New methods in polymer brush synthesis: Non-vinyl-based semiflexible and rigid-rod polymer brushes

Non-vinyl-based ‘grafted from’ polymer brushes have generated much interest and growth in the past decade due to potential for stiffer backbones, long-range order, new backbone functional groups, compared traditional vinyl-based brushes. This area of has been spurred on by recent advancements polymerization techniques, such as chain-growth condensation polymerization, that allow conversion step-growth polymers into required form via ‘grafting technique [1]. exciting category forms semi-flexible or rigid-rod structures a variety applications including organic photovoltaics, light emitting diodes, tribological coatings, membranes water purification desalination, fuel cells, high performance biosensing aromatic groups backbone, secondary bonding forces connecting chains, conjugated backbones [2], [3]. review will focus synthesis characterization non-vinyl-based brushes, primarily prepared technique, while also an overview these systems highlighting prospective areas future developments.