Friedel-Craft and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization for Membrane and Inorganic Nanoparticles

This dissertation explores various facets of polymer science, including methods for synthesis, control of polymer sequencing, organic-inorganic nanoparticle synthesis, and the application of polymer membranes. Chapter 1 provides an overview of polymer development, encompassing both chain growth and step growth polymerization methods, along with recent developments and advancements in the field. Additionally, it briefly outlines techniques for synthesizing organic-inorganic nanoparticles and its corresponding applications. In Chapter 2, attention is focused on the synthesis of polymeric membranes for alkaline exchange applications. A detailed examination of the structure-properties relationship is conducted by introducing membranes with varying percentages of charged groups. Furthermore, block copolymers are synthesized to enhance conductivity by facilitating the formation of ion channels. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including measurements of molecular weight, morphology, conductivity, and stability, are employed to validate the membranes' performance. Chapter 3 describes an intriguing discovery of through-space conjugation, exhibited by monomers and oligomers that were produced by acid-catalyzed Friedel-Craft hydroxylation of 1,4-disubstituted benzene and benzaldehyde derivatives. The compounds emit blue light under 300 nm UV irradiation, and the mechanism was explored through structural variation and experimental data analysis. Chapter 4 employs the spytag spycatcher method to modify polymer layers on a nanoparticle, enabling attachment of diverse functional proteins for tailored applications. Additionally, the chapter discusses the recycling of rare earth elements through the coating of magnetic nanoparticles with the protein LanM, facilitating the selective adsorption of these elements from waste streams, followed by their easy recovery under acidic conditions.