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From precision polymers to complex materials and systems

Nature Reviews Materials volume 1, Article number: 16024 (2016) Cite this article

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Abstract

Complex chemical systems, such as living biological matter, are highly organized structures based on discrete molecules in constant dynamic interactions. These natural materials can evolve and adapt to their environment. By contrast, man-made materials exhibit simpler properties. In this Review, we highlight that most of the necessary elements for the development of more complex synthetic matter are available today. Using modern strategies, such as controlled radical polymerizations, supramolecular polymerizations or stepwise synthesis, polymers with precisely controlled molecular structures can be synthesized. Moreover, such tailored polymers can be folded or self-assembled into defined nanoscale morphologies. These self-organized macromolecular objects can be at thermal equilibrium or can be driven out of equilibrium. Recently, in the latter case, interesting dynamic materials have been developed. However, this is just a start, and more complex adaptive materials are anticipated.

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Figure 1: Towards complex soft matter and materials.
Figure 2: Classification of the main approaches for polymer synthesis.
Figure 3: Synthesis, sequencing and degradation of dynamic polymers with coded primary structures.
Figure 4: Synthesis of complex polymer architectures stabilized by covalent and non-covalent interactions.
Figure 5: Examples of complex morphologies obtained by solution self-assembly of block copolymers.
Figure 6: Examples of materials involving supramolecular interactions or dynamic covalent bonds.

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Acknowledgements

J.F.L. and J.M.L. thank the Cluster of Excellence Chemistry of Complex Systems (LabEx CSC). J.M.L. thanks the ERC Advanced Research Grant SUPRADAPT 290585 for financial support. J.F.L. and E.W.M. acknowledge the H2020 programme of the European Union (project Euro-Sequences, H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014, grant agreement no. 642083). K.M. thanks the National Science Foundation for financial support (NSF DMR 1501324) and the National Science Centre (2014/14/A/ST5/00204).

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  1. Precision Macromolecular Chemistry, Institut Charles Sadron, UPR22-CNRS, BP84047, 23 rue du Loess, Strasbourg Cedex 2, 67034, France

    Jean-François Lutz

  2. Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, Université de Strasbourg, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, Strasbourg, 67000, France

    Jean-Marie Lehn

  3. Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    E. W. Meijer

  4. Department of Chemistry and Center of Macromolecular Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15213, Pennsylvania, USA

    Krzysztof Matyjaszewski

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Lutz, JF., Lehn, JM., Meijer, E. et al. From precision polymers to complex materials and systems. Nat Rev Mater 1, 16024 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2016.24

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