A general strategy for heterogenizing olefin polymerization catalysts and the synthesis of polyolefins and composites

Heterogenizing homogeneous metal complexes on solid supports offers an efficient strategy for bridging homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in olefin polymerization. However, drawbacks like catalyst leaching and incompatibility with polar comonomers limit their industrial application. This study introduces a versatile ionic anchoring strategy (IAS) applicable to various systems, enabling strong catalyst-support interactions while tolerating polar functional groups. Supported catalysts exhibit enhanced polymerization properties and higher comonomer incorporation than unsupported counterparts. This method facilitates high-temperature, large-scale polymerization, precise morphology control, and the facile synthesis of polyolefin composites with improved material properties even at low composite loadings. The IAS shows promise for various catalytic systems and the creation of advanced engineering materials.

Chen Zou, Guifu Si, Changle Chen