Evan Stacy is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Southern Mississippi in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering. He was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky before attending
Hanover College for his undergraduate education. He majored in chemistry with minors in biology and business. During his time at Hanover College, Evan was elected president and vice president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, became his class representative in student government, held the role of student ambassador, and was a four-year member of the men’s soccer team. Now working under the guidance of Prof. Tristan Clemons, Evan’s research focuses on the development of photo-initiated controlled radical polymerization methods and materials for enhanced carbon fiber precursors. In his free time, Evan is heavily involved in the Hattiesburg soccer community where he coaches three youth teams for Southern States Soccer Club.
Represented Organization
Lumios Materials
Key Innovation
Lumios Materials has developed an aqueous photoiniferter (aqPI) polymerization process for synthesizing polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber precursors. This method enables high molecular weight, low-dispersity precursors in water-based systems, eliminating the toxicity, cost, and purification challenges of traditional organic solvents. The process delivers high-performance material properties required for advanced carbon fiber applications while supporting environmentally responsible and scalable manufacturing. Laboratory-scale synthesis has been demonstrated with reproducible results, and batch sizes approaching 500 grams have been achieved. Current efforts focus on pilot-scale reactor development to further scale the technology.
Target Market
The technology serves the carbon fiber manufacturing industry, including sectors such as aerospace, construction, automotive, sports equipment, and medical devices. It addresses the critical need for sustainable production of high-performance precursors, offering both environmental and economic benefits over traditional solvent-based methods. Key market players include established carbon fiber manufacturers, but this technology provides a competitive edge in producing high-quality, scalable, and environmentally responsible materials.
ORNL Principal Investigator
- Amit Naskar - Group Leader, Carbon and Composites, Physical Sciences Directorate