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Professor / Director of Admissions for the Graduate Program

Office: 534 Chemistry

Phone: 517-355-9715 160 /

Websites: Research Group - Area

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Genealogy/Graduates

Polymer Science

(Research Description PDF - 1616 kb)

Often the most interesting problems in chemical research are both interdisciplinary and relevant to technology. In our group, we focus on problems that require the design and synthesis of macromolecular solids that have a particular property, such as degradability, a high ionic conductivity, or a selective permeability toward molecules. The work is based in the organic area, but because of its interdisciplinary nature, projects may involve physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and collaborative efforts with physics, engineering, and life science departments.

We currently focus our research in three areas: new environmentally degradable polymers, electrolyte membranes for batteries and fuel cells, and controlled polymerizations from surfaces. The example in the figure above shows the growth of polymer brushes, a dense array of polymer chains anchored to a surface. Our work on these polymers includes devising and synthesizing new chemical architectures for polymers tethered to surfaces, measuring their properties, and through collaborations, investigating applications of polymer brushes in microfluidic devices and as recognition layers in sensors. We have been able to grow mm-thick films, a variety of layered materials, and copolymers that respond to solvents and self-organize to give patterned surfaces. Surface anchored polymers that contain hydroxy groups are particularly useful. Using the hydroxy group as a chemical handle, we have appended a broad range of biomolecules and reagents to brushes, and even initiate ring opening polymerizations from tethered polymers.

We look at other problems in polymer science using a similar interdisciplinary philosophy. For example, our synthetic work related to ionic conductivity in polymers is a collaborative effort with chemical engineering that involves both electrochemistry and rheology. Similarly, our synthesis of new polylactides is a collaborative effort with Professor Smith, with new ties developing with Physiology and the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Departments.

Students who complete their research and move on to permanent positions in industry are well-positioned to tackle a broad range of interdisciplinary problems. In addition to careers in polymer-oriented companies, past members of the Baker group can be found in the pharmaceutical, consumer products, electronics, and biotech companies.

Selected Publications

Synthesis and Characterization of Triblock Copolymer Brushes by Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization, J. B. Kim, M. L. Bruening, and G. L. Baker, Macromolecules 2002, 35, 5410.

Functionalization of Surfaces by Water-Accelerated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization of Hydroxyethylmethacrylate and Subsequent Derivatization, W. Huang, J. B. Kim, M. L. Bruening, and G. L. Baker, Macromolecules 2002, 35, 1175.

Polyphenyllactide: Synthesis, Characterization and Hydrolytic Degradation, T. L. Simmons, and G. L. Baker, Biomacromolecules 2001, 2, 658.

Fumed Silica-Based Composite Polymer Electrolytes: Synthesis, Rheology, and Electrochemistry, H. J. Walls, J. Zhou, J. Yerian, P. S. Fedkiw, S. A. Khan, M. K. Stowe, and G. L. Baker, J. Power Sources 2000, 89, 156.

Stereoselective Polymerization of a Racemic Monomer with a Racemic Catalyst: Direct Preparation of the Polylactide Stereocomplex from Racemic Lactide, C. P. Radano, G. L. Baker, and M. R. Smith, III, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 1552.