the best advice given by polymers to chemists:

Life and hope are viscoelastic.

Failure should take time to restore, but never yield to or break by it.

Bend and recover!

(Inspirational quote by Prof. Hyuk Yu at University of Wisconsin, Madison)

Interests

Our research group is interested in synthesis, processing and properties of advanced soft materials.

- Synthetic polymers (functional polymers, reactive polymers, block copolymers, polymer brushes)

- Natural polymers (proteins, lignins, cellulose)

We aim to fine-tune the properties of soft materials by controlling the structures of the materials at a molecular level:

(1) Rational design and synthesis of advanced functional soft materials with predicted properties and structures

(2) Understanding behaviors of created materials for engineering their properties through surface and interfacial chemistry and engineering

(3) Next generation applications in patterning, nano/microelectronics, nanotechnologies, and biotechnologies.

We attempt to find effective chemistries to control polymeric structure, molecular weight, and dispersity with the tools of anionic / cationic / radical polymerizations and post-polymerization modifications.

polymerization fundamentals

For deeper understanding of polymerizations, we perform polymerization kinetic studies. We further exploit a flow reaction platform as a future polymer manufacturing technology.

Polymer degradation

Degradation of polymer, which is towards the reverse direction of polymerization, is another focus on our polymer synthesis research. We design and realize polymers degradable in a variety of ways.

The functionalities are controlled by rational design of organic materials in solution and thin film to expand their uses towards nanopatterning / functional surfaces / stimuli-responsive materials / adhesive materials.

We find chemical routes to achieve well-defined micro/nanostructures with polymeric materials, i.e. high resolution photoresists.

Nano- and micro-sized fibers and particles are of interests of our group. In particular, electrospray/electrospinning techniques are exploited for the fabrication.

We design and realize covalent/noncovalent crosslinking chemistries to form functional hydrogels, organogels and ionogels that can be further applicable in bio and electronic materials platforms.

The design and realization of complex polymers with specific functionalities are performed to investigate dynamics in glassy and rubbery states of soft materials.

Approach

Highly interdisciplinary approach through combination of chemistry

with physics and materials science