Research in this area spans the full lifecycle of polymeric materials — from fundamental synthesis and structure-property relationships to processing, composite fabrication, and end-of-life degradation. A major theme is the design of new polymerization chemistries and catalysts, often using earth-abundant metals, to produce polyethers, polyesters, and functional copolymers with tailored architectures for energy, environmental, and biomedical applications. Alongside this, the physics of polymer chains and networks — dynamics at interfaces, glassy and viscoelastic behavior, self-assembly, and nanocomposite reinforcement — is studied to understand how molecular-scale structure governs bulk mechanical, ion-transport, and rheological properties. A significant sustainability thread addresses biobased and biodegradable-compostable plastics, biofiber-reinforced composites, and recycled/reprocessable polymer systems aimed at reducing plastic waste and petroleum dependence. On the processing and manufacturing side, work focuses on extrusion, compression molding, injection molding, and additive (extrusion deposition) manufacturing of composite materials — including transparent barrier films, structural composite tooling, and translucent automotive panels — while polymer membranes and hydrogels are engineered for applications ranging from fuel cells and batteries to biosensing and water treatment.
