Carbon Dioxide Responsive Polymers: Design, Properties, and Applications

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) responsive polymers exhibit reversible property changes triggered by atmospheric-pressure CO₂, offering promising potential for various applications. These smart materials provide distinct advantages over conventional stimuli-responsive polymers, notably the use of CO₂ as a nontoxic, cost-effective, and environmentally benign trigger. This lecture will explore the molecular design of CO₂-switchable systems, focusing on polymers with tertiary amine and amidine functionalities. These materials undergo reversible transitions from hydrophobic to hydrophilic states via protonation and deprotonation, a mechanism that avoids accumulation of waste byproducts. Professor Cunningham will discuss key design considerations, such as functional group basicity and concentration, and their role in optimizing switching efficiency.  Practical implementations of these materials will be showcased, including switchable nanoparticles, viscosity modifiers, hydrogels, coatings, and surfaces. Applications range from smart coatings to forward osmosis water purification technologies, highlighting the versatility and real-world relevance of CO₂-responsive polymer systems.

When: June 10 @ 10:00 am

Where: Room WB215

Host: Prof. Ning Yan

Bio:

Professor Michael Cunningham holds the Donald and Sarah Munro Research Chair in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University. His research focuses on polymer nanoparticle synthesis, CO₂-switchable polymers, and sustainable polymeric materials, especially those combining synthetic and bio-based components. He currently serves as Chair of the International Polymer Colloids Group and has received multiple prestigious awards, including the NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research, the Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Award, and the Macromolecular Science and Engineering Award. Dr. Cunningham is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and the Engineering Institute of Canada. He has made significant contributions to the field of polymer science, particularly in the development of environmentally responsive and sustainable materials.