Synthesis

We use various covalent polymerization methods, including cationic polymerization, anionic polymerization, living radical polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polycondensation and click chemistry to synthesize alternating copolymers, hyperbranched polymers, hyperbranched multiarm copolymers, brush polymers and other highly branched polymers or copolymers. We also use noncovalent bonding technology like the host-guest chemistry to prepare supramolecular polymers, especially those with more complex topological structures like linear-hyperbranched, Janus hyperbranched, dumbbell-like, dandelion-Like supramolecular polymers. Besides, we use copolymerization, pre-functionalization and post-functionalization methods to functionalize the polymers in order to enhance the performance and extend the applications.  

1. Cheng, H. X.; Yuan, X.J.; Sun, X.Y.; Li, K.P.; Zhou, Y. F. *; Yan, D. Y.*, “Effect of Degree of Branching on the Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Hyperbranched Multiarm Copolymers”, Macromolecules, 2010, 43, 1143.

2. Tao, W.; Liu, Y.; Jiang, B. B.; Yu, S. R.; Huang, W.; Zhou, Y. F.*; Yan, D.Y., “A Linear-Hyperbranched Supramolecular Amphiphile and Its Self-Assembly into Vesicles with Great Ductility”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 762.

3. Liu, Y.; Yu, C. Y.; Jin, H. B.; Jiang, B. B.; Zhu, X. Y.; Zhou, Y. F.*; Lu, Z. Y.*; Yan, D. Y., “A Supramolecular Janus Hyperbranched Polymer and Its Photoresponsive Self-Assembly of Vesicles with Narrow Size Distribution”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 4765.

4. Chen, J. X.; Yu, C. Y.; Shi, Z. Q.; Yu, S. R.;Lu, Z. Y.; Jiang, W. F.; Zhang, M.; He, W.*; Zhou, Y. F.;* Yan, D. Y., Ultrathin Alternating Copolymer Nanotubes with Readily Tunable Surface Functionalities, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 3621.

5. Zhang, D. P.; Liu, Y. N.; Fan, Y. J.; Yu, C. Y.; Zheng, Y. L.; Jin, H. B.; Fu, L.; Zhou Y. F.*; Yan, D. Y.*, “Hierarchical Self-Assembly of a Dandelion-Like Supramolecular Polymer into Nanotubes as Highly Efficient Aqueous Light-Harvesting Systems”, Adv. Funct. Mater., 2016, 26, 7652.