Oral Symposia, Invited

Organizers
Paul Goring, Sara Skrabalak

The Chemistry of Materials Lectureship and Best Paper Award, which honors the authors of an article published in the previous years that has outstanding influence across materials chemistry and recognizing the team nature of research.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Arit Das, Christopher Ray Kasprzak, Yuanqiao Rao, Bradley Sutliff ,

Processing polymeric materials is paramount to their integration into useful products and achieving their ultimate performance. Processing methods continue to evolve due to both innovations in polymer chemistry and the development of advanced manufacturing techniques. This symposium will encompass novel manufacturing techniques in addition to innovative chemistries that enable new and improved manufacturing strategies. Computational methods to understand and enhance such novel techniques are also encouraged, as are submissions related to recyclability, processing innovations in mobility science, and advances in sustainable processing for renewable energy technologies.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Steve Arturo, Debra Audus, Morgan Bates, Jerome Claracq, Hellen Papananou, Martin Seifrid, Wenjie Xia

Accelerating Soft Materials Discovery: With the rapid advancement of high-throughput synthesis and characterization techniques, coupled with the power of machine learning, the landscape of materials discovery is undergoing a profound transformation. The integration of these cutting-edge technologies offers unprecedented opportunities to accelerate the discovery process and facilitate the screening of materials with desired properties. Moreover, a data-driven approach allows for the efficient analysis of large datasets, extracting valuable insights to guide the design and optimization of soft materials. This symposium serves as a platform for academic, government, and industrial experts to converge, shedding light on the latest advancements in this dynamic field. Through collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange, participants will unveil ground-breaking polymers poised to revolutionize the landscape of high-performance materials.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Sehoon Chang, Hyunhyub Ko, Srikanth Singamaneni, Chunhong Ye

By exploiting the principles of self-assembly, polymer chemistry, and the advances of micro- and nanofabrication approaches, smart polymers capable of responding dynamically to environmental stimuli attract significant interest in developing bioinspired artificial structures with bionic functions, such as morphing and motion abilities, actuation, sensing, adhesion, demonstrating diverse applications in biomedical devices, flexible electronics and optical devices. This symposium will showcase the latest advances in the design and realization of intelligent polymer-based bioinspired structures, their functionalities and applications. This symposium will include but not limited to the following topics: 1) Smart hydrogel-based biomimetic materials and devices; 2) Shape memory polymers; 3) Polymer networks with dynamic covalent bonds; 4) Polymer-based bionic shape morphing structures and motors; 5) Responsive liquid crystalline materials; 6) Bioinspired responsive photonic and plasmonic materials; 7) Dynamic surface wetting and adhesion; 8) Responsive polymeric materials for chemical and biological sensing and bioimaging; 9) Cyborg materials and devices

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jennifer Schaefer

This symposia covers characterization and prediction of polymer properties in topics unrelated to the topics of the other themed sessions. Topics will cover a broad spectrum of polymer research and engineering.

Oral and Poster Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Konstantinos Alexopoulos, Mark Dadmun, Brett Helms, Brian Long,

Over 400 million tons of solid plastics are globally produced annually, but less than 9% of plastics is currently recycled. Traditional mechanical recycling of commodity polymers often present limitation due to undesirable degradation, oxidation, contamination, and altered molecular weight or composition. On the other hand, chemical recycling of polymers provides multiple paths for upcycled plastics. This symposium aims to feature recent advances in the fields of chemical recycling and upcycling of polymers. Specifically, the focus of the symposium includes synthesis of new polymers with closed-loop circularity, chemical upcycling paths for commodity plastics, synthetic paths for depolymerization and upcycling of polymers, dynamic polymers, and other polymer chemistry advances in chemical recycling.

Oral Symposia, Invited

Organizers
Howard Creel, Qinghuang Lin

The Cooperative Research Award session will highlight the work of the 2025 nominees.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jacob Gissinger, Samuel Lamont, Maryam Shakiba, Franck Vernerey

Topics to be Covered: 1) Linking time scales between modeling and experimental evaluation of polymer degradation 2) Acceleration techniques for experimental testing of polymer aging 3) Failure and degradation mechanisms at interfaces 4) In situ and computational characterization of creep 5) Breakdown and ablation of polymer materials in extreme environments.

