Showing papers by "Marc A. Hillmyer published in 2020"

Next-Generation Ultrafiltration Membranes Enabled by Block Polymers.

Abstract: Reliable and equitable access to safe drinking water is a major and growing challenge worldwide. Membrane separations represent one of the most promising strategies for the energy-efficient purification of potential water sources. In particular, porous membranes are used for the ultrafiltration (UF) of water to remove contaminants with nanometric sizes. However, despite exhibiting excellent water permeability and solution processability, existing UF membranes contain a broad distribution of pore sizes that limit their size selectivity. To maximize the potential utility of UF membranes and allow for precise separations, improvements in the size selectivity of these systems must be achieved. Block polymers represent a potentially transformative solution, as these materials self-assemble into well-defined domains of uniform size. Several different strategies have been reported for integrating block polymers into UF membranes, and each strategy has its own set of materials and processing considerations to ensure that uniform and continuous pores are generated. This Review aims to summarize and critically analyze the chemistries, processing techniques, and properties required for the most common methods for producing porous membranes from block polymers, with a particular focus on the fundamental mechanisms underlying block polymer self-assembly and pore formation. Critical structure-property-performance metrics will be analyzed for block polymer UF membranes to understand how these membranes compare to commercial UF membranes and to identify key research areas for continued improvements. This Review is intended to inform readers of the capabilities and current challenges of block polymer UF membranes, while stimulating critical thought on strategies to advance these technologies.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films with High Concentrations of Silicon Quantum Dots for Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators.

Abstract: Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) are attractive, nontoxic luminophores for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Here, we produced Si QD/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films on glass by doctor-blading polymer solutions and achieved films with low light scattering at an order of magnitude higher Si QD weight fraction than has been achieved previously in the bulk. We suggest that the fast solidification rate of films as compared to slow bulk polymerization is an enabling factor in avoiding large agglomerates within the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that ∼100 nm or larger QD agglomerates exist in light-scattering films, and photoluminescence intensity measurements show that light scattering, if present, significantly reduces waveguiding efficiencies for LSCs. Nonscattering films fabricated in this work exhibit high ultraviolet absorption (>80%) paired with high visible transmission (>87%) and minimal visible haze (∼1%), making them well suited for semitransparent coatings for LSCs realized as solar harvesting windows.

Thiol-Ene Networks from Sequence-Defined Polyurethane Macromers.

Abstract: To date, scalability limitations have hindered the exploration and application of sequence-defined polymers in areas such as synthetic plastics, fibers, rubbers, coatings, and composites. Additionally, the impact of sequence on the properties of cross-linked networks remains largely unknown. To address the need for synthetic methods to generate sequence-defined materials in gram quantities, we developed a strategy involving inexpensive and readily functional vanillin-based monomers to assemble sequence-defined polyurethane oligomers via sequential reductive amination and carbamation. Three oligomers were synthesized with monomer sequence precisely dictated by the placement of reactive side chains during the reductive amination reaction. Avoiding excessive chromatographic purification and solid- or liquid-phase supports enabled synthesis of sequence-defined oligomers on the gram-scale. Remarkably, sequence was shown to influence network topology upon cross-linking, as evidenced by sequence-dependent rubbery moduli values. This work provides one of the first examples of a scalable synthetic route toward sequence-defined thermosets that exhibit sequence-dependent properties.

Efficient Polymerization of Methyl-ε-Caprolactone Mixtures To Access Sustainable Aliphatic Polyesters

Abstract: Aliphatic polyesters are a versatile class of materials that can be sourced from bioderived feedstocks. Poly(γ-methyl-e-caprolactone) (PγMCL) in particular can be used to make degradable thermoplas...

Readily Degradable Aromatic Polyesters from Salicylic Acid

Abstract: Polyesters constitute around 10% of the global plastic market with aromatic polyesters, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), being the most prevalent because of their attractive properties. ...

Solid-Contact Ion-Selective and Reference Electrodes Covalently Attached to Functionalized Poly(ethylene terephthalate).

