Tailoring the Structure of Polymer Networks with Photo-Controlled Radical Polymerization

Using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) approach, we developed a novel computational model to study the photo-controlled radical polymerization (photo-CRP) within polymer networks with embedded iniferters.~The polymerization process can be turned ``on'' or ``off'' in response to light and the polymerization rate can be modulated by altering the light intensity. This ``photo-growth'' approach allows us to impart changes in the gel network pore size and composition to form photo-tunable smart materials. For example, our approach allows us to design gel composites that are comprised of two distinct layers made of two compatible components at low photo-iniferter concentrations or gel composites that are comprised of two incompatible components that are relatively well intermixed at high photo-iniferter concentration.