Highly Efficient Polymerization Induced by Visible Light

A simple, widely applicable technique to produce polymers

The Technology

This invention is a new living free-radical polymerization technique which uses the external stimulus light as a trigger, and is oxygen tolerant.

This invention allows for a high degree of control over the polymerization activation and deactivation such that well-defined polymer structures can be prepared with a narrow molecular weight distribution. This technique is applicable to a wide range of monomers, including both conjugated and unconjugated monomers.

Advantages

•   Low polydispersity index (~1.1).
•   Visible light induced polymerization.
•   Oxygen tolerant.
•   ON/OFF control of the polymerisation reaction.
•   Ultrafast.
•   Mild reactions conditions.
•   Minimal catalyst used (<1 ppm).
•   Nontoxic.
•   Simple reaction setup.

Applications

•   Surface coating and modification, eg. fibre functionalization.
•   Nanolithography, eg. silicon wafer and conducting glasses.
•   Biotechnology, eg. protein modification.
•   Additive manufacturing.
•   Multiblock copolymers.

Key Benefits

High quality, targeted polymers produced
Tight control over: reaction rate and duration, polymer molecular weight distribution, and the resulting polymer architectures formed.

Safe, energy efficient and mild
Oxygen-tolerant, room temperature, water as solvent, ultrafast, and resulting in non-toxic products.


The Opportunity
We are seeking research collaborators and industry partners to further develop this technology. 

Click here to download a PDF print version of this technology brief

 

Patent Information:
For Information, Contact:
Lisa Linssen
Business Development Manager
NewSouth Innovations Pty Ltd
02 9385 9813
l.linssen@unsw.edu.au
Reference ID: 14_2882
Inventors:
Jiangtao Xu
Cyrille Boyer
Keywords:
Biotech
Chemical
Chemical Engineering
Electronics
Material Science
Nanotech
Textiles
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