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Cover Feature: Loops and Cycles at Surfaces: The Unique Properties of Topological Polymer Brushes (Chem. Eur. J. 51/2017)
Author(s) -
Benetti Edmondo M.,
Divandari Mohammad,
Ramakrishna Shivaprakash N.,
Morgese Giulia,
Yan Wenqing,
Trachsel Lucca
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201702836
Subject(s) - polymer , materials science , surface modification , steric effects , macromolecule , topology (electrical circuits) , surface (topology) , polymer science , characterization (materials science) , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , mathematics , engineering , biochemistry , geometry , combinatorics
Can the performance of polymer brushes as steric stabilizers, biopassive layers and boundary lubricants be improved? The answer to this intriguing question encompasses the application of polymer grafts presenting different chain topologies, beyond chain linearity. Polymer adsorbates forming loops and cyclic macromolecules yielding cyclic brushes on flat and nanoparticle surfaces generate films with unique physicochemical properties. Benetti and co‐workers review their preparation, characterization and modeling, trying to redefine the paradigm for surface functionalization by polymer grafting. More information can be found in the Minireview by E. M. Benetti et al. on page 12433.