Research highlights
Summary of major research contributions from our group. Full explanation could be downloaded here.
Controlled/living radical polymerization
Metallocene polymerization and branched polyethylenes
Surface modification of biomaterials
Development of micro- and nano-technologies
Smart polymers for reaction and separation applications
Polymerization modeling and kinetic theory of gelation
Controlled/living radical polymerization
- Direct observation of radical species (discovery of “missing gem”) in ATRP (Macromolecules 2001, 34, 1612-1618)
- Development of supporting systems for reclaiming and recycling ATRP catalysts (Macromolecules 2000, 33, 5427-5431)
- Reduction of ATRP catalyst loading to ppm levels (J Polym Sci Polym Chem 2007, 45, 553-565)
- Development of packed-column continuous reactor technology for ATRP (Macromol Rapid Commun 2002, 21, 956-959)
- Development of model-based computer-programmed semi-batch reactor technology for “digital synthesis and precision production” of gradient copolymers (Macromolecules 2007, 40, 849-859)
Metallocene polymerization and branched polyethylenes
- Setup of the first high-pressure CSTR reactor system for solution metallocene polymerization of olefin monomers (Macromolecules 1998, 31, 8677-8683)
- Establishment of chain microstructure and material processability relationship for long chain branched metallocene polyethylenes (Polymer 1999, 40, 1737-1744)
- Development of high molecular weight low viscosity Newtonian polyethylene materials (Macromolecules 2003, 36, 2194-2197)
Surface modification of biomaterials
- Development of suface modification method for biomaterials based on surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization SI-ATRP (J Polym Sci, Part A. Polym Chem 2004, 42, 2931-2942)
- Reduction in protein adsorption over 98% on SI-ATRP surface-modified biomaterials (Biomaterials 2006, 27, 847-855)
- Discovery of how surface radicals are terminated and introduction of “hopping” mechanism (Macromolecules 2012, 45, 1198-1207)
Development of micro- and nano-technologies
- Ink-jet printing of plastic microelectronics: a new method to achieve reproducible small channel length (25-30 micron) for thin film transistors (US Patent 8,361,891 2013; Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 163503, 2009)
- Automatic self-correction of small printing errors for printing large defect-free source drain arrays with very narrow distribution of channel length (ACS Appl Mat Interf, 2, 2189-2192, 2010)
- Memory device based on organic semiconductor and photo-responsive polymer composition (Xerox Patent, 2013; Advanced Materials 27, 228-233, 2015)
- Precise control of chattering and “cutting-edge” method for large-area and long-rage nanowaves and nanowires (http://nanotechweb.org/cws/article/lab/43724, Nanotechnology 2010, 21, 355302; 2011, 22, 265305)
- “Head-neck-body” polymers and surfadditive approach for surface modification of plastic parts (Macromol Mat Eng 2012, 297, 261-271)
- Oxygen/nitrogen-switchable polymer nano systems (ACS Macro. Lett. 3, 743-746, 2014; Macromol. Rapid Commun. 35, 1692-1696)
Smart polymers for reaction and separation applications
- Reversibly coagulatable and re-dispersible polymer latexes based on CO2/N2-switchable polymer surfactant or comonomer (Macromolecules 2011, 44, 6539-6545; 2013, 46, 1262-1267)
- Stimuli-responsive (CO2 and thermo) polymers for high efficient liquid-liquid extraction of natural homologues such as tecopherols (IECR 53, 16025-16032; Macromolecules, 48, 915-92)
- One-pack epoxy foaming system with carbamates as foaming and curing agents (ACS Macro Letters, 2015)
Polymerization modeling and kinetic theory of gelation
- Modeling controlled radical polymerization processes: ATRP (Macromol. Theory Simul 1999, 8, 29-37), RAFT (J Polym Sci Chem 2003, 41, 1553-1566) and SFRP (J Polym Sci. Phys 1999, 37, 2692-2704)
- Modeling semi-batch reactor processes for design and control of tailor-made copolymer chain microstructure (Macromol Theory Simul 2006, 15, 356-368; AIChE J 2007, 53, 174-186)
- Modeling gelation behaviors of divinyl systems (Macromolecules 2009, 42, 85-94; 1996, 29, 456-461; 1993, 26, 3131-3136)
- Expanding Flory theory of gelation to describe the formation of heterogeneous networks (Macromolecules 1992, 25, 5457-5464)