Chemical Energy and Information Conversion by Utilizing Molecular Synchronization of Polymer Networks

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In polymer networks whose structures are determined by the balance between weak intermolecular-interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, ion-dipole, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions, it is frequently observed that a tiny fluctuation toward functional groups in the network polymers is quantitatively converted to a different fluctuation, which is transferred, in a spatially and chronologically synchronized manner, over the whole networks. In other words, the weakly correlated polymer networks function not only as a structural network but also as a network for transferring and converting energy and information. This research has been aimed at proposing a new methodology for the design of new materials system for chemical energy and information conversion by revealing "molecular synchronization" in the molecular level. In this research, the following three projects have been studied1. In-situ polymerization of vinyl monomers in ionic liquids to form "ion gels" and their utilization in chemical energy conversion.2. Electron transfer reaction of glucose oxidase modified with phenothiazine-labeled PEG for efficient chemical information conversion.3. "Structurally-colored gels" prepared by using closest packing silica colloid crystals as a template and their structural color change in response to external stimuli.