Research in the Arnett Polymer Research Group (APRG) is focused on utilizing poly(arylene ether) based synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers.  The focus areas (FA) being investigated are 1) Fuel Cells, 2) Water Purification, and 3) Semi-Synthetic Glycan Materials. Additional research to develop MXenes to improve the electric and magnetic properties of polymer composites is also being investigated.  Considerable interest in designing new classes of polymers/composites with tailorable chemical/physical properties and enhanced performance will be evaluated. 

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1. Fuel Cells (NSF DMR-1454451) The purpose of this research is to fabricate sulfonated phenolphthalein (PPLn) monomers to be utilized in poly(arylene ether sulfone) membranes.  Previous research has shown that the introduction of three sulfonated additives, 3-aminobenzensulfonic acid (ABSA), 3-amino-4-hydroxy-benzensulfonic (AHBSA), and aniline-2-sulfonic acid (ASA) improved water performance and overall proton conductivity of the membrane.  However, the amount of additive incorporated into the membrane was limited to ≤10 wt%.  The driving force behind the proposed research is to overcome this limitation by attaching these additives directly to PPLn monomer via the COOH group and polymerize with dihalides to form sulfonated PAES polymers.  The inclusion of sulfonated additives directly on the polymer backbone has the potential to minimize the swelling and increase the performance of PAES membranes with increasing sulfonation levels and without adversely affecting the proton

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2.  Water Purification- (NSF Award No.DMR-2122142)- Water purification via desalination and remediation will be investigated in the focus area.  The goal of the desalination project is to synthesize and characterize poly(arylene ether)s with controlled topologies produced from the inclusion of glycans into the PAE backbone. PPLn-PAES polymer will be derivatized with alkyne groups to react with azide glycans through “Click” Chemistry reactions.  Combining the properties of these polymers could result in the formation of membranes with excellent chlorine stability, high water fluxes, and salt rejections, and enhanced anti-fouling properties. Special focus of this approach on the physical and chemical properties of poly(arylene ether sulfone)-cellulose (PAES-CELL) and the contribution of the types and amounts of cellulose to the performance of desalination membranes will be evaluated. 

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3. Biopolymers- The goal of this research is to develop poly(xylitol sebacate) (PXS) nanoparticles for drug delivery.  Various reaction times and the effect on nanoparticle formation was investigated.  To date PXS nanoparticles have been formed via a nanoprecipitation method.  SEM and DLS-hydrodynamic size confirmed the average diameter of the unloaded and curcumin loaded PXS-MP-15H nanoparticles to be 262 nm and 352 nm, respectively. DLS-zeta potential for the unloaded and loaded nanopartilce were -15.7mV and -0.159mV, respectively.

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4. 2D Inorganic Materials (NSF Award No.DMR-2101001)- This research seeks to tailor the properties of titanium carbide based MXenes utilizing a novel procedure to achieve defect-free materials with controlled surface termination for application in 3D printed materials.   The research team will focus on the synthesis and theoretical assessment of Ti3C2Tx MXenes with controlled and homogenous surface functionality produced from a novel etch method based on utilizing elemental halogen in oxygen-free non-aqueous solvents for removal of the “A” layer.   Special focus of this approach on the physical and chemical properties of MXene flakes and its composite materials will be evaluated. The significance of this work is that it not only provides a complimentary, non-toxic, fluoride-free route to prepare MXenes, but also increases access to new chemistries for surface derivatization, which expands compositional-tunability of optical, electrical, and chemical properties.