Polyrotaxane is a supramolecular polymer in which cyclic molecules are threaded onto a linear axle and held there by bulky end groups, so the rings slide and rotate without detaching [1]. Amino-acid-derivatised polyrotaxane conjugates crosslink into slide-ring gels whose pendant groups set the swelling and the mechanics [1]. A one-pot route converts polyisoprene into a polyrotaxane and then into a slide-ring gel without isolating the intermediate [2]. In solid electrolytes, slide-ring mobility governs ion transport and delivers stable cycling against lithium metal [3]. Blends of poly(butylene succinate) with grafted polyrotaxane, made by controlled reactive processing, gain toughness while remaining biodegradable [4]. Slide-ring structures also enter optoelectronic composites, where the movable crosslinks relieve the strain that would crack a conventional network [5].
- cyclic molecule threading
- slide-ring gel
- supramolecular polymer
- cyclodextrin
- solid electrolyte
- movable crosslink
References
- Araki, J.; Sainou, N.; Amino acid-derivatized slide-ring gels: Chemical crosslinking of polyrotaxane conjugates with different amino acid pendant groups. Polymer 2015, 74, 133-143, 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.07.060.
- Kali, G.; Eisenbarth, H.; Wenz, G.; One Pot Synthesis of a Polyisoprene Polyrotaxane and Conversion to a Slide‐Ring Gel. Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2016, 37, 67-72, 10.1002/marc.201500548.
- Hua, J.; Wang, S.; Zhou, A.; Zeng, X.; Lan, J.; Yu, Y.; Jia, X.; Yang, X.; Slide-ring-mediated ion transport in polyrotaxane solid electrolytes for stable lithium metal batteries. Polymer 2026, 366, 130802, 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.130802.
- Kitada, Y.; Ishigami, A.; Kobayashi, Y.; Suetsugu, Y.; Taguchi, H.; Kikuchi, T.; Ito, H.; Synthesis of High-Performance and Biodegradable Polymer Blends Based on Poly(butylene succinate) and Grafted Polyrotaxane via Controlled Reactive Processing. Polymers 2025, 18, 38, 10.3390/polym18010038.
- Resmerita, A.; Asandulesa, M.; Farcas, A.; Composite materials based on slide‐ring polyrotaxane structures for optoelectronics. Journal of Polymer Science 2024, 62, 5030-5040, 10.1002/pol.20240285.