Deterministic control over high-Z doping of polydicyclopentadiene-based aerogel coatings

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Aug 28;5(16):8111-9. doi: 10.1021/am4021878. Epub 2013 Aug 12.

Abstract

We report on simple and efficient routes to dope polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD)-based aerogels and their coatings with high-Z tracer elements. Initially, direct halogenation of PDCPD wet gels and aerogels with elemental iodine or bromine was studied. Although several pathways were identified that allowed doping of PDCPD aerogels by direct addition of bromine or iodine to the unsaturated polymer backbone, they all provided limited control over the amount and uniformity of doping, especially at very low dopant concentrations. Deterministic control over the doping level in polymeric aerogels and aerogel coatings was then achieved by developing a copolymerization approach with iodine and tin containing comonomers. Our results highlight the versatility of the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)-based copolymerization approach in terms of functionalization and doping of low density polymeric aerogels and their coatings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Gels / chemistry
  • Indenes / chemistry*
  • Iodides / chemistry
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Trace Elements / chemistry*

Substances

  • Gels
  • Indenes
  • Iodides
  • Polymers
  • Trace Elements
  • dicyclopentadiene