Precision synthesis of conducting polymers with main-chain degradability

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22524
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0501:Physical chemistry, functional solid state chemistry, organic chemistry, polymers, organic materials, biomolecular chemistry, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Tomohiro Kubo 東京工業大学, 物質理工学院, 助教 (20871362)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 開環共重合 / ポリエステル / 分解性高分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this project, the synthesis of polyesters with improved degradability through ring-opening copolymerization was demonstrated. The resulting copolymers exhibit thermal properties and water stability comparable to those of homopolymers, while simultaneously demonstrating rapid degradation under appropriate stimuli, corresponding to the amount of degradable functional groups. Moreover, insights into sequence control were gained by using monomers with different reactivities. The method of introducing easily degradable functional groups into the polymer backbone can be applied to other monomer groups, providing useful guidlines for the design of environmentally friendly materials.

Free Research Field

高分子合成

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題では、共重合による易分解性高分子の合成を検討した。このような合成手法を開発することで、使用時は安定で、使用後に環境に蓄積しないような環境低負荷型材料の創出が可能となりうる。プラスチックに関する世界的な環境問題が顕著になる中で、持続可能な社会の実現に向けた高分子材料の設計指針を明らかにした。