Thomas H. Epps, III is an American chemist and the Thomas & Kipp Gutshall Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware. He has a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering, and an affiliated appointment in Biomedical Engineering. He serves as the director of the Center for Research in Soft Matter & Polymers, the director of the Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (a National Science Foundation, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center), and the co-director of the Center for Plastics Innovations (A Department of Energy, Energy Frontiers Research Center). His research considers the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of nanostructure-containing polymers related to biobased materials, drug delivery, alternative energy (batteries), nanotemplating, and composite-based personal-protective equipment. He is also the co-founder of Lignolix, which is focused on the valorization of biomass waste.
In the summer of 2006 Epps joined the University of Delaware.[4][5] Here his research considers nanostructured assemblies of polymers for a variety of applications.[6] In particular, he has focused on block copolymers; polymers which are composed of two or more chemically dissimilar units.[7] Specifically, Epps develops block copolymers that can assemble into nano-scale structures with carefully controlled molecular shapes, sizes and orientations.[8]
By manipulating the regions between blocks to control phase transitions and intermolecular packing, Epps has studied the interfacial interactions of tapered block copolymers.[3] He also pioneered the development of gradient substrates and free surfaces the deposition of block copolymer thin films.[3] Epps showed that self-assembled monolayers of chlorosilane used in combination with flow-coating and solvent vapour gradients can result in nanostructures with precise optical and electronic properties.[3][9] Epps spent 2013 as a Martin Luther King Jr. Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he worked with Timothy M. Swager on the self-assembly of polymers.[10][8]
In 2016 he demonstrated it was possible to synthesize novel polymers with tuneable thermal properties through the use of waste from the pulp and paper business.[11][12] He was awarded a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new synthesis pathways that allow the development of novel materials from lignin.[13] When talking about the new programme, Epps said "one of the big problems that we want to address is sustainability ... not just thinking about whether we can make new polymers or catalysts from biomass, but understanding the impact of these polymers on the environment, in terms of toxicity and in terms of the resources,".[13] He went on to found Lignolix, a spin-out company that focuses on making sustainable materials from renewable biomass. Lignolix won the 2019 University of Delaware FastPass competition.[14]
Epps has realised polymer-based for lithium-ion batteries, where the polymer serves the role of the liquid electrolyte.[15] The polymer prevents calcification of the positive and negative electrodes in the battery, which can otherwise cause sparks and fires.[15] Polymers also permit quick charging/discharging due to the formation of small channels that allow fast ion transport.[15]
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