Research Interests

Responsive soft materials (also called as intelligent or smart materials) are designed materials that can sense and adapt to their surroundings in the presence of various stimuli such as pH, temperature, moisture, light, chemicals, and electric or magnetic fields.

In the Kang Lab, we are excited to study synthetic systems such as hydrogels and hybrid polymeric composites inspired by biological living matter. Our research focuses on understanding processing-structure-property relationships across multiple scales and developing integral components with self-powered functions for novel applications such as artificial skins, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.

Smart Soft Materials & Devices

Self-folding origami undergoes reversible shape morphing between 2D flat and 3D structure by programming spatial deformation under external stimuli. The movie shows the thermo-responsive actuation of Randlett bird origami by cooling & heating water.

Hydrogel disks patterned with gold nanoparticles show sustained spinning and oscillatory motion in photo-thermal Marangoni optical traps at air-water interface under patterned illumination, 4x playback speed (courtesy of Dr. H. Kim).

Microfabrication & Additive Manufacturing

High-resolution 3D printing can be achieved via photon energy upconversion using a visible LED light source with low intensity. A sub-micron volumetric pixel (voxel) was printed within the bulk of a resin by suppressing linear photo-induced polymerization outside of the focal point (SEM image, courtesy of Dr. D. Limberg).

Flow-focusing microfluidic device enables generation of multiphase uniform emulsions or capsules with an ultra-thin shell through a single dripping instability, 1/120x playback speed.

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