Abstract: Numerous ion-selective and reference electrodes have been developed over the years. Following the need for point-of-care and wearable sensors, designs have transitioned recently from bulky devices with an aqueous inner filling solution to planarizable solid-contact electrodes. However, unless the polymeric sensing and reference membranes are held in place mechanically, delamination of these membranes from the underlying solid to which they adhere physically limits sensor lifetime. Even minor external mechanical stress or thermal expansion can result in membrane delamination and, thereby, device failure. To address this problem, we designed a sensing platform based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrates to which polyacrylate-based sensing and polymethacrylate-based reference membranes are attached covalently. Ion-selective membranes with covalently attached or freely dissolved ionophore- and ionic-liquid-doped reference membranes can be directly photopolymerized onto surface-functionalized poly(ethylene terephthalate), resulting in the formation of covalent bonds between the underlying substrate and the attached membranes. H+- and K+-selective electrodes thus prepared exhibit highly selective responses with the theoretically expected (Nernstian) response slope, and reference electrodes provide sample-independent reference potentials over a wide range of electrolyte concentrations. Even repeated mechanical stress does not result in the delamination of the sensing and reference membranes, leading to electrodes with much improved long-term performance. As demonstrated for poly(ethylene-co-cyclohexane-1,4-dimethanol terephthalate) (PETG), this approach may be expanded to a wide range of other polyester, polyamide, and polyurethane platform materials. Covalent attachment of sensing and reference membranes to an inert plastic platform material is a very promising approach to a problem that has plagued the field of ion-selective electrodes and field effect transistors for over 30 years.

Hydrogenolysis of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene during Heterogeneous Catalytic Hydrogen–Deuterium Exchange

Abstract: Exchange of deuterium (D) for hydrogen (H) on polyolefins enabled by heterogeneous catalysts is a versatile and relatively inexpensive technique to obtain matched pairs of isotopically labeled and ...

Assembly of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets on Diamine-Treated PVDF Hollow Fiber as Nanofiltration Membranes

Abstract: A graphene oxide (GO)-based nanofiltration membrane was fabricated on ethylenediamine-functionalized-polyvinylidene fluoride (EDA-PVDF) hollow fibers. EDA-PVDF was prepared by hydrothermal treatmen...

Sustainable Triblock Copolymers as Tunable and Degradable Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Abstract: Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are widely used in a variety of applications (e.g., sticky note and packing tape). As for most commercial polymer products, current PSA materials are primarily d...

Molecular Engineering of Nanostructures in Disordered Block Polymers

Abstract: A series of symmetric poly(methyl methacrylate-stat-styrene)-block-polylactide (P(MMA-s-S)-b-PLA) diblock terpolymers with nearly constant molar masses yet varying block interaction parameters were...

4-Carboalkoxylated Polyvalerolactones from Malic Acid: Tough and Degradable Polyesters.

Abstract: Eight 4-carboalkoxyvalerolactones (CRVLs), varying in the composition of their alkyl (R) side chains, were synthesized from malic acid and subjected to ring-opening transesterification polymerizati...

Design and Characterization of Model Linear Low-Density Polyethylenes (LLDPEs) by Multidetector Size Exclusion Chromatography

Abstract: Separations of commercial polyethylenes, which often involve mixtures and copolymers of linear, short-chain branched, and long-chain branched chains, can be very challenging to optimize as species ...

Co-Casting Highly Selective Dual-Layer Membranes with Disordered Block Polymer Selective Layers.

Abstract: Highly selective and water permeable dual-layer ultrafiltration (UF) membranes comprising a disordered poly(methyl methacrylate-stat-styrene)-block-poly(lactide) selective layer and a polysulfone (PSF) support layer were fabricated using a co-casting technique. A dilute solution of diblock polymer was spin coated onto a solvent-swollen PSF layer, rapidly heated to dry and disorder the block polymer layer, and subsequently immersed into an ice water coagulation bath to kinetically trap the disordered state in the block polymer selective layer and precipitate the support layer by nonsolvent-induced phase separation. Subsequent removal of the polylactide block generated porous membranes suitable for UF. The permeability of these dual-layer membranes was modulated by tuning the concentration of the PSF casting solution, while the size-selectivity was maintained because of the narrow pore size distribution of the self-assembled block polymer selective layer. Elimination of the thermal annealing step resulted in a dramatic increase in the water permeability without adversely impacting the size-selectivity, as the disordered nanostructure present in the concentrated casting solution was kinetically trapped upon rapid drying. The co-casting strategy outlined in this work may enable the scalable fabrication of block polymer membranes with both high permeability and high selectivity.

Step-Growth Polyesters with Biobased (R)-1,3-Butanediol

Abstract: We present the synthesis and characterization of polymers containing 1,3-butanediol, also known as butylene glycol. Butylene glycol (BG) can be prepared from petroleum or sugar-based feedstocks. Pe...

