Sustainable Bioproducts

他的研究项目专注于开发可持续的生物产品，使用可再生生物质材料作为替代化石燃料衍生化学品和产品的原料。该提议的CRC可持续生物产品研究计划一级主席将集中在两个关键战略领域，即开发可持续的生物基化学品和工程绿色可穿戴高性能纤维素传感器。特别是，她将把她的实验室开发的香草基阻燃生物环氧树脂改性为紫外光固化涂层，并开发完全生物基的环氧树脂，这种环氧树脂既可以自我修复，也可以降解和回收。她将探索新型含有木质素的纳米纤维素原纤维，用于制造可远程实时传输传感结果的柔性传感器。为了实现这些目标，闫博士将探索创新的生物分子修饰途径，利用先进的纳米材料合成和设备制造技术，在她过去成功开发功能性生物环氧树脂和高性能气体传感器的基础上。拟议的研究项目有可能在合成可降解和可回收的生物环氧化合物方面创造一个新的范例，从而实现循环经济。用可再生材料的可持续生物基化学品取代化石燃料衍生产品将有助于生物经济的发展。新型生物基阻燃生物环氧涂料将有助于促进木制品在高层建筑中的更多使用，这将加强加拿大森林部门的竞争力，减少建筑的碳足迹。完全基于生物的可回收和可降解的生物环氧树脂将缓解与不可回收热固性塑料相关的塑料废物问题。使用可再生材料开发环保的一次性可穿戴设备将有助于减轻电子垃圾的后果。考虑到拟议研究项目的高度跨学科性质，以及Yan博士在为学员创造支持性和包容性培训环境方面的出色培训记录，参与该项目的hqp将获得高质量的培训和指导，并接触到广泛的研究课题，涵盖生物质材料科学、纳米技术、绿色化学、聚合物科学、传感器和设备。这将帮助他们成为新生物经济的未来领导者。

Dr. Yan's research program focuses on developing sustainable bioproducts using renewable biomass materials as feedstock for replacing fossil fuel-derived chemicals and products. This proposed CRC Tier 1 Chair in Sustainable Bioproducts research program will be concentrated in two key strategical areas, namely developing sustainable bio-based chemicals and engineering green wearable high-performance cellulosic-based sensors. In particular, she will modify the vanillin-based flame-retardant bioepoxy developed by her lab as UV-curable coatings and develop fully bio-based epoxies that can either self-heal or be degraded and recycled. She will explore the novel lignin-containing nanocellulose fibrils for making flexible sensors that can transmit sensing results in real-time remotely. To achieve these objectives, Dr. Yan will explore innovative biomolecule modification pathways and utilize leading-edge nanomaterial synthesis and device fabrication techniques, building on her past success in developing functional bioepoxies and high-performance gas sensors. The proposed research program has potential to create a new paradigm in synthesizing bioepoxies that can be degraded and recycled to allow for a circular economy. Replacing fossil-fuel-derived products by sustainable bio-based chemicals from renewable materials will contribute to the growth of bioeconomy. The new bio-based flame-retardant bioepoxy coatings will help promote a greater usage of wood products in taller buildings, which will strengthen Canadian forest sector's competitiveness and reduce carbon footprint of building constructions. The fully bio-based recyclable and degradable bioepoxies will alleviate plastic waste issues associated with unrecyclable thermosets. Developing eco-friendly disposable wearables using renewable materials will help mitigate the consequences of e-waste. Given the highly interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research program and outstanding training record of Dr. Yan in creating supportive and inclusive training environments for her trainees, the HQPs involved in the program will receive high-quality training and mentorship and be exposed to a wide range of research topics, spanning from biomass materials science, nanotechnology, green chemistry, polymer science, to sensors and devices, which will help them become the future leaders in the new bioeconomy.