Bio
Dr. Tomonori Saito is a synthetic polymer chemist, who has extensive experience in the synthesis of well-defined polymers via living/controlled polymerization as well as post-modification of various polymers. His expertise has been applied to various projects at ORNL including polymer upcycling, vitrimers, CO2 separation membranes, flow battery, fuel cell, ion-conducting polymers for batteries and battery binders, ionic liquid polymers, polymer nanocomposites, additive manufacturing, polymer nanoparticles, elastomers, self-healing materials, thermal insulation materials, uranium extraction from seawater, carbon fiber composites, polyolefin-based carbon fibers, lignin based-carbon fibers, and lignin-based renewable thermoplastics. He has published 96 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 37), 5 patents issued (two was licensed.), won R&D 100 in 2012, 2016, 2019.
His strength in research relies on the use of his skills in synthetic polymer chemistry to impact material sciences, energy, and chemical & environmental engineering applications. His polymer synthesis experience includes synthesis of block, graft, random copolymers with functional groups using living anionic polymerization, ATRP, RAFT, ROMP, conventional free radical polymerization, step-growth polymerization, and post-functionalization chemistry. His engineering expertise includes design, process and characterization of polymeric materials using various techniques for applications such as CO2 separation membranes, fuel cell, flow battery, self-healing materials, elastomers, carbon fibers, composites, 3D printing, thermal insulation materials, renewable plastics, metal adsorbents, ion-conducting polymers for energy storage, polymer upcycling etc.
- Polymer Upcycling
- Gas Separation Membrane
- Energy Storage (Polymer Binders, Flow Battery, Fuel Cell)
- Polymer Nanocomposites
- Block Copolymers and Soft Nanoparticles
- Thermoplastic Elastomers and Superelastomers
- Self-healing and Dynamic Polymers
- Additive Manufacturing (Binder Jet 3D Printing)
- Polymer Electrolytes
- Building Materials (Thermal Insulation)
Professional Experience
2012 – present R&D Staff, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Division
Lead PI on polymeric gas separation membrane. Technical lead for novel polymer synthesis for CO2 separation membranes, uranium adsorbents, ion-conducting polymers for batteries, and ionic liquid polymers using living anionic polymerization, ATRP, RAFT, ROMP, conventional free radical polymerization, olefin polymerization, step-growth polymerization, and post-functionalization chemistry. Also technical lead on binder jet 3D printing as well as UV 3D printing.
2010 – 2012 Postdoctoral Associate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division
Designed and developed polyolefin-based carbon fiber, lignin based-carbon fiber, and lignin-based novel thermoplastic
2008 – 2010 Postdoctoral Associate, The Pennsylvania State University, Materials Science and Engineering, Environmental Engineering
Synthesis of novel proton and anion exchange membranes for hydrogen and methanol fuel cells. Served as a material expert in microbial fuel cells in all the components including polymer binder, polymer coating, and membranes.
Awards
2019 2019 R&D 100, “High Strength Binder System for Additive Manufacturing”, Tomonori Saito, Amy Elliott, Dustin Gilmer, Michelle Lehmann, Lu Han, Rick Lucas, Dan Brunermer
2017 ORNL Research Team Award, Carter Abney, Vyacheslav Bryantsev, Christopher J. Janke, Sheng Dai, Richard Mayes, Tomonori Saito, Costas Tsouris
2016 2016 R&D 100, "U Grabber", Sheng Dai, Suree Brown, Robin Rogers, Christopher J. Janke, Richard Mayes, Tomonori Saito, Ronnie Hanes
2012 2012 R&D 100, “HiCap Adsorbents”, Christopher J. Janke, Yatsandra Oyola, Sheng Dai, Chris Bauer, Richard Mayes, Tomonori Saito, Xiao-Guang Sun, Costas Tsouris, Jim Brang, Jeff Haggard
2006.5 ACS Polymer Division Travel Award – POLY Biennial Meeting
2005.1- 2005.6 MII (Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute at Virginia Tech) Frontiers in Graduate Research Fellowships
2003.3.5 Best Research Award (Kurita award) in 2003 at 37th Japan Society on Water Environment Conference in Kumamoto, Japan, Mar. 3-7, 2003
2005 - Member of American Chemical Society (POLY, PMSE)
Education
Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan B.S. 2001 Applied Chemistry
Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan M.S. 2003 Chemical Engineering
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA Ph.D. 2008 Chemistry (Organic Polymer)
Trademarks and Patents
Amit K. Naskar, Tomonori Saito, Joseph M. Pickel, Frederick S. Baker, Cliff Eberle, Robert E. Norris, Jr., Jonathan R. Mielenz, “Lignin-Derived Thermoplastic Co-Polymers and Methods of Preparation” U.S. Patent No. 8,748,537 issued: June 10, 2014 licensed on March 2015
Amit K. Naskar, Marcus A. Hunt, Tomonori Saito, “Methods for preparation of carbon fibers from polyolefin fiber precursors, and carbon fiber made thereby” US Patent No. 9096955 B2, August 4, 2015.
Tao Hong, Sabornie Chatterjee, Brian K. Long, De-en Jiang, Shannon M. Mahurin, Jimmy W. Mays, Alexei Sokolov, Tomonori Saito, “Cross-linked Polymeric Membranes for Carbon Dioxide Separation” US Patent No. 9873094 B2, January 23, 2018
Sheng Dai, Suree Brown, Tomonori Saito, “Surface-Functionalized Polyolefin Fibers and Their Use in Methods For Extracting Metal Ions from Liquid Solutions” US Patent No. 10391472 B2,August 27, 2019
Tolga Aytug, Robert C. Duckworth, Keith J Leonard, Parans Mariappan Paranthaman, Georgios Polyzos, Tomonori Saito, “Method for producing radiation-resistant polymer composite materials” Provisional Patent filed, Application number 62/105,796