Microporous Polymers

Conjugated Microporous Polymers (CMPs)

CMPs are unique organic materials because of their permanent microporosity, semiconductivity, and high chemical/physical stability, provided by the three-dimensional network π-conjugation backbone. However, their rigid cross-linked structures result in insolubility, which complicates the fabrication of CMP films for further applications, such as optoelectronic devices, membranes, energy conversion and storage systems.

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To overcome the processability issues of CMPs, I reported sono-cavitation and nebulization synthesis (SNS) method that enables the synthesis and structuring of CMP films from monomers and the integration with other materials, such as carbon nanotubes. Cavitation and nebulization are phenomena caused by ultrasonic irradiation. They can be exploited for materials synthesis because cavitation can produce transient and localized high energy corresponding to temperatures of up to ~5000 K and pressures of ~1000 bar, and a precursor solution is atomized into droplets with a few micrometers by nebulization. Based on the SNS method, we synthesized a layer-by-layer porous electrode composed of CMPs and carbon nanotubes and highlighted its functions in supercapacitive energy storage.

 

My research interest is to develop of CMPs for energy storage, heterogeneous photocatalysis, and membrane applications via the SNS method and molecular engineering.