Study level

  • Honours

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Chemistry and Physics

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Materials Science

Supervisors

Associate Professor Hendrik Frisch
Position
Competitive Grant Researcher Arrangement
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

Overview

Radical polymerisations play a key role in both commercial and fundamental research (45% of all world polymer production, 100 million tons per year). However, radical polymerisations still suffer from synthetic drawbacks like all-carbon polymer backbones, which largely prevent their (bio)degradability. We will develop a polymerisation technique that allows to incorporate function into polymers - from degradability to catalytic activity.

Research activities

What motivates you to do chemistry? We are fascinated by the endless creative potential of chemistry: designing a molecule in your mind and bringing it to live with your own hands in the lab.

This project will teach you the synthesis of functional monomers.

Together, we will:

  • design functional molecular structures
  • plan a strategy for the synthesis, and finally,
  • use the toolbox of organic chemistry to synthesise those molecules (for the very first time).

Outcomes

You will develop novel functional polymers and test their applications.

Skills and experience

A background in chemistry and a keen interest in organic chemistry would be ideal for the project.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.