In Japan, chemists at the Nagoya Institute of Technology report a metal-free method to control cationic polymerization that provides a new framework for higher quality industrial polymers applicable to semi-conductors and biomaterials. The reaction depends on weak halogen bonding and the addition of a small amount of ammonium salt to produce long, homogeneous polymers.
The polymer is synthesized by cationic polymerization, as an example, through a reaction process that along with the vinyl molecule requires the combination of a catalyst and an initiator called an initiating system. Also, the controllability of cationic polymerization could be enhanced with the addition of a small concentration of ammonium salt. The process has a large number of attractive features for polymer synthesis, and expand the application of the polymer for electrical and bio-material usages.