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Professor Sébastien Perrier

Professor of Chemistry
Director of the Key Centre for Polymer Colloids
Associate Head of School (Research)

Contact Details

Room 351
School of Chemistry, Building F11
The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
Email address: sebastien.perrier@sydney.edu.au
Telephone 61 (2) 9351 3366
Fax 61 (2) 9351 3329

Career Profile:

Diplome d’ingenieur, Ecole National Superieur de Chimie de Montpellier, France, 1998
Diplome d’Etudes Approfondies, Universite Montpellier II, France, 1998
Ph.D., the University of Warwick, UK, 2001
Postdoctoral Fellow, UNSW, Australia, 2001-2002
Lecturer, the University of Leeds, UK, 2002-2005
Senior-Lecturer, the University of Leeds, UK, 2005-2007
Associate Professor, the University of Sydney, Australia, 2007-

Areas of Interest:

• Soft Matter
• Polymer synthesis and characterisation
• Radical chemistry
• Catalysis

Research:

In the last 50 years, the area of macromolecule synthesis has evolved from large bulk processes to manufacture commodity polymers (‘plastics’), to specific polymerisation techniques that produce highly functional materials for high tech applications. Our team specialises in the synthesis and characterisation of macromolecules with highly controlled and pre-determinable structures using controlled/living free radical polymerisation, to design new materials, or improve existing ones. Our research is at the interface between the understanding of the chemistry behind the polymerisation techniques, and the production of functional materials for targeted applications. Such applications can be in the field of pharmacy (e.g. drug delivery), biology (e.g. antimicrobial materials, synthetic proteins), nanotechnology (e.g. components for optoelectronic applications), physics (e.g. rheology modifiers) or chemistry (polymerisation catalysts, processes, etc.). Much of our research is carried out in close collaboration with our industrial and academic partners.

Our research lies at the interface of Organic Synthesis and Materials / Soft Matter Science.

Synthesis:

- Development of synthetic pathways to produce functional precursors for polymerisation (initiators, monomers, etc.) and study of polymerization catalysts.


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- Polymerisation chemistry: Mechanism and kinetics – Understanding the basis of the chemistry involved in a polymerisation system is essential to produce well controlled functional materials. Our main interest concerns the study of transition metal chemistry toward the development of transition metal mediated living radical polymerization (ATRP) and radical organic chemistry used in reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation.

- Process: In order to realistically plan the development of new polymerisation techniques from the laboratory bench to industrial scale, we investigate reactions scale-up, high-throughput syntheses, and sustainable processes.

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Material / Soft Matter Science:

Our understanding of the chemistry involved in polymer synthesis allows us to produce functional materials for targeted applications. Our main research interests are divided in four mainstream areas:

- Complex Macromolecular Architectures: We develop complex polymeric architectures (block copolymers, star (co)polymers, branched (co)polymers, graft (co)polymers, etc.) with unique properties.

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- Functional Polymeric Materials: By controlling the synthesis of polymeric chains, we can produce functional macromolecules and materials.

- Polymer self-assembly: Polymers of controlled architecture and functionality can self-assemble in solution or in the bulk. We exploit these properties to develop ‘smart’ nanomaterials (e.g. nanocontainers, etc.)

structure

- Hybrid synthetic / natural materials: By functionalising natural polymers (proteins, peptides, cellulose, etc.) with synthetic polymeric chains, we modify their properties and behaviour.


See our homepage for further details: http://www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au

Publications (2009 to 2011)

  1. Ohno, K; Ma, Y; Huang, Y; Mori, C; Yahata, Y; Tsujii, Y; Maschmeyer, T; Moraes, J and Perrier, S. Surface-initiated reversible addition - fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization from fine particles functionalized with trithiocarbonates. Macromolecules, 44 (22), 8944-8953, 2011. DOI: 10.1021/ma202105y

  2. Siauw, M; Hawkett, BS and Perrier, S. Short chain amphiphilic diblock co-oligomers via RAFT polymerization. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 50 (1), 187-198, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/pola.25061

  3. Bell, CA; Jia, Z; Perrier, S and Monteiro, MJ. Modulating catalytic activity of polymer-based CuAAC "click" reactions. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 49 (21), 4539-4548, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/pola.24896

  4. Konkolewicz, D; Perrier, S; Stapleton, D and Gray-Weale, A. Modeling highly branched structures: Description of the solution structures of dendrimers, polyglycerol, and glycogen. Polymer Physics, 49 (21), 1525-1538, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/POLB.22340

  5. Konkolewicz, D; Monteiro, MJ and Perrier, S. Dendritic and hyperbranched polymers from macromolecular units: Elegant approaches to the synthesis fo functional polymers. Macromolecules, 44 (18), 7067-7087, 2011. DOI: 10.1021/ma200656h

  6. Chapman, R; Jolliffe, KA and Perrier, S. Modular design for the controlled production of polymeric nanotubes from polymer/peptide conguates. Polymer Chemistry, 2 (9), 1956-1963, 2011. DOI: 10.1039/c1py00202c

