Inaugural Lecture - Prof. Suong Nguyen - New catalytic pathways to functional and recyclable polymers

Polymers have transformed modern society thanks to their low cost, durability, and versatility, with applications spanning virtually every sector of daily life. At the same time, their production and end-of-life management present significant environmental challenges. The development of sustainable polymers that can match the performance and economic advantages of existing materials has therefore emerged as a central goal of contemporary polymer science. In this inaugural lecture, I will introduce my group’s research at the interface of polymer science and catalysis, with a focus on designing new catalytic pathways to functional yet deconstructable polymeric materials from readily available feedstocks. One key direction we are pursuing is the development of a new class of catalysts that can control stereochemistry during polymerization—a long-standing technical challenge with the potential to greatly expand the accessible space of polymer structures and properties. More broadly, our research efforts aim to make fundamental advances to polymer chemistry while also contributing to the development of a more circular polymer economy.

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Dr Suong Nguyen, former Postdoctoral Researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA, joined the EPFL the 1st of March 2025 as Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Chemistry.
Suong Nguyen works in the field of synthetic chemistry, for which she has won numerous awards. She uses an interdisciplinary approach in order to develop photo-controlled catalytic methods that are applied to the organic synthesis and functionalisation of materials, especially polymer structures. Her groundbreaking achievements in the field of photo-induced activation of C-H bonds open up promising prospects for duroplast elastomers such as rubber or silicone, and are of great interest to industry. Suong Nguyen’s research methods and expertise complement and enhance the research already taking place at EPFL.