Challenges and Recent Developments of Photoflow-Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization (RDRP)

Photo-controlled reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (photo-RDRP) has been investigated as a green and spatiotemporally controlling pathway for polymer synthesis. While the combination of photo-RDRP and flow chemistry has offered opportunities to increase light intensity and enable uniform light irradiation, problems associated with flow approaches still remain for photoflow-RDRP, which has hindered merging flow polymerization with other cutting-edge techniques. Herein, we summarize challenges and recent achievements in photoflow-RDRP including the development of (a) droplet/slug-flow to regulate residence time distribution, (b) mixing techniques to tailor polymer, (c) polymerization induced self-assembly, and (d) computer-aided synthesis. We hope this work will provide informative knowledge to people in related fields and stimulate novel ideas to promote polymer synthesis in both academia and industry.

Automated summary

This study summarizes the challenges and recent achievements in photoflow-RDRP, including droplet/slug flow, mixing techniques, polymerization induced self-assembly, and computer-aided synthesis. It aims to provide informative knowledge for individuals in related fields and stimulate novel ideas to advance polymer synthesis in academia and industry.