Inside bio-based furan polymers: Conformation and Dynamics in Crystalline and Amorphous Domains

Motivated by the general concern about sustainability and environmental issues, an intense search for renewable-based polymers has grown exponentially in recent years. This search definitely spotlighted polyesters derived from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid as some of the most promising, owing to the possibility of preparing innovative materials. In previous works [1,2], a combination of vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR, Raman and Inelastic Neutron Scattering) and ab-initio calculations has been used to assess the structure of polymer chains at the molecular level. INS spectroscopy was found to be highly valuable, as is it allows the observation of relevant modes not clearly observable by optical spectroscopies. The aim of this project is to extend these studies to the 3,4-substituted furanoate (poly(ethylene 3,4-furanoate); 3,4-PEF) and to the poly(butylene) analogues (PBF).