Surface Initiated Ring-Opening Polymerization as Tool for Grafting Polymers on Nanocelluloses

This project is a collaboration between the group of Wim Thielemans, specialized in the development of renewable materials using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), with the group of Philippe Zinck, specialized in polymerization catalysis and initiating polymerization from saccharides in solution. We will develop catalytic methodologies for increased control over ringopening polymerization from the surface of CNCs exemplified by their use in co-continuous composites, i.e. composite where the polymer matrix phase is completely composed of polymers grafted from the reinforcement fibres. Expected advancements regarding the state of the art in surface initiated polymerization are (1) the control of the surface hydroxyl initiated ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters, both in terms of regioselectivity and selectivity vs. water hydroxyls, which will result in control over polymer molecular weight and dispersity, (2) the synthesis of new polycarbonate nanocellulose hybrid materials and (3) the assessment of supported organocatalysis for grafting both polyesters and polycarbonates by ring-opening polymerization.