MONET CCI is transforming polymer and materials chemistry by developing the knowledge and methods to enable molecular-level, chemical control of polymer network properties for the betterment of humankind. We treat networks as complex chemical systems so that the full power of synthetic, physical, and theoretical chemistry is rationally directed toward overarching challenges in de novo molecular network design. Welcome to MONET Center for the Chemistry of M olecularly O ptimized NET works The National Science Foundation ABOUT RESEARCH Impacts MONET's overarching goal is to advance the field of polymer science through innovative research while actively engaging and inspiring the public . MONET's polymer scientists advance interconnected, adaptive molecular networks. The chemistry of the future is driven by: DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATION COMMUNICATION INNOVATION Through our research programs and broader impacts, we aim to enhance retention in the sciences, increase interest in pursuing a Ph.D., and expand participation. We are dedicated to promoting STEM : We aim to provide opportunities for as many people as possible to engage meaningfully with STEM. We partner with a range of organizations to broaden participation widely. If you would like to propose a partnership to broaden participation in STEM, please contact us. MONET's polymer scientists drive interconnected , adaptive societal networks, broadening impact! Impact Gallery

Collaborating with the American Chemical Society, Science Olympiad, "for the CURIOUS" and others to bring our messages to the broadest audience possible. Broader Impacts Informal Science Communication Outreach Partners Previous Next

CRIPT is a partnership between MIT, Citrine Informatics, Dow Chemical, NIST, and the University of Chicago in which a community database for polymer science is developed through an NSF Phase I Convergence Accelerator project. Broader Impacts Innovation CRIPT Previous Next

A team from the Olsen and Rubinstein labs, in collaboration with others at University of Campinas and University of South Florida, extend BigSMILES to accommodate nonatomic particles, enabling it to represent coarse-grained models of polymers in a manner directly analogous to atomic structures. The new syntax coarse-grained BigSMILES (CG-BigSMILES) combines a layer-based annotation with linking to force field files to capture both chemical structures and interacting potentials. Article Link

A team from the Olvera de la Cruz and Campos labs develop a mean-field framework that connects microscopic bond reactions and molecular packing-induced conformational changes to macroscopic elastic behavior. The work provides a predictive platform for designing responsive and adaptive polymer networks with tailored properties. Article Link

A team from the Craig , Rubinstein , Sottos , and Gong labs report the impact of fused ring size in bicyclic cyclobutane mechanophores within the strands of polymer network gels. They observe the first evidence of covalent reactive strand extension (RSE) effects in a single-network gel, and strands with greater RSE lead to gels with greater stretchability and toughness. Article Link