Oral and Poster Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Sarah Fisher, Dallin Smith

Soft materials (such as polymers, gels, colloids, and liquid crystals) are composed of relatively large organic molecules governed by weak interactions. These materials display unique properties that render themselves useful to a variety of industries, such as textiles, electronics, packaging, and biomedical devices. As an increasing number of materials are commercialized, sustainability has become an important consideration. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) are often used to evaluate the sustainability of a material from a multitude of angles such as its feedstocks, synthesis, byproducts, processability, recyclability, degradation, sustainability, and environmental impact. Unfortunately, sustainable materials often underperform compared to market standards, which limits their commercial adoption, but this gap is shrinking through cutting edge endeavors spearheaded by academic and industrial researchers. The focus of the symposium is the production of sustainable soft matter with enhanced performance and its role in a circular economy.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Ajit Roy, Sandhya Susharla, Chandra Sekhar Tiwary

The manufacturing industry is responsible for more than 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This industry also generates huge volumes of waste during mining and fabrication. Additionally, scrap and end-of-life products are the second major waste generated during the material cycle e.g. e-waste. For sustainable development, we must conserve our natural resources for future generations by minimizing and utilizing waste and reusing, remanufacturing, and recycling end-of-life products and scrap. Therefore, a session is dedicated to the current progress in developing sustainable technologies for the manufacturing and electronics. This session, we will have speakers from India and USA working on development of sustainable manufacturing including electronics. Also we will discuss the development/recent development of recycling of e-waste and recyclable electronics etc.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Shahrouz Amini, Silvia Cometta, Robert Hickey, Dagmar Schwenk

Extracellular matrices (ECMs) are complex materials designed via multiscale networks that are central building blocks in living organisms. ECMs provide both structural support and analog information for overall organism function and more specifically cellular processes. The formation and remodeling of ECMs is a fundamental process in the life of humans, animals, and plants. While cells are typically considered the active parts of tissues since they migrate, proliferate and differentiate as well as synthesize and degrade ECM, there are many unknown roles the ECM plays, and we are only beginning to recognize the extensive impact of ECMs. From an engineering viewpoint, ECMs are also materials with exquisite properties that confer the capabilities of adaptation, self-repair and even information processing and storage. Although ECMs are critical for living materials, mimicking functions seen in natural tissues is extremely difficult, especially in synthetic polymer and macromolecular systems. Therefore, the symposium will cover current and future directions in natural and synthetic ECMs. The goal is to highlight nature’s ECM capabilities to inspire next generation ECMs.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jennifer Schaefer

This symposia covers new research into novel applications of polymeric materials in topics unrelated to the topics of the other themed sessions. Topics will cover a broad spectrum of polymer research and engineering.

Poster Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jennifer Schaefer

A poster session for Early Investigators to highlight the current work and discuss their research into polymeric materials, science, and engineering. Poster sessions are held throughout the conference to allow for a more intimate back and forth discussion on topics on new topics of interest.

Poster Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jennifer Schaefer

A poster session to highlight the work of all members in polymeric materials, science, and engineering. Poster sessions are held throughout the conference to allow for a more intimate back and forth discussion on topics on new topics of interest.

Poster Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jennifer Schaefer

A poster session to highlight the work of graduate students in polymeric materials, science, and engineering. Poster sessions are held throughout the conference to allow for a more intimate back and forth discussion on topics on new topics of interest.

Poster Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Jennifer Schaefer

A poster session to highlight the work of undergraduates in polymeric materials, science, and engineering. Poster sessions are held throughout the conference to allow for a more intimate back and forth discussion on topics on new topics of interest.

Oral Symposia, Invited

Organizers
Zhenan Bao, Ananth Dodabalapur, Valerie Kuck,

Current progress on organic electronics and flexible electronics Reflections on Chandross contributions and inspirations.

Edwin Chandross was an AT&T Bell Labs researcher, providing fundamental advances in fiber optics, chemiluminescence, and silicon device patterning – all fundamental material applications that power the world’s economy.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Kyoungweon Park, Ashlin Porter, Hongseok Yun

The controlled assembly of nanoparticles holds the key to unlock unprecedented functionalities stemming from their collective synergetic properties that are distinct from or better than those of individual nanoparticles and their bulk counterparts. These new advanced optical, electronic, magnetic,and mechanical properties can find applications in advanced nanomaterials and functional devices, if control is achieved over nanoparticle organization. Self and directed assembly offers a cost-efficient approach to produce ensembles of nanoparticles with well-defined and predictable structures. The role of polymers in nanoparticle assembly is pivotal in this regard due to the comparable dimensions of macromolecules and nanoparticles, the ability to synthesize polymers with various compositions, degrees of polymerization,and structures, and the ability of polymers to self-assemble in their own. They act as ligands to modify the surface of nanoparticles, stabilizing them, altering their physicochemical attributes, and facilitating directed assembly. By embedding nanoparticles in polymer matrix, a wide range of assembly structures can be achieved based on polymer molecular weight, architecture, and composition. Intricate nano/microscale structures are enscribed on the substrate with patterned polymer brushes. In this symposium, we aim to explore the complex interplay between polymers, processing techniques, and nanoparticle assembly to elucidate how these factors influence the nano/microstructures and properties of resulting materials. New strategies for the self/directed assembly of nanoparticles tethered to macromolecules Self-assembly of chiral nanostructures State-of-the-art characterization to evaluate the morphologies Joint experimental-computational contributions enabling to design multifunctional polymer nanocomposite that predict optical, magnetic,electric and mechanical properties

