Polymer power: FAMU-FSU Engineering researchers help design next-generation polymer blends

A new study led by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers investigating precision polymer blends revealed critical insights that could accelerate the development of advanced materials for batteries, membranes and energy storage systems.

The research, which focused on blends of a polymer called polyethylene oxide (PEO) and a charged polymer known as p5, found that even small amounts of charge can dramatically alter how these materials mix. This behavior aligns with previously developed theoretical models, offering a new framework for anticipating when polymer blends will remain uniform or separate into distinct phases.

The work was published in the American Chemical Society journal Macromolecules.

“Understanding how these two polymers mix is essential for designing materials that are both stable and functional,” said co-author Daniel Hallinan, associate professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. “Our findings show that charge concentration and electrostatic strength are key levers in tuning polymer behavior and they provide experimental evidence of something that had previously only been theorized.”

WHAT THEY DID
The researchers examined mixtures with different ratios of PEO and p5 to understand how the blends behaved over a range of proportions. They found that when they created a mixture that was mostly PEO with just a little p5, the materials didn’t blend smoothly and instead separated into two distinct parts. But when they added more p5, the mixtures began to form a single, uniform material.

The work validates a model that predicts how changes in the composition of these blends affect their behavior at different temperatures. The researchers pinpointed key temperature thresholds where these materials changed from solid to liquid and vice versa. By identifying the conditions under which polymer blends remain stable, scientists can more efficiently design materials for use in batteries and other applications.

“Our study validated a set of equations that predicts the behavior of polymer blends,” said study co-author Michael Patrick Blatt, a former doctoral student. “This may accelerate the discovery of new electrolytes by eliminating unsuitable polymer combinations before they are synthesized or blended. This is a step toward smarter, more sustainable materials design. With better models, we can create better materials faster.”