Polymer Chemistry Blog

Professor Greg Qiao received his B.Eng. in Polymer Engineering at East China University in 1982 and his Ph.D. at the University of Queensland in 1996 on synthetic organic chemistry.  He then worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Melbourne, when he entered the field of synthetic polymer chemistry and engineering. He became a Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering in 2002, then promoted to a Senior Lecturer in 2004, Associate Professor and Reader in 2007 and a full professor in 2009.  Since 2012, he has been an ARC’s professorial Future Fellow. He has also been appointed as the Assistant Dean (Research) in the Melbourne School of Engineering since 2009.

Professor Qiao was elected as a Fellow of Royal Australia Chemical Institute (FRACI) in 2006. He was awarded a Freehills Award by IchemE in Australia, Royal Australia of Chemical Institute (RACI) and Engineering Australia for excellence in the field of chemical engineering in 2010 and RACI’s Polymer Division Citation for service to Polymer Division and distinguished research achievements in the field of synthetic polymer chemistry in 2012.

Professor Qiao currently leads a Polymer Research Group of ~ 20 people and his research interests has been in the synthesis of novel macromolecular architectures by controlled polymerizations, polymeric membranes for gas separations, functional polymers for specific applications in mineral, paint, packaging, water and special composite industry, and biomacromolecular scaffolds for soft tissue engineering. He has published more than 100 journal papers and is the inventor for more than 20 patents. He is also on the advisory board of Melbourne Neuroscience Institute, and two international journals, “Macromolecular Bioscience” and “Macromolecular Materials & Engineering”.

Group weblink: http://www.chemeng.unimelb.edu.au/polymerscience/index.html

What was your inspiration in becoming a chemist?

When I was a child, I always dreamed of one day becoming a scientist. When I was at school, my initial choice of study was electrical engineering. However, as I was doing very well in chemistry, I ended up majoring in chemistry and chemical engineering during my university years. I subsequently completed a Ph.D in organic chemistry before returning to chemical engineering to focus on synthetic polymer chemistry and engineering. I really love polymer chemistry, as I think it is a scientific tool that can change society and improve quality of life.

What was the motivation to write your Polymer Chemistry article? (entitled ‘Factors Influencing the Growth and Topography of Nanoscale Films Fabricated by ROMP-Mediated Continuous Assembly of Polymers’, DOI: 10.1039/C2PY20692G )

In collaboration with Frank Caruso and several early career researchers, we have recently developed a new ultra-thin film fabrication technology termed Continuous Assembly of Polymers (CAP). The key concept of this process involves a single-step growth of a cross-linked film from a substrate functionalised with initiating sites via controlled polymerization methodologies; such as, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) (Small, 2011, p2863), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) (Chem. Comm., 2011, p12601) or photo-triggered iniferter polymerization (ACS Macro Lett., 2012, p1020). The CAP process is surface confined, allows precise control of the film thicknesses and can be applied to planner substrates or particle surfaces; the latter allowing the formation of hollow capsules following the removal of particle templates.

If we consider the polymerisation of a monomer from an initiator functionalised surface (grafting-from), we can imagine an idealised structure of unidirectional polymer chains perpendicular to the surface, like a ‘toothbrush’. In comparison, the CAP process employs macrocross-linkers (polymers with multiple pendent monomer groups) rather than monomers and as a result generates a cross-linked 3D polymeric network consisting of polymer chains both perpendicular and horizontal to the surface simultaneously, like ‘steel wool’. Since the perpendicular and horizontal chains are derived from the pendent monomer groups and macrocross-linker backbone, respectively, it is possible to prepare films with different compositional layers via the sequential addition of different macrocross-linkers, in a similar fashion that block copolymer grafts can be prepared by the stepwise addition of different monomers.

One of the distinguishing advantages of the CAP process is that it provides access to films derived from natural polymers, which is difficult to achieve using conventional methods. As long as an existing polymer, either synthetic or naturally occurring, can be functionalized with a monomer to generate a macrocross-linker, the CAP process can be performed to convert these polymers into cross-linked 3D films. This development has wide implications, as the films formed can be readily engineered using a diverse range of polymers (synthetic and biological) and controlled polymerisation methodologies, making it of relevance to physical and life science applications.

Why did you choose Polymer Chemistry to publish your work?

Our manuscript published in Polymer Chemistry is the 1^st full paper on the CAP process using ROMP. Polymer Chemistry is a very successful and exciting new journal, which provides a forum for publishing high quality synthetic polymer science and boasts a very quick review process. It also reaches a broad readership from various disciplines.

In which upcoming conferences may our readers meet you?

