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Christopher Stafford (Fed)
Project Leader, Polymer Membranes
We are developing advanced measurement methods of structure, dynamics, and transport of small molecules in polymer membranes and sorbents. The project is currently focused on polyamide-based membranes for water purification and amine-based sorbents for carbon capture. The objectives of the project include:
- To design and demonstrate strategies for creating well-defined, model membranes and sorbents that allow systematic control over chemistry and structure
- To develop and advance measurement platforms (often multimodal) to quantify dynamics and transport properties in model membranes and sorbents
- To apply the knowledge generated from measurements on model materials to establishing structure/property/performance relationships in commercially relevant membranes and sorbents
Providing industry with the measurement tools and proficiency will enable scientists and engineers to design more selective and energy-efficient membranes/sorbents and processes.
"An experiment is a question which science poses to Nature, and a measurement is the recording of Nature’s answer." - Max Planck
Research Interests
- Polymer thin films and membranes
- Water and ion transport
- CO2 sorption
- Direct Air Capture (DAC)
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
- Surface wrinkling and patterning
Google Scholar: publications and citations
LinkedIn: profession network and background
Research Opportunities
National Research Council (NRC) Research Associates Program (RAP)
- RO# 50.64.21.C0762 "Polymer Membranes and Sorbents for CO2 Capture"
- RO# 50.64.21.B7643 "Polymer Membranes for Water Purification"
- RO# 50.64.21.B5585 "Nanomechanical Properties of Polymer Thin Films"
Awards
Fellow of the ACS PMSE Division (2018)
Fellow of the American Physical Society (2017)
MML Accolade for Technology Transfer (2016)
Adhesion Society Outstanding Young Adhesion Scientist Award(2010)
U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award (2007)
NIST Sigma Xi Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research (2006)
U.S. Department of Commerce Silver Medal Award (2005)
National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associateship (2002-2004)