[O12-22]
우수논문발표상 응모자Controlled, Bottom-Up Synthesis of Polymer Nanoparticles with Near-Zero Birefringence
발표자최한진 (경희대학교)
연구책임자임지우 (경희대학교)
Abstract
Programming polymer architecture by controlling polymerization sequence and timing is central to precision macromolecular synthesis. We report a time-programmed, crosslinker-first route to core-crosslinked star polymers via living ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Sequential monomer addition decouples core formation and arm growth: a bifunctional norbornene forms soluble nanoscale crosslinked cores within a defined pre-gelation window, countering the expectation of rapid macroscopic gelation from early multifunctional monomers. Delayed addition of a monofunctional oxanorbornene then grows arms to yield star polymers in one pot. Time-resolved NMR and GPC–MALS–viscometry show systematic control of molar mass, star size, and arm conformation, enabling architecture–property correlations across thermal and optical properties. Transparent materials combine low intrinsic viscosity with near-zero birefringence offering a platform without pre-synthesized multifunctional initiators.