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Special Lecture on Nanostructured Materials by Krzysztof Matyjaszewski

Carnegie Mellon University

New Nanostructured Functional Materials Prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

April 5th 3:00 to 4:30 PM
TI Auditorium, ECSS 2.102

Krzysztof Matyjaszewski

Biography

Kris Matyjaszewski is J.C. Warner University Professor of Natural Sciences and director of the Center for Macromolecular Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He prepares advanced materials for biomedical, environmental and energy-related applications. In 1994 he discovered Cu mediated atom transfer radical polymerization, commercialized in 2004 in US, Japan and Europe. He has co-authored >1,200 publications, (>180,000 citations, h-index 205) and 68 US patents. He is a member of National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences and European, Australian, Polish Academies of Sciences. He received 2023 NAS Award in Chemical Sciences, 2017 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry, 2015 Dreyfus Prize in Chemical Sciences, 2011 Wolf Prize in Chemistry, 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, and eleven honorary degrees.

Abstract


Various advanced nanostructured functional materials were designed and prepared by reversible deactivation radical polymerization using tools of macromolecular engineering. Copper-based ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization) catalytic systems with polydentate nitrogen ligands are among most efficient reversible deactivation radical polymerization systems. Recently, by applying new initiating/catalytic systems, Cu level in ATRP was reduced to a few ppm. ATRP of acrylates, methacrylates, styrenes, acrylamides, acrylonitrile and other vinyl monomers was controlled by various external stimuli, including electrical current, light, mechanical forces and ultrasound also in water and open air. ATRP was employed for synthesis of polymers with precisely controlled molecular architecture with designed shape, composition and functionality. Block, graft, star, hyperbranched, gradient and periodic copolymers, molecular brushes and various hybrid materials and bioconjugates were prepared with high precision. These polymers can be used as components of various advanced materials. Special emphasis will be on nanostructured multifunctional hybrid materials for application related to environment, energy, healthcare and catalysis.