Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.3K
Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta...
2.3K
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

3.6K
Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
3.6K
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.7K
Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
2.7K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.1K
The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
2.1K
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.1K
Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
2.1K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

1.7K
The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
1.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Gastrodin Alleviates Tau Hyperphosphorylation Associated with AKT/GSK-3β Signaling Changes in an Alzheimer's Disease Cell Model.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026
Same author

The <i>Cl1978</i> gene regulates delphinidin-based anthocyanin accumulation in a rare purple Wampee (<i>Clausena lansium</i>).

Food chemistry. Molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Tunable CO<sub>2</sub> Capture and Release Using Redox-Switchable Carboranes.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Clarifying the decision rules and implementation boundaries for risk-based HCC surveillance in MASLD.

Gut·2026
Same author

A Short History of the Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids (IPOS) at UCSB.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Identification of inhibitions of the C-terminal tails of canonical (but not orphan) brassinosteroid receptor kinases reveals intramolecular antagonistic coevolution.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

7.6K

Single-crystal linear polymers through visible light-triggered topochemical quantitative polymerization.

Letian Dou1, Yonghao Zheng, Xiaoqin Shen

  • 1California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 18, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a visible light-triggered polymerization method to create large, high-quality polymer single crystals. This reversible process allows for the study of individual polymer chains, overcoming a key challenge in polymer science.

More Related Videos

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
06:49

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Published on: April 22, 2016

10.5K
Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
07:39

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Published on: June 8, 2016

9.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 3, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

7.6K
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
06:49

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst

Published on: April 22, 2016

10.5K
Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
07:39

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Published on: June 8, 2016

9.1K

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Crystallography

Background:

  • Preparing large-size, high-quality polymer single crystals presents a significant challenge in polymer science.
  • Existing methods often struggle with scalability and control over crystal perfection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate a novel visible light-triggered topochemical polymerization reaction.
  • To achieve macroscopic-size, high-quality polymer single crystals.
  • To investigate the reversibility of the polymerization process and study individual polymer chains.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a conjugated dye molecule for visible light-triggered topochemical polymerization.
  • Investigated polymerization in single crystals, concentrated solutions, and semicrystalline thin films.
  • Employed thermolysis to study the depolymerization process and mechanical exfoliation for isolating single polymer strands.

Main Results:

  • Successfully obtained macroscopic-size, high-quality polymer single crystals.
  • Demonstrated that polymerization is effective not only in single crystals but also in concentrated solutions and thin films.
  • Confirmed the reversibility of the polymerization-depolymerization process through thermolysis.
  • Enabled the isolation and study of individual, long polymer chains via mechanical exfoliation.

Conclusions:

  • A visible light-triggered polymerization method provides a viable route to macroscopic polymer single crystals.
  • The reversible nature of this polymerization opens possibilities for dynamic polymer materials.
  • The ability to isolate single polymer strands facilitates fundamental studies of polymer chain properties.