Near IR light photocatalyst for spatiotemporally controlled polymerization

This technology is a catalyst for ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) that can be activated with near infrared (NIR) light, enabling spatiotemporal control of polymerization.

Unmet Need: ROMP catalyst that provides spatial and temporal control

Traditional methods for ROMP require a metal catalyst that does not provide control over the initiation of the reaction or the length of polymer chain formation. Furthermore, traditional catalysts do not provide concise spatial control of the reaction, especially through barriers.

The Technology: Photocatalyst for precise spatiotemporal control of ROMP

This switchable NIR light photocatalyst enables control over the extent of polymerization by modulating the irradiation time. High-resolution spatial control of the reaction is achievable through the use of lasers and/or photomasks. NIR light’s ability to penetrate through diverse materials enables polymer molding through barriers. Furthermore, excitation of the photocatalyst with NIR light improves scalability for photoredox reactions.

Applications:

  • Industrial chemical production
  • Materials chemistry research
  • Biopharmaceutical synthesis
  • Imaging agent synthesis
  • Agrochemical development
  • Versatile polymeric materials

Advantages:

  • Temporal control
  • Spatial control
  • Barrier penetration
  • Low energy
  • Scalability

Lead Inventor:

Tomislav Rovis, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

*Ravetz BD, Tay NES, Joe CL, Sezen-Edmonds M, Schmidt MA, Tan Y, Janey J, Eastgate M, Rovis T. “Development of a Platform for Near-Infrared Photoredox Catalysis” ACS Cent Sci. 2020 Nov 25; 6(11): 2053–2059.

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