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Christopher Cooper, Chris Letko

This symposium focuses on polymers used for energy-related applications, sustainable or bio-based polymers, and the intersection of these two themes. The development of a green economy that operates with both clean energy and materials circularity is a multifaceted challenge. The symposium aims to foster collaboration and idea sharing between energy-focused and sustainability-focused researchers, encouraging energy-focused researchers to think about how to design their materials sustainably and encouraging sustainability-focused researchers to consider how recyclable or biobased materials could be employed in batteries, membranes, or other energy-related applications. Presentation topics can be either energy or sustainability focused, but preference will be given to speakers who show interest in the intersection of energy and sustainable materials design.

Oral Symposia, Invited

Organizers
Zhengtang Luo, Ralf Riedel, Kenan Song, Luyi Sun, Hongbo Zeng

This collaborative forum endeavors to spotlight the latest breakthroughs in polymer research, with a primary focus on pioneering developments that merge intelligence, sustainability, and versatility within polymeric materials. From the design of responsive polymers endowed with adaptive functionalities to the formulation of eco-conscious materials, the symposium serves as a nexus for scientists, engineers, and industry leaders to convene, exchange insights, and explore transformative ideas. Beyond conventional boundaries, discussions will extend to exploring the synergies between polymer science and other disciplines, envisioning novel applications in fields ranging from healthcare and electronics to environmental conservation and beyond. Overall, this symposium is expected to serve as a platform for recent polymer innovations, charting a course toward a smarter, more sustainable future through the limitless potential of polymeric materials.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Tatiana Budtiva, Kevin Miller, David Salas-de la Cruz ,

Renewable polymers are a vital component in the pursuit of sustainable and eco-friendly materials for the next generation of advanced manufacturing. Sponsored by the ACS CELL and PMSE divisions, this symposium will delve into the intricate structure-property relationships of biobased polymers, exploring how molecular architecture influences unique functionalities, manufacturing outcomes, and material performance. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of: • Innovative techniques in polymer synthesis and manufacturing processes (various 3D printing technologies, formation of porous materials, etc) for making bio-based materials with tailored properties. • How the structural elements at the molecular level determine the mechanical, thermal, physicochemical, acoustic and bio-medical properties of bio-based materials. • Case studies demonstrating the successful integration of bio-based polymers in advanced manufacturing processes, highlighting their environmental and economic benefits including Life Cycle Assessment By bridging the gap between polymer science, engineering and manufacturing technology, this symposium aims to inspire innovation and drive the development of sustainable materials solutions. Researchers, engineers, and industry professionals will find valuable insights into leveraging bio-based polymers to achieve superior product performance while promoting environmental stewardship. Join us for an engaging session that promises to elevate your understanding of bio-based polymers and their pivotal role in the future of advanced manufacturing, supported by the expertise and resources of the ACS CELL and PMSE divisions.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Eugene Caldona, Brendan Graziano, Karabi Nath, Xiaoning Qi,

Sustainable materials and coating formulation Biobased materials for coating Recycled/Reused/Repurposed materials for coating Functional coating for extreme conditions Corrosion-resistant coatings Non-wetting or superhydrophobic coatings? PFAS and BPA free coating Low VOC Coating/Waterborne Coating

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Michael Lake, Joshua Orlicki, Hellen Papananou, Fuzhong Zhang

Searching for Novel Performance: The tools of synthetic biology continue to expand at a break-neck pace, allowing new insight into the organization and composition of materials. A focus on novel materials enabled by biology alone or coupled with chemical conversion, with a credible path to scale-up and property exploration can provide novel performance trade-offs and valuable lessons learned for best practices in this rich inter-disciplinary field. The symposium will bring together academic, government, and industrial researchers to highlight opportunities at the forefront of the field, and share new polymers for high performance materials brought on by the intersection of disciplines.

Oral Symposia, Contributed

Organizers
Zhao Lin, Hee Jeung Oh, Abhishek Roy

Chemical separations are essential to modern society. They play critical roles in addressing many urgent societal challenges, such as the purification of therapeutic medicine, the treatment of water supplies, and the generation and storage of energy. Driven by advances in polymer science, membrane-based separations have demonstrated exemplary performance and energy efficiency in applications such as seawater desalination and the enrichment of nitrogen from air. Thus, as the global population continues to grow, there is hope that the role of membrane separations can be expanded to help society advance sustainably. In order to meet this need, polymeric membranes with precisely controlled microstructures and specifically designed functionality are being developed for increasingly challenging separation processes. This short course will address various topics relevant to emerging molecular design strategies for polymer membranes as well as the expanding application space of these materials. We encourage submissions that span the pipeline of materials development including design, processing, theory, simulation, characterization, and device testing.