Research

Polymer Hybrid Materials

Self-assembly of polymers in evaporative emulsions provides a simple and effective route for the preparation of anisotropic polymeric particles with tunable shape and functionality. Beyond understanding thermodynamic phenomena associated with the polymer assembly, dynamic properties of the polymer particles in response to external stimuli may offer new opportunities in sensing, smart coating, and drug delivery. Our mission is to develop advanced functional polymer colloids by architecture engineering of polymers as well as site-specific conjugation of hybrid supramolecules.

Related Papers

  • "Photoswitchable Surfactant-Driven Reversible Shape- and Color-Changining Block Copolymer Particles" Journal of the American Chemical Society 143, 33, 13333 (2021)

  • "Switchable Full-Color Reflective Photonic Ellipsoidal Particles" Journal of the American Chemical Society 142, 23, 10424 (2020)

  • "Light-Responsive, Shape-Switchable Block Copolymer Particles" Journal of the American Chemical Society 141, 38, 15348 (2019)

  • "Mechanistic Study on the Shape Transition of Block Copolymer Particles Driven by Length-Controlled Nanorod Surfactants" Chemistry of Materials 30, 23, 8669 (2018)

  • "Novel Templating Route Using Pt Infiltrated Block Copolymer Micro-particles for Catalytic Pt Functionalized Macroporous WO3 Nanofibers and Its Application in Breath Pattern Recognition" ACS Sensors 1, 9, 1124 (2016)

  • "Particles with Tunable Porosity and Morphology by Controlling Interfacial Instability in Block Copolymer Emulsions" ACS Nano 10, 5, 5243 (2016)

  • "Soft Patchy Particles of Block Copolymers from Interface-Engineered Emulsions" ACS Nano 9, 11, 11333 (2015)

  • "Size-Controlled Nanoparticle-Guided Assembly of Block Copolymers for Convex Lens-Shaped Particles" Journal of the American Chemical Society 136, 28, 9982 (2014)

Complex Colloids

The complex liquid colloids, which use upper critical solution temperatures and microfluidics, allow three-dimensional molecular assemblies with a diversity of internal payloads including catalysts, monomers, or reagents. This feature, combined with design of surfactants, will be used to generate novel assemblies that are triggered in response to an interfacial recognition process. Our mission is to control the shape, movement, and patterning of functional colloids toward a new era of soft robotics: colloid-based liquid robots.

Related Papers

  • "Dynamic Coloration of Complex Emulsions by Localization of Gold Rings near the Tri-phase Junction" Small 17, 12, 2007507 (2021)

  • "Dynamically Reconfigurable, Multi-Functional Emulsions with Controllable Structure and Movement" Advanced Materials 31, 51, 1905569 (2019)

  • "Development of Shape-tuned, Monodisperse Block Copolymer Particles through Solvent-mediated Particle Restructuring" Chemistry of Materials 31, 3, 1066 (2019)

  • "Shape-Tunable Biphasic Janus Particles as pH-Responsive Switchable Surfactants" Macromolecules 50, 23, 9276 (2017)

  • "Monodipserse Nanostructured Spheres of Block Copolymers and Nanoparticles via Cross-flow Membrane Emulsification" Chemistry of Materials 27, 18, 6314 (2015)