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Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) represent an emergent class of green designer solvents that find numerous applications in different aspects of chemical synthesis. A particularly appealing aspect of DES systems is their simplicity of preparation, combined with inexpensive, readily available starting materials to yield solvents with appealing properties (negligible volatility, non-flammability and high solvation capacity). In the context of polymer science, DES systems not only offer an appealing route towards replacing hazardous volatile organic solvents (VOCs), but can serve multiple roles including those of solvent, monomer and templating agent - so called "polymerizable eutectics." In this review, we look at DES systems and polymerizable eutectics and their application in polymer materials synthesis, including various mechanisms of polymer formation, hydrogel design, porous monoliths, and molecularly imprinted polymers. We provide a comparative study of these systems alongside traditional synthetic approaches, highlighting not only the benefit of replacing VOCs from the perspective of environmental sustainability, but also the materials advantage with respect to mechanical and thermal properties of the polymers formed.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	deep eutectic solvents, green chemistry, polymer chemistry, monoliths, hydrogels, polycondensation, molecularly imprinted polymers, electrochemical polymerization, polymer monoliths, polymer synthesis
Research Division:	Engineering
Research Group:	Materials engineering
Research Field:	Polymers and plastics
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences
UTAS Author:	Nahar, Y (Mrs Yeasmin Nahar)
UTAS Author:	Thickett, SC (Dr Stuart Thickett)
ID Code:	143699
Year Published:	2021
Web of Science® Times Cited:	4
Deposited By:	Chemistry
Deposited On:	2021-03-30
Last Modified:	2021-09-21
Downloads:	0