Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for organometallic and organic polymer analysis

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Few scientific discoveries have transformed our world as completely as that of synthetic polymers.  By linking together small molecules into long chains or networks, their properties are completely altered, resulting in materials encountered every minute of our lives for the safe packaging of food, for manufacturing and electronics, for medical applications and equipment.New frontiers on the molecular design of polymers and plastics include the creation of polymers with the incorporation of metal ions (iron, ruthenium, or cobalt) or light-sensitive groups (such as porphyrins or coumarins).  These new kinds of polymers can be used in diverse applications such as in chemical sensors, in molecular wires and batteries, photosensitive dyes, energy storage devices, in drug delivery systems, chemical catalysis processes, and in high-temperature ceramics.  The goal of the supported research is to develop systematic approaches to the rational design and synthesis of novel macromolecular and polymeric materials targeted at these medical and industrial applications.The Gel Permeation Chromatography system described in this proposal makes it possible to determine the size of a polymeric material, and is the most widely used method of polymer characterization.  Such analysis is essential to any aspect of polymer science, because the size of a polymer determines many of the other physical properties of the material.