Stefan Bon


Stefan A. F. Bon is a Professor of Chemical Engineering in the department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. His research considers polymer-based colloids. He is a Fellow of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, an elected member of the International Polymer Colloids Group, and member of the physical Newton international fellowship committee, and served as the Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Lecturer in 2015-2016.

Academic career

Bon studied chemical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, obtaining his integrated undergraduate and MSc in Chemical Engineering in 1993. He continued to specialize in the area of polymer and colloid science, with research in nitroxide-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerization, and obtained his PhD in 1998 in polymer chemistry under the supervision of Anton L. German. He worked as a postdoctoral research assistant with David M. Haddleton at the University of Warwick from spring 1998, and was appointed as Unilever Lecturer in polymer chemistry in January 2001. He continues his career at the University of Warwick where he is a professor in polymer and colloid chemical engineering.

Research

Bon pioneered nitroxide-mediated reversible-deactiviation radical emulsion polymerization. His current research takes a chemical engineering and soft matter physics approach to sustainable polymer and colloidal systems. Research themes in the BonLab are: colloid and polymer science for the environment, a mechanistic understanding of polymer and colloid synthesis and physical/mechanical behaviour, out-of-equilibrium active matter, colloidal materials for a circular economy, and colloids at interfaces: adhesion and film formation. Bon has rich experience working with a great variety of industrial collaborators on projects with applications in coatings and adhesives, personal care products, agricultural formulations, and paper.
Alongside his academic research, Bon is chair of the Polymer Club, an industrial consortium aimed at promoting research and education in polymer and colloid science. He is the founder and host of the 2020 COVID19 international polymer colloids group webinar series. He is also a member of the physical Newton international fellowship committee.

Honours and awards

Selected publications

  • Small molecule organic eutectics as candidates to replace plastics. Ryan, J., L.; Sosso, G., C.; and Bon, S., A., F. Chem. Sci., 15: 14458-14470. 2024. DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SC02574A
  • A mesh reinforced pressure-sensitive adhesive for a linerless label design. Brogden, E., M.; Wilson, P., F.; Hindmarsh, S.; Hands-Portman, I.; Unsworth, A.; Liarou, E.; and Bon, S., A., F. RSC Applied Polymers, 2: 248-261. 2024. DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LP00224A
  • Samuel R. Wilson-Whitford, Ross W. Jaggers, Brooke W. Longbottom, Matt K. Donald, Guy J. Clarkson, and Stefan A. F. Bon. "Textured Microcapsules through Crystallization". ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 13 : 5887-5894. doi:10.1021/acsami.0c22378