Dr. Guazzelli’s research centers on advanced polymeric materials, from fundamental chemistry to real-world application. She has a special interest in:
- Self-assembling amphiphilic polymers: Designing block, random, and graft architectures via RAFT/ATRP to create single-chain “unimer” micelles or nanostructured films. These materials show promise for drug encapsulation and biomedical applications, catalysis and environmental applications, owing to their temperature-responsive or stimuli-responsive behavior.
- Eco-friendly antifouling coatings: Developing and testing low-surface-energy polymers (fluorinated, polysiloxane, zwitterionic, etc.) to combat marine biofouling. Through careful polymer design, she seeks coatings that reduce both biological adhesion and environmental impact.
- Ion-exchange membranes for green hydrogen production and energy storage systems: Functionalizing commercial polymers (e.g., through radical grafting) to create highly conductive, chemically stable proton or anion-exchange membranes. These membranes are vital for emerging clean-energy technology such as efficient alkaline water electrolysis and redox flow batteries.
- Transparent wood composites: Bleaching lignin in mild conditions and combining natural wood with transparent polymer matrices, wood-based composites that are light, strong, thermally insulating, and optically transparent can be produced. This strategy also valorizes sawmill waste and may lead to novel, low-impact materials with advanced performance for energy-efficient buildings.
Through these lines of inquiry, Dr. Guazzelli aims to expand the role of polymer science in addressing challenges in sustainability, energy, and environmental protection.