I have attended the last 10 Australasia Polymer Symposiums (APS) and will be attending the upcoming APS with no exception. The next APS will be the 34^th and will be held in beautiful Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia from July 7-10, 2013 (http://www.34aps.org.au).

How do you spend your spare times?

I enjoy reading a good article with a completely fresh mind.

Which profession would you choose if you were not a scientist?

Politician or public servant.

Prof. Per Zetterlund was born in Karlskoga, Sweden, in 1968. He graduated from The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Sweden) in 1994 with an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, and obtained his Ph.D. in the School of Chemistry at Leeds University (UK) in 1998 with Prof. A. F. Johnson in radical crosslinking polymerizations.  He carried out postdoctoral research at Griffith University (Brisbane) with A/Prof. W. K. Busfield and Prof. I. D. Jenkins in nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP) and the use of nitroxides as radical traps.  In 1999, he became Assistant Professor at Osaka City University (Japan) in the group of Prof. B. Yamada, and worked on kinetics/mechanism of high conversion radical polymerization, synthesis/polymerization of macromonomers, and NMP.  In 2003, he moved to Kobe University (Japan) and joined the team of Prof. M. Okubo, where he was promoted to Associate Prof in 2005.  Since 2009, he is working as Associate Prof at The Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD) at The University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia).

Current research focuses on controlled/living radical polymerization (CLRP) in aqueous and carbon dioxide based dispersed systems for synthesis of well-defined polymer and nanoparticles.  Particular attention is given to how CLRP is influenced by compartmentalization (nanoreactors), and how this can be exploited to improve control/livingness.

He has published 116 peer-reviewed papers and 2 book chapters, and is a member of the IUPAC Macromolecular Division (IV) Subcommittee on Modeling of Polymerization Kinetics and Processes, The International Polymer and Colloid Group, The American Chemical Society, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan, as well as RACI.

http://www.camd.unsw.edu.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128&Itemid=58

What was your inspiration in becoming a chemist?

I always enjoyed science (being able to explain and understand stuff) when I was at school, and I really liked my chemistry teacher in high school (thank you Mr Kerr!).

What was the motivation to write your Polymer Chemistry article (DOI: 10.1039/C2PY20434G)?

There is extensive literature on the use of microwave irradiation in polymer synthesis, but it remains to be clarified with confidence what exact effect(s), if any, the microwave irradiation has on radical polymerization.  The term “microwave-assisted” polymerization is frequently used, but it is not clear exactly what this means.  We carried out a number of polymerizations under microwave irradiation under different conditions, trying to clarify the situation in the case of the monomer styrene.

Why did you choose Polymer Chemistry to publish your work?

Despite Polymer Chemistry being a new journal, it has already established itself as one of the major journals in the polymer chemistry field with an impressive impact factor – we therefore thought it would be a great way to gain exposure for our work.

In which upcoming conferences may our readers meet you?

In Kobe, Japan, at The 9th SPSJ International Polymer Conference, Dec 11-14 (http://www.spsj.or.jp/IPC2012.html), and at the Australasian Polymer Symposium in Darwin (Australia) 7-10 July next year (http://www.34aps.org.au/2013/), and also at the International Polymer Colloids Group Conference in Shanghai, China, in June 2013.

How do you spend your spare times?

With my family (wife and 8 year old son), playing tennis, jogging, listening to Kiss and playing the drums.

Which profession would you choose if you were not a scientist?

Not that it is very realistic, but I think I would like to try being a professional drummer in a heavy rock band.

Prof. Yu-Zhong Wang received his PhD degree from the Sichuan University in 1994. He joined Sichuan University in 1994, and was promoted to professor in 1995. He was a visiting professor of Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research with the support of DAAD in 1999, and in the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2002 with the support of the Royal Society, respectively. He was awarded the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Cheung Kong Scholar of Ministry of Education of China, Younger Prize of Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology of Chinese Engineering Academy, Excellent Postgraduate’s Advisor of Sichuan Province, Outstanding Younger Innovation Prize of Sichuan Province and over 10 governmental Science & Technology Awards such as National Technology Invention Prize, National Science and Technology Progress Prize, etc. He has published more that 300 peer reviewed research papers and 73 patents. His current research interests are the Bio-Based and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials, Halogen-Free Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials, etc.

web site: http://chem.scu.edu.cn/polymer/yzwang/index_e.htm

What was your inspiration in becoming a chemist?

Chemistry is “the central science”. When I was young, I though that Chemistry was very magical, and could produce countless new substances, so I began to like Chemistry. In the national university entrance exam, my Chemistry test scores were almost full marks, only losing 1 point. From then on, I began my chemical career, especially the research of polymer materials.