Confronting Racism in Chemistry Journals

Abstract: We confront the terrible reality that systemic racism and discrimination impacts the daily personal and professional lives of many members of the scientific community and broader society In the US, the brutal killing of George Floyd while in police custody is one of the most recent examples of the centuries of systemic violence suffered by Black Americans This moment and its aftermath lay bare the legacies of racism and its exclusionary practices Let us be clear: we, the Editors, Staff, and Governance Members of ACS Publications condemn the tragic deaths of Black people and stand in solidarity with Black members of the science and engineering community Moreover, ACS condemns racism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms We will not tolerate practices and viewpoints that exclude or demean any member of our community Despite these good intentions, we recognize that our community has not done enough to provide an environment for Black chemists to thrive Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said, "So far, we have gotten by with a STEM workforce that does not come close to representing the diversity of our nation However, if we continue to leave behind so much of our nation's brainpower, we cannot succeed" 1 Indeed, the US National Science Foundation notes that Blacks and other under-represented minority groups continue to be under-represented in science and engineering education and employment 2 What is abundantly clear in this moment is that this lack of representation is a symptom of systemic racism across all levels of education and professional life We know that supportive words are not enough We must develop and implement a concrete plan for changing our trajectory Publications and citations are academic currency, and while we like to think publishing a manuscript is "just about the science", we know that is not true for everyone We have seen the biases (largely through the lens of gender and in Western countries because of the limitations in bibliometric analyses) and applaud our colleagues at the RSC for their massive study that explored these gender barriers in the publishing pipeline 3 and their recent Inclusion and Diversity Framework 4 At the present time, unfortunately, less is known about the effects of race and ethnicity on publishing success A study published in PeerJ, however, found that unprofessional reviewer comments had a disproportionate effect on authors from under-represented groups 5 As the world's leading society publisher, we have a responsibility to aggressively combat bias in all aspects of the publishing process, including systemic under-representation of Blacks in this endeavor (no ACS journal is currently led by a Black Editor-in-Chief) Within ACS Publications, we actively track gender and geographic diversity of editors, advisors, authors, and reviewers, and we anecdotally report on race of editors Diversity encompasses many more dimensions than these, and we acknowledge that we can do much more than we have We affirm that diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community and its impact, and we are committed to developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on our progress to ensure that our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors are more diverse and that all authors receive the same fair treatment and opportunity to publish in our journals We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers now, but we seek to hear from and listen to our community on how we can improve our journals to be more diverse and inclusive As first steps, we commit to the taking the following actions: • Gathering and making public our baseline statistics on diversity within our journals, encompassing our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors; annually reporting on progress • Training new and existing editors to recognize and interrupt bias in peer review • Including diversity of journal contributors as an explicit measurement of Editor-in-Chief performance • Appointing an ombudsperson to serve as a liaison between Editors and our Community • Developing an actionable diversity plan for each ACS journal These are only initial plans and the start of a conversation: other ideas are beginning to germinate, and we commit to sharing them with you regularly We invite you contribute your ideas on how we can do better via our Axial website We are listening carefully We encourage you to take immediate action in your own circles In a recent editorial, JACS Associate Editor Melanie Sanford 6 offered practical steps to take now Take a moment to find out more about these actions and how to bring them into your work and your life We all have a responsibility to eradicate racism and discrimination in the science and engineering community; indeed, to make a real difference, we need to be antiracist The tragic events we have seen in the Black community provide great urgency to this goal The work will be difficult and will force us to confront hard realities about our beliefs and actions We fully expect that you, and everyone in the community, will hold us accountable

From Order to Disorder: Computational Design of Triblock Amphiphiles with 1 nm Domains

Abstract: Using molecular dynamics simulations and transferable force fields, we designed a series of symmetric triblock amphiphiles (or high-χ block oligomers) comprising incompatible sugar-based (A) and hydrocarbon (B) blocks that can self-assemble into ordered nanostructures with sub-1 nm domains and full domain pitches as small as 1.2 nm. Depending on the chain length and block sequence, the ordered morphologies include lamellae, perforated lamellae, and hexagonally perforated lamellae. The self-assembly of these amphiphiles bears some similarities, but also some differences, to those formed by symmetric triblock polymers. In lamellae formed by ABA amphiphiles, the fraction of B blocks "bridging" adjacent polar domains is nearly unity, much higher than that found for symmetric triblock polymers, and the bridging molecules adopt elongated conformations. In contrast, "looping" conformations are prevalent for A blocks of BAB amphiphiles. Above the order-disorder transition temperature, the disordered states are locally well-segregated yet the B blocks of ABA amphiphiles are significantly less stretched than in the lamellar phases. Analysis of both hydrogen-bonded and nonpolar clusters reveals the bicontinuous nature of these network phases. This simulation study furnishes detailed insights into structure-property relationships for mesophase formation on the 1 nm length scale that will aid further miniaturization for numerous applications.

