Recent work in the Furgal Laboratory at BGSU is focused on the development of photoactive silicon-based materials with high porosity, phototriggered formation and/or controlled degradation of siloxane bonds, and photodynamic self-healable polymer systems. Herein we will present recent progress on the development of photoresponsive environmental remediates based on Q-cage silica structures, using light to control Si-O bond formation to make novel materials such as in 3D printing, and the use of supramolecular photodynamic chemistries toward self-healable siloxane polymers. This work stems from our development of photoswitchable Q-cage based hybrid 3D polymeric smart sponges with azobenzene actuation units which showed reversible UV triggered volume changes (up to 18.3%) and modulus switching. These structures have been tuned to enable specific substance uptakes such as for PFAS as reusable remediates. Phototriggerable R-alkoxysilanes based on 2-nitrobenzyloxy substitution have been developed to assist in improving control in Si-O bond forming reactions and our current work in these areas will be presented.

Photoresponsive silicon-based macromolecules: New synthetic methods and unique properties

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.