recent publication
recent publication
RECENT PUBLICATION
Macromolecular Materials Chemistry Lab (MMCL) pursues to establish synthetic pathways to macromolecules with complex shape and structure, and thus develop advanced polymeric nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications. We are particularly interested in controlling polymer structure, conformation and phase separation in a spatiotemporal manner. Current topics include architectured polymer syntheses, postpolymerization modification, polymerization-induced nanostructuring, and porous materials.
We synthesize polymers. We utilize controlled polymerization techniques to produce well-defined polymers. We combine different polymer chains and build up complex architectures, so the resulting nanostructured polymers can exhibit desired functions and properties that cannot be realized with simple polymer materials. We also take synthetic challenges and develop methodologies for polymer synthesis, by postpolymerization modification for instance.
Bottlebrush copolymer
Graft copolymer
Core cross-linked star polymer
Polycondensation
Postpolymerization modification
Sequence control
Surface modification
We design nanostructure of our polymers when we synthesize them. In particular, we strongly exploit block polymer self-assembly that takes place in situ during polymerization. This synthetically feasible and scalable approach allows us to produce interesting nanomaterials with control morphology and length scale of the nanostructures. Synthesis of nanoporous materials and their applications for energy and environmental applications are actively sought.
Block polymer
Interface
Microphase separation
Phase transition
Polymerization-induced microphase separation
Polymerization-induced self-assembly
Porous polymer
In collaboration with Interojo, we report amphiphilic copolymer coatings for silicone hydrogen contact lenses in RSC Applied Polymers that provide wettability and low friction.
Eunseo and Dr. Seo received a Bioneer Best Poster Presentation Award and an Academic Advancement Award at the 2026 Spring Meeting of the Korean Chemical Society.
Jimin and Seungjin won poster presentation awards from the 2026 Spring Meeting of the Polymer Society of Korea.