Nanostructured Polymer Monoliths for Biomedical Delivery Applications

Abstract: Drug delivery systems are designed to control the release rate and location of therapeutic agents in the body to achieve enhanced drug efficacy and to mitigate adverse side effects. In particular, ...

Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Block Polyelectrolyte Membranes through a Mild, 2-in-1 Postpolymerization Treatment

Abstract: Block polymer systems containing spatially separated positive and negative charges are desirable for a number of applications, including biomedical devices, membrane separations, and coatings. Unfo...

Order and Disorder in ABCA' Tetrablock Terpolymers.

Abstract: Self-assembly of poly(styrene)-block-poly(isoprene)-block-poly(lactide)-block-poly(styrene) (PS-PI-PLA-PS' or SILS') tetrablock terpolymers, where the volume fractions of the first three blocks are nearly equivalent, was studied both experimentally and using the self-consistent field theory (SCFT). SCFT indicates that addition of the terminal PS' chain to a low-molecular-mass, hexagonally packed cylinders forming, SIL precursor can produce a disordered state due to preferential mixing of the polystyrene end-blocks with the PI and PLA midblocks in the SILS' tetrablock, alleviating the unfavorable contact between the highly incompatible PI and PLA segments. In contrast, SCFT predicts that higher-molar-mass triblock precursors will maintain an ordered morphology upon addition of the terminal PS' block due to stronger overall segregation strengths. These predictions were tested using three sets of SILS' polymers that were synthesized based on three precursor SIL triblock polymers differing in total molar mass (14, 30, and 47 kg mol-1) and varying the length of the terminal PS' chain. In the lowest-molar-mass set of tetrablock polymers, the shift from order to disorder was observed in the materials at ambient temperature as the molar mass of the terminal PS' block was increased, consistent with SCFT calculations. Disorder with longer S' chain lengths was not found in the two higher-molar-mass polymer sets; the medium-molar-mass set showed both microphase separation and long-range order based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), while the largest of these block polymers microphase separated but showed limited long-range order. The combination of the experimental and theoretical results presented in this work provides insights into the self-assembly of ABCA'-type polymers and highlights potential complications that arise from frustration in accessing well-ordered materials.

Role of Polymer Excipients in the Kinetic Stabilization of Drug-Rich Nanoparticles

Abstract: Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) of crystallizable drugs and polymer excipients are attractive for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drug molecules. In this study, the s...

Atom-Economical, One-Pot, Self-Initiated Photopolymerization of Lactose Methacrylate for Biobased Hydrogels

Abstract: An excess of lactose and lactose-rich milk permeate is produced by the dairy industry. The use of these waste products has been investigated for the preparation of sugar-based hydrogels. An environ...

Nanostructural Rearrangement of Lamellar Block Polymers Cured in the Vicinity of the Order–Disorder Transition

Abstract: The application of large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) to block polymers near their order–disorder transition temperature (TODT) has previously been shown to induce morphological transitions a...

