ANR JCJC - CARBHEAL

Metal-carbene-based dynamic polymer networks: self-healing functional materials

Description: Metallopolymers have become one of the most active areas of self-healing materials due to the reversible character of their coordination bonds. The objective of this project is to introduce metallopolymers based on N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs)-metal complexes to the field of self-healing materials Polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) with various structures will be synthesized and cross-linked by coordination with metal species. A systematic study polymer structure/self-healing properties will be conducted. The dynamics of the metal-NHC bonds, depending on the ligand structure and metal nature, will be quantified by single molecule force spectroscopy experiments on similar single chain nanoparticles. A relationship with the bulk properties of the polymer networks observed by rheology will be established to bridge the gap between single molecule dynamics and bulk mechanics. The catalytic activity of some of the prepared dynamic polymer networks will be investigated.

Funding: ANR-21-CE06-0014