Control of the primary and secondary structure in synthetic polymers to access adaptive soft materials (A02)

• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 433682494

Methods for the alternating controlled radical copolymerization to access alternating ABC-type copolymers will be developed. Unique self-assembly behavior is expected for these soft materials. Adaptive materials using mechanophores as active functionalities will be prepared. Mechanical stress will alter the stiffness or the absorption properties in these materials. A second research line is devoted to the preparation of chiral rigid polymers with defined secondary structure by using anionic ring-opening polymerization of chiral donor-acceptor cyclopropanes. Chiral polymers bearing redox-active Ru-functionalities at their side chains will be synthesized and the material will be tested as a self-oscillating system where a defined periodical structural change is achieved and maintained in the presence of a chemical fuel.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1459: Intelligent matter: From responsive to adaptive nanosystems
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Armido Studer