Design principles for intrinsically circular polymers with tunable properties

Changxia Shi, Liam T. Reilly, V. Sai Phani Kumar, Matthew W. Coile, Scott R. Nicholson, Linda J. Broadbelt*, Gregg T. Beckham*, Eugene Y.X. Chen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

This perspective discusses a set of design principles for next-generation kinetically trapped, intrinsically circular polymers (iCPs) that are inherently, selectively, and expediently depolymerizable to their monomer state once their kinetic barriers of deconstruction are overcome, thereby enabling not only the ideal shortest chemical circularity but also tunable performance properties. After describing four elements of the design principles—thermodynamics and kinetics, strategies to overcome trade-offs and unify conflicting properties, predictive modeling, and supply-chain life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis, which are illustrated with state-of-the-art examples—it concludes with presenting key challenges and opportunities for sustainable development of iCPs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2896-2912
Number of pages17
JournalChem
Volume7
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 11 2021

Funding

Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). This work was performed as part of the BioOptimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium and was supported by AMO and BETO under contract DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory ( NREL ), operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy. The BOTTLE Consortium includes members from Northwestern University and Colorado State University. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO), and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). This work was performed as part of the BioOptimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium and was supported by AMO and BETO under contract DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy. The BOTTLE Consortium includes members from Northwestern University and Colorado State University. E.Y.-X.C. conceived the idea and outlined the draft. C.S. wrote an initial draft, which was substantially revised and supplemented with contributions from all authors who co-wrote subsequent versions. The authors declare no competing interests.

Keywords

  • SDG11: Sustainable cities and communities
  • SDG12: Responsible consumption and production
  • ceiling temperature
  • chemically recyclable polymers
  • intrinsically circular polymers
  • kinetically trapped polymers
  • life-cycle assessment
  • predictive modeling
  • techno-economic analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Biochemistry, medical
  • Materials Chemistry

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