Controlled Radical Polymerization and Photopolymerization for Advanced Materials
This community focuses on the precise synthesis of polymers using radical and light-driven methods, primarily to create block copolymers, hydrogels, and resins for 3D printing and functional surfaces.
The work centers on controlled radical polymerization techniques, specifically atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), and reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP). Recurring motifs include the use of visible light and photoinitiators to drive these reactions, enabling the creation of block copolymers, polymer brushes, and nanostructured materials. Specific monomers such as methyl methacrylate, vinylidene fluoride, and vinyl acetate appear frequently, as do applications in additive manufacturing, including vat photopolymerization and the fabrication of hydrogels. The research also addresses the synthesis of fluorinated polymers and the development of photocatalysts for high-throughput polymer synthesis in open-air conditions.
The largest share of the community's output is found in bromine research, accounting for 0.5% of all bromine research, followed by fluorine at 0.3% and iodine at 0.3%.
The community comprises 5,572 papers, publishing most frequently in Macromolecules, Polymer Chemistry, and European Polymer Journal.
Recent work includes the development of zwitterionic polymer brushes for biosensing, oxygen-tolerant red-light-driven synthesis of copolymers, and multi-temperature 3D printing from single formulations.