Pittcon 2025: Xiao Su Discusses His Work in Electrochemical Separations

Last week at Pittcon, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts, Xiao Su, an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was formally recognized as the 2025 recipient of the Satinder Ahuja Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science. Su was recognized because of his work developing advanced materials for molecularly selective separations, with applications in environmental analysis.

During the award symposium, which took place on Sunday, March 2^nd, Su delivered a presentation titled “Molecular Design of Redox-active Polymers for Selective Electrochemical Separations” (1). In his talk, Su discussed his laboratory’s development of redox-active polymer electrosorbents for ion-selective separations (1). By employing in-situ interfacial measurements and multiscale modeling, Su’s team has investigated ion selectivity mechanisms, tracking solvation changes and redox-film swelling through neutron reflectometry (1). These insights contribute to recovering and purifying critical elements.

Su also highlighted his work on redox-copolymers designed for the electrochemical capture and release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (1,2). His team balanced hydrophobicity, electrostatics, and fluorophilicity to enhance the removal of short-chain PFAS, a pressing environmental concern (1). Additionally, Su introduced the concept of incorporating chirality into redox polymers, enabling electrochemically mediated enantioselective separations for precise molecular recognition (1).

In a previous interview with LCGC International, Su reflected on the significance of the award and offered advice to aspiring separation scientists (3).

“I would really encourage young separation scientists, students, and professionals to keep going at it,” Su said (3). “One thing that I would recommend is to try and explore a breadth of opportunities because I think the skills that you learn and that you’re good at can often apply to different applications.”

In this video interview with Su, he dives deeper into the research that he and his team are conducting with redox-active polymers and the applicability of electrochemical approaches in separation science. Su also addresses some of the current challenges that separation scientists are facing, as well as why seeing the next generation present their research is encouraging to him.

References

1. Pittcon, Molecular Design of Redox-active Polymers for Selective Electrochemical Separations. Lab Science Events. Available at: https://labscievents.pittcon.org/event/pittcon-2025/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfMjQ5NTQwNg== (accessed 2025-03-13).
2. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Xiao Su. Illinois.edu. Available at: https://chbe.illinois.edu/people/profile/x2su (accessed 2025-03-13).
3. Wetzel, W. Pittcon 2025: Xiao Su Discusses Winning the Satinder Ahuja Award and Electrochemical Separations. LCGC International. Available at: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/pittcon-2025-xiao-su-discusses-winning-the-satinder-ahuja-award-and-electrochemical-separations (accessed 2025-03-13).