Hexavalent Substituted Benzenes

INV-22066 

Background 

Polymers in the market include structures like linear chains, bottle brushes, and Miktoarm star polymers that achieve great strength but have limitations like buckling under compression and restricting free movement. Northeastern researchers have invented a material that uses synthetic benzene with substituted functional groups to form 2-D platelet structures. While there is semblance to graphene in the structure, graphene can be easily fractured due to its inability to absorb energy. This novel material’s structure, strength, lightweighted-ness, and creep-resistance makes it a versatile material that can have varied purposes across multiple fields.

Description 

Northeastern researchers have formulated a hexavalent substituted benzene with alternating reactive functional groups. While previous attempts in the field by others have failed, Northeastern researchers have achieved a strategy to limit reactions and torsional strain by avoiding protecting groups. Additionally, the synthesis strategy permits intermolecular rearrangement and optimization of spatial orientation. The novel 2-D polymer synthesized has one of the lowest mass-to-density ratios, while maintaining an extremely small pore size. The material also doesn’t require linking components between monomer units. Features like this are why this polymer is strong, lightweight, energy-absorbing, and thermally stable to very high temperatures.

Benefits: 

Provide a bulleted list of key benefits of the technology

• Thermally stable to very high temperatures, with structural uses for people exposed to such temperatures
• Planar, linear structure absorbs energy efficiently and is strong with creep-resistance
• Novel synthesis strategy with ability to rearrange and optimize polymer orientation
• High electrical conductivity of the precursor material to this polymer can be used for electrodes and electric parts
• Small pore size of material permits use as a selectively permeable membrane for purification and separation

Applications:

List different commercial applications for the technology

• Defense – body armor, shielding, protective films for police, law enforcement, healthcare workers
• Thermal protection for aeronautic vehicles and personnel exposed to high temperatures
• Material separation and purification, oil refinement
• Electric components and electrodes using precursor material

Opportunity 

License

Research Collaboration