Recent progress and applications enabled via electrochemically triggered and controlled chain-growth polymerizations

Abstract

The use of external stimuli to trigger and/or control polymer synthesis has become a prominent research theme over the last 20 years. With the need for more sustainable methods of polymer synthesis and production, interest in this area has intensified in the last decade. External stimuli include, but are not limited to; heat, light, ultrasound and electricity. Relative to their chemically mediated counterparts, these methods of stimulus are non-invasive, atom economic and offer excellent spatial and temporal control over reaction progress. In particular, the use of an electric field to deliver electrons as reagents in electrosynthesis is considered to be an emerging green and sustainable solution in organic and polymer synthesis. Through modulating the applied potential/current precise control over the kinetics and thermodynamics of electron-transfer reactions can be achieved, which can enhance the efficiency and selectivity of targeted chemical transformations. In this review, we have captured the recent progress made in electrochemically triggered and controlled polymer synthesis techniques, focusing on chain-growth polymerizations including radical, ionic and ring-opening polymerizations and applications enabled by the use of an electric field to perform such reactions.