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Related Concept Videos

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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 acceptor.
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this species into the...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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...
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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...

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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
07:26

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides

Published on: November 21, 2013

Long-range extended chains arising from polymerization-driven spontaneous assembly.

Min Chen1, Dongyang Wang2, Ye Zou2

  • 1James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 4, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed n-doped poly(benzodifurandione) (n-PBDF) that self-assembles into ordered nanoribbons. This breakthrough enables solution-processable conjugated polymers to achieve high conductivity, rivaling inorganic semiconductors.

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Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
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Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization
09:02

Using Polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid)-coated Metal Nanoparticles as Monomers for Their Homo- and Co-polymerization

Published on: July 9, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Organic Electronics

Background:

  • Conjugated polymers face challenges in achieving long-range order while maintaining solution processability.
  • This limits their electrical performance compared to crystalline inorganic semiconductors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate a method for achieving long-range order in solution-processable conjugated polymers.
  • To enhance the electrical conductivity of conjugated polymers for electronic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerization-driven spontaneous assembly (PSA) of n-doped poly(benzodifurandione) (n-PBDF).
  • Investigating the coupled processes of chain growth, chemical doping, and structural ordering.
  • Characterizing the self-initiated, convergent growth mechanism and stabilizing factors.

Main Results:

  • n-PBDF undergoes PSA, forming long-range chain extensions over hundreds of nanometers.
  • Spontaneously formed n-PBDF nanoribbons exhibit a self-initiated, convergent growth mechanism.
  • Aligned n-PBDF thin films achieve metallic-level conductivity (>10^4 S/cm) due to long-range extended chains.

Conclusions:

  • Polymerization-driven spontaneous assembly is a viable strategy for ordered, solution-processable conjugated polymers.
  • The developed n-PBDF nanoribbons show potential for high-performance organic electronic devices.
  • This work bridges the performance gap between organic and inorganic semiconductors.