2020 - Present | Charlotte Williams Research

Controlled Carbon Dioxide Terpolymerizations to Deliver Toughened yet Recyclable Thermoplastics

Graphical abstract showing the polycarbonate terpolymer structure and highlighting the improvement to strength and toughness, tuneable thermal properties, and their mechanical and chemical recyclability

K. C. Poon, M. L. Smith, and C. K. Williams, Macromolecules, 2024, 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00455

Quantifying CO₂Insertion Equilibria for Low-Pressure Propene Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Ring Opening Copolymerization Catalysts

A graphical abstract showing on the left the catalyst structure and associated catalytic metrics, and on the right a depiction of the equilibria and rate-determining step for CO2 epoxide copolymerization

K. H. S. Eisenhardt, F. Fiorentini, W. Lindeboom, and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, 146, 15, 10451-10464, 10.1021/jacs.3c13959

High Molar Mass Polycarbonates as Closed-Loop Recyclable Thermoplastics

A graphical abstract showing the general CO2-polycarbonate structure overlaid onto a exemplary tensile stress-strain curve

G. Rosetto, F. Vidal, T. M. McGuire, R. W. F. Kerr, and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, 146, 12, 8381-8393, 10.1021/jacs.3c14170

Exploiting Organometallic Chemistry to Functionalize Small Cuprous Oxide Colloidal Nanocrystals

B. E. Cowie, K. L. Mears, M. S’ari, J. K. Lee, M. Briceno de Gutierrez, C. Kalha, A. Regoutz, M. S. P. Shaffer, and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, 10.1021/jacs.3c10892

Designing a circular carbon and plastics economy for a sustainable future

F. Vidal, E. R. van der Marel, R. W. F. Kerr, C. McElroy, N. Schroeder, C. Mitchell, G. Rosetto, T. T. D. Chen, R. M. Bailey, C. Hepburn, C. Redgwell and C. K. Williams, Nature, 2024, 626, 45–57

Alternatives to Fluorinated Binders: Recyclable Copolyester/Carbonate Electrolytes for High-Capacity Solid Composite Cathodes

H. Yeo, G. L. Gregory, H. Gao, K. Yiamsawat, G. J. Rees, T. McGuire, M. Pasta, P. G. Bruce and C. K. Williams, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 2371 - 2379

Al(III)/K(I) Heterodinuclear Polymerization Catalysts Showing Fast Rates and High Selectivity for Polyester Polyols

E. J. K. Shellard, W. T. Diment, D. A. Resendiz-Lara, F. Fiorentini, G. L. Gregory, and C. K. Williams, ACS Catal., 2024, 14, 1363–1374

Evaluating Heterodinuclear Mg(II)M(II) (M = Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) Catalysts for the Chemical Recycling of Poly(cyclohexene carbonate)

M. L. Smith. T. M. McGuire, A. Buchard and C. K. Williams, ACS Catal., 2023, 15770-15778

Chemical Recycling of Commercial Poly(l-lactic acid) to l-Lactide Using a High-Performance Sn(II)/Alcohol Catalyst System

T. M. McGuire, A. Buchard and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 36, 19840-19848

Understanding catalytic synergy in dinuclear polymerization catalysts for sustainable polymers

F. Fiorentini, W. T. Diment, A. C. Deacy, R. W. F. Kerr, S. Faulkner, C. K. Williams, Nat Commun., 2023, 14, 4783,

Correlating Metal Redox Potentials to Co(III)K(I) Catalyst Performances in Carbon Dioxide and Propene Oxide Ring Opening Copolymerization

W. Lindeboom, A. C. Deacy, A. Phanopoulos, A. Buchard, C. K. Williams, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023 ,62, e2023083

Ring Opening Copolymerization of Boron-Containing Anhydride with Epoxides as a Controlled Platform to Functional Polyesters

F. Vidal, S. Smith and C.K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 25, 13888–13900

Toughening CO₂-Derived Copolymer Elastomers Through Ionomer Networking

K.C. Poon, G.L. Gregory, G.S. Sulley, F. Vidal and C.K. Williams, Adv. Mater., 2023, 35, 2302825

Matched Ligands for Small, Stable Colloidal Nanoparticles of Copper, Cuprous Oxide and Cuprous Sulfide

B.E. Cowie, L. Häfele, A. Phanopoulos, S.A. Said, J.K. Lee, A. Regoultz, M.S.P. Shaffer and C.K. Williams, Chem. Eur. J., 2023, e202300228

A Highly Active, Thermally Robust Iron(III)/Potassium(I) Heterodinuclear Catalyst for Bio-derived Epoxide/Anhydride Ring Opening Copolymerizations

W. T. Dilment, G. Rosetto, N. Ezaz-Nikpay, R. W. F. Kerr and C. K. Williams, Green Chem., 2023, 25, 2262–2267

Block Poly(carbonate-ester) Ionomers as High-Performance and Recyclable Thermoplastic Elastomers

G. L. Gregory, G. S. Sulley, J. Kimpel, M. Łagodzińska, L. Häfele, L. Peña Carrodeguas and C. K. Williams, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2022, 61, e2022107

