Development of novel graphene-layered double hydroxide hybrid supported metallocene catalyst for ethylene polymerization

This project is about developing a novel supported metallocene catalyst for ethylene polymerization. A hybrid nanomaterial, graphene-layered double hydroxides will be used as support. Metallocenes have the ability to tailor polymer microstructure, physical and mechanical properties. However, unsupported metallocene catalyst faces several practical challenges such as reactor fouling which reduces heat and mass transfer. Similarly, the metallocene usually produces polymers with narrow molecular weight which possess better mechanical properties but their final processing is difficult. Supported metallocene catalyst can lead to develop cost effective polymerization processes. In the polymerization carried out with nano-scale catalyst supports the final product contains the same, leading to the nano-composites fabrication. Our previous studies on the polymerization of ethylene in the presence of graphene, LDH, and graphene-LDH helped us in coming up with this idea of using the hybrid material as a support of metallocene catalyst. The mesoporous structure of LDHs and the ability of graphene to increase molecular weight of PE are the two main driving ideas. Currently, there is no scientific research specifically on graphene-LDH supported metallocene catalyst and hence there are plenty of opportunities of advancing the scientific knowledge and technological breakthroughs. The key concept is to synthesize graphene-LDH hybrid nanomaterial by using established techniques such as co-precipitation method and then use graphene-LDH as a support for zirconocene or titanocene. The influence of different LDH cations and graphene functionalization on the characteristics of the supported catalyst such as its activity and its influence on the final PE product will be studied. The important outcomes of this research work include but not limited to achievements in the area of heterogeneous metallocene catalysis, excellence in research, scientific publications in reputed journals. There is also room for generation of Industrial patents and research collaboration with various petrochemical industries. Beside these, this project will also support us to continue of research work in the area of polymer and polymer nanocomposite synthesis, characterization and applications. The PI has a well-established laboratory of polymer research, and has actively been involved in this area of research. The PI has published more than 70 peer reviewed papers in this area.