Chemical Upcycling of Polymers

Funding Agency:
Department of Energy

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces its interest in receiving applications on behalf of single investigators and teams of investigators, which may involve multiple institutions, to support fundamental experimental and theoretical efforts that advance chemical upcycling of polymers and circular design of next-generation plastics. The term “plastic” describes a wide array of polymeric materials with diverse compositions and properties. Finished plastic products may include multiple polymeric components and often contain additives to obtain desirable physical, chemical, or mechanical properties. Understanding of chemical approaches that make use of end-of-life plastic products as feedstocks to regenerate the same product, or otherwise upcycle them to new, more valuable products, is limited. BES seeks innovative fundamental research that creates the scientific foundations for new technology solutions to reduce plastic waste, lower the energy impacts of plastic production through chemical upcycling, and create energy- and carbon-efficient feedstocks for valuable products through chemical upcycling of polymers.

Applicant institutions are limited to no more than 2 pre-applications and applications. There is no limit on the number of pre-applications on which an institution may appear as a partner (not the lead institution).

Deadlines:

  • Duke Internal: Interested applicants from within Duke should contact dukeiln@duke.edu as early as possible.
  • Required Pre-Application: March 10, 2021
  • Application Due Date: May 12, 2021

Agency Website

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant institutions are limited to no more than 2 pre-applications and applications. There is no limit on the number of pre-applications on which an institution may appear as a partner (not the lead institution). An individual is limited to be named as the Lead PI on no more than 1 submission.

Amount Description

Ceiling $1,500,000 per year

Floor

  • $500,000 per year for applications led by DOE/NNSA National Laboratories
  • $200,000 per year for applications led by all other eligible applicants

Funding Type

Grant

Eligibility

Faculty

Category

Engineering and Physical Sciences

External Deadline

March 10, 2021