Project

Sustainable plastics based on polyelectrolyte complexes

Coulomb’s (electrostatic) interactions between charged microdomains of two oppositely charged polyionic components result in the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). PECs can be liquids (when hydrated), elastic PECs (when wet) and brittle and fragile solids (when dry) as a result of strong interactions between charged groups. Though easy to prepare, PECs are extremely difficult to process as a result of these properties, and thus limiting its applications in plastics. Here, we aim to create a new type of plastic materials based on PECs, which is robust, water-resistant, malleable and transparent at low temperature and without doping with salt or solvents, and may therefore easy to repair and recycle and make contributions to the concept of circular economy.