Design and Synthesis of Polymers for the Green Circular Economy

Abstract:

Rapid urbanization and a growing relatively affluent middle class have increased the demand for materials and energy consumption. The increased demand has resulted in the current unsustainable way the global economy operates. The current global economy is the root cause of the triple-planetary crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. For our future generations to live on a healthy, welcoming planet, we must transition to a Green Circular Economy. Key to this transition is the design and development of eco-friendly materials and maximizing the use of renewable energy.

Three examples of the development of new materials that contribute to an eco-friendly economy are presented. (i) A highly conducting polymer electrolyte was developed, and its structure, including molecular elements, was guided by computational modeling results. The new electrolytes show ionic conductivity values of 10-3 S cm-1 S cm -1 at 25C,, suitable for lithium-ion batteries. The approach demonstrates the importance of integrating computational modeling with experimental studies to design and develop promising electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries; (ii) Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are an essential class of materials and can be found in various high-value applications, such as luxurious footwear, catheters, tires, etc. A novel polymeric material, furan functionalized HNP (hairy nanoparticle), is demonstrated for use as sustainable TPE building blocks with facile recovery and re-processability and repurposing, i.e., the potential to minimize thermoplastic elastomeric waste in the environment and (iii) The first demonstration of the utilization “anionic living polymerization” for the synthesis of biobased deblock copolymers. The three examples show the role of polymer chemistry in designing and creating materials for the Green Circular Economy.

Speaker's Profile:

Ishrat Khan is a Professor of Chemistry at Clark Atlanta University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (Major in Chemistry) from Susquehanna University (Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania) and his Ph.D. in Organic Polymer Chemistry from the University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida). His current externally funded research projects include the design, synthesis, and property evaluation of sustainable functional and block polymers. He teaches organic chemistry at the undergraduate level and polymer chemistry at the graduate level.