PREC Track 2: Partnership for Research and Education in Chemistry-Sustainable Polymers

该奖项的全部或部分资金来自《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)。从石油中提取的塑料在我们的社会中无处不在，包括负担得起的包装、汽车零部件、计算机、建筑材料、医疗器械等。然而，由于它们的耐用性和稳定性，以及它们的低回收水平，环境和海洋中的塑料污染已成为一个重大的社会和世界性问题。NSF化学-可持续聚合物研究和教育伙伴关系(PREC-SP)将采用一种全面的方法来发展可持续聚合物的基础知识和应用，以满足社会需求。拟议工作的成功实施将导致PreEC-SP的教职员工和学生与现有的NSF可持续聚合物中心(CSP)的教职员工和学生开展合作研究，作为第二阶段的化学创新中心(CCI)，由化学系(CHE)支持。这一合作伙伴关系有可能通过创新研究和参与教育，将他们在塑料制造、未制造和再制造方面的变革性工作协同结合起来。作为PreEC-SP/CSP伙伴关系支柱的多机构协作研究项目包括：(1)开发和研究用于可持续生物质价态转化为聚合物原料的多孔晶体框架催化剂；(2)用纤维素纳米晶增强聚乳酸(PLA)和聚羟基丁酸酯(PHB)纳米复合材料的制备、表征、加工和生物降解；(3)通过新型聚合技术合成可持续嵌段共聚、功能聚合物和毛状纳米颗粒。PREC-SP有潜力扩大支持可持续聚合物开发的研究人员的多样性。成功的实施将通过本科生、教职员工和学生交流的研究经验、联合PREC-SP/CSP研讨会和研讨会、研究小组会议以及其他促进专业成长的做法，增加教育和研究机会。这些机会可能会大大增加非洲裔美国人的招聘、留住和学位完成情况，这些人注册并完成化学科学研究生学位，这是可行的途径的关键要素。成功的合作伙伴关系将为少数族裔学生进入专业劳动力和高等教育研发岗位建立一条可持续的道路。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). Plastics derived from petroleum are ubiquitous in our society, comprising affordable packaging, components of automobiles, computers, building materials, medical devices, etc. However, because of their durability and stability, and their low level of recycling, plastic pollution in the environment and oceans has become a major societal, worldwide problem. The NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Chemistry‒Sustainable Polymers (PREC-SP) will embrace a holistic approach to developing fundamental knowledge and applications of sustainable polymers to meet societal needs. Successful implementation of the proposed work will result in he PREC-SP faculty and students conducting collaborative research with faculty and students of the existing NSF Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP), as Phase II Center for Chemical Innovation (CCI), supported by the Division of Chemistry (CHE). This partnership has the potential to synergistically combine their transformative work of how plastics are made, unmade, and remade through innovative research and engaging education. The multi-institutional, collaborative research projects that will be the backbone of this PREC-SP/CSP partnership include: (1) development and study of porous crystalline framework catalysts for sustainable biomass valorization to polymer feedstocks; (2) preparation, characterization, processing, and biodegradation of PLA (polylactic acid) and PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) nanocomposite material that are reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals; (3) synthesis of sustainable block copolymers, functional polymers, and hairy nanoparticles via novel polymerization techniques. The PREC-SP has the potential to expand the diversity of researchers supporting the development of sustainable polymers. Successful implementation will increase education and research opportunities through research experiences for undergraduates, faculty and student exchanges, joint PREC-SP/CSP workshops & seminars, research group meetings, and other practices for professional growth. These opportunities could significantly increase the recruitment, retention, degree completion, of African Americans who enroll in and complete graduate degrees in the chemical sciences, key elements of viable pipeline. A successful partnership will build a sustainable pathway for underrepresented minority students into the professional workforce and higher education research and development positions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.