Event Information
Dynamic Polymer Assemblies: From Self-Repairing Materials to Food Freshness Sensors
- Abstract:
Nature often assembles small and large bio-molecules through a variety of interactions in order to define structure and function. We are looking at non-covalent as well as covalent-reversible interactions as they define the structure and properties of supramolecular assemblies to generate new materials and sensors. Highly ordered networks have been created focusing on a selfassembly strategy that utilizes boronate ester formation to generate polymeric supramolecules based on the covalent yet reversible interaction between boronic acids and diols. This motif has been exploited to generate self-repairing linear polymers, novel conjugated materials, and extended covalent organic frameworks (COFs) containing persistent pores with high surface area. Alternatively, conjugated polymers have been assembled by using small molecules and proteins that interact with side-chain functionality on the polymer, resulting in a non-discreet, yet reproducible “aggregative” sensing mechanism defined by the size, shape and valency of the analyte. The resulting polymer sensors have been used to detect large biological analytes and small molecule biomarkers, such as those indicating disease states or the freshness of foods. The assembly of polymers or the self-assembly of compounds into polymers shows great potential for the development of new materials with broad and varied properties for use in numerous diverse applications.
Host: Steve Craig
Chemistry Seminar