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Research

Overview of research

This research group conducts ongoing research on organic and polymer materials to contribute to human sustainability. To achieve this goal, our laboratory is organized into three different sub-groups: 


(1) Sub-group #1: Research on the synthesis of organic and polymer materials using nature existing CO2, biomass, light etc.
Subgroup 1's research extensively focuses on the synthesis of organic and polymer materials, utilizing light as an energy source, while utilizing biomass and CO2 as raw materials. Since the establishment of our laboratory in 2016, we have devoted several years to the development of various pure organic material-based photocatalysts (PCs) and photoinitiating systems (PISs). Our primary objective has been to tackle various challenges associated with controlled radical and free radical polymerization, primarily harnessing visible light. One of the most significant contributions from our laboratory in this field is the discovery that materials based on "twisted donor-acceptor structures" with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties can serve as efficient organic photocatalysts. Materials based on "twisted donor-acceptor structures" with TADF properties possess several advantageous characteristics, including the efficient generation of long-lived triplets and the ease of controlling redox potential. These properties facilitate efficient reactions even with minimal amounts of PCs. Consequently, we have successfully addressed critical issues in controlled radical polymerization, encompassing organocatalyzed ATRP, PET-RAFT, and Dual PC/Cu ATRP. In addition, we have developed a novel PIS that combines these PCs with various co-initiators to facilitate rapid curing in the visible light spectrum, addressing diverse issues arising from free radical polymerizations. Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on eco-friendly materials and methodologies, including, 1) Controlled radical polymerization without the use of catalysts, 2) The development of monomers using eco-friendly raw materials such as biomass and CO2, 3) The exploration of new methodologies to enhance the degradability of polymer backbones. Our research is centered around addressing these aspects. Leveraging these foundational technologies, our laboratory applies them to various domains, including adhesives (with a primary focus on optically clear adhesives for flexible displays), 3D printings, coatings, protein-polymer conjugates, etc. We also have plans to expand our research into emerging areas such as soft electronics, batteries, soft robotics, etc in the future.see key references:
1) V. Singh, M. S. Kwon et. al., Nat. Catal. 1, 794 (2018)
2) Y. Lee, M. S. Kwon et. al., Nat. Rev. Mater. 7, 74 (2022)
3) Y. Lee, M. S. Kwon et. al. Adv. Mater. 34, 2108446 (2022)
4) Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon et. al. Nat. Commun. 14, 92 (2023)
5) J. Back, Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon et. al. Adv. Mater. 35, 2204776 (2023)
6) C. Yu, M. S. Kwon et. al. ACS Catal. 13, 665 (2023)
7) Y. Lee, M. S. Kwon et. al. Chem. Soc. Rev. 52, 3035 (2023)
8) Y. Kwon, S. Lee, M. S. Kwon et. al. Nat. Commun. 15, 2829 (2024)
9) D. Kim, M. S. Kwon et. al. Adv. Mater. 230981(2024)
10) S. Shin, Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon, D. Ahn, Adv. Mater. 2311917 (2024)
11) W. Jeon, Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon, Nat. Commun. 15, 5160 (2024)
12) H. Min, Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon, C. Lee, et. al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. e202406880 (2024)
13) C. Yu, J. Choi, M. S. Kwon et. al. Adv. Mater. Accepted (2024)
14) Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon, Acc. Chem. Res. Submittted (2024, Invited)
15) C. Yu, M. S. Kwon et. al