Lawrence Receives NSF CAREER Award, Researching Application of Custom Polymers
September 27, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – Bottlebrush polymers (BBPs) are probably not something the average person considers in their daily routine, and yet, they have potential application in improving things widely used like contact lenses and the recyclability of plastics. The challenge is understanding and controlling the variable structures of these BBPs to create new properties and functions that would have the aforementioned results.
LSU Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor Jimmy Lawrence is up to that challenge and is looking to solve it with the help of his recent National Science Foundation CAREER Award. This prestigious award—in this case, funded at $640,000—recognizes early-career faculty members who are promising researchers and have the potential to lead their fields.
“The CAREER Award is a significant milestone for early-career researchers like me, providing substantial support and recognition that help establish my research programs, advance my academic career, but most importantly, allow my research group to use precise models to answer longstanding research questions, i.e., what are the primary mechanisms for branched polymers to diffuse/translocate in a polymer matrix,” Lawrence said. “Our research could lead to new materials with precisely tailored properties for applications in healthcare, electronics, and sustainability. It could also boost the polymer industry in Louisiana, creating unique jobs and economic opportunities.”
Working with Lawrence on this project are LSU Chemical Engineering Associate Professor Bhuvnesh Bharti, Louisiana Tech Chemical Engineering Associate Professor Andrew Peters, and scientists at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Their work is focused on the study of BBPs, which are a type of synthetic polymer with unique, densely-branched molecular structures. These polymers have potential applications in areas such as healthcare, electronics, and sustainability; however, the main challenge in unlocking this potential is understanding and controlling the variable structures of BBPs. Lawrence’s group seeks to develop methods for creating BBPs with precise molecular characteristics, aiming to establish a clear connection between their designed molecular architecture and their physical properties.
“The process developed in my group involves creating precise, uniform building blocks, followed by their polymerization into larger structures (BBPs) with controlled side chain length and grafting density,” Lawrence said. “This is accomplished through a combination of controlled polymerization techniques and separation methods (CPS) to isolate these discrete materials. This CPS strategy can be repeated multiple times at any stage, to create structurally complex materials without increasing their dispersity/structural heterogeneity.”
An additional and equally important aspect of this project involves students from kindergarten through college and the future of polymer-related education.
“My CAREER proposal includes a summer research experience program for K-12 and undergraduate students focusing on hands-on polymer science projects,” Lawrence said. “For K-12 students, this involves a two-day event introducing polymer fundamentals and 3D-printing challenges. The proposal also describes the development of a curriculum and platform to teach polymer-related concepts in chemical engineering and organizing bi-annual academic/industry workshops to promote knowledge exchange and professional development.”
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