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Single-chain technology using discrete synthetic macromolecules

Nature Chemistry volume 3, pages 917–924 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Fundamental polymer science is undergoing a profound transformation. As a result of recent progress in macromolecular chemistry and physics, synthetic polymer chains are becoming much more than just the modest building blocks of traditional 'plastics'. Promising options for controlling the primary and secondary structures of synthetic polymers have been proposed and, therefore, similarly to biopolymers, synthetic macromolecules may now be exploited as discrete objects with carefully engineered structures and functions. Although it is not possible today to reach the high level of complexity found in biomaterials, these new chemical possibilities open interesting avenues for applications in microelectronics, photovoltaics, catalysis and biotechnology. Here, we describe in detail these recent advances in macromolecular science and emphasize the possible emergence of technologies based on single-chain devices.

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Figure 1: Strategies for the synthesis of polymers with controlled primary structures.
Figure 2: Reported strategies for compacting amorphous random coils into unimolecular nanoparticles.
Figure 3: AFM visualization and manipulation of synthetic polymer chains.
Figure 4: Manipulation of molecular wires by STM.
Figure 5: Single-chain photosynthetic antenna.

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Acknowledgements

J.-F.L. thanks the CNRS, the University of Strasbourg, the International Center for Frontier Research in Chemistry (FRC, Strasbourg) and the European Research Council (Project SEQUENCES – ERC grant agreement no. 258593) for financial support. M.S. and M.O. thank the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan, for financial support through a Grant-in-Aid for Creative Science Research (18GS0209).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan

    Makoto Ouchi & Mitsuo Sawamoto

  2. Precision Macromolecular Chemistry Group, Institut Charles Sadron, UPR22-CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, BP 84047, Strasbourg Cedex 2, 67034, France

    Nezha Badi & Jean-François Lutz

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  1. Makoto Ouchi
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Correspondence to Jean-François Lutz or Mitsuo Sawamoto.

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Ouchi, M., Badi, N., Lutz, JF. et al. Single-chain technology using discrete synthetic macromolecules. Nature Chem 3, 917–924 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1175

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