HQP Highlight Series: Ravinder Singh
Welcome to the HQP Highlight Series: a series of interviews designed to highlight the innovative research and diverse experiences of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) across the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute (C2MCI) network.
Today, we welcome Dr. Ravinder Singh, a Research Associate with Dr. Steven Holdcroft on macro-scale research at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Singh will be sharing his insights on the exciting science taking place at C2MCI and the approaches, challenges, collaborations, and career journey behind his research.
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Could you introduce yourself and briefly share what you’re currently working on at C2MCI?
I am a Polymer Scientist within the Macro team at C2MCI, where my research focuses on the development of high-performance anti-corrosion coatings and interfacial adhesives. Currently, my work centers on the design and synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-functionalized polymeric architectures capable of forming robust covalent bonds with metallic substrates.
To date, I have developed a comprehensive library of over 50 NHC-based materials, including functional monomers, homopolymers, and random copolymers, aimed at enhancing the long-term chemical and mechanical durability of metal-polymer interfaces.
What first drew you to your field of research?
I have a long-standing interest in the intersection of molecular architecture and materials engineering. The Macro theme at C2MCI provided an ideal platform to apply precise synthetic organic chemistry to macroscopic challenges; specifically, transforming a common polymer framework into a high-performance industrial coating through novel synthetic modifications is what keeps me motivated.
What’s the coolest analytical or synthetic technique you’ve learned recently? Why did it excite you?
A key part of my research involved developing a variety of synthetic methods to create a library of unique vinylbenzylimidazole (VBI) precursors with different counter ions and specific functionalities, as well as tuning the free-radical polymerization conditions.
This involved systematically varying the N-substituent "wingtip" steric hindrance, counterion species, and NHC-to-styrene molar ratio. Executing this scope required an extensive investigation into the kinetics of radical-transfer chemistry and the mechanistic implications of ionic monomers on chain propagation.
Which of your recent projects with C2MCI are you most proud of, and what made it special?
I am most proud of the systematic development of the NHC-polystyrene library. A key highlight was the mechanistic validation of our anchoring strategy; by utilizing "blocked carbenes" and thiol-functionalized polymers as controls, we demonstrated that the Metal–Carbon (M–C) covalent bond is the primary driver of adhesion.
In this work, we leveraged the high affinity of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) for metallic substrates to develop poly (NHC-co-styrene) coatings. These macromolecules, synthesized via free-radical copolymerization, function as multivalent anchors. Electrochemical characterization showed that these films achieve blocking efficiencies of >99 ± 1% against ferri/ferrocyanide redox probes.
This was further corroborated by persistent X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) signals during exposure to aggressive gold etchants. Corollary, this study demonstrates that NHC-based polymers provide a chemically resilient and industrially viable pathway for macroscopic metal surface protection.
Can you share a time you really enjoyed working as part of a team? What made it memorable?
The annual research symposia at Queen’s University and our 2025 Macro-Intensive meeting in Montreal served as pivotal milestones for our collaborative efforts.
These meetings facilitated the strategic transition from "first-generation" anchoring materials toward a second-generation architecture, which incorporates polar functional groups to enable reversible, complementary interfacial interactions. Furthermore, the technical exchange and feedback from the HQPs provided critical insights that refined our research priorities and streamlined the delivery of materials to our collaborative research groups.
Have you ever mentored or trained someone? What did you learn from that experience?
Throughout my journey, I have had the privilege of mentoring more than 20 undergraduate and graduate students. These experiences, alongside our collaborative work within the Macro team, have been incredibly rewarding.
Whether we are strategizing at our planning meetings or troubleshooting in the lab, I’ve observed that the best research happens when we treat knowledge-sharing and the scientific success with equal importance as organized workflows and clear documentation.
How do you usually explain your research to someone outside your field?
I frame it as the development of "molecular anchors." While traditional coatings rely on weak physical interactions and are prone to delamination, our current research introduces specialized polymeric framework that act as anchors, linking the flexible polymer to the metal at the atomic level to prevent corrosion and mechanical failure. Overall, this new approach is cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Tell us about a presentation or poster session you gave. What made it successful?
In a recent technical session, I presented an optimization study on the architectural design of NHCs with tailored functionalities, specifically focusing on the modulation of N-substituent "wingtips," steric hindrance, counter-ion selection, and the styrene-to-monomer molar ratio. The effectiveness of these presentations lay in bridging the gap between fundamental polymer synthesis and scalable, industrially relevant deposition methodologies.
Collectively, I have demonstrated how these targeted chemical modifications can precisely tune anchoring efficiency, ensuring both the technical scalability and cost-effectiveness required from an industrial perspective.
Can you share a time when you faced a tricky problem in the lab? How did you approach it?
During the synthesis of VBI precursor in its iodide salt form, I observed significant inhibition of free-radical polymerization. I hypothesized that the iodide counter-ion was acting as a radical scavenger, quenching the propagation of the styrene chains. By systematically increasing the initiator flux (AIBN) and elevating the reaction temperature to 80 °C, I was able to override this inhibition and successfully obtain the target copolymers.
Have you ever proposed a new idea or method in your work?
I spearheaded the expansion of our NHC library, ultimately synthesizing over 50 distinct materials. I proposed and executed systematic modifications, including tailoring different wingtips, steric hindrance moieties, and varied counter-ions. With this trend, I identified that a 1:7 NHC-to-styrene ratio is the critical threshold for performance: lower NHC concentrations result in poor adhesion (such as 1:11), whereas higher loadings (such as 1:3) increase the material's hydrophilicity, compromising its barrier function and promoting moisture absorption.
Overall, this exhaustive library allowed us to establish clear structure-property relationships (SPRs) for surface adhesion that didn't exist before.
Do you have a favourite chemical element or molecule? Why does it stand out to you?
NHCs hold exceptional versatility as a ligand which is tunable via wingtip modification, and ion exchange allows for a level of interfacial engineering that is difficult to achieve with traditional anchors.
What’s one thing about your research that consistently makes you smile or surprises you?
The extreme sensitivity of the materials' macroscoic performance to minor changes in its molecular stoichiometry. It is quite remarkable how shifting the monomer ratio by just a few percentage points can fundamentally transform a high-performance protective barrier into a moisture-permeable film.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting their journey in chemistry?
In my opinion, successful research is largely predicated on maintaining a strong mindset and a well-defined research direction. In the context of synthetic chemistry, a researcher must approach their experimental work with a high degree of consistency, attentiveness, and determination; the quality and care invested into each reaction are directly proportional to the reliability of the resulting data.
Furthermore, it is essential to internalize the core principles of one’s specific field while functioning as a collaborative and productive member of a multidisciplinary team.
The HQP Highlight Series is made possible by the support of the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (#NFRFT-2020-00573).
If you are a C2MCI HQP who might be interested in appearing in future instalments of the HQP Highlight Series, please reach out to Dr. Tetyana Levchenko to get involved.
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