November 18
@
4:00 PM
–
5:00 PM
Moon Jeong Park
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
Korea
Polymer Chain-End Chemistry: Unlocking Next-Generation Functional Materials
End-group functionalization has become a powerful and versatile strategy in polymer science, enabling precise control over physical properties, nanoscale self-assembly, and interfacial functionality without modifying the polymer backbone. In our group’s research, we have investigated how tailored end groups affect intrinsic polymer characteristics such as thermal transitions, solubility, and crystallization behavior, and how end-group interactions direct polymer self-assembly, particularly by modulating chain packing, interfacial curvature, and phase behavior in block copolymer systems, including the formation of complex network morphologies. Our goal is to develop synthetic methodologies for polymers with rationally designed end-functional groups, allowing systematic study of their thermodynamic phase-transition behavior through precise control of molecular interactions. By identifying and tuning key variables, our work aims to deepen fundamental understanding of polymer science. These insights highlight the transformative potential of end-group chemistry for next-generation polymer materials and provide a foundation for designing functional nanomaterials for emerging applications, including solid-state battery electrolytes, mechanical metamaterials, and optical metamaterials.