DR. STEVEN S. C. CHUANG
Professor of Polymer Science
Interfacial Cross-linking, Materials for Fuel Cells and Batteries,
In-situ Vibrational Spectroscopy
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200 µm
www.uakron.edu/firstenergy-center/
Awards/Accomplishments:
• Outstanding Researcher Award of the
University of Akron (2009)
•
Chemstress OutstandingTeacher Award
of the College of Engineering at the
University of Akron (1998 )
PEI/PVA
(-C=C-N-)
110 cm
(-C-O-C-)
(-C=N-)
(-C=C-N-)
(-O-C-O-)
1650 1600
1150 1100
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Wavenumbers (cm )
IR intensity
(-C=C-N-)
PEI
3600 2400 1200 PVA
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Wavenumbers (cm ) 200 µm
PVA
(-C=N-)
Biography: Steven S. C. Chuang joined
the department of Polymer Science in
May 2011. He obtained his Ph.D. in
Chemical Eng. from
University of
Pittsburgh in 1985, and started as an
assistant professor of Chemical Eng. at
the University of Akron in 1986. His
research centered around the use of
infrared spectroscopic techniques for
studying reactions of CO/H2, reduction of
NO, hydroformylation, and oxidative
carbonylation. He served as Chair of the
Chemical Eng. Dept. in 1997 - 2005.
During those years, his research shifted
to CO2 capture, photocatalysis, and solid
oxide fuel cells. In 2009, he established
the
FirstEnergy
Advanced
Energy
Research Center, focusing on the
development of CO2 capture and carbon
fuel cell technologies.
His recent
research themes include interfacial crosslinking reactions, polymer membrane
synthesis and fabrication, dye-sensitized
solar cell, and direct CH4 fuel cells.
(-OH)
(-NH)
IR Absorbance
GA
Time (min)
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Department of
Polymer Science
The University of Akron, OH
330-972-6993
[email protected]
IR Absorbance
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PEI
(-C-N-)
(-NH2)
Research Interests:
Chuang’s research interests range from investigation of the nature of active
sites in catalysis and the reactivity of functional groups in polymeric
materials to the fabrication of membranes and devices for separation and
energy generation/storage. An example of his recent research is the study
of interfacial cross-linking reactions of poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/
polyethyleneimine (PEI) composite membranes with glutaraldehyde (GA) for
CO2 and heavy metal ions separation. FTIR spectroscopy using a focal
plane array (FPA) image detector allows (i) real-time determination of
acetal, imine, and enamine groups and (ii) examination of bonding formation
as a function of time and location. This technique reveals the effects of
diffusion and concentration of functional groups on the rate of the crosslinking reactions. The later provides kinetic data for determining the
optimum concentrations of monomers for synthesis of cross-linked polymer
composites.
0
30 60 90
Time (min)
1597 cm
1
(-O-C-O-)
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Measurement of the
rate of cross-linking
reactions in polymer
membranes as a
function of time and
position
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80
Time
Application Focus:
Functional Membranes – Batteries, fuel cells, and separation
Organic/Inorganic Hybrids – Sorbents and dye-sensitized solar cells
Fabrication of fuel cells, solar cells, and batteries – Tape-casting, screenprinting, self-assembling, core-shell structures, and micro-and nano-scale
porosity control
Unique Capabilities:
In-Situ Vibrational and Focal Plane Spectroscopy – Real time observation of
catalytic and cross-linking reactions at nano- and micro-meter scale
Recent Publications/Patents:
“Amine absorber for carbon dioxide capture and
1.
processes for making and using the same,” S. S. C.
Chuang, U.S. Patent 8,377,173 February 19, 2013.
2.
“The nature of adsorbed CO2 and amine sites on the immobilized
amine sorbents regenerated by industrial boiler steam,” M.
Isenberg and Steven S. C. Chuang, Industrial Eng. Chemistry
Research, 52 (35), 12530-12539, 2014.
3.
‘In Situ Infrared Study of the Effect of Amine Density on the
Nature of Adsorbed CO2 on Amine-Functionalized Solid
Sorbents”, Uma Tumuluri, Mathew Isenberg, Chung-Sung Tan,
and Steven S. C. Chuang, Langmuir 2014, 30, 7405−7413.
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