Defence Jie Guo: "Diesl-Alder Chemistry: An old workhorse for new self-healing nanocomposites and adhesives"

Promotors: 1^st promotor: Prof Ranjita Bose, 2^nd promotor: Prof. Francesco Picchioni

Abstract:

for plastic waste management and sustainability. Among various approaches, intrinsic healing
based on dynamic chemical interactions is particularly favored as they can be repeated multiple
times without compromising materials performance. These dynamic interactions can also
transform existing polymers into reversible systems. This thesis specifically studies the Diels-
Alder (DA) reaction, known for its versatility and reversibility upon temperature changes. It is
widely used in various applications such as drug delivery, 3D printing, electronic devices,
coatings, and adhesives. The structure of this thesis is divided into two main sections: the first
half investigates direct deployment of pristine carbon nanotubes into self-healing nanocomposites
via the DA reaction, and the second half focuses on the fabrication of a reversible thin film
adhesive through the DA linkage. Through these studies, it is expected to further advance the
application of the DA reaction in the development of self-healing materials, expanding its
potential in innovative and sustainable solutions.

Dissertation