RUI: CAS: Collaborative Research: Synthesis, Conductivity, and Morphology of Cellulose-Based Ionic Materials (2021-24)

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Our most recent NSF RUI award is a collaborative proposal with Rutgers University-Camden (Dr. Salas-de la Cruz). We will study the effect of various functionalization chemistries on the conductivity and morphology of cellulose, a sustainable feedstock material. Undergraduate students will be heavily involved in this program and will have the opportunity to "exchange" with students at Rutgers-Camden in the summers of 2022 and 2023.

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Undergraduate student participants to date:

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Marisa Thompson (Chemistry/PolyMatSci)

Lauren Trout (Chemistry/PolyMatSci)

Jordan Pierce (Chemistry/PolyMatSci)

Lexi Evans (Chemistry)

Abbi Leach (Biological Sciences)

Elizabeth McGrew, B.S. Biochemistry (2023) now at Vanderbilt University

George Timmermann, B.S. Chemistry/PolyMatSci (2023) now at Washington Unviersity @ St. Louis

Gracie Eicher, B.S. Biochemistry (2022) now at the University of Kentucky graduate program

Morgan Mars, B.S. Biochemistry (2022) now at the Stevens Institute graduate program

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High School student participants:

Ethan Cain (Calloway Co. High School, 2022)

Isaac Martin (Calloway Co. High School, 2022)

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Publications:

Hays, E. A.*; Eicher, G.*; Morales, A.; Salas-de la Cruz, D.; Miller, K. M. Dual Ionic Liquid-Functionalized Cellulosic Materials: Thermal, Conductive, and Morphological Properties. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c02815

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Presentations:

McGrew, E. A.*; Miller, K. M. “Dual-ionic liquid functionalized cellulosic materials: Thermal, mechanical and conductive properties”, Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS), San Juan, PR, October, 2022. (poster)

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RUI:  Thiol-ene/yne Poly(ionic liquid) Networks for Separation and Electroactive Technologies (2017-21)

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The program will facilitate the education and training of undergraduate and high school students from 2017-20 while investigating the structure-property relationships of various thiol-ene/yne polymer architectures with an initial focus on microfluidic devices and gas separation/absorption technologies. Dr. Harry Fannin, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry, serves as Senior Personnel and co-adviser on the RUI grant and will assist with the gas separation studies.

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Undergraduate student participants:

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Rose Miller, senior, pre-veterinary major, chemistry minor

Katelyn Lindenmeyer, senior, chemistry major (polymer/materials science track)

Alex Thome, senior, chemistry/music major, mathematics minor

Jalisha Hunter, senior, chemistry major

George Timmermann, sophomore, chemistry major (polymer/materials science track)

Pierson Perdue, sophomore, chemistry major (polymer/materials science track)

Vanessa Smith, B.S. Pre-veterinary medicine, currently at Auburn University (vet school)

Mia Todd (Murray High School), senior at Murray High

Isaac Miller (Marshall Co. High School), current student at Murray State University

Samantha Radomski (Calloway County High School), currently student at Eastern KY University

Samantha Sims, B.S. Chemistry, now a teacher at Mayfield High School (KY)

Abigail Bratton, B.S. Chemistry, Honors Program, now at Virginia Tech Ph.D. Chemistry program

Samantha Daymon, B.S. Chemistry, POLY/MAT SCI track, Honors Program (Advisor:  Miller)

Now @ University of Southern Mississippi, Polymer and Materials Science Ph.D. program

Landon Fike, B.S. Chemistry (2018), pre-medicine track, Honors Program (Advisor:  Johnson)

Now @ Vanderbilt University medical school

Claire Umstead, BIO/Biomedical science/MAT major, Honors Program (Advisor:  Johnson)

Nicholas Bontrager, B.S. Chemistry, currently in medical school, Univ. of Louisville

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Publications:

O'Harra, K. E.; Timmermann, G. M.*; Bara, J. E.; Miller, K. M. Designing Ionic Liquid-Derived Polymer Composites from Poly(Ionic Liquid)-Ionene Semi-interpenetrating Networks. ACS Polym. Mater. 2021, ASAP article.

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Bontrager, N. C.*; Radomski, S.***; Daymon, S. P.*; Johnson, R. D.; Miller, K. M. Influence of Counteranion and Humidity on the Thermal, Mechanical, and Conductive Properties of Covalently Crosslinked Ionenes. Polymer 2021, 222, 123641.

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Linedenmeyer, K. M.; Johnson, R. D.; Miller, K. M. "Self-Healing Behaviour of Furan-Maleimide Poly(Ionic Liquid Covalent Adaptable Networks." Polym. Chem. 2020,  11, 5321-5326. (Invited paper as part of a special virtual issue on covalent adaptable networks).

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Bratton, A. F.*; Kim, S.; Ellison, C. J.; Miller, K. M. "Thermomechanical and Conductive Properties of Thiol-ene Poly (ionic liquid) Networks Containing Backbone and Pendant Imidazolium Groups." Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2018, 57, 16526-16536.

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Presentations:

Lindenmeyer, K. M.*, Miller, K. M. "Poly(ionic liquid) Covalently Adaptable Networks Using Thermoreversible Diels-Alder Cycloaddition Chemistry." National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA, March 2020. 

 

Bratton, A. F.; Fannin, H. B.; Miller, K. M. "Imidazolium-Containing Thiol-ene Poly(ionic liquid) Membrane Networks: Conductive and Gas Separation Properties". 255th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March, 2018. (POLY poster; Sci-Mix)

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Miller, K. M. "Thiol-ene 'click' Poly(ionic liquid) Networks: Correlating Structure with Conductive and Gas Separation Properties." 255th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA, March 2018.