Prof. Maxwell Robb, PhD

Stimuli-responsive polymers, sometimes referred to as smart polymers, are materials that undergo chemical reactions in response to external or environmental stimuli. Polymer mechanochemistry is a nascent field of research at the intersection of polymer chemistry and organic chemistry that uses mechanical force as a stimulus to promote chemical reactions of unique stress-responsive molecules called mechanophores. The proposed research aims to develop a modular and general mechanophore design platform that will enable the mechanically triggered release of functional molecules from stimuli-responsive polymers. Polymers that release molecular cargo in response to mechanical force are exciting targets for a diverse range of applications including drug delivery, sensing, self-healing materials, and catalysis.