We have studied the interactions between polymers and heterogeneous catalysts using solid-state NMR spectroscopy to design catalytic materials that affect the process by which larger macromolecules are deconstructed into a distribution of smaller molecules. Solid-state (SS) <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopic methods show that conformations of polyethylene chains, and dynamic properties of conformational domains, are affected by the three dimensional properties of solids upon which the polymer is deposited. These methods reveal that polyethylene chains thread into mesoporous of mesoporous silica in zig-zag all-anti conformations, whereas the rough and irregular shapes of Davisil silica gel give both twisted (gauche) and zig-zag domains. Nanoparticle sites, localized solely in pores, mediate catalytic carbon-carbon bond cleavage steps, providing independent evidence that polymer chains readily enter mesopores. In addition, the product distribution obtained from polyethylene deconstruction using porous catalysts is distinct from that formed using analogous nonporous catalysts.

Catalysts for cleavage of C–C bonds for polymer upcycling enabled by SSNMR

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.