Solid-State Chemical Recycling of Polycarbonates to Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide Using a Heterodinuclear Mg(II)Co(II) Catalyst

T. M. McGuire, A. C. Deacy, A. Buchard and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 40, 18444-18449

Buffering Volume Change in Solid-State Battery Composite Cathodes with Co₂-Derived Block Polycarbonate Ethers

G. L. Gregory, H. Gao, B. Liu, X. Gao, G. J. Rees, M. Pasta, P. G. Bruce and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 38, 17477-17486

Insights into the Mechanism of Carbon Dioxide and Propylene Oxide Ring-Opening Copolymerization Using Co(III)/K(I) Heterodinuclear Catalyst

A. C. Deacy, A. Phanopoulos, W. Lindeboom, A. Buchard and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 39, 17929-17938

Synergic Heterodinuclear Catalysts for the Ring-Opening Copolymerization (ROCOP) of Epoxides, Carbon Dioxide, and Anhydrides

W. T. Diment, W. Lindeboom, F. Fiorentini, A. C. Deacy and C. K. Williams, Acc. Chem. Res., 2022, 55, 15, 1997-2010

Chain end-group selectivity using an organometallic Al(III)/K(I) ring-opening copolymerization catalyst delivers high molar mass, monodisperse polyesters

W. T. Diment and C. K. Williams, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 8543-8549

Chemical Recycling of Poly(Cyclohexene Carbonate) Using a Di-Mg(II) Catalyst

F. N. Singer, A. C. Deacy, T. M. McGuire, C. K. Williams, and A. Buchard, Angew. Chem., 2022, 61, e2022017

Zr(IV) Catalyst for the Ring-Opening Copolymerization of Anhydrides (A) with Epoxides (B), Oxetane (B), and Tetrahydrofurans (C) to Make ABB- and/or ABC-Poly(ester-alt-ethers)

R. W. F. Kerr and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 15, 6882–6893

Exploiting Sodium Coordination in Alternating Monomer Sequences to Toughen Degradable Block Polyester Thermoplastic Elastomers

G. L. Gregory and C. K. Williams, Macromolecules, 2022, 55, 6, 2290–2299

Heterodinuclear Mg(II)M(II) (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn)Complexes for the Ring Opening Copolymerization of CarbonDioxide/Epoxide and anhydride/Epoxide

N. V. Reis, A. C. Deacy, G. Rosetto, C. B. Durr, and C. K. Williams, Chem. Eur. J., 2022, e202104198

Heterotrinuclear Ring Opening Copolymerization Catalysis: Structure–activity Relationships

A. Plajer and C. K. Williams, ACS Catal., 2021, 11, 14819–14828

Chemically recyclable polyacetals to deliver useful thermoplastics

F. Vidal and C. K. Williams, Chem, 2021, 7, 2857-2859

Catalytic Synergy Using Al(III) and Group 1 Metals to Accelerate Epoxide and Anhydride Ring-Opening Copolymerizations

W. T. Diment, G. L. Gregory, A. Buchard, R. W. F. Kerr, A. Phanopoulos, and C. K. Williams, ACS Catal., 2021, 11, 12532–12542

Mg(ii) heterodinuclear catalysts delivering carbon dioxide derived multi-block polymers

G. Rosetto, A. C. Deacy, and C. K. Williams, Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 12315-12325

Sequence Control from Mixtures: Switchable Polymerization Catalysis and Future Materials Applications

A. C. Deacy, G. L. Gregory, G. S. Sulley, T. T. D. Chen and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143, 10021–10040

Heterodinuclear Zn(II), Mg(II) or Co(III) with Na(I) Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide and Cyclohexene Oxide Ring Opening Copolymerizations

W. Lindeboom, D. A. X. Fraser, C. B. Durr, and C. K. Williams, Chem. Eur. J., 2021, 27, 12224–12231

Very Important Paper based on referees suggestion

Heterocycle/Switchable Polymerization Catalysis Using a Tin(II) Catalyst and Commercial Monomers to Toughen Poly(L-lactide)

N. Yuntawattana, G. L. Gregory, L. P. Carrodeguas and C. K. Williams, ACS Macro Lett., 2021, 10, 774 - 779

Heterocycle/Heteroallene Ring Opening Copolymerization: Selective Catalysis Delivering Alternating Copolymers

A. J. Plajer and C. K. Williams, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021

Heterotrimetallic Carbon Dioxide Copolymerization and Switchable Catalysts: Sodium is the Key to High Activity and Unusual Selectivity

A. J. Plajer and C. K. Williams, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 2-10

Hot Paper

Direct Organometallic Synthesis of Carboxylate Intercalated Layered Zinc Hydroxides for Fully Exfoliated Functional Nanosheets

S. A. Said, C. S. Roberts, J. K. Lee, M. S. P. Shaffer, and C. K. Williams, Adv. Funct. Mater, 2021, 2102631

Front piece: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.202170218

Heterodinuclear catalysts Zn(II)/M and Mg(II)/M, where M = Na(I), Ca(II) or Cd(II), for phthalic anhydride/cyclohexene oxide ring opening copolymerisation

