Feedback Mechanisms for Mechanoresponsive Functional Materials

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Robert Göstl
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2015 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 277958512

In the emerging field of smart materials ensembles of (macro-)molecules are elevated beyond their simple bulk properties to a level where they can adapt to the impact of external stimuli, i.e. participating in or catalyzing a chemical reaction, initiating self-healing processes, or performing motion or mechanical work. Mechanical stress is one of the most interesting of these stimuli as it is ubiquitous in most materials applications and thus its exploitation to induce function is of tremendous importance for materials science. However, most mechanically activated smart materials do not allow for simultaneous application of both function (i.e. performing a task) as well as feedback (i.e. the function's facile readout). Yet, this is highly desirable as the tracking of where and when function is occurring not only allows for the analytical observation of processes in the bulk or at the surface but also has outstanding potential for real-life application beyond the academic level as optical or electromagnetic feedback mechanisms could allow precise readout with simple equipment or even through the observation with the bare eye. During this research fellowship novel mechanoresponsive binding motifs that allow for the incorporation of facile feedback mechanisms will be identified, designed, and synthesized. Furthermore feedback mechanisms will be implemented into already existing mechanoresponsive binding motifs. For this purpose the reversible homolytic scission of alkoxyamine derivatives such as TEMPO as well as the reversible Diels-Alder reaction between furan and maleimide will be exploited and investigated for their suitability in applications, for example mechanocatalysis of living radical polymerizations or the mechanically initiated reversible self-healing of polymeric materials.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Netherlands
• Host: Professor Dr. Rint P. Sijbesma