Interface modification with (co)polyethers: surface-initiated polymerization and grafting

Polyethers are important polymers that are applied in a wide variety of technological contexts: from polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries to stabilizers in mRNA vaccines and from surface coatings that prevent fouling to pre-cursors for commercial polyurethane foams. Applying polyethers at interfaces with precise properties is vital to realizing these and other technologies. Polyethers are often synthesized from the polymerization of functional epoxides. However, most epoxide polymerization methods lack some control (e.g., compositional, architectural, end group, etc.), which makes polyether design difficult. Furthermore, these polymerization methods are oftentimes not compatible with facile surface modification. In this talk, I will discuss recent efforts my lab has made in the synthesis of polyethers with tunable properties and how we have placed these polyethers at interfaces to enhance properties. Specifically, I will discuss recent efforts in preparing amphoteric membranes for redox flow batteries through copolyether compositional control and grafting, new ways to polymerize epoxides directly from the surface of silica nanoparticles, and how to tune polymer end group functionality to facilitate polyether end-grafting to surfaces. This work is enabled by a robust and sustainable aluminum-based polymerization platform that is easy to use. I hope this talk will inspire others to utilize the techniques discussed here to apply polyethers in their own research.