We are thrilled to share that our very own post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Cheng Hao, has received the Best Paper Award at the 2025 Polyurethanes Technical Conference (PolyCon 2025).
Cheng’s presentation, “Lignin-Derived Flame Retardant for Enhancing Fire Safety of Polyurethanes,” was recognized for its innovation and industrial relevance among professionals from across the globe. Congratulations, Cheng!
We’re raising a coffee cup (and a slice of cake) to Nicole!
After an amazing nine years in our lab at U of T, Nicole is moving on. It’s hard to imagine the lab without her, but we’re thrilled to see her take this next step.
Nicole joined us back in 2016 and has been a key part of the team ever since, completing her Master’s, PhD, and a Post-doc all with our group. We’ve been so lucky to have her as a colleague.
The industry is lucky to get her. We wish her the best of luck!
Last week, a member of Prof. Ning Yan’s Lab, Gaojian Guo, successfully passed his qualifying exam signifying she is able to continue with his PhD studies. In the next few years he will continue his work on studies in the high-value utilization of lignin and its functional applications.
Last week, a member of Prof. Ning Yan’s Lab, Lavia Li, successfully passed her qualifying exam signifying she is able to continue with her PhD studies. In the next few years she will continue her work on the studies on engineering strategies of graphite in next generation battery.
A new article from Ning Yan’s lab has been published in the Carbohydrate Polymers written by Sanming Hu, Zhijun Shi, Kun Chen, Xiao Chen, Hongfu Zhou, Ning Yan, Guang Yang,
The proliferation of electronic devices has led to a substantial increase in non-degradable electronic waste (e-waste), posing significant environmental challenges. Consequently, biodegradable natural polymers have garnered considerable attention as sustainable alternatives to conventional non-degradable materials in electronic applications. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural polymer characterized by abundant hydroxyl groups and a three-dimensional (3D) nanonetwork structure, exhibits exceptional properties including high purity, superior mechanical strength, excellent water retention capacity, non-toxicity, renewability, and complete biodegradability. These unique attributes, coupled with its distinctive structural features, render BC as a promising green matrix material for developing functional composites in eco-friendly electronic devices. This review provides a systematic analysis of various eco-friendly composite materials derived from BC, covering conductive, piezoelectric, magnetoelectric, and thermoelectric composites. Additionally, the fabrication methodologies for BC-based composites, including in-situ chemical synthesis, ex-situ incorporation, and biosynthesis techniques, are comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, the applications of BC-based composites was explored in diverse fields such as sensors, energy storage systems (batteries and supercapacitors), and energy harvesting devices (nanogenerators). Finally, we deliver a critical evaluation of the current challenges and future research directions for BC-based composites in the development of sustainable electronic devices.
A new article from Ning Yan’s lab has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A written by Keerti Rathi, Viktoriya Pakharenko, Otavio Augusto Titton Dias, Colin van der Kuur, Ning Yan and Mohini Sain
Our research demonstrates a one-step dual-process acid treatment approach for modifying graphite, which increases its interlayer distance and generates nanoscale holes, thereby effectively shortening the lithium-ion diffusion pathway without the need for heteroatom doping. Compared with pristine graphite (PG), the expanded holey graphite (EG) produced by this process achieves significantly enhanced electrochemical performance while maintaining structural integrity. The EG shows excellent electrochemical performance, reaching a specific capacity of 179.45 mAh g−1 and retaining 89.3% of its capacity after 300 cycles in a full pouch cell combined with a commercial NMC523 cathode. High coulombic efficiency (approximately 93.8%) and improved cycling stability confirm the durability of the etched graphite. Beyond mere performance considerations, the study elucidates the degradation mechanisms inherent in commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), thereby offering dependable guidance for electrode surface engineering and the optimization of cycling protocols. With this scalable and impurity-free approach to modification, purified etched graphite emerges as a promising candidate for next-generation LIB anodes, satisfying the high energy requirements and durability necessary for electric vehicles and advanced energy storage systems.
Today we celebrate Tony Ung’s retirement, a staple of the Faculty of Forestry who has helped keep things running in the Earth Science Center. Whenever we had an issue or a question, Tony was always there to give us guidance. He was never too busy to lend a hand even though he had many, many responsibilities. Our lab would look a lot different without his help. He will be sorely missed. Congratulations on your retirement Tony!
We are proud to share that Dr. Mohammad Mahaninia has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Chair’s Discovery Award from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. This recognition honors his exceptional research productivity and innovative contributions to sustainable polymeric materials—including flame retardants and water purification systems.
On June 10th 2025, Mohammad successfully defended his PhD thesis, “Development of Environmental-friendly Chitosan-based Multifunctional Covalent Adaptable Network (CAN) Polymer Materials”. Congrats Moe! Great work.
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.
Yan Lab 