What was the motivation to write your Polymer Chemistry article? (DOI:10.1039/C2PY20331F)

One of the most interesting phenomena in the miscible crystalline/crystalline systems is the formation of interpenetrating spherulites (IPS), where a spherulite of one component continues growing inside that of the other component when they are crystallized from a homogeneous melt. Interestingly, when we researched a novel polymer blend of branched PLA-PPDO copolymer and linear PPDO homopolymer, interpenetrating spherulites morphology was observed. Since the PLA and PPDO blocks are immiscible in the blends, understanding the special IPS crystallization mechanism, which was generally considered occurring only in those miscible polymer blends, will be of particular important and valuable.

Why did you choose Polymer Chemistry to publish your work?

Polymer Chemistry is an excellent new journal in polymer science. Moreover, the review and publishing process of this journal is very fair and fast.

In which upcoming conferences may our readers meet you?

2012 BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS) Annual Meeting, September 18th-21st in Denton, Texas, USA.

I am organizing an international conference entitled “The 2nd International Symposium on Flame-Retardant Materials & Technologies” (ISFRMT 2012), which will be held in Chengdu, China on September 17-20, 2012. Website: http://www.isfrmt.org/

How do you spend your spare times?

I like to watch TV programs and access internet for news.

Which profession would you choose if you were not a scientist?

I would be a navigator.

Zesheng An obtained his BS and MS degrees from Shandong University in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He then went to the University of Arizona to pursue his PhD degree and spent three years there from 2000 to 2003. After moving to Georgia Institute of Technology and spending two years from 2003 to 2005, he got his PhD in Chemistry with Prof. Seth R. Marder. His PhD thesis was focused on the synthesis and characterization of organic semiconductors, especially discotic liquid crystals with high charge-carrier mobility, for applications in optoelectronics. From 2005 to 2008, he was a postdoc at the University of California, Santa Barbara with Prof. Galen D. Stucky and Prof. Craig J. Hawker, working on the synthesis of polymer nanoparticles. In 2008, he joined the Institute of Nanochemistry and Nanobiology, Shanghai University, where he is now a Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning. His current research is focused on RAFT heterogeneous polymerization in water, which in turn serves as a platform for designing interesting materials such as nanogels and core cross-linked star polymers. Applications of these materials in emulsion and biotechnology are being investigated within the group and through collaboration with other groups within the Institute.

What was your inspiration in becoming a chemist?

I have to confess that I was very much interested and did pretty well in chemistry in high school, it was however not until I met Prof. Marder at the University of Arizona that I decided to make a career out of it. Indeed, Prof. Marder was and has always been a successful career model for me.

What was the motivation to write your Polymer Chemistry article? (DOI:10.1039/C2PY20442H)

RAFT polymerization has become mature and has been widely used in the synthesis of well-defined polymers. Over the past several years, RAFT polymerization in heterogeneous polymerization media, especially in water, has witnessed significant development, which often combines polymerization and self-assembly of the produced polymers in the same system. This polymerization-induced self-assembly process has been used for the synthesis of colloids of various morphologies such as spheres, fibers and vesicles. Significantly, not only the synthesized polymers are controlled by RAFT, but also can the nano-objects of various morphologies be synthesized at high solid content (>10%). We have exploited such polymerization-induced self-assembly process to synthesize core cross-linked star (CCS) polymers via both RAFT emulsion and dispersion polymerization (Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 12685-12687; 2012, 48, 7389-7391). This robust strategy features high concentration, high efficiency, high star yield and high star quality. In the current work, we directly polymerized polyPEGMA in aqueous solution up to complete monomer conversion and used it as the arm without separation/purification to synthesize CCS in RAFT heterogeneous polymerization in water. We also investigated the effect of various parameters on the formation of CCS.

Why did you choose Polymer Chemistry to publish your work?

Number one, Polymer Chemistry publishes high quality papers in my research area, so it is a nice place to publish my own work. Number two, through the submission experience of my previous paper published in Polymer Chemistry, I highly appreciate the way that the editors handle the review process, being highly efficient and with great fairness. Number three, Polymer Chemistry is becoming one of the leading journals in polymer science, so it is exciting to publish papers in such an excellent journal.

In which upcoming conferences may our readers meet you?

Well, I do not have plans to attend any conference at the moment. I guess I will attend more conferences in the following years.

How do you spend your spare times?

I used to play soccer but quit after an injury of my tibia. Now, I am trying to spend more time with my family, making dinner, playing Go with my daughter, walking my dog…

Which profession would you choose if you were not a scientist?

Aha, I have not realized anything that I could do better than making polymers. If I were not a scientist, I guess I might end up as a journalist.