The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $680,000 Project Grant to Carnegie Mellon University under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) federal grant program. The funding will support research by Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski to develop new dual catalytic systems for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This advanced polymerization technique enables the precise control of polymer chain lengths, compositions, and shapes - important for producing specialty materials rather than commodity polymers. The research aims to achieve this level of control while using minimal copper-based catalyst concentrations and employing benign reducing agents activated by light or other external stimuli. Additionally, the project will investigate the potential to depolymerize polymers back to monomers. Beyond the research activities, the award includes plans for broader impacts through education and outreach initiatives, such as training students in polymer science and creating public instructional resources on controlled radical polymerization.
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