Bin Zhao
Associate Professor
Polymer Chemistry
Environmentally responsive polymers and polymer brushes; "living"/controlled polymerization; polymer surface chemistry
B.S., University of Science and Technology
of China (1992)
M.S., University of Science and Technology
of China (1995)
Ph.D., University of Akron (2000)
Additional Information
Research
Our research involves the synthesis and study of environmentally responsive polymeric materials. These soft materials can undergo spontaneous structural changes and exhibit different properties upon application of external stimuli. Two classes of responsive polymeric systems, thermosensitive water-soluble polymers and environmentally responsive polymer brushes, are being developed and investigated in our laboratory. In general, we use "living"/controlled polymerization techniques (atom transfer radical polymerization, nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, etc.) to synthesize polymers and polymer brushes with controlled molecular weights, narrow polydispersities, and defined architectures. These materials have great potential in technological applications. In particular, we are pursuing the use of stimuli-sensitive soft materials in the development of novel supported catalysts..
Recent publications
Mixed polymer brush-grafted particles: a new class of environmentally responsive nanostructured materials. Zhao, B.; Zhu, L. Macromolecules 2009, 42, 9369-9383. (Invited Perspective Article)
Stimuli-induced multiple sol-gel-sol transitions of aqueous solution of a thermo- and light-sensitive hydrophilic block copolymer. Jiang, X. G.; Jin, S; Zhong, Q. X.; Dadmun, M. D.; Zhao, B. Macromolecules 2009, 42, 8468-8476.
Catalytic activity of a thermosensitive hydrophilic diblock copolymer-supported 4-N,N-dialkylaminopyridine in hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate in aqueous buffers. O'Lenick, T. G.; Jiang, X. M.; Zhao, B. Polymer 2009, 50, 4363-4371.
Thermosensitive polymer brush-supported 4-N,N-dialkylaminopyridine on silica particles for catalysis of hydrolysis of an activated ester in aqueous buffers: comparison of activity with linear polymer-supported version and effect of LCST transition. Jiang, X. M.; Wang, B. B.; Li, C. Y.; Zhao, B. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem., 2009, 47, 2853-2870.
Tuning micellization and dissociation transitions of thermo- and pH-sensitive poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(methoxydi(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) in aqueous solutions by combining temperature and pH triggers. Jiang, X. G.; Zhao, B. Macromolecules 2008, 41, 9366-9375.
Amphiphilic Janus gold nanoparticles via combining “solid state grafting to” and “grafting-from” methods. Wang, B. B.; Li, B.; Zhao, B.; Li, C. Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 11594-11595.
Transmission electron microscopy study of solvent-induced phase morphologies of environmentally responsive mixed homopolymer brushes on silica particles. Zhu, L.; Zhao, B. J. Phys. Chem. B. 2008, 112, 11529-11536.
Multiple micellization and dissociation transitions of thermo- and light-sensitive poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(ethoxytri(ethylene glycol) acrylate-co-o-nitrobenzyl acrylate) in water. Jiang, X. G.; Lavender, C. A.; Woodcock, J. W.; Zhao, B. Macromolecules 2008, 41, 2632-2643.
Hairy particle-supported 4-N,N-dialkylaminopyridine: an efficient and recyclable nucleophilic organocatalyst. Zhao, B.; Jiang, X. M.; Li, D. J.; Jiang, X. G.; O'Lenick, T.G.; Li, B.; Li, C. Y. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 2008, 46, 3438-3446.
Thermosensitive water-dispersible hairy particle-supported Pd nanoparticles for catalysis of hydrogenation in an aqueous/organic biphasic system. Li, D. J.; Zhao, B. Langmuir 2008, 24, 5911-5918.
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Biographical sketch
Dr. Zhao received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in polymer chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1992 and 1995, and his Ph.D. degree in polymer science from the University of Akron in 2000. After completing his postdoctoral research in Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Zhao joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee in 2002.
