Porous Polymeric Materials for Environmental Sustainability

研究项目性质：多孔聚合物材料（PPM）具有极大的比表面积，具有解决现代世界一些最紧迫的技术挑战的潜力。例子包括能量收集和储存、热管理和环境修复。为了定制其多功能特性，关键的技术挑战是控制其孔隙度，包括孔隙大小、分布和形态。对于多孔聚合物复合材料和纳米复合材料，在加工过程中填料运动和发泡机理之间的复杂相互关系是另一个挑战。在这种情况下，研究项目的关键研究问题是：“如何精确地调整PPM中的分层孔隙率及其基质和填料的微纳米结构，从而实现各种应用的目标多功能特性，以促进环境的可持续性？”研究项目的意义：该研究项目将研究不同聚合物加工技术（如超临界二氧化碳发泡、浸出、静电纺丝和3D打印）之间的协同关系，以调整不同类别PPM的微纳米结构（如孔隙形态、晶体结构和/或填料网络）。该计划将细分为三个主题：(i)非晶多孔聚合物材料（aPPM）；半晶多孔聚合物材料（sPPM）；（iii）多孔聚合物复合材料和纳米复合材料（PPC和PPnC）。每个主题将针对一个特定的跨学科应用。这些包括(i)通过辐射冷却进行热管理，（ii）能量收集和传感，以及（iii）生物废水处理。预期成果：拟议研究计划的成功完成将推动科学和技术的发展，从而加速下一代环境可持续多功能PPM的发展，包括：(i)多孔能量收集材料，从机械运动中提取能量；（ii）多孔聚合物结构，具有可调的辐射吸收/发射光谱和反射率，可通过辐射冷却进行热管理；（三）用于废水生物处理的混合膜系统。对加拿大的潜在好处：开展该研究项目将促进加拿大主要经济部门（如生物医学、清洁技术、能源和制造业）本科和研究生水平的高素质人才（HQP）的培训。特别是，该项目将为HQP提供材料开发、加工和表征方面的实践经验和技能。我的良好履历、培训理念以及持续推动和维持EDI研究培训环境的计划，将为约克大学、STEM领域和加拿大促进EDI做出贡献。

Nature of the Research Program: With extremely large specific surface area, porous polymeric materials (PPM) have the potential to solve some of the most urgent technological challenges in the modern world. Examples include energy harvesting and storage, thermal management, and environmental remediation. In order to tailor their multifunctional properties, the key technological challenge is to control their porosity, including pore size, distribution, and morphology. For porous polymeric composites and nanocomposites, the complex interrelation between filler movement and foaming mechanism during processing represents another challenge. In this context, the key research question in the research program is: "How to precisely tune the hierarchical porosity in PPM together with the micro-and-nanostructures of its matrix and filler, and thereby to achieve targeted multifunctional properties for various applications in order to promote environmental sustainability?" Significance of the Research Program: The research program will investigate the synergistic relationships among different polymer processing techniques (i.e., supercritical carbon dioxide foaming, leaching, electrospinning, and 3D printing) to tune the micro-and-nanostructures (i.e., pore morphologies, crystal structures, and/or filler networks) of PPM in different classes. The program will be subdivided into three themes: (i) amorphous porous polymeric materials (aPPM); (ii) semicrystalline porous polymeric materials (sPPM); and (iii) porous polymeric composites and nanocomposites (PPC and PPnC). Each theme will target on a specific interdisciplinary application. These include (i) thermal management via radiative cooling, (ii) energy harvesting and sensing, and (iii) biological wastewater treatment. Anticipated Outcomes: Successful completion of the proposed research program will advance both science and technology thus accelerating the development of the next generation environmentally sustainable multifunctional PPM including: (i) porous energy harvesting materials to extract energy from mechanical motion; (ii) porous polymeric structures with tunable radiative absorption/emission spectrums and reflectance for thermal management via radiative cooling; and (iii) hybrid membrane systems for biological wastewater treatment. Potential Benefits to Canada: Undertaking this research program will advance the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) at undergraduate and graduate levels in Canada's key economic sectors, such as biomedical, clean technology, energy, and manufacturing. In particular, the program will provide HQP with practical experience and skills in material development, processing and characterization. My proven track-record, training philosophy, and continuous plan to promote and sustain an EDI research training environment will contribute to York University, the field of STEM, and Canada to foster EDI.