A Research Journey Probing Polymer/Ionomer Composition, Morphology, Property, and Function Relationships to Create Advanced Membranes

ChE Seminar Series Presents: Chris J. Cornelius
Professor and Chair, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Iowa State University

Abstract:

Structure, property, and function relationships must be coupled to theory and prior art to design new materials. Controlling polymer chain motion, swelling, and functional group distribution is critical to selective molecule transport. A dichotomy exists between selective molecule transport, ion conductivity, and physical properties characterized by a property trade-off. Deviations are associated with composition, morphology, mass transfer limitations, and system design efficiency. For example, membrane materials for gas separation are needed at elevated temperatures in aggressive environments requiring greater chemical and physical stability. Nanocomposite organic-inorganic materials can potentially address these requirements by combining the processibility of organic polymers with the separation characteristics of inorganic molecular sieves. Ion and water transport in a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) and anion-exchange membrane (AEM) are essential to its performance. Numerous PEM and AEM synthetic efforts have sought to improve their transport, brittle properties when dry, and wet-film durability issues. These areas impact device performance that are key design considerations of new materials. Fundamental science is essential in the creation of new knowledge and transformative technologies. However, understanding and controlling material assembly is a cornerstone of material science. The focus of this talk will be a general overview examining material type and organizational structure in multiple systems.

Biography:

Chris Cornelius is the Dr. Thomas D. McGee and Dr. Ick-Jhin Rick Yoon Endowed Department Chair in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Iowa State University (ISU). Prior to ISU, he was a Chemical Engineering faculty member at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). At UNL, he was the Associate Dean for Research (2014-2016) and Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) Diversity Coordinator (2015-2020). In these roles, he was involved in hiring 55 new faculty and worked with the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, teaching leadership skills and STEM possibilities through a Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy and after-school science program. At Virginia Tech (VT), he was its inaugural Associate Director for Research (ADR) for the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), managing a $180 MM institute comprised of three research buildings and Technical Director (TD) of the VT Center for Naval Systems (CNavS) from 2008 to 2010. As TD for CNavS, he won and administered $13 MM Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts with the Naval Surface Warfare Centers, John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and Marine Corps System Command. Before academia, he was a Research Engineer with Dow Plastics running a pilot plant creating metallocene-based polyolefins and ethylene-propylene-diene elastomers for DuPont, a Process Engineer at 3M managing a multimillion-dollar non-woven respirator mask production line, and a staff scientist at Sandia National Laboratories developing ionomers, fuel cells, and gas separation materials. Dr. Cornelius’s research explores fundamental relationships between structure, properties, transport, and function using synthetic polymers, charged polymers, hybrid organic-inorganic materials, and sol-gel-derived inorganic glasses. He is an Editor for the Journal of Materials Science and uses his career experiences to champion diversity and increase the number of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines.