Luis Thiele’s Research on Developing Polydiene-based Polymer Platform Published in ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Luis’s paper reports developing a polymer platform through precise control of C=C bonds in polyisoprene-based block copolymers via mild hydrogenation.
The study, entitled “Hydrogenation Kinetics Study: Precise Control of C = C Bonds in Polyisoprene (PI)–Containing Block Copolymers via Diimide Hydrogenation” has been published in ACS Applied Polymer Materials.
Polydienes play a crucial role in many everyday materials, and the ability to precisely hydrogenate their carbon double bonds is essential for unlocking new, tunable properties. In this study, we present the first systematic kinetics investigation of non-catalytic diimide hydrogenation on high-molecular-weight SIS triblock copolymers. Our findings demonstrate that this mild, TSH-based method achieves up to 99.9% hydrogenation without side reactions, enabling researchers to target specific saturation levels by simply controlling the reaction time. By confirming its universal efficacy across various polydiene architectures, we aim to provide a powerful tool for designing next-generation polymer materials.
This accomplishment is a testament to the dedicated teamwork of Luis Felipe Caspari Thiele, along with our graduate and undergraduate students Yongha Kim and Corey Roberts. We also thank our colleagues Drs. Andrew Zydney, Ralph Colby, Manish Kelkar, and Uwe Beuscher through NSF Membrane Applications Science & Technology (MAST) Center.
Warmest congratulations to Luis and our graduate and undergraduate scientists – Yongha and Corey! We are so proud of you!
About our work
We design and create high-performance membranes that enable unprecedented separation opportunities. We pursue fundamental breakthroughs that translate into real-world applications, always seeking to bridge the microscopic understanding of materials with macroscopic performance. Our goal is to make separations systems cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable.
About the Oh Lab
At the Oh Lab, we are dedicated to advancing the world’s most important, but challenging, separations in the environment, energy, and health sector. We do this by focusing on the molecular-to-macroscopic design and characterization of polymer membranes. We work at the intersection of chemical engineering, materials science, and molecular transport, focusing on designing advanced polymer membranes for efficient chemical separation.