Supramolecular Assembly for Dynamic and Responsive Polymer Systems

Prof. Dr. Stephen Schrettl, Technical University of Munich

An assembly of monomers that feature dynamic non-covalent interactions furnishes supramolecular materials. The fact that external stimuli can modulate the strength of the interactions may lead to a temporary disassembly, which impart the materials with useful adaptive functionalities and is of interest for a cyclic materials use. In this presentation, supramolecular polymers are introduced that combine responsive characteristics with mechanical strengths akin to those of conventional plastics. By combining different building blocks that possess distinct mechanical properties, we can create materials that are strong, stiff, and tough (Figure 1). The ability to combine building blocks in any ratio allows to prepare objects with a spatially modulated mechanical behavior, effectively mimicking the anisotropic properties of more complex natural materials. Additionally, this presentation will also discuss supramolecular strategies in the development of nanoparticle composites and introduce advanced materials that generate specific optical responses when subjected to mechanical stress.