Harnessing Synergy in Sustainable Polymers: From Catalysts to Copolymers

Synergy occurs when the combined efforts of different components produce a result that exceeds the sum of their individual contributions - in other words, the overall effect is “greater than the sum of its parts”. In a world where sustainability and circular economy are becoming increasingly crucial, harnessing synergy is an attractive method for achieving more with fewer resources.

This concept can be applied at various levels, from enhancing catalyst performance at the molecular level to improving materials, where copolymers and polymer blends can exhibit enhanced properties including strength and degradability. This lecture will explore opportunities to develop synergistic catalysts for the synthesis of targeted sustainable polymers.

For further information, contact Charlotte Willans, charlotte.willans@york.ac.uk.