High–performance, multifunctional sustainable polycarbonates and application in negative–type photoresists

Abstract

Global environmental crises and energy depletion have spurred the development of sustainable plastics from renewable resources. However, the application of these materials is frequently hindered by complex production processes and their subpar performance compared to conventional plastics. In this study, we introduce a scalable bio–based bisphenol monomer and synthesize sustainable polycarbonates (PCs) using melt polymerization with diphenyl carbonate, a CO₂ derivative, and bio–based toughening components. These PCs offer customizable thermal and mechanical properties, with a peak glass transition temperature of 95.5 °C and a maximum tensile strength of 63.1 MPa, outperforming commercial plastics such as polystyrene. The triphenylmethane structure in PCs enables excellent clusteroluminescence properties, enabling the development of inks for information encryption and optical anti–counterfeiting applications. Based on the CTE properties of bio–PCs, we further develop a functional bio–based negative photoresist (bio–NP), which demonstrate potential for semiconductor manufacturing (a high resolution of 3 μm) and optical storage applications (their clusteroluminescence effect). This work establishes a new paradigm for developing high–performance bio–based polymers and exploring their high–value applications.