Transformable Materials: Structurally Tailored and Engineered Macromolecular (STEM) Gels by Controlled Radical Polymerization

Abstract

Structurally tailored and engineered macromolecular (STEM) gels constitute part of an emerging field of smart materials. STEM gels are polymer networks containing latent initiator sites available for postsynthesis modification. STEM gels synthesized by controlled radical polymerization (CRP) are presented. First, reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was used to copolymerize (meth)acrylate monomer, di(meth)acrylate cross-linker, and inimer for the subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) grafting-from process. The resulting STEM gels were infiltrated with a second monomer, which formed side chains grafted from the inimer sites by photoactivated ATRP. This approach permits significant spatial and temporal control over the structure of the resulting material. Here, the technique was used to transform primary STEM gels into single-piece amphiphilic and hard/soft materials.