Controlling Properties of Polymer Networks with Light

Kevin Broi's Ph.D. research is focused on the development of light-responsive polymer systems and in particular the design and synthesis of functionalized diarylethene photoswitches that are capable of forming dynamic covalent bonds between polymer strands. Upon selective excitation of these photoswitches with light, these thermodynamic equilibria can be disturbed and thus the macroscopic properties (e.g. adhesion strength, hardness, swelling) of the resulting polymer materials can be altered. Based on this, the SFB 985 (project C6) is aiming at the development of light-responsive microgel catalysts.