FUNPOLYSURF

The objective of the project is to produce novel advanced structured polymer films with both photo-activity and outstanding mechanical properties by simple casting from an aqueous dispersion of colloids. For that purpose, well-defined self-stabilized nanoparticles, made of a hydrophobic core and a covalently linked hydrophilic shell containing the organic photosensitizer units, will be synthesized by emulsion polymerization induced by copolymer self-assembly, an eco-friendly process free of solvent and surfactant. The originality of the project rests on three integrated pillars: 1) the controlled and versatile synthesis of the photo-active polymer particles by polymerization in aqueous dispersed media, 2) the characterization of the internal structure (by fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy), the mechanical properties and water-resistance (for transparency) of the polymer films, which are important parameters to assess the application range, 3) the capability of the polymer coating to produce singlet oxygen under irradiation, investigated by fluorescent singlet oxygen probe and by the propensity to perform photo-induced oxidation reactions of organic molecules at the solid/liquid interface. Since the in-situ produced singlet oxygen has an antimicrobial activity, the project meets a societal challenge by designing functional surfaces for healthcare facilities or food packaging requiring antimicrobial properties. The strength of the project is the combination of innovative chemistry with characterization of passive and active properties to produce novel photo-active coatings with mechanical properties compatible with an application.