Researchers from NDSU’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering and the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials have published the cover article in the Journal of Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics. Mohammed Nasrullah, postdoctoral researcher at the center, and Dean Webster, professor in the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, wrote the article “Parallel Synthesis of Polymer Libraries Using Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.” Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics is one of the leading journals in polymer science. The article is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122265040/abstract.

The main focus of the work presented in the article explores issues relating to parallel atom transfer radical polymerization synthesis of libraries of low molecular weight polymers and block copolymers. The Office of Naval Research funds the project.

The Combinatorial Materials Research Laboratory at the Center for Nanoscale Science Engineering, which uses high-throughput methods, speeds up the preparation and exploration of new polymeric materials. A large diversity of parameters can be screened simultaneously, resulting in determination of new structure and property relationships. Using automatic robotic methods such as the ones used in the laboratory, researchers can generate and test a large number of samples in one day, cutting experiment times from weeks to days.

Nasrullah’s previous research includes the area of photoresist polymers at the Indian Institute of Technology and the area of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Nasrullah joined the Center for Nanoscale Science Engineering in 2005 as a research associate to work with Webster and the Combinatorial Materials Research Laboratory team for the development of advanced marine coatings using combinatorial and high throughput experimentation.

Webster previously worked for Sherwin-Williams Co. and Eastman Chemical Co. He joined the Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department at NDSU in 2001. Webster holds nine patents and 13 published patent applications and has written more than 60 publications and book chapters.