Jianding Chen at the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai, studies porous polymers in a vareity of forms, for different applications.

 What inspired you to become a scientist? 

My father is a chemist and my mother is a teacher. They both inspired me to become a scientist. 

 What was your motivation behind the work described in your ChemComm article? 

Our original aim was to prepare a porous polymer using an environmentally friendly and cheap method. Accidently, we found that linear copolymer particles, synthesized by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization, could be used to stabilize the water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). Based on emulsion-templating, a series of open and closed porous polymers (polyHIPEs), including the porous PMMA materials, were prepared. In our previous work, the use of monomers of intermediate hydrophobicity, such as MMA, proved difficult because a stable emulsion is required to form a polyHIPE. A stable emulsion requires at least two immiscible liquid phases and emulsions formed from relatively hydrophilic organic liquids, such as MMA, are generally unstable and the phases separate quickly, due to partitioning between the two phases. 

 Why did you choose ChemComm to publish your work? 

In our mind, it was important to share our research findings with other researchers quickly. ChemComm is the most suitable journal for this because of its high quality and fast publication times. 

 Where do you see your research heading next? 

We are interested in the development of novel porous polymers, in a variety of forms and for different applications. One of our main interests is in foams derived from high internal phase emulsions. Such porous polymers are prepared by polymerizing the continuous phase of high internal phase emulsions, and are highly porous and permeable. 

 What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

I enjoy listening to music as well as reading books.

 If you could not be a scientist, but could be anything else, what would you be? 

I would like to be an artist. 

Interviewed by Philippa Ross