Since their inception, synthetic polymers have become indispensable in modern life and technology. These versatile materials are found in countless applications, making our daily lives more convenient and advanced.

In our group, we focus on synthesizing and studying a diverse range of polymers and their architectures. Our state-of-the-art synthesis lab allows us to produce polymers with various molecular weights and structures. One of our specialties is creating polyethylene glycol directly from ethylene oxide, available in different molecular weights and as building blocks for complex block copolymers.

We are also exploring self-healing polymer melts based on polybutadiene with hydrogen bonding groups, and investigating how ring-shaped polymers differ from linear ones in their dynamics and interactions. Additionally, we are developing polybutadiene-b-polyethylene glycol block copolymers combined with lithium salts for use in battery materials.

Beyond classical di- and tri-block copolymers, we synthesize and study alternating block copolymers. These consist of short hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks, exhibiting remarkable phase behavior and potential as translocation agents through biological membranes.

Our research doesn’t stop at synthesis. We also characterize our products using techniques like NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography). To study the structure of these materials on the nanometer scale, we use scattering techniques such as SANS, SAXS, and WAXS. For investigating their dynamics over timescales from nanoseconds to hours, we employ Pulse Field Gradient NMR, Quasielastic Neutron Scattering, Neutron Spin Echo, Dynamic Light Scattering, and Rheology. To complement these efforts we also employ molecular dynamics simulations with a focus on the battery materials.