UVic Lab Explores Nitrogen-Based Plastics for Environmental Impact

A research team at the University of Victoria (UVic) is pioneering innovative approaches to synthetic materials, with a focus on creating plastics that could serve as fertilizers. Led by chemistry professor Saurabh Chitnis, the lab aims to explore the potential of non-carbon elements to develop more environmentally friendly materials.

Historically, chemistry has concentrated on organic elements like carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. As Professor Chitnis explained in a recent news release, this focus has left over a hundred other elements largely unexplored. “The other hundred-plus elements remain poorly understood, but offer incredible potential,” he stated. This research seeks to tap into that potential, particularly by addressing the limitations of carbon-based materials.

Carbon-based polymers exhibit several drawbacks, including poor thermal stability, which makes them prone to burning under heat and becoming brittle in cold environments. Additionally, these materials have a significant environmental footprint. They do not degrade easily, often contributing to landfill problems, and their production relies heavily on fossil fuels.

To overcome these challenges, Chitnis and his team are investigating methods to incorporate non-carbon molecules into organic polymers. Their goal is to create materials that not only possess improved thermal, magnetic, and conductive properties but also reduce reliance on carbon as a primary structural component.

One of the most promising avenues of this research involves replacing carbon with nitrogen in polymer structures. Though nitrogen is typically found in gaseous form, Chitnis’s group has identified techniques to stabilize nitrogen within polymers, allowing it to serve as an effective backbone for a range of materials.

“We want materials to be flexible so that they can be used across a wide range of applications,” Chitnis noted. He emphasized that organic polymers lack this kind of flexibility, but incorporating inorganic elements could unlock new possibilities.

The development of nitrogen-based plastics could significantly contribute to efforts aimed at achieving net-zero emissions. Nitrogen is abundant, comprising approximately 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere. Furthermore, these new plastics could decompose and nourish plants at the end of their life cycles, effectively acting as a fertilizer.

“When you work in such a new area, it really democratizes science,” Chitnis remarked. “Anyone can make a big discovery because not that much is known, and there’s so much waiting to be discovered.”

Chitnis began his role as an associate professor at UVic in July 2025, following a seven-year tenure at Dalhousie University. He was also recently appointed as a tier 2 Canada Research Chair in inorganic polymers and materials.

As research in this field progresses, the implications for both material science and environmental sustainability could be profound. The shift toward nitrogen-based materials presents a unique opportunity to address pressing environmental challenges while advancing scientific understanding of lesser-known elements.