Confronting Racism in Chemistry Journals

Abstract: The following joint Editorial was originally published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (DOI: 101021/acsami0c10979) We confront the terrible reality that systemic racism and discrimination impacts the daily personal and professional lives of many members of the scientific community and broader society In the US, the brutal killing of George Floyd while in police custody is one of the most recent examples of the centuries of systemic violence suffered by Black Americans This moment and its aftermath lay bare the legacies of racism and its exclusionary practices Let us be clear: we, the Editors, Staff, and Governance Members of ACS Publications condemn the tragic deaths of Black people and stand in solidarity with Black members of the science and engineering community Moreover, ACS condemns racism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms We will not tolerate practices and viewpoints that exclude or demean any member of our community Despite these good intentions, we recognize that our community has not done enough to provide an environment for Black chemists to thrive Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said, “So far, we have gotten by with a STEM workforce that does not come close to representing the diversity of our nation However, if we continue to leave behind so much of our nation’s brainpower, we cannot succeed”(1) Indeed, the US National Science Foundation notes that Blacks and other under-represented minority groups continue to be under-represented in science and engineering education and employment(2) What is abundantly clear in this moment is that this lack of representation is a symptom of systemic racism across all levels of education and professional life We know that supportive words are not enough We must develop and implement a concrete plan for changing our trajectory Publications and citations are academic currency, and while we like to think publishing a manuscript is “just about the science”, we know that is not true for everyone We have seen the biases (largely through the lens of gender and in Western countries because of the limitations in bibliometric analyses) and applaud our colleagues at the RSC for their massive study that explored these gender barriers in the publishing pipeline(3) and their recent Inclusion and Diversity Framework(4) At the present time, unfortunately, less is known about the effects of race and ethnicity on publishing success A study published in PeerJ, however, found that unprofessional reviewer comments had a disproportionate effect on authors from under-represented groups(5) As the world’s leading society publisher, we have a responsibility to aggressively combat bias in all aspects of the publishing process, including systemic under-representation of Blacks in this endeavor (no ACS journal is currently led by a Black Editor-in-Chief) Within ACS Publications, we actively track gender and geographic diversity of editors, advisors, authors, and reviewers, and we anecdotally report on race of editors Diversity encompasses many more dimensions than these, and we acknowledge that we can do much more than we have We affirm that diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community and its impact, and we are committed to developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on our progress to ensure that our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors are more diverse and that all authors receive the same fair treatment and opportunity to publish in our journals We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers now, but we seek to hear from and listen to our community on how we can improve our journals to be more diverse and inclusive As first steps, we commit to the taking the following actions: Gathering and making public our baseline statistics on diversity within our journals, encompassing our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors; annually reporting on progress Training new and existing editors to recognize and interrupt bias in peer review Including diversity of journal contributors as an explicit measurement of Editor-in-Chief performance Appointing an ombudsperson to serve as a liaison between Editors and our Community Developing an actionable diversity plan for each ACS journal These are only initial plans and the start of a conversation: other ideas are beginning to germinate, and we commit to sharing them with you regularly We invite you contribute your ideas on how we can do better via our Axial website We are listening carefully We encourage you to take immediate action in your own circles In a recent editorial, JACS Associate Editor Melanie Sanford(6) offered practical steps to take now Take a moment to find out more about these actions and how to bring them into your work and your life We all have a responsibility to eradicate racism and discrimination in the science and engineering community; indeed, to make a real difference, we need to be antiracist The tragic events we have seen in the Black community provide great urgency to this goal The work will be difficult and will force us to confront hard realities about our beliefs and actions We fully expect that you, and everyone in the community, will hold us accountable

