Polymer Scientist

Rui Ma

Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut

** ***** ********** **, ******, CT 06269

******.****@*****.*** 860-***-****

Summary

. Extensive experience in high performance polymers (polyimide,

polyurethane, polyurea, PEEK), polymer synthesis and polymer

characterizations (chemical structure, microstructure, thermal, mechanical

and electrical properties). Adept at identifying and designing polymer

materials for specific applications based on polymer structure-property

relationships.

. Skilled in polymer processing and optimization of processing method,

especially polymer film processing. Able to provide guidance for scale-up

and processing conditions.

. Participate in a multi-disciplinary team for new material design.

Collaborate with computational scientists, polymer engineers and

electrical engineers. Practical knowledge of polymer electrical

properties, high energy density capacitors, fuel cells and electronic

devices.

Education

Polymer Program, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

September 2011- expected August 2015

Ph. D. Candidate in Polymer Science (GPA: 3.89/4.00) Doctoral Dissertation

Fellowship (UConn, December 2013)

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University,

Shanghai, China September 2007-Jun. 2011

Bachelor of Applied Science in Polymer Science and Engineering (GPA:

3.70/4.00) National Fellowship (November 2008)

Research Experience

Research Assistant, Rational Design of Advanced Polymer Dielectric Films,

MURI September 2011-present

Advisor: Dr. Gregory A. Sotzing Polymer Program, UConn, Storrs, CT

. Develop next generation dielectric materials for high energy density

capacitors in a multidisciplinary university research initiative (MURI)

project (http://faculty.ims.uconn.edu/MURI/index.htm). Collaborate with

researchers in seven groups and universities with different background

from modeling (DFT, molecular dynamics, chemoinformatics), to polymer

processing and electrical engineering.

. Develop new organic dielectrics including polyimides, polyureas,

polyurethanes and polythioureas through rationally designed synthesis and

thin film processing. Conduct systematic research on structure-property

relationships, achieving enhanced dielectric properties---high dielectric

constant, high breakdown strength, low dielectric loss and better thermal

durability. Optimize the process for large scale synthesis and polymer

film processing.

. Synthesis of organometallic polymers as dielectric material. Explore

chemical space of Group IV element-based hybrid polymers, especially

organotin polymers. Confirm intra- and inter-chain complex structures

through Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Achieve controlled

crystallization by polymer blending and layer-by-layer film processing.

. Collect and analyze data for polymer dielectric database combining

theoretical and experimental study; Establish figure of merit for polymer

dielectric material.

Research Assistant, Membrane Materials Laboratory

November 2007-May 2011

Advisor: Dr. Jianhua Fang Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai,

China

. Synthesized sulfonated polyimide, PEEK and polybenzimidazole as proton

exchange membrane material for fuel cell applications.

. Worked in collaborative project sponsored by GE Shanghai, prepared

sulfonated polymer/PTFE composite membrane for water purification

systems, including sulfonated polystyrene, polyimide and polyether imide.

Skills

. Polymer Synthesis and Characterization-Syntheses of organic and

organometallic polymers, condensation polymerization, organic synthesis.

Polymer chemical structure, thermal property, and microstructure

characterizations: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform

infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), gel

permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),

differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gas chromatography-mass

spectrometry (GC-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron

microscope (SEM), optical microscope.

. Thin Films, Polymer Film Processing-Doctor blade film applicator, spin

coating, drop casting; Universal mechanical testing; Composite polymer

membrane, layer by layer film casting.

. Dielectric Materials and Capacitors-Time and frequency domain dielectric

spectroscopy, breakdown phenomena and breakdown strength measurement,

ferroelectric hysteresis measurement.

. Data Analysis-Origin, Minitab.

. Proton Exchange Membrane, Composite Membrane-Surface modification;

Electrical property characterizations: ionic conductivity, IEC,

polarization curves.

selected PUBlications and Conferences

. R. Ma, A. F. Baldwin, C. C.Wang, R. Ramprasad, G. A. Sotzing,"Rationally

Designed Polyimides for High Energy Density Capacitor Applications", ACS

Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2014, 6 (13), 10445.

. A. F. Baldwin, R. Ma, C. C. Wang, R. Ramprasad, G. A. Sotzing, "Structure-

property Relationship of Polyimides based on Pyromellitic Dianhydride and

Short-chain Aliphatic Diamines for Dielectric Material Applications", J.

Appl. Polym. Sci. 2013, 130, 1276.

. V. Sharma, C. Wang, R. G. Lorenzini, R. Ma, Q. Zhu, D. W. Sinkovits, G.

Pilania, A. R. Oganov, S. Kumar, G. A. Sotzing, S. A. Boggs, R.

Ramprasad, "Rational Design of All Organic Polymer Dielectrics", Nature

Communications DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5845.

. A. F. Baldwin, R. Ma, A. Mannodi-Kanakkithodi., T. D. Huan, C. Wang, M.

Tefferi, J. E. Marszalek, M. Cakmak, Y. Cao, R. Ramprasad, G. A. Sotzing, "Poly(dimethyltin glutarate) as a Prospective Material for High

Dielectric Applications", Advanced Materials DOI: 10.1002/adma.2014

04162.

. X. Guo, W. Fan, K. Mo, R. Ma, H. Xu, F. Fang, "Preparation of sulfonated

aromatic 2-naphthalic anhydrides", CN101580500A.

. R. Ma, A. F. Baldwin, C. C. Wang, R. Ramprasad, G. A. Sotzing "Rationally

Designed Polyimide Thin Films for High Energy Density Capacitor

Applications", 247th ACS National Meeting, Dallas, TX, USA, March, 2014.

. R. Ma, V. Sharma, I. Offenbach, M. Cakmak, R. Ramprasad, G. A. Sotzing

"Exploration of Structure-Property Relationship of Polythioureas for

Energy Storage Applications", MRS 2014 Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, USA.

. H. Tran, A. Mannodi-Kanakkithodi, C. Wang, A. F. Baldwin, R. Ma, G. A.

Sotzing, R. Ramprasad "Organotin polymeric dielectrics for energy-storage

applications", Bulletin of the American Physical Society, 2014

Related Experience

Teaching Assistant, Polymer Characterization Course, Polymer Program, UConn

January 2012-June 2013

. Supervised graduate students' lab experiments, designed experiment

procedures for practice of ATRP, condensation polymerizations, and ionic

polymerizations.

Activity Organizer, Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), UConn Chapter

August 2012-June 2013

. In charge of Student Seminar Sessions, New Students Orientation

Volunteer of EXPO 2010 Shanghai China

October

2010

. Excellent Volunteer of EXPO 2010 Shanghai China (Government Award)

Vice President of Student Organization

September 2008-June 2009

. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong

University

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Rui Ma

CV

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