Chirality-Enhanced Mechanics in a Dynamic Polymer Network

ACS Applied Polymer Materials, vol. 8, pp. 10594–10600

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In recent decades, polymer research has focused on developing dynamic polymer materials that harness noncovalent interactions to engineer self-healing behavior. Herein, we examine the impact of introducing chiral 1,2-disubstituted cyclohexyl thioureas (TUCyH) into ethylene glycol-based copolymers to explore the role of chirality and supramolecular order in governing mechanics and self-healing. We find that raising the TUCyH fraction leads to the controlled formation of rigid domains bearing a well-packed structure reinforced by hydrogen bonds that is critical for the material’s thermal stability and tensile strength. Importantly, the enantioenriched 20% TUCyH copolymers outperform their racemic analogues in tensile strength tests after heat-activated self-healing, demonstrating the relevance of chirality for augmenting the mechanics of the materials. These findings establish the chiral TUCyH hydrogen bonding unit as a promising building block for the development of polymer materials that require robustness, durability, yet are self-healing, and highlight chirality as a design element that can be harnessed to modulate their mechanical behavior.

Authors 4

1. Francisco Rey‐Tarrío

   Universidad Complutense de Madrid

   Affiliation as printed

   Departamento de Química Orgánica; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas

   Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Ciudad Universitaria, s/n

2. Andrea Dalla Valle Aachen Leiden Institute of Chemistry

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry

   Leiden Institute of Chemistry

3. Roxanne E. Kieltyka corresponding Aachen Leiden Institute of Chemistry

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Supramolecular and Biomaterials Chemistry

   Leiden Institute of Chemistry

4. Luis Sánchez corresponding

   Universidad Complutense de Madrid

   Affiliation as printed

   Departamento de Química Orgánica; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas

   Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Ciudad Universitaria, s/n