Confronting Racism in Chemistry Journals

Abstract: The following joint Editorial was originally published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (DOI: 101021/acsami0c10979) We confront the terrible reality that systemic racism and discrimination impacts the daily personal and professional lives of many members of the scientific community and broader society In the US, the brutal killing of George Floyd while in police custody is one of the most recent examples of the centuries of systemic violence suffered by Black Americans This moment and its aftermath lay bare the legacies of racism and its exclusionary practices Let us be clear: we, the Editors, Staff, and Governance Members of ACS Publications condemn the tragic deaths of Black people and stand in solidarity with Black members of the science and engineering community Moreover, ACS condemns racism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms We will not tolerate practices and viewpoints that exclude or demean any member of our community Despite these good intentions, we recognize that our community has not done enough to provide an environment for Black chemists to thrive Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said, “So far, we have gotten by with a STEM workforce that does not come close to representing the diversity of our nation However, if we continue to leave behind so much of our nation’s brainpower, we cannot succeed”(1) Indeed, the US National Science Foundation notes that Blacks and other under-represented minority groups continue to be under-represented in science and engineering education and employment(2) What is abundantly clear in this moment is that this lack of representation is a symptom of systemic racism across all levels of education and professional life We know that supportive words are not enough We must develop and implement a concrete plan for changing our trajectory Publications and citations are academic currency, and while we like to think publishing a manuscript is “just about the science”, we know that is not true for everyone We have seen the biases (largely through the lens of gender and in Western countries because of the limitations in bibliometric analyses) and applaud our colleagues at the RSC for their massive study that explored these gender barriers in the publishing pipeline(3) and their recent Inclusion and Diversity Framework(4) At the present time, unfortunately, less is known about the effects of race and ethnicity on publishing success A study published in PeerJ, however, found that unprofessional reviewer comments had a disproportionate effect on authors from under-represented groups(5) As the world’s leading society publisher, we have a responsibility to aggressively combat bias in all aspects of the publishing process, including systemic under-representation of Blacks in this endeavor (no ACS journal is currently led by a Black Editor-in-Chief) Within ACS Publications, we actively track gender and geographic diversity of editors, advisors, authors, and reviewers, and we anecdotally report on race of editors Diversity encompasses many more dimensions than these, and we acknowledge that we can do much more than we have We affirm that diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community and its impact, and we are committed to developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on our progress to ensure that our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors are more diverse and that all authors receive the same fair treatment and opportunity to publish in our journals We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers now, but we seek to hear from and listen to our community on how we can improve our journals to be more diverse and inclusive As first steps, we commit to the taking the following actions: Gathering and making public our baseline statistics on diversity within our journals, encompassing our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors; annually reporting on progress Training new and existing editors to recognize and interrupt bias in peer review Including diversity of journal contributors as an explicit measurement of Editor-in-Chief performance Appointing an ombudsperson to serve as a liaison between Editors and our Community Developing an actionable diversity plan for each ACS journal These are only initial plans and the start of a conversation: other ideas are beginning to germinate, and we commit to sharing them with you regularly We invite you contribute your ideas on how we can do better via our Axial website We are listening carefully We encourage you to take immediate action in your own circles In a recent editorial, JACS Associate Editor Melanie Sanford(6) offered practical steps to take now Take a moment to find out more about these actions and how to bring them into your work and your life We all have a responsibility to eradicate racism and discrimination in the science and engineering community; indeed, to make a real difference, we need to be antiracist The tragic events we have seen in the Black community provide great urgency to this goal The work will be difficult and will force us to confront hard realities about our beliefs and actions We fully expect that you, and everyone in the community, will hold us accountable

Confronting Racism in Chemistry Journals

Abstract: The following joint Editorial was originally published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c10979). We confront the terrible reality that systemic racism and discrimination impacts the daily personal and professional lives of many members of the scientific community and broader society. In the U.S., the brutal killing of George Floyd while in police custody is one of the most recent examples of the centuries of systemic violence suffered by Black Americans. This moment and its aftermath lay bare the legacies of racism and its exclusionary practices. Let us be clear: we, the Editors, Staff, and Governance Members of ACS Publications condemn the tragic deaths of Black people and stand in solidarity with Black members of the science and engineering community. Moreover, ACS condemns racism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms. We will not tolerate practices and viewpoints that exclude or demean any member of our community. Despite these good intentions, we recognize that our community has not done enough to provide an environment for Black chemists to thrive. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said, “So far, we have gotten by with a STEM workforce that does not come close to representing the diversity of our nation. However, if we continue to leave behind so much of our nation’s brainpower, we cannot succeed.”(1) Indeed, the U.S. National Science Foundation notes that Blacks and other under-represented minority groups continue to be under-represented in science and engineering education and employment.(2) What is abundantly clear in this moment is that this lack of representation is a symptom of systemic racism across all levels of education and professional life. We know that supportive words are not enough. We must develop and implement a concrete plan for changing our trajectory. Publications and citations are academic currency, and while we like to think publishing a manuscript is “just about the science”, we know that is not true for everyone. We have seen the biases (largely through the lens of gender and in Western countries because of the limitations in bibliometric analyses) and applaud our colleagues at the RSC for their massive study that explored these gender barriers in the publishing pipeline(3) and their recent Inclusion and Diversity Framework.(4) At the present time, unfortunately, less is known about the effects of race and ethnicity on publishing success. A study published in PeerJ, however, found that unprofessional reviewer comments had a disproportionate effect on authors from under-represented groups.(5) As the world’s leading society publisher, we have a responsibility to aggressively combat bias in all aspects of the publishing process, including systemic under-representation of Blacks in this endeavor (no ACS journal is currently led by a Black Editor-in-Chief). Within ACS Publications, we actively track gender and geographic diversity of editors, advisors, authors, and reviewers, and we anecdotally report on race of editors. Diversity encompasses many more dimensions than these, and we acknowledge that we can do much more than we have. We affirm that diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community and its impact, and we are committed to developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on our progress to ensure that our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors are more diverse and that all authors receive the same fair treatment and opportunity to publish in our journals. We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers now, but we seek to hear from and listen to our community on how we can improve our journals to be more diverse and inclusive. As first steps, we commit to the taking the following actions: Gathering and making public our baseline statistics on diversity within our journals, encompassing our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors; annually reporting on progress Training new and existing editors to recognize and interrupt bias in peer review Including diversity of journal contributors as an explicit measurement of Editor-in-Chief performance Appointing an ombudsperson to serve as a liaison between Editors and our Community Developing an actionable diversity plan for each ACS journal These are only initial plans and the start of a conversation: other ideas are beginning to germinate, and we commit to sharing them with you regularly. We invite you contribute your ideas on how we can do better via our Axial website. We are listening carefully. We encourage you to take immediate action in your own circles. In a recent editorial, JACS Associate Editor Melanie Sanford(6) offered practical steps to take now. Take a moment to find out more about these actions and how to bring them into your work and your life. We all have a responsibility to eradicate racism and discrimination in the science and engineering community; indeed, to make a real difference, we need to be antiracist. The tragic events we have seen in the Black community provide great urgency to this goal. The work will be difficult and will force us to confront hard realities about our beliefs and actions. We fully expect that you, and everyone in the community, will hold us accountable.

