Radical polymerization

Optics

Physics

Polymer science

Engineering

Dispersant

Atom-transfer radical-polymerization

Copolymer

Composite material

Catalysis

Nanotechnology

Dispersion (optics)

Organic chemistry

Chemistry

Polymer chemistry

Materials science

Hybrid material

Reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization

Elastomer

Chemical engineering

Polymerization

Polymer

Living free-radical polymerization

Advanced Materials

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been successfully employed for the preparation of various advanced materials with controlled architecture. New catalysts with strongly enhanced activity permit more environmentally benign ATRP procedures using ppm levels of catalyst. Precise control over polymer composition, topology, and incorporation of site specific functionality enables synthesis of well-defined gradient, block, comb copolymers, polymers with (hyper)branched structures including stars, densely grafted molecular brushes or networks, as well as inorganic–organic hybrid materials and bioconjugates. Examples of specific applications of functional materials include thermoplastic elastomers, nanostructured carbons, surfactants, dispersants, functionalized surfaces, and biorelated materials.

Advanced Materials by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization