Issue 81, 2021

Brush-like polymers: design, synthesis and applications

Abstract

With the development of controlled polymerisation, almost all polymerisation strategies have been successfully transplanted to surface-initiated polymerisation. The resulting polymer brushes have emerged as an effective tool for surface functionalization and modulation of the surface properties of materials. To meet various demands it is possible to tailor a material surface with polymer brushes that have diverse dimensionalities, morphologies and compositions. The crowded environment within polymer brushes as well as the stretched conformation of polymer chains sometimes provide unique physicochemical properties, which lead to the delicate creation of inorganic–organic hybridised nanostructures, anti-fouling coatings, biomedical carriers, and materials for use in lubrication, photonics and energy storage. So far, challenges remain in the high-precision synthesis and topological control needed to realize extended applications of polymer brushes. In this Feature Article, we highlight the topology, potential application prospects and various synthetic protocols, particularly for recently established methods, for the efficient synthesis of polymer brushes, as well as their benefits and limitations.

Graphical abstract: Brush-like polymers: design, synthesis and applications

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
21 juil. 2021
Accepted
31 août 2021
First published
22 sept. 2021

Chem. Commun., 2021,57, 10484-10499

Brush-like polymers: design, synthesis and applications

L. Yin, L. Liu and N. Zhang, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 10484 DOI: 10.1039/D1CC03940G

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