A. C. Deacy, C. B. Durr, R. W. F. Kerr, and C. K. Williams, Cat. Sci. Tech., 2021, 11, 3109-3118

High-performance plastic made from renewable oils is chemically recyclable by design

C. K. Williams and G. L. Gregory, Nature, 2021, 590, 391-392

Ultrarapid Cerium(III)–NHC Catalysts for High Molar Mass Cyclic Polylactide

R. W. F. Kerr, P. M. D. A. Ewing, S. K. Raman, A. D. Smith, C. K. Williams and P. L. Arnold, ACS. Catal., 2021, 11, 1563-1569

Ortho-vanillin derived Al(III) and Co(III) catalyst systems for switchable catalysis using ε-decalactone, phthalic anhydride and cyclohexene oxide

W. T. Diment, T. Stosser, R. W. F. Kerr, A. Phanopoulos, C. B. Durr, and C. K. Williams, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2021, 11, 1737 - 1745

2020 Roadmap on solid-state batteries

M. Pasta, D. Armstrong, Z. L. Brown, J. Bu, M. R. Castell, P. Chen, A. Cocks, S. A. Corr, E. J. Cussen, E. Danbrough, V. Deshpande, C. Doerrer, M. S. Dyer, H. El-Shinawi, N. Fleck, P. Grant, G. L. Gregory, C. Grovenor, L. J. Hardwick, J. T. S. Irvine, H. J. Lee, G. Li, E. Liberti, I. McClelland, C. Monroe, P. D. Nellist, P. R. Shearing, E. Shoko, W. Song, D. S. Jolly, C. I. Thomas, S. J. Turrell, M. Vestli, C. K. Williams, Y. Zhou and P. G. Bruce, J. Phys. Energy, 2020, 2, 032008

High elasticity, chemically recyclable, thermoplastics from bio-based monomers: carbon dioxide, limonene oxide and ε-decalactone

L. P. Carrodeguas, T. T. D. Chen, G. L. Gregory, G. S. Sulley, and C. K. Williams, Green Chem., 2020, 22, 8298 - 8307

2020 Hot Green Chemistry Article

Co(III)/Alkali-Metal(I) Heterodinuclear Catalysts for the Ring-Opening Copolymerization of CO₂ and Propylene Oxide

A. C. Deacy, E. Moreby, A. Phanopoulos, and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 45, 19150 - 19160

Indium phosphasalen catalysts showing high isoselectivity and activity in racemic lactide and lactone ring opening polymerizations

N. Yuntawattana, T. M. McGuire, C. B. Durr, A. Buchard, and C. K. Williams, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2020, 10, 7226 - 7239

Bio‐derived and degradable block polyester pressure‐sensitive adhesives

T. T. D. Chen, L. P. Carrodeguas, G. S. Sulley, G. L. Gregory, and C. K. Williams, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2020, 50, 1-7

Cu/M:ZnO (M = Mg, Al, Cu) colloidal nanocatalysts for the solution hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol

A. H. M. Leung, A. Garcia-Trenco, A. Phanopoulos, A. Regoutz, > E. Schuster, S. D. Pike, M. S. P. Shaffer, and C. K. Williams, J. Mater. Chem. A , 2020, 8, 11282-11291

Triblock polyester thermoplastic elastomers with semi-aromatic polymer end blocks by ring-opening copolymerization

G. L. Gregory, G. S. Sulley, L. Peña Carrodeguas, T. T. D. Chen, A. Santmarti, N. J. Terrill, K. Lee, and C. K. Williams, Chem. Sci. , 2020, 10, 6567 - 6581

Understanding metal synergy in heterodinuclear catalysts for the copolymerization of CO₂ and epoxides

A.C. Deacy, A. F. R. Kilpatrick, A. Regoutz, and C. K. Williams, Nat. Chem., 2020, 12, 372-380

Article featured in Nature News & Views piece by Xiao-Bing Lu

Switchable Catalysis Improves the Properties of CO₂-Derived Polymers: Poly(cyclohexene carbonate-b-ε-decalactone-b-cyclohexene carbonate) Adhesives, Elastomers, and Toughened Plastics

G. S. Sulley, G. L. Gregory, Thomas T. D. Chen, L. P. Carrodeguas, G. Trott, A. Santmarti, K. Lee, N. J. Terrill, and C. K. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 2020, 142, 9, 4367-4378

Ti(IV)–Tris(phenolate) Catalyst Systems for the Ring-Opening Copolymerization of Cyclohexene Oxide and Carbon Dioxide

S. K. Raman, A. C. Deacy, L. P. Carrodeguas, N. V. Reis, R. W. F. Kerr, A. Phanopoulos, S. Morton, M. G. Davidson and C. K. Williams, Organometallics, 2020, 39, 1619-1627

Metal Complexes for Catalytic Polymerizations

C. K. Williams and K. Nozaki, Inorg. Chem., 2020, 59, 2, 957-959

Heterodinuclear complexes featuring Zn(II) and M = Al(III), Ga(III) or In(III) for cyclohexene oxide and CO₂ copolymerisation

A. C. Deacy, C. Durr, and C. K. Williams, Dalton Trans., 2020,49, 223-231