Scientists from Russia’s Sechenov University, together with an international team of researchers, have developed a new method for synthesising hybrid fluorinated polymers with tunable architecture and properties.The resulting materials exhibit high thermal stability and pronounced hydrophobicity.
The development is based on combining fluorinated monomers with POSS nanostructures (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes)—organosilicon frameworks that are widely used to reinforce polymer materials and impart new functional properties. Such a combination makes it possible to create hybrid systems in which the chemical and physical characteristics of the material can be simultaneously controlled. These include temperature resistance, mechanical strength, and surface interaction with water.
For the synthesis, the researchers used a photo-controlled polymerisation method: the reaction is initiated by visible light in the presence of an organic photocatalyst and does not require traditional metal catalysts. This approach makes the process more environmentally friendly and enables more precise control over the structure of the resulting polymers. During the work, the scientists successfully obtained several types of macromolecular architectures.
Experiments showed that the obtained materials have high thermal stability—up to approximately 300 °C—and form strongly water‑repellent surfaces. This combination of properties makes hybrid fluorinated polymers a promising platform for creating functional coatings that can be used, for example, to protect surfaces from moisture and corrosion, including in electronics, in the development of membrane materials, biomedical devices, and other high‑technology systems.