Confronting Racism in Chemistry Journals

Abstract: The following joint Editorial was originally published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (DOI: 101021/acsami0c10979) We confront the terrible reality that systemic racism and discrimination impacts the daily personal and professional lives of many members of the scientific community and broader society In the US, the brutal killing of George Floyd while in police custody is one of the most recent examples of the centuries of systemic violence suffered by Black Americans This moment and its aftermath lay bare the legacies of racism and its exclusionary practices Let us be clear: we, the Editors, Staff, and Governance Members of ACS Publications condemn the tragic deaths of Black people and stand in solidarity with Black members of the science and engineering community Moreover, ACS condemns racism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms We will not tolerate practices and viewpoints that exclude or demean any member of our community Despite these good intentions, we recognize that our community has not done enough to provide an environment for Black chemists to thrive Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said, “So far, we have gotten by with a STEM workforce that does not come close to representing the diversity of our nation However, if we continue to leave behind so much of our nation’s brainpower, we cannot succeed”(1) Indeed, the US National Science Foundation notes that Blacks and other under-represented minority groups continue to be under-represented in science and engineering education and employment(2) What is abundantly clear in this moment is that this lack of representation is a symptom of systemic racism across all levels of education and professional life We know that supportive words are not enough We must develop and implement a concrete plan for changing our trajectory Publications and citations are academic currency, and while we like to think publishing a manuscript is “just about the science”, we know that is not true for everyone We have seen the biases (largely through the lens of gender and in Western countries because of the limitations in bibliometric analyses) and applaud our colleagues at the RSC for their massive study that explored these gender barriers in the publishing pipeline(3) and their recent Inclusion and Diversity Framework(4) At the present time, unfortunately, less is known about the effects of race and ethnicity on publishing success A study published in PeerJ, however, found that unprofessional reviewer comments had a disproportionate effect on authors from under-represented groups(5) As the world’s leading society publisher, we have a responsibility to aggressively combat bias in all aspects of the publishing process, including systemic under-representation of Blacks in this endeavor (no ACS journal is currently led by a Black Editor-in-Chief) Within ACS Publications, we actively track gender and geographic diversity of editors, advisors, authors, and reviewers, and we anecdotally report on race of editors Diversity encompasses many more dimensions than these, and we acknowledge that we can do much more than we have We affirm that diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community and its impact, and we are committed to developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on our progress to ensure that our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors are more diverse and that all authors receive the same fair treatment and opportunity to publish in our journals We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers now, but we seek to hear from and listen to our community on how we can improve our journals to be more diverse and inclusive As first steps, we commit to the taking the following actions: Gathering and making public our baseline statistics on diversity within our journals, encompassing our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors; annually reporting on progress Training new and existing editors to recognize and interrupt bias in peer review Including diversity of journal contributors as an explicit measurement of Editor-in-Chief performance Appointing an ombudsperson to serve as a liaison between Editors and our Community Developing an actionable diversity plan for each ACS journal These are only initial plans and the start of a conversation: other ideas are beginning to germinate, and we commit to sharing them with you regularly We invite you contribute your ideas on how we can do better via our Axial website We are listening carefully We encourage you to take immediate action in your own circles In a recent editorial, JACS Associate Editor Melanie Sanford(6) offered practical steps to take now Take a moment to find out more about these actions and how to bring them into your work and your life We all have a responsibility to eradicate racism and discrimination in the science and engineering community; indeed, to make a real difference, we need to be antiracist The tragic events we have seen in the Black community provide great urgency to this goal The work will be difficult and will force us to confront hard realities about our beliefs and actions We fully expect that you, and everyone in the community, will hold us accountable

Confronting Racism in Chemistry Journals.

