Recyclable by design

We synthesize and process new polymeric materials that could replace the current thermoplastics and thermosets with addressable bonds to enable enhanced circularity.

Covalent adaptable networks

We have been interested in both vitrimers and dissociative CANs to create healable materials.

Relevant publications

  • Diketoenamine-based vitrimers via thiol-ene photopolymerization, L. D. Dugas, W. D. Walker, R. Shankar, K.T. Hoppmeyer, T. L. Thornell, S. E. Morgan, R. F. Storey, D. L. Patton and Y. C. Simon*, Macromol. Rapid Comm. 2022, 2200249 Link

  • Reversible hetero-Diels–Alder amine hardener as drop-in replacement for healable epoxy coatings, S. C. Rajappan, B. J. Davis, I. T. Dishner, T. L. Thornell, J. J. Peyrefitte and Y. C. Simon*, Polym. Chem. 2022, 13, 741 - 747 Link

Supramolecular polymers

We have incorporated supramolecular dynamic bond to impart healability to materials.

Relevant publications

  • Multiresponsive Supramolecular Networks Bound through Strong Dipole–Dipole Interactions, I. T. Dishner, S. P. Daymon, G. Ma, X. Gu, T. T. Thornell, S. I. Nazarenko and Y. C. Simon*, Macromolecules 2025, ASAP Link

  • Solid-state sensors based on Eu3+-containing supramolecular polymers with luminescence colour switching capability, L. N. Neumann, C. Calvino, Y. C. Simon, S. Schrettl and C. Weder, Dalton Trans. 2018, 47, 14184-14188. Link

  • Mechano- and thermoresponsive photoluminescent supramolecular polymer, A. Lavrenova, D. W. R. Balkenende, Y. Sagara, S. Schrettl, Y. C. Simon and C. Weder, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017 139, 4302 - 4305. Link

  • Mechanochemistry of metallo-supramolecular polymers, D. W. R. Balkenende, S. Coulibaly, S. Balog, Y. C. Simon, G. L. Fiore and C. Weder, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 10493 - 10498. Link