MATERIAL SCIENCE SOLUTIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES

Chemistry and Biology

About this course

The aim of this course is to provide a broad overview to entering graduate students interested in sustainability and how research is currently being used to tackle some of these pressing issues. How do we classify sustainability issues, what are the metrics, what are the regulations, and most importantly, how can we make a difference through the research we do, particularly from a Materials Science and Engineering viewpoint.

We will cover the many considerations that must be taken into account when reflecting which materials to use, or how to design better materials to tackle the issues of pollution, energy scarcity, and consumption, along with many case studies of how other research groups are tackling these issues. Students are expected to read the assigned literature materials prior to class and come prepared to actively discuss them.

1. Material dependence in our world, a broad overview of the role Materials Science and Engineering plays. Resource consumption and its drivers.

2. The materials life cycle, covering the four phases of materials usage and the Life Cycle Assessment. End of first life: a problem or a resource?

3. Latest research in Biodegradable polymers, single-use plastics, and the issue of packaging materials

4. Material science and Legislation (in the USA). Carbon tax, EPA regulations, Clean Air, FDA regulations.

5. Eco-data values, how do we measure the ‘eco-friendly’ metrics and what role Materials Science plays in these. Case studies comparing ‘green washing’ with measurable metrics. Eco-audits and Eco-audit tools

6. Case Studies in Eco-audits comparing trends of reusable tote bags and reusable water bottles.

7. Material selection strategies. Case studies in degradable polymers and the role of mechanochemistry in recycling polymers.

8. Latest material challenges in solar panels. Issues with perovskite technologies, and an overview of some recent breakthroughs

9. Eco-informed Material Selection in biologically-sourced polymers. Covering ‘green-washing’ and latest advances in composting chemistry beyond PLA.

10. Renewable materials and natural materials. Sourcing of polymer feedstocks in adhesives and composites

11. Latest research in using natural materials in composites, and how they compare to recycling. Advances in cellulose technologies.

12. Criticality and supply chain risk. Calculating the costs of large supply changes and local production vs efficiencies of scales.

13. Circular materials economics. The issues facing ‘upcycling’ and the material degradation and contamination as part of the circular economy.

SEMESTER START DATE: March 30, 2025

Contact Hours per Week: 2

Day & Time: TBD (will be announced by mid-December)

Expected learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide a broad overview to entering graduate students interested in sustainability and how research is currently being used to tackle some of these pressing issues. How do we classify sustainability issues, what are the metrics, what are the regulations, and most importantly, how can we make a difference through the research we do, particularly from a Materials Science and Engineering viewpoint.