  7. Moraes, J; Maschmeyer, T and Perrier, S. 'Pseudo-star' copolymers formed by a combination of RAFT polymerization and isocyanate-coupling. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 64 (8), 1047-1053, 2011. DOI: 10.1071/CH11133

  8. Moraes, J; Maschmeyer, T and Perrier, S. "Clickable" polymers via a combination of RAFT polymerization and isocyanate chemistry. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 49 (13), 2771-2782, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/pola.24710

  9. Dehn, S; Chapman, R; Jolliffe, KA and Perrier, S. Synthetic strategies for the design of peptide/polymer conjugates. Polymer Reviews, 51 (2), 214-234, 2011. DOI: 10.1080/15583724.2011.566404

  10. Koh, ML; Konkolewicz, D and Perrier, S. A simple route to functional highly branched structures: RAFT homopolymerization of divinylbenzene. Macromolecules, 44 (8), 2715-2724, 2011.DOI: 10.1021/ma102537h

  11. Khaydarov, AA; Kazlauciunas, A; Mounterey, PE and Perrier, S. Investigation of polymer blends of polyamide-6 and poly(methyl methacrylate) synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Polymer Bulletin, 66 (8), 1089-1098, 2011. DOI: 10.1007/s00289-010-0392-9

  12. Zhang, C; Zhou, Y; Liu, Q; Li, S; Perrier, S and Zhao, Y. Facile synthesis of hyperbranched and star-shaped polymers by RAFT polymerization based on a polymerizable trithiocarbonate. Macromolecules, 44 (7), 2034-2049, 2011. DOI: 10.1021/ma1024736

  13. Kakwere, H; Payne, RJ; Jolliffe, KA and Perrier, S. Self-assembling macromolecular chimeras: Controlling fibrillization of a beta-sheet forming peptide by polymer conjugation. Soft Matter, 7 (8), 3754-3757, 2011. DOI: 10.1039/c0sm01237h

  14. Zetterlund, PB and Perrier, S. RAFT polymerization under microwave irradiation: Toward mechanistic understanding. Macromolecules, 44 (6), 1340-1346, 2011. DOI: 10.1021/ma102689d

  15. Wei, H; Ravarian, R; Dehn, S; Perrier, S and Dehghani, F. Construction of temperature responsive hybrid crosslinked self-assemblies based on PEG-b-P(MMA-co-MPMA)-b-PNIPAAm triblock copolymers: ATRP synthesis and thermoinduced association behavior. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 49 (8), 1809-1820, 2011. DOI: 10.1002/pola.24606

  16. Konkolewicz, D; Gaillard, S; West, AG; Cheng, YY; Gray-Weale, A; Schmidt, TW; Nolan, SP and Perrier, S. Luminescent hyperbranched polymers: Combining thiol-yne chemistry with gold-mediated C–H bond activation. Organometallics, 30 (6), 1315-1318, 2011. DOI: 10.1021/om200103f

  17. Perrier, S. Polymer folding: ABC of molecular origami. Nature Chemistry, 3 (3), 194-196, 2011. DOI: 10.1038/nchem.995

  18. Kakwere, H and Perrier, S. Design of complex polymeric architectures and nanostructured materials/hybrids by living radical polymerization of hydroxylated monomers. Polymer Chemistry, 2 (2), 270-288, 2011. DOI: 10.1039/c0py00160k

  19. Konkolewicz, D; Poon, CK; Gray-Weale, A and Perrier, S. Hyperbranched alternating block copolymers using thiol-yne chemistry: Materials with tuneable properties. Chem. Commun., 47 (1), 239-241, 2011. DOI: 10.1039/c0cc02429e

  20. O’Driscoll, BMD; Griffiths, GH; Matsen, MW; Perrier, S; Ladmiral, V and Hamley, IW. Lateral phase separation in grafted diblock copolymer films. Macromolecules, 43 (19), 8177-8184, 2010. DOI: 10.1021/ma101093f

  21. Semsarilar, M and Perrier, S. “Green” reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Nature Chemistry, 2 (10), 811-820, 2010. DOI: 10.1038/nchem.853

  22. Konkolewicz, D; Gray-Weale, A and Perrier, S. The structure of randomly branched polymers synthesized by living radical methods. Polymer Chemistry, 1 (7), 1067-1077, 2010. DOI: 10.1039/c0py00064g

  23. Semsarilar, M; Ladmiral, V and Perrier, S. Synthesis of a cellulose supported chain transfer agent and its application to RAFT polymerization. Journal of Polymer Science: Part A, 48 (19), 4361-4365, 2010. DOI: 10.1002/pola.24232

  24. Chapman, R; Jolliffe, KA and Perrier, S. Synthesis of self-assembling cyclic peptide-polymer conjugates using click chemistry. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 63 (8), 1169-1172, 2010. DOI: 10.1071/CH10128

  25. Hornby, BD; West, AG; Tom, JC; Waterson, C; Harrisson, S and Perrier, S. Copper(0)-mediated living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in a non-polar solvent. Macromol. Rapid Commun., 31 (14), 1276-1280, 2010. DOI: 10.1002/marc.201000031

