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Nanostructured functional materials prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

Nature Chemistry volume 1, pages 276–288 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is the most extensively studied controlled/living radical polymerization (CRP) method, with the interest originating primarily in its simplicity and broad applicability, and in the ability to prepare previously inaccessible well-defined nanostructured polymeric materials. This review illustrates the range of well-defined advanced functional materials that can be prepared by ATRP. We detail the precise synthesis of macromolecules with predetermined molecular weight, designed molecular weight distribution, controlled topology, composition and functionality. The materials include polymers with site-specific functionalities and novel architectures that are starting to find commercial application — such as stars, bottle brushes, block and gradient copolymers. This is followed by discussing their self-assembly into materials with nanoscale morphologies. These macromolecular engineering procedures provide new avenues to nanostructured functional materials for many high-value applications, for example as thermoplastic elastomers, coatings, surfactants, dispersants and as optoelectronic and biomedical materials.

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Figure 1: Illustration of ATRP.
Figure 2: Examples of controlled macromolecular architecture in polymers prepared by ATRP.
Figure 3: Use of divinyl crosslinkers in ATRP to generate various stars and networks with controlled structure.
Figure 4: Examples of functional polymers prepared by ATRP.
Figure 5: Functional nanosized biodegradable gel particles prepared by ATRP.
Figure 6: Polymer/inorganic hybrids.
Figure 7: Phase-separated morphologies in block copolymers.
Figure 8: Supersoft elastomers from molecular brushes.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from NSF (CHE-07-15494 and DMR-05-49353) and CRP Consortium is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    Krzysztof Matyjaszewski

  2. ATRP Solutions Inc., 166 North Dithridge Street, Suite G4, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    Nicolay V. Tsarevsky

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Correspondence to Krzysztof Matyjaszewski.

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Matyjaszewski, K., Tsarevsky, N. Nanostructured functional materials prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. Nature Chem 1, 276–288 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.257

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