RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My principal strategy is to precisely control the architecture and composition of the materials by means of synthetic studies.
The long-term goal of my research will uncover both the design principles that govern catalytic reactions and the synthetic tools that will enable discovery of advanced materials.
Design high-performance catalysts for the synthesis of chemically recyclable polymer by stereoselective polymerization
Explore novel recyclable polymer systems
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC CAREER:
2021.12–present，Sichuan University, College of Chemistry, Associate professor
2019.01–2021.05，The Ohio State University (US), Postdoc, Advisor: Prof. Casey R Wade
2013.09–2018.08，University of Houston (US), Ph.D., Advisor: Prof. Loi H Do
2009.09–2013.06，Renmin University of China, B.Sc.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
2018 Graduate Research Excellence Award (University of Houston)
2016 The Axalta PCI Scholarship
2013 Presidential Graduate Fellowship (University of Houston)
2012 The 2nd Prize of Academic Scholarship (Renmin University of China)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
27. Chen, J.-H.; Tu, Y.-M.; Yao, J.-R.; Tang, X.-T.; Xia, Y.-Y.; Cai, Z.*; Zhang, Q.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Accessing Chemically Recyclable Polyamides via Geminal Dimethyl Substitution. Polymer 2024, 298, 126898.
26. Cao, Q.; Tu, Y.-M.; Fan, H.-Z.; Shan, S.-Y.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Torsional Strain Enabled Ring-Opening Polymerization towards Axially Chiral Semiaromatic Polyesters with Chemical Recyclability. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63 (13), e202400196.
25. Shan, S.-Y.; Zhang, W.; Cao, Q.; Ye, Y.-C.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Cis-Fused Cyclohexane Promoted the Chemical Recycling of Polycarbonate to Monomer. Polym. Chem. 2024, 15 (11), 1070–1076.
24. Xiong, W.; Dai, J.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Advancing the Material Performance of Chemically Recyclable Polythioesters via Copolymerization. Polymer 2024, 290, 126515.
23. Wu, Y.; Fan, H.; Shan, S.; Wang, S.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Functionalizable and Recyclable Aliphatic Polycarbonates Derived from Biomass Feedstocks and CO2. Chem. Res. Chinese Univ. 2023, 39 (5), 809–815.
22. Dai, J.; Xiong, W.; Li, D.-Y.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Bifunctional Thiourea-Based Organocatalyst Promoted Kinetic Resolution Polymerization of Racemic Lactide to Isotactic Polylactide. Chem. Commun. 2023, 59 (85), 12731–12734.
21. Huang, H.-Y.; Xiong, W.; Huang, Y.-T.; Li, K.; Cai, Z.; Zhu, J.-B*. Spiro-Salen Catalysts Enable the Chemical Synthesis of Stereoregular Polyhydroxyalkanoates. Nat. Catal. 2023, 6 (8), 720–728.
20. Tu, Y.-M.; Gong, F.-L.; Wu, Y.-C.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Insights into Substitution Strategy towards Thermodynamic and Property Regulation of Chemically Recyclable Polymers. Nat. Commun. 2023, 14 (1), 3198.
19. Wang, X.-M.; Huang, H.-Y.; Tu, Y.-M.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Naphthalene Engineering of Chemically Recyclable Polyesters with Enhanced Thermal and Mechanical Properties. Polym. Chem. 2023, 14 (17), 2027–2033.
18. Fan, H.-Z.; Yang, X.; Wu, Y.-C.; Cao, Q.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Leveraging the Monomer Structure for High-Performance Chemically Recyclable Semiaromatic Polyesters. Polym. Chem. 2023, 14 (6), 747–753.
17. Dai, J.; Xiong, W.; Du, M.-R.; Wu, G.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* A Facile Approach towards High-Performance Poly(Thioether-Thioester)s with Full Recyclability. Sci. China Chem. 2023, 66, 251–258.
16. Yang, X.; Fan, H.-Z.; Cai, Z.*; Zhang, Q.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Ring-Opening Polymerization of a Benzyl-Protected Cyclic Ester towards Functional Aliphatic Polyester. Chinese J. Chem. 2022, 40 (24), 2973–2980. 封面论文
15. Wu, Y.-C.; Fan, H.-Z.; Zhang, W.; Wang, M.-Y.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Biobased Bifunctional Monomers toward Functionalizable Polycarbonates and Poly(Cyclic Olefin)s with Tunable Properties. Macromolecules 2022, 55 (20), 9232–9241.
14. 蔡中正*, 陶友华*, 刘野*, 朱剑波*. 基于单体设计的可回收高分子研究进展. 化学学报. 2022, 80, 1165–1182.
13. Yang, X.; Zhang, W.; Huang, H.-Y.; Dai, J.; Wang, M.-Y.; Fan, H.-Z.; Cai, Z.*; Zhang, Q.*; Zhu, J.-B*. Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones with a Fused Ring Leading to Semicrystalline Polyesters. Macromolecules 2022, 55 (7), 2777–2786.
12. Fan, H.-Z.; Yang, X.; Chen, J.-H.; Tu, Y.-M.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Advancing the Development of Recyclable Aromatic Polyesters by Functionalization and Stereocomplexation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, e202117639.
11. Zhang, W.; Dai, J.; Wu, Y.-C.; Chen, J.-X.; Shan, S.-Y.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Highly Reactive Cyclic Carbonates with a Fused Ring toward Functionalizable and Recyclable Polycarbonates. ACS Macro Lett. 2022, 11, 2, 173–178.
10. Tu, Y.-M.; Wang, X.-M.; Yang, X.; Fan, H.-Z.; Gong, F.-L.; Cai, Z.*; Zhu, J.-B.* Biobased High-Performance Aromatic–Aliphatic Polyesters with Complete Recyclability. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 20591.
9. Cai Z.; Tao W.; Curtis M.; Zhang S.; Wade C. R.* Direct NO reduction by a Biomimetic Iron(II) Pyrazolate MOF. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 21221.
8. Cai Z.; Xiao D.; Do L. H.* Fine-Tuning Nickel Phenoxyimine Olefin Polymerization Catalysts: Performance Boosting by Alkali Cations. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 15501.
7. Cai Z.; Bien C.; Liu Q.; Wade C. R.* Insights into CO2 Adsorption in M-OH Functionalized MOFs. Chem. Mater. 2020, 32, 4257.
6. Bien C †; Cai Z†; Wade C. R.* Using Postsynthetic X-type Ligand Exchange (PXLE) to Enhance CO2Adsorption in MOFs with Kuratowski-type Building Units. Inorg. Chem. 2021, 60, 11784. (†co-first author)
5. Cai Z.; Do L. H.* Customizing Polyolefin Morphology by Selective Pairing of Alkali Ions with Nickel Phenoxyimine-Polyethylene Glylcol Catalyst. Organometallics 2017, 36, 4691.
4. Cai Z.; Do L. H.* Thermally Robust Heterobimetallic Palladium-Alkali Catalysts for Ethylene and Alkyl Acrylate Copolymerization. Organometallics 2018, 37, 3874.
3. Cai Z.; D. Xiao, Do L. H.* Cooperative Heterobimetallic Catalysts in Coordination Insertion Polymerization. Comment Inorg. Chem. 2019, 39, 27.
2. Xiao D.; Cai Z.; Do L. H.* Accelerating Ethylene Homo- and Copolymerization Capabilities Using Secondary Metal Ions in Tetrahydrofuran. Dalton Trans. 2019, 48, 17887.
1. Jiang Z.; Zhang L.; Dong C.; Cai Z.; Tang W.; Li H.; Xu L.*; Xiao J.* Palladium-catalyzed Highly Regioselective Arylation of Electron-rich Allylamines with Thiophenes and Furans. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2012, 354, 3225.
Patent
1. PCT/US19/39149 “Heterobimetallic Catalysts and Site-Differentiated Ligands for Preparation”.
2. PCT/US19/036597 “Metal-Organic Frameworks Containing Metal-Hydroxide Moieties and Methods of Making and Using”.