  26. Tom, J; Hornby, B; West, A; Harrisson, S and Perrier, S. Copper(0)-mediated living radical polymerization of styrene. Polymer Chemistry, 1 (4), 420-422, 2010. DOI: 10.1039/b9py00382g

  27. Kakwere, H; Chun, CKY; Jolliffe, KA; Payne, RJ and Perrier, S. Polymer-peptide chimeras for the multivalent display of immunogenic peptides. ChemComm., 46 (13), 2188-2190, 2010. DOI: 10.1039/b924112d

  28. Sriprom, W; Neto, C and Perrier, S. Rapid photochromic nanopatterns from block copolymers. Soft Matter, 6 (5), 909-914, 2010. DOI; 10.1039/b920133e

  29. Semsarilar, M; Ladmiral, V and Perrier, S. Highly branched and hyperbranched glycopolymers via reversible addition − fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and click chemistry. Macromolecules, 43 (3), 1438-1443, 2010. DOI: 10.1021/ma902587r

  30. Suchao-In, N; De Bruyn, H; Perrier, S and Chirachanchai, S. Control of block copolymer morphology: An example of selective morphology induced by self-assembly formation condition. Journal of Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 47 (24), 6783-6788, 2009. DOI: 10.1002/pola.23718

  31. Konkolewicz, D; Gray-Weale, A and Perrier, S. Hyperbranched polymers by Thiol−Yne chemistry: From small molecules to functional polymers. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 131 (50), 18075-18077, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/ja908206a

  32. Brown, SL; Konkolewicz, D; Gray-Weale, A; Motherwell, WB and Perrier, S. Searching for stars: Selective desulfurization and fluorescence spectroscopy as new tools in the search for cross termination side-products in RAFT polymerization. Aust. J. Chem., 62 (11), 1533-1536, 2009. DOI: 10.1071/CH09242

  33. Boyer, C; Bulmus, V; Davis, TP; Ladmiral, V; Liu, J and Perrier, S. Bioapplications of RAFT polymerization, Chem. Rev., 109 (11), 5402-5436, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/cr9001403

  34. Jitchum, V; Kakwere, H; Ladmiral and Perrier, S. RAFT polymerization, a versatile tool for the production of functional soft nanoparticles. Book chapter in: Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization: Progress in RAFT, DT, NMP & OMRP. ACS Symposium Series 1024, ISBN: 978-0-8412-6996-5, Editor: Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, 279-292, 2009.

  35. Kakwere, H and Perrier, S. Facile synthesis of star-shaped copolymers via combination of RAFT and ring opening polymerization. Journal of Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 47 (23), 6396-6408, 2009. DOI: 10.1002/pola.23680

  36. Suchao-In, N; Chirachanchai, S and Perrier, S. Fluorescent pH-/thermo-responsive micelles from block copolymers synthesized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Polymeric Materials Science and Engineering (PMSE Preprints), 100, 486-486, 2009.

  37. Jitchum, V and Perrier, S. Functional soft nanoparticles via the RAFT process. Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering, 100, 481-481, 2009.

  38. Suchao-In, N; Chirachanchai, S and Perrier, S. pH- and thermo-multi-responsive fluorescent micelles from block copolymers via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Polymer, 50 (17), 4151-4158, 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2009.06.047

  39. Huang, YK; Liu, Q; Zhou, XD; Perrier, S and Zhao, YL. Synthesis of silica particles grafted with well-defined living polymeric chains by combination of RAFT polymerization and coupling reaction. Macromolecules, 42 (15), 5509-5517, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/ma900604v

  40. Konkolewicz, D; Hawkett, BS; Gray-Weale, A and Perrier, S. RAFT polymerization kinetics: How long are the cross-terminating oligomers? Journal of Polymer Science Part A-Polymer Chemistry, 47 (14), 3455-3466, 2009. DOI: 10.1002/pola.23385

  41. Roy, D; Semsarilar, M; Guthrie, JT and Perrier, S. Cellulose modification by polymer grafting: A review. Chemical Society Reviews, 38 (7), 2046-2064, 2009. DOI: 10.1039/b808639g

  42. Konkolewicz, D; Siauw, M; Gray-Weale, A; Hawkett, BS and Perrier, S. Obtaining kinetic information from the chain-length distribution of polymers produced by RAFT. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 113 (20), 7086-7094, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/jp900684t

  43. Sriprom, W; James, M; Perrier, S and Neto, C. Ordered microphase separation in thin films of PMMA-PBA synthesized by RAFT: Effect of block polydispersity. Macromolecules, 42 (8), 3138-3146, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/ma9004428

  44. Kakwere, H and Perrier, S. Orthogonal "relay" reactions for designing functionalized soft nanoparticles. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131 (5), 1889-1895, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/ja8075499

  45. Semsarilar, M and Perrier, S. Solubilization and functionalization of cellulose assisted by microwave irradiation. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 62 (3), 223-226, 2009. DOI: 10.1071/CH08491