Anqi Ji
Howard University, DC·Materials Science
Plastics made from renewable biomass, such as plant material, could replace many petroleum-based plastics in packaging, consumer goods, cars and medical products. Natural biomass varies widely in chemistry and structure, though, and that makes it hard to manufacture composites with consistent quality.
- Fields
Materials Science
Engineering
Chemistry
- Topics
biopolymers
biomass
biocomposites
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Aug 2029
What they work on
- Chemically modify biomass systematically and characterize it at multiple scales to link biomass structure to interfacial adhesion with polymer matrices in manufactured composites.
- Use quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the molecular mechanisms that govern adhesion at the biomass-polymer interface.
- Develop preliminary physics-informed machine learning models that predict composite processability and performance from biomass characteristics and interfacial adhesion.
More about the research
This project asks how biomass characteristics control adhesion, or stickiness, at the interface where biomass meets a polymer matrix. It also asks how that interface shapes processing and final performance.
Why it matters
Manufacturers seeking to replace petroleum plastics could use predictive design rules to make renewable composites with reliable quality. Applications include lightweight structural components, compostable packaging and biomedical products. Such rules could support a circular bioeconomy that reuses and recycles materials and cut dependence on fossil-based materials.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Eric Cochran
Iowa State University, IA·Materials Science
Develop the science of recycling and end-of-life treatment for bio-based plastics and composites, especially when mixed with petrochemical plastics, including chemical recycling and upcycling routes.
Karl Englund
Washington State University, WA·Materials Science
Develop bio-based composites, coatings, adhesives and polymers on industry-relevant technology platforms, targeting materials compatible with current manufacturing systems used by center member companies.
Sergiy Minko
University of Georgia, GA·Materials Science
Develop ultrasonic processing that functionalizes and polymerizes lignocellulosic ingredients from biomass and industrial waste at 25-50 degrees C, avoiding the degradation and energy cost of conventional 200-280 degrees C polycondensation.
The school
Howard University: 8 labs on PI Pages, $102M a year on research, 102 research doctorates a year.
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