University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The control of polymer architecture and composition through kinetic studies

McCleary-Petersen, Keelee Cathleen

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129537

Description

Title
The control of polymer architecture and composition through kinetic studies
Author(s)
McCleary-Petersen, Keelee Cathleen
Issue Date
2025-04-20
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Guironnet, Damien S
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Guironnet, Damien S
Committee Member(s)
  • Han, Hee-Sun
  • Leal, Cecilia
  • Moore, Jeff
Department of Study
Chemistry
Discipline
Chemistry
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Polymer
  • Bottlebrush
  • Architecture
  • Shape
  • Composition
  • Janus Bottlebrush
  • Kinetic Studies
Abstract
The architecture and composition of polymers greatly affects the material properties, ultimately determining the types of applications that the polymers can be used for. Thus, the development of new synthetic strategies for controlling the architecture and composition of polymers can open the doors for the design of next-generation materials. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the types of polymers that will be discussed in this dissertation, as well as an overview of each of the methods that will be used to control the architecture and composition of the synthesized polymers. Chapter 2 first introduces a new synthetic method for obtaining shaped bottlebrush polymers using a simultaneous graft-from and graft-through reaction via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) or ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Chapter 3 then dives into examining a phenomenon we observed where the rate of macromonomer polymerization via ROMP depends on the polymeric chain more than the norbornene anchor group. Next, Chapter 4 describes a new method developed to synthesize Janus bottlebrush polymers via sequential graft-to reaction then graft-from ROP in a one-pot polymerization, using mostly commercially available reagents, that only require a simple two-step purification process. Lastly, Chapter 5 discusses kinetic studies that were performed for the copolymerization between two different di-epoxides with a diamine to gain a molecular insight into the compositional structure of the resulting copolymers. Throughout the chapters of this dissertation, kinetic studies were used to evaluate reaction progress, reaction compatibility, polymer architecture and polymer composition, showcasing how vital and extensive polymerization kinetics can be utilized, depending on the needs of the project.
Graduation Semester
2025-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129537
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2025 Keelee McCleary-Petersen

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