Tomonori Saito

Bio

OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

R&D Research Staff, Soft Matter Group

Chemical Sciences Division

1 Bethel Valley Road, P. O. Box 2008 MS6210, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6210, U.S.A.   

Phone: 865-576-6418, E-mail: saitot@ornl.gov

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)

Education and Training: 

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)                     

Research and 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.