Functional Polymers for Low Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries and Anti-Adhesion Biomaterials

Abstract:  

Research in the Kofinas Laboratory centers on the design, synthesis, and processing of functional polymers for energy storage and biomedical applications. We pursue two complementary thrusts:

1. Battery electrolytes: We investigate solid and water-based polymer electrolytes formulated for enhanced safety and reliability, including chemistries engineered for stable ion transport at low temperatures. Target outcomes include widened electrochemical stability windows, and sustained conductivity under sub-ambient conditions relevant to extreme environments.

2. Anti-adhesion biomaterials: We formulate and process biodegradable, functional polymer blends to prevent postoperative adhesions. Using solution blow spinning, we directly deposit conformal fiber mats onto wet or irregular tissues. Upon warming to body temperature, these materials form protective films that adhere selectively, degrade on a controlled timeline, and are adaptable to abdominal, cardiac, and gynecologic procedures.

Collectively, this work spans polymer science, biology, electrochemistry, processing, pairing them with application-driven testing to deliver safer lithium-ion batteries and translational anti-adhesion barriers ready for operating-room translation.

Bio:

Peter Kofinas is Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland (since July 2017). A member of the UMD faculty since 1996, he previously served as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Programs in the A. James Clark School of Engineering and also as Equity Officer and Diversity Officer. He holds affiliate (courtesy) appointments in Bioengineering and in Materials Science and Engineering.

Kofinas earned his SB and SM in Chemical Engineering from MIT in 1989 and a PhD in Polymers from MIT in 1994, followed by two years as a postdoctoral associate in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering. He directs the Functional Macromolecular Laboratory (FML; fml.umd.edu), which advances functional polymers for medicine and pharmaceutics, energy storage, and microelectronics. His group focuses on the synthesis and structure–property relationships of complex polymer architectures, with current projects in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, additive manufacturing for printed electronics, and sprayable surgical materials to prevent postoperative adhesions.

He has graduated 26 PhD and 9 MS thesis students and mentored more than 100 undergraduate and high-school researchers; alumni hold positions in industry, federal agencies, and academia, including three who have joined the professoriate. His entrepreneurial work includes founding startups recognized twice with the University of Maryland’s Outstanding Invention of the Year Award.

Kofinas is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the Clark School’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching, Senior Faculty Outstanding Research, and Faculty Outstanding Service awards. He holds the endowed Keystone Professorship for excellence in undergraduate teaching and is also an Engaged Faculty Award honoree.