Abstract: The following joint Editorial was originally published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c10979). We confront the terrible reality that systemic racism and discrimination impacts the daily personal and professional lives of many members of the scientific community and broader society. In the U.S., the brutal killing of George Floyd while in police custody is one of the most recent examples of the centuries of systemic violence suffered by Black Americans. This moment and its aftermath lay bare the legacies of racism and its exclusionary practices. Let us be clear: we, the Editors, Staff, and Governance Members of ACS Publications condemn the tragic deaths of Black people and stand in solidarity with Black members of the science and engineering community. Moreover, ACS condemns racism, discrimination, and harassment in all forms. We will not tolerate practices and viewpoints that exclude or demean any member of our community. Despite these good intentions, we recognize that our community has not done enough to provide an environment for Black chemists to thrive. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said, “So far, we have gotten by with a STEM workforce that does not come close to representing the diversity of our nation. However, if we continue to leave behind so much of our nation’s brainpower, we cannot succeed.”(1) Indeed, the U.S. National Science Foundation notes that Blacks and other under-represented minority groups continue to be under-represented in science and engineering education and employment.(2) What is abundantly clear in this moment is that this lack of representation is a symptom of systemic racism across all levels of education and professional life. We know that supportive words are not enough. We must develop and implement a concrete plan for changing our trajectory. Publications and citations are academic currency, and while we like to think publishing a manuscript is “just about the science”, we know that is not true for everyone. We have seen the biases (largely through the lens of gender and in Western countries because of the limitations in bibliometric analyses) and applaud our colleagues at the RSC for their massive study that explored these gender barriers in the publishing pipeline(3) and their recent Inclusion and Diversity Framework.(4) At the present time, unfortunately, less is known about the effects of race and ethnicity on publishing success. A study published in PeerJ, however, found that unprofessional reviewer comments had a disproportionate effect on authors from under-represented groups.(5) As the world’s leading society publisher, we have a responsibility to aggressively combat bias in all aspects of the publishing process, including systemic under-representation of Blacks in this endeavor (no ACS journal is currently led by a Black Editor-in-Chief). Within ACS Publications, we actively track gender and geographic diversity of editors, advisors, authors, and reviewers, and we anecdotally report on race of editors. Diversity encompasses many more dimensions than these, and we acknowledge that we can do much more than we have. We affirm that diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community and its impact, and we are committed to developing, implementing, tracking, and reporting on our progress to ensure that our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors are more diverse and that all authors receive the same fair treatment and opportunity to publish in our journals. We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers now, but we seek to hear from and listen to our community on how we can improve our journals to be more diverse and inclusive. As first steps, we commit to the taking the following actions: Gathering and making public our baseline statistics on diversity within our journals, encompassing our editors, advisors, reviewers, and authors; annually reporting on progress Training new and existing editors to recognize and interrupt bias in peer review Including diversity of journal contributors as an explicit measurement of Editor-in-Chief performance Appointing an ombudsperson to serve as a liaison between Editors and our Community Developing an actionable diversity plan for each ACS journal These are only initial plans and the start of a conversation: other ideas are beginning to germinate, and we commit to sharing them with you regularly. We invite you contribute your ideas on how we can do better via our Axial website. We are listening carefully. We encourage you to take immediate action in your own circles. In a recent editorial, JACS Associate Editor Melanie Sanford(6) offered practical steps to take now. Take a moment to find out more about these actions and how to bring them into your work and your life. We all have a responsibility to eradicate racism and discrimination in the science and engineering community; indeed, to make a real difference, we need to be antiracist. The tragic events we have seen in the Black community provide great urgency to this goal. The work will be difficult and will force us to confront hard realities about our beliefs and actions. We fully expect that you, and everyone in the community, will hold us accountable.