Integrating Boronic Esters and Anthracene into Covalent Adaptable Networks toward Stimuli-Responsive Elastomers

Stimuli-responsive polymer materials have a promising potential application in many areas. However, integrating multi-stimuli into one elastomer is still a challenge. Here, we utilized boronic esters and anthracene to prepare a cross-linked poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) which was endowed wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhiyong Liu, Youwei Ma, Yixin Xiang, Xianrong Shen, Zixing Shi, Jiangang Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/6/1104
Description
Summary:Stimuli-responsive polymer materials have a promising potential application in many areas. However, integrating multi-stimuli into one elastomer is still a challenge. Here, we utilized boronic esters and anthracene to prepare a cross-linked poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) which was endowed with responsiveness to three stimuli (light, heat, and alcohols). SBS was first functionalized with a certain amount of dihydroxyl groups via a thiol-ene “click” reaction between unsaturated double bonds in PB block and thioglycerol. Then, 9-anthraceneboronic acid was applied to form a cross-linked SBS network upon heat and ultraviolet radiation (λ = 365 nm). The prepared elastomer was demonstrated to be stimuli-responsive based on the dynamic nature of boronic esters and the reversible dimerization of anthracene. In addition, the mechanical properties of the elastomer could be regulated continuously owing to the stimulus responsiveness to ultraviolet or heat.
ISSN:2073-4360