Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics Research Highlights

Perovskite Nanoparticle Surface Revealed by Sensitivity-Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy

The surface and subsurface structure of LaScO3 perovskite nanoparticles was determined using dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DNP-NMR).

Visual of particle surface cross section.

Dechlorination of PVC to branched PE

Poly(vinyl chloride) was fully dechlorinated, in a reaction mediated by silylium ions under air, to give branched polyethylene products.

Chemical representation of PVC dechlorination

Transforming Used Plastics into Functional Materials

Chemical upcycling of plastic waste provides new functional materials with tunable thermal and mechanical properties.

A “Trojan Horse” Route to Chemically Recyclable Polyolefins

Chemically recyclable high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was synthesized from partially unsaturated polyethylene, generated from a thermal retro-Diels-Alder deprotection of norbornene-containing PE as the “Trojan Horse."

A microkinetic model for isomerizing ethenolysis

A microkinetic model for isomerizing ethenolysis (IE) was developed and solved for the first time, to determine reaction orders of two reactants.

Proposed mechanism of isomerizing ethenolysis

Design principles for polyethylene deconstruction

Scientists established mechanistic role of metal oxide support on the catalytic deconstruction of polyolefins under H2.

Reactive separations improve polymer upcycling

Reactive separation provides a complementary strategy to catalyst design to achieve selective conversion of polyolefins to upcycled liquids and avoiding the formation of light gases.

Chemo-Microbial Conversion of Polyethylene Wasteinto Silk-Protein

We report the development of a new strain of Pseudomonas bacteria capable of converting depolymerized polyethylene into high value recombinant protein products.

Mass Transfer in Catalytic Depolymerization: Serendipitous Processivity in Stagnant and Stirred Melts

The study predicts the effects of diffusion limitations on co-reactant transport to the catalyst and on chain egress after scission.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of SrTiO3 Nanocuboids without TiCl4

A microwave-assisted heating method was developed to afford 20+ g STO samples at milder conditions than previously attainable without TiCl4 and in only water.