Mechanically activated solid state radical polymerization and cross-linking via piezocatalysis

Piezocatalysis offers a means to transduce mechanical energy into chemical potential, harnessing physical force to drive redox reactions. Working in the solid state, we show here that piezoelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles can transduce mechanical load into a flux of reactive radical species capable of initiating solid state free radical polymerization. Activation of a BaTiO3 powder by ball milling, striking with a hammer, or repeated compressive loading generates highly reactive hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot), which readily initiate radical chain growth and crosslinking of solid acrylamide, acrylate, methacrylate and styrenic monomers. Control experiments indicate a critical role for chemisorbed water on the BaTiO3 nanoparticle surface, which is oxidized to (OH)-O-center dot via mechanoredox catalysis. The force-induced production of radicals by compressing dry piezoelectric materials represents a promising new route to harness mechanical energy for solid state radical synthesis.