Photopolymerization in Polymer Templating

Abstract

Primary objectives in templating of polymer systems include control over polymer structure and reaction behavior in pursuit of functionally advanced materials. Through such control, properties and features not accessible through traditional bulk polymerization are possible. In this review, recent developments in polymer templating are discussed that utilize benefits afforded through photopolymerization in the templating process. Photopolymerization not only is widely used and well-suited for templating applications but also is a highly effective tool with which to probe the kinetic behavior and structural evolution of templated polymers. Polymer templating encompasses a number of technologies and methods. Photopolymerization is prevalent in a number of these areas including linear chain templating or catalytic polymerization, organized particle templating, molecular imprinting, templating of assembled vesicles, and polymer templating in liquid crystals. In these systems the unique aspects of photopolymerization including fast reaction, spatial and temporal control, and temperature independence are often critical in obtaining desired reaction behavior and structure.

Fast Deswelling Kinetics of Nanostructured Poly(N‐Isopropylacrylamide) Photopolymerized in a Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Template

“…The hexagonal, bicontinuous cubic, and lamellar LLC phases formed at higher surfactant concentrations can be utilized as polymerization templates to control the morphology and properties of organic polymers. Interestingly, properties including water uptake, mechanical strength, and solute release rate may be controlled by directing polymer nanostructure using LLC mesophases as polymerization templates without changing the original polymer chemistry 14…”

Aliphatic chain length effects on photopolymerization kinetics and structural evolution of polymerizable lyotropic liquid crystals

“…Several materials have been created that exhibit nanometer size scale dimensions and also exhibit enhanced physical properties, such as inorganic zeolites and block copolymers [7,8]. Other nanostructured materials have been created using templates with nanometer size dimensions [9]. One such template, lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs), has shown promise in enabling formation of organic crosslinked nanostructured polymers [10][11][12].…”

Preparation of core–shell ion imprinted nanoparticles via photoinitiated polymerization at ambient temperature for dynamic removal of cobalt in aqueous solution

“…23 In other words, the optimum temperature used in rebinding experiment was related with polymerization temperature. 24,25 Furthermore, as shown in the Fig.6 (b), adsorption capacity of P-NIPs was obviously less than that of P-IIPs at the same temperature. The values of q e about T-IIPs and P-IIPs were 78.33 mg g -1 and 96.65 mg g -1 , respectively.…”

“…20,22 Additionally, the affinity and specificity of polymers were all strongly dependent on the polymerization temperature and significantly improved by decreasing the temperature. 24,25 Thus, the polymerization temperature plays a crucial role for the performance of the synthesized materials. 24,25 Thus, the polymerization temperature plays a crucial role for the performance of the synthesized materials.…”