(4bf) Polyelectrolyte Complex: Structure-Property Relationships and Functional Materials.

Research Interests: The formulation of functional polymers, like adhesives and coatings, is particularly challenging due to the interplay between performance and processability requirements. Polyelectrolyte complexation is an entropically driven, associative phase separation that results in a polymer-rich coacervate, and a polymer-poor supernatant dissolved in an aqueous solution. Polyelectrolyte complexation can be used in the self-assembly of a wide range of responsive, bioinspired materials ranging from dehydrated thin films, fibers, and bulk solids to dense, polymer-rich liquid complex coacervates. Salt-driven plasticization allows for the use of polyelectrolyte complexation as an aqueous, polymer processing strategy. However, it is not clear whether many of the design rules associated with traditional polymers, such as molecular weight and glass transition temperature effects, will apply for materials based on polyelectrolyte complexation (PECs). To understand this design space, we tested a library of PECs made from oppositely-charged methacrylate copolymers of varying charge density, hydrophobicity, and chain length. We characterized the phase behavior and mechanical properties of the resulting liquid coacervates and solid PEC materials. Our data shows that copolymer chemistry can be used to tune the composition and subsequent viscoelasticity of both solid and liquid materials. Furthermore, the solid-state mechanics can range from brittle to ductile, and are intrinsically tied to the water content of the PEC, with copolymer chemistry affecting the amount of water uptaken at a given condition. Lastly, we also characterized the glass transitions of PECs and show that they are coupled to both water content and temperature, creating a glass transition line that can be modulated by tuning both environmental conditions and polymer chemistry.

In the future, I envision investigating soft materials, such as polyelectrolyte complexes, polyelectrolyte surfactant complexes, polyzwitterions, and colloids for both fundamental and applied science, specifically to address sustainability challenges such as the recycling of plastics and greener processing. Furthermore, I am interested in leveraging these materials applications such as, antifouling and antimicrobial coatings, gas and grease barriers, and underwater adhesives.

Teaching Interests: Throughout my Ph.D. I have been involved in outreach and mentoring programs, my departments’ D.E.I. committee, served as president and outreach chair of the ChE graduate student society, and have been teaching assistant four times. Through my own experience and the people that I have worked with, I have gained a better perspective of how minorities have an uphill battle in higher education and academia, whether that is because of lack of better education or simply the small number of opportunities they are given. While I love doing research, my main goal is to educate young, aspiring scientists and professionals. From experience I know that each student has different educational needs, and I will try to help them by catering to those needs. I want to be someone students can confide in and trust by doing my best to provide the best education possible. I look forward to helping the community by continuing educational outreach, employing active and adaptive teaching strategies, and conducting novel research. I want to bridge the current gap that exists between minorities and more socially accepted groups so that anyone, independent of their gender, race, or background, can have access to higher education and achieve their professional goals.