The future of polymer brushes
Alessio Lo Bocchiaro, Elena Avanzini, Francesca Lorandi, Edmondo M. Benetti
Abstract
More than 35 years after the seminal inception of the concept of assemblies of surface-tethered polymer chains, or “polymer brushes”, a new subfield of polymer science has been progressively emerging, encompassing various interdisciplinary aspects of polymer chemistry, surface science, and materials science. The application of polymer brushes is now widespread across a broad range of formulations, and advancements in controlled chain-growth polymerizations have been accompanied by simultaneous refinements in corresponding surface-initiated processes. Thanks to these progresses, generating a brush on a solid substrate is now accessible enough to serve as an undergraduate-level lab exercise. However, while polymer brushes are finding fascinating new applications in biotechnology, energy materials, and catalysis, their translation into technology remains an ongoing challenge. In this short perspective article, we summarize the latest developments in the synthesis and application of polymer brushes, particularly highlighting the potential future directions of this exciting field of research.