Two University of Iowa faculty members have been awarded funding from the National Science Foundation to develop new plastic polymers that could be used in electronic devices to remove toxins from contaminated environments.

Ned Bowden and Johna Leddy, professors in the Department of Chemistry, are the lead investigators. They will seek to create polymers from cheaper and widely available materials, such as sulfur and nitrogen. As part of the research, the chemists will investigate the polymers’ electrical and electrochemical properties and how well they conduct electricity.

Bowden’s research group will focus on designing and synthesizing sulfur and nitrogen-based polymers. Some of those combinations will be tested further as structures composed of more than 98% sulfur and nitrogen, which could yield better control over their chemical and physical properties. 

Leddy’s team will investigate the electrical and electrochemical characteristics of the polymer structures created by the Bowden group. Her group will examine the relationship between molecular design and performance, to determine which polymers would work best in various industrial applications, including solar cells, supercapacitors, and wires. 

The researchers also plan to test the polymers’ ability to bind to and to remove heavy metals from environmentally contaminated sites. 

“This award will fund our work to develop electrically active soft materials based on simple chemicals that are widely available,” Bowden says. 

The researchers plan to provide hands-on training for students in advanced polymer synthesis and materials characterization. 

The three-year award is for $660,000.