Introducing the Latest Self-healing Polymer Based on Thioctic Acid into the Undergraduate Chemistry Laboratory

Given the importance of self-healing polymers for chemistry education, herein, we introduce our latest research results in self-healing materials based on thioctic acid into undergraduate chemistry laboratory. In this experiment, a natural small molecule, thioctic acid (TA), and a few other commercially-available reagents have been used to make a processable multifunctional self-healing copolymer by a straightforward and reproducible method without harsh reaction conditions or a tedious precursor synthesis. Furthermore, with the help of the virtual simulation platform and online teaching resources, students can learn and operate this experiment derived from cutting-edge materials research in an effective, vivid, and safe way within a limited laboratory duration. This experiment was designed to involve a classic polymer synthesis, data analysis, and structural and performance characterization of the self-repairing copolymers based on thioctic acid. As a matter of fact, this simple molecular structure with attractive properties can engage undergraduates' interest in topics like dynamic polymerization, supramolecular hydrogen bond interactions, and self-healing polymer, further motivating them to get a deep understanding of the mechanism and possible applications of this class of self-healing materials. The corresponding knowledge of polymer and chemical structure characterization like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and Raman spectroscopy learned in the undergraduate chemistry course is also well revisited and reinforced during the process of operating this self-healing copolymer experiment. This experiment can provide an attractive platform for polymer-related undergraduate education and closely bridge laboratory experiments to the most recent scientific research for undergraduates. It is therefore perfectly suitable for a chemistry course, especially the experimental section of upper-division undergraduates.