Mozhdeh and Mang, Thomas and Saalw{\"a}chter, Kay and Walther, Andreas},
  title     = {Structure, Mechanical Properties, and Dynamics of Polyethylenoxide/Nanoclay Nacre-Mimetic Nanocomposites},
  series = {Macromolecules},
  volume    = {53},
  journal   = {Macromolecules},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {ACS Publications},
  address   = {Washington, DC},
  issn      = {1520-5835},
  doi       = {10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01931},
  pages     = {1716 -- 1725},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Nacre-mimetic nanocomposites based on high fractions of synthetic high-aspect-ratio nanoclays in combination with polymers are continuously pushing boundaries for advanced material properties, such as high barrier against oxygen, extraordinary mechanical behavior, fire shielding, and glass-like transparency. Additionally, they provide interesting model systems to study polymers under nanoconfinement due to the well-defined layered nanocomposite arrangement. Although the general behavior in terms of forming such layered nanocomposite materials using evaporative self-assembly and controlling the nanoclay gallery spacing by the nanoclay/polymer ratio is understood, some combinations of polymer matrices and nanoclay reinforcement do not comply with the established models. Here, we demonstrate a thorough characterization and analysis of such an unusual polymer/nanoclay pair that falls outside of the general behavior. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and sodium fluorohectorite form nacre-mimetic, lamellar nanocomposites that are completely transparent and show high mechanical stiffness and high gas barrier, but there is only limited expansion of the nanoclay gallery spacing when adding increasing amounts of polymer. This behavior is maintained for molecular weights of PEO varied over four orders of magnitude and can be traced back to depletion forces. By careful investigation via X-ray diffraction and proton low-resolution solid-state NMR, we are able to quantify the amount of mobile and immobilized polymer species in between the nanoclay galleries and around proposed tactoid stacks embedded in a PEO matrix. We further elucidate the unusual confined polymer dynamics, indicating a relevant role of specific surface interactions.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ElBerguiAbouabdillahBouriougetal.2023,
  author    = {El Bergui, Omnia and Abouabdillah, Aziz and Bourioug, Mohamed and Schmitz, Dominik and Biel, Markus and Aboudrare, Abdellah and Krauss, Manuel and Jomaa, Ahlem and Romuli, Sebastian and M{\"u}ller, Joachim and Fagroud, Mustapha and Bouabid, Rachid},
  title     = {Innovative solutions for drought: Evaluating hydrogel application on onion cultivation (Allium cepa) in Morocco},
  series = {Water},
  volume    = {15},
  journal   = {Water},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  doi       = {10.3390/w15111972},
  pages     = {Artikel 1972},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Throughout the last decade, and particularly in 2022, water scarcity has become a critical concern in Morocco and other Mediterranean countries. The lack of rainfall during spring was worsened by a succession of heat waves during the summer. To address this drought, innovative solutions, including the use of new technologies such as hydrogels, will be essential to transform agriculture. This paper presents the findings of a study that evaluated the impact of hydrogel application on onion (Allium cepa) cultivation in Meknes, Morocco. The treatments investigated in this study comprised two different types of hydrogel-based soil additives (Arbovit® polyacrylate and Huminsorb® polyacrylate), applied at two rates (30 and 20 kg/ha), and irrigated at two levels of water supply (100\% and 50\% of daily crop evapotranspiration; ETc). Two control treatments were included, without hydrogel application and with both water amounts. The experiment was conducted in an open field using a completely randomized design. The results indicated a significant impact of both hydrogel-type dose and water dose on onion plant growth, as evidenced by various vegetation parameters. Among the hydrogels tested, Huminsorb® Polyacrylate produced the most favorable outcomes, with treatment T9 (100\%, HP, 30 kg/ha) yielding 70.55 t/ha; this represented an increase of 11 t/ha as compared to the 100\% ETc treatment without hydrogel application. Moreover, the combination of hydrogel application with 50\% ETc water stress showed promising results, with treatment T4 (HP, 30 kg, 50\%) producing almost the same yield as the 100\% ETc treatment without hydrogel while saving 208 mm of water.},
  language  = {en}
}