Affiliations

Robert L. Letsinger Professor of Chemistry

Research Statement

Our research integrates synthetic and polymer chemistry to create porous materials and two-dimensional polymers with applications in separations, energy storage, and sustainability.

2D polymers and covalent organic frameworks: Our research helped establish 2D-COFs as a new class of porous polymers, demonstrating redox-active frameworks, thin-film growth on graphene, and mechanistic control over crystallization. In 2025, our team reported the first mechanically interlocked two-dimensional polymer, formed by topochemical polymerization to yield layered sheets with enhanced mechanical properties.

Water purification: We developed cyclodextrin-based porous polymers that rapidly remove organic micropollutants and PFAS from water. These materials underpin commercial products containing DEXSORB® technology from cyclopure, which I founded in 2016. We also led a 2022 study describing a simple, low-temperature method to degrade multiple PFAS classes using dimethyl sulfoxide and sodium hydroxide.

Recycling thermoset polyurethanes as covalent adaptable networks:Our research group developed a new recycling method for polyurethane foams, one of the most common types of plastic, that uses nontoxic, greener catalysts. The process involves chemical reactions that simultaneously reprocess and “refoam” polyurethane after heating in the presence of a catalyst. The types of polymers that require this catalyst approach are called thermosets, or cross-linked polymers. Thermosets are important because of their superior durability and stability, but these properties come at the expense of recyclability. New methods to recycle thermosets will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and decrease landfill use.

Selected Publications

 Kim, S.; Felsenthal, L. M.; Sala, O.; Welz, O.; Bergeler, M.; Alsbaiee, A.; Dichtel, W. R. “Reprocessing Thermoset Polyurethane Foams Using Their Residual Polymerization Catalysts.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 35655-35663. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c11319

Lin, Z.-W.; Kim, S.; Dyakiv, Y.; Gedangoni, E. F. P.; Packman, A. I.; Helbling, D. E.; Getzinger, G. J.; Dichtel, W. R. “A Macroporous Cyclodextrin Monolith for Continuous Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Water.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 33761-33769. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c09865

Kharel, P.; Carmichael, P. T.; Natraj, A.; Pelkowski, C. E.; Bae, S. H.; Dichtel, W. R.; Huang, P. Y. “3D Imaging Reveals Widespread Stacking Disorder in Single Crystal 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 11821-11828. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c16207

Bardot, M. I.; Weyrich, C. W.; Shi, Z.; Traxler, M.; Stern, C. L.; Cui, J.; Muller, D. A.; Becker, M. L.; Dichtel, W. R. “Mechanically Interlocked Two-Dimensional Polymers.” Science, 2025, 387, 264-269. DOI: 10.1126/science.ads4968

Felsenthal, L. M.; Kim, S.; Dichtel, W. R. “Robust Self-Healing Adhesives Based on Dynamic Urethane Exchange Reactions. “ ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2024, 16, 57687-57694. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c12415

Natraj, A; Landman, IR; Pelkowski, CE; Burke, DW; Kewalramani, S; Dichtel, WR; “Nonclassical Crystallization Processes of Single-Crystalline Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 16775-16786, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04674

Kim, S; Li, K; Alsbaiee, A; Brutman, JP; Dichtel, WR “Circular Reprocessing of Thermoset Polyurethane Foams.” Adv. Mater. 2023, 35, 2305387. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305387

Skala, LP; Stern; Bancroft, L; Moisanu, CM; Pelkowski, C; Aguilar-Enriquez, X; Swartz, JL; Wasielewski, MR; Dichtel, WR; “A modular platform for the precise assembly of molecular frameworks composed of ion pairs.” Chem. 2023, 9, 1208-1220. DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.01.011

Natraj, A.; Ji, W.; Xin, J.; Catano, I.; Burke, D.W.; Evans, A.M.; Strauss, M.J.; Ateia; M.; Hamachi, L.S.; Gianneschi, N.C.; Alothman, Z.A.; Sun, J.; Yusuf, K.; and Dichtel, W.R.; “Single Cyrstalline Imine-Linked Two -Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks Separate Benzene and Cycloexane Efficiently.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 19813–19824. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07166

Trang, B.; Li, Y.; Xue, X-S.; Ateia, M.; Houk, K.N.; and Dichtel, W.R.; “Low-temperature Mineralization of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids.” Science, 2022, 377, 839-845. DOI: 10.1126/science.abm8868

Selected Honors/Awards

• Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
• Defense Science Study Group (2022-2024)
• ACS/PMSE Global Outstanding Student & Mentor Awards in Polymer Science & Engineering (2021)
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2021)
• Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists (2020)
• Finalist, Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists (2019)
• Akron Local Section Award, American Chemical Society (2018)
• Research Corporation Frontiers in Research Excellence and Discovery (FRED) Award (2018)
• Guggenheim Fellowship (2018)
• Crain’s 40 under 40 in Chicago Business (2017)
• Leo Hendrik Baekeland Award (2017)
• Finalist, Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists (2017)
• Arthur K. Doolittle Award (2016)
• MacArthur “Genius Grant” (2015)
• Visiting Miller Professor, UC-Berkeley (2015-16)
• Kavli Frontiers Fellow (2015)
• Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry, American Chemical Society (2015)
• Inaugural BASF Innovation Lecturer, University of Tokyo (2014)
• Polymer International / IUPAC Award for Creativity in Polymer Science (2014)
• Phi Lambda Upsilon / ACS National Fresenius Award (2014)
• Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2013)
• Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2012)
• Beckman Young Investigator (2012)
• Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar (2012)
• Sloan Research Fellowship (2012)
• 3M Nontenured Faculty Award (2010-2012)