Thiol-Ene Click Chemistry for Durable Material Functionalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for imparting desirable functionalities to materials, such as antimicrobial properties, face challenges including complex reaction processes, use of harsh solvents, and limited compatibility of functional compounds, which increase costs and environmental concerns, while often failing to meet efficacy requirements in demanding applications.
Innovation Solution
The process employs thiol-ene click chemistry to react unsaturated compounds like alkenes and alkynes with thiol reactants, using environmentally friendly initiators like hydrogen peroxide, to functionalize materials, enabling the incorporation of functionality imparting groups that provide improved durability and efficacy, particularly in harsh conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If chemical bonding methods are used to improve efficacy duration, then durability is improved, but process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical reaction parameters by using thiol-ene click chemistry with environmentally friendly initiators like hydrogen peroxide, replacing complex multi-step processes with a simplified single-step reaction that maintains durability while reducing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates harsh solvents and complex linking groups from traditional chemical bonding processes, retaining only the essential thiol-ene reaction components to achieve simplified processing while maintaining efficacy duration
2Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional chemical bonding processes are used, then durability is improved, but environmental harm increases due to harsh solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the traditionally harmful role of solvents and harsh chemicals into beneficial environmentally friendly initiators like hydrogen peroxide, which decompose into water and oxygen, eliminating environmental harm while maintaining the chemical bonding durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an environmentally benign reaction environment by replacing harmful solvents with water-based or solvent-free systems initiated by hydrogen peroxide, achieving both durability and environmental compatibility
3Duration of action of stationary object
If chemical bonding of functional compounds is used, then efficacy duration is improved, but compatibility limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the thiol-ene click chemistry reaction universal by demonstrating its applicability to diverse functional compounds including antimicrobials, UV absorbers, and flame retardants, allowing a single reaction methodology to bond multiple different functional groups to various substrates without compatibility limitations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in materials with enhanced durability and efficacy, such as antimicrobial properties, that can withstand prolonged exposure and aggressive washing, while using lower-cost, environmentally preferable methods, effectively addressing the limitations of prior techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The process employs thiol-ene click chemistry to react unsaturated compounds like alkenes and alkynes with thiol reactants
Implementation Method 2
using environmentally friendly initiators like hydrogen peroxide, to functionalize materials
Data Source
AI summary
Processes for chemical functionalization of materials are described. The processes generally include chemical reaction between a thiol group of a first compound or material and an alkene group or alkyne group of a second compound or material. Also disclosed are functionalized materials and compounds suitable for functionalizing a material.