Reversible, electrocuring resins from cationic lipoates

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Albena Lederer
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers ; Polymer Materials
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 573499340

This project establishes a new class of sustainable, electro-curable adhesives based on radical ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of bio-derived lipoate monomers. Lipoates—small sulfur-containing molecules from renewable feedstocks—form ultrahigh-molar-mass (≥ 1 MDa), highly cross-linked (hyperbranched) networks when an electric potential is applied. This discovery offers an energy-efficient, precisely controllable route for curing adhesives and coatings under mild conditions and enables stimulus-responsive, reversibly detachable joints. The goal is to build a modular platform of redox-triggered adhesives that unites high mechanical strength, selective debonding and sustainability. Systematic variation of branching degree, functional-group density and initiator systems will generate a materials library whose mechanical properties are validated under application-relevant conditions. The focus lies on one-component resins with in-situ electrochemically generated initiator and two-component resins with stabilised, electrochemically synthesised initiator. To clarify structure–property relationships in aqueous media, high-resolution separation and analysis techniques will be established. Field-flow fractionation (AF4, ThFFF) coupled with multi-detector arrays (MALS, DLS, RI, UV-Vis, viscometry, SAXS) will provide size, conformation and density profiles over several molar-mass decades. An online interface to MALDI-ToF-MS will enable chemical identification of degradation products formed during electro- or chemically triggered debonding. Reversible network disassembly will be tuned via redox additives, electrical input, temperature and reaction time; real-time AF4 monitoring will yield kinetic and mechanistic insights. The result is a unique toolbox for developing circular adhesive and coating materials, laying the foundation for a paradigm shift in adhesive technology—from permanent, non-recyclable systems toward intelligent, circular solutions for sustainable engineering and life-cycle-oriented development.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Singapore
• Partner Organisation: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Susanne Boye
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Terry Steele, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Richard Webster, Ph.D.