Experience:

Dr. Bai has more than 20 years R&D experience in the design and synthesis of polymer processing and properties; significant experience in the preparation of functional polymers, molecular composites, and nanocomposites; extensive experience in structure-property relationships of polymers, morphology of polymers, and composites; and experience in forming polymer films and characterization. Dr. Bai has conducted a project on the metallization of polymer thin films for aerospace applications. A high performance polymer thin film was metallized by in-situ chemical processing. The metallized polyimide thin film was prepared by in situ polymerization. The novel metallized polymer thin films are highly reflective and have excellent mechanical properties.

Dr. Bai’s other projects have included work on functional polyimides as photosensitive polymers for photoresists; heat-resistance polyimides for structural materials; side chain liquid crystalline polymers (SCLCP) and main chain liquid crystalline polymers for alignment layers and display materials; molecular composites as engineering materials; and polymer nanocomposites for shielding materials and optical materials. Dr. Bai is currently working on research projects developing high performance membrane materials for fuel cells, funded by AFRL at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Dr. Bai is an inventor of a series of sulfonated polyarylenethioethersulfone (SPTES) polymer membranes. The SPTES polymers have good film-forming capabilities and hydrophilicity. The hydrated SPTES membranes have shown high proton conductivity. These properties imply potential usefulness of the materials as PEMs in hydrogen fuel cells.

Education:

Ph.D., Polymer Chemistry, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China, 1995
M.S., Polymer Material Chemistry, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China, 1988
B.S., Polymer Chemistry, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China, 1983

Professional Affiliations:

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Polymer Chemistry Division of the ACS
Polymer Material Science and Engineering Division of the ACS
Science of Advanced Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
North America Membrane Society

Selected Publications:

Zongwu Bai, Marlene D. Houtz, Peter A. Mirau, and Thuy D. Dang, “Structures and Properties of Highly Sulfonated Poly(arylenethioethersulfone)s as Proton Exchange Membranes,” Polymer, 48(22), 6598-6604, 2007.

Zongwu Bai, Gary E. Price, Mitra Yoonessi, Shane B. Juhl, and Thuy D. Dang,  “Proton Exchange Membranes Based on Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone and Sulfonated Polybenzimidazole for Fuel Cell Applications,” Journal of Membrane Science, 305 (1-2), 69-76, 2007.

Stanley J. Rodrigues, Thom L. Reitz, Thuy D. Dang, and Zongwu Bai, “Polyarylenethioethersulfone Membranes for Fuel Cells,” Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 154 (9), B960-B968, 2007.

Mitra Yoonessi, Zongwu Bai, and Thuy D. Dang, “Nanostructure and Properties of Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone Copolymers as Proton Exchange Fuel Cell Membranes,” Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics, 45, 2813-2822, 2007.

Amish N. Khalfan, Luz M. Sanchez, Chandana Kodiweera, Steve G. Greenbaum, Zongwu Bai and Thuy D. Dang, “Water and Proton Transport Properties of Hexafluorinated Sulfonated Poly (arylenethioethersulfone) Copolymers for Applications to Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells,” Journal of Power Sources, 173 (2), 853-859, 2007.

Zongwu Bai and Thuy D. Dang, “Direct Synthesis of Fully Sulfonated Polyarylenethioether Sulfones as Proton Conducting Polymers for Fuel Cells,” Macromol. Rapid Commun., 27, 1271–1277, 2006.

Zongwu Bai, Thuy D. Dang, and Michael F. Durstock, “Proton Conductivity and Properties of Sulfonated Polyarylenethioether Sulfones as Proton Exchange Membranes in Fuel Cells,” Journal of Membrane Science, 281, 508-516, 2006.

Shengli Qi, Dezhen Wu, Zongwu Bai, “Direct Ion Exchange Self-Metallization: A Novel and Efficient Route for the Preparation of Double-Surface-Silvered Polyimide Films,” Macromol. Rapid Commun., 27, 372–376, 2006.

Mitra Yoonessi, Zongwu Bai, Thuy D. Dang, Hilmar Koerner, Michael F. Durstock, Richard A. Vaia, “Proton Exchange Membranes of Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfone Copolymer: Morphology, Ion Clustering and Chain Conformation,” SAMPE Journal, 50, 108-120  2006.

Stanley Rodrigues, Tom Reitz, Thuy Dang, and Zongwu Bai, “Novel Hydrocarbon-Based Electrolytes for Fuel Cells,” 3rd International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (AIAA-2005) 5741 (1-10), 2005.

Zongwu Bai, Michael F. Durstock, Thom L. Reitz, Stanley J. Rodrigues, and Thuy D. Dang, “Highly Sulfonated Polyarylenethioethersulfones as PEMs for Fuel cells: Synthesis, Characterization and Performance,” 4th International Symposiun on Polyimides and Other High Temperature Polymers, 4, 435-451, 2005.

 Seng C. Tan, Zongwu Bai, H. Sun, James E. Mark, Fred E. Arnold, C. Y. C. Lee, “Processing of Microcellular Foams from Polybenzobisthiazole /Polyetherketoneketone Molecular Composites,” Journal of Materials Science, 38 (19), 4013-4019, 2003.

Ming Y. Chen, Zongwu Bai, Seng C. Tan, Marylen R. Unroe, “Friction and Wear Scar Analysis of Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Polymeric Composite Coatings on Alumina/Aluminum Composite,” Wear, 252 (7-8), 624-634, 2002.

Ming Y. Chen, Zongwu Bai, Seng C. Tan, “Microstructure and Friction Behavior of Polymeric Composite Coatings on Alumina/Aluminum Composite,” Surface and Coatings Technology, 151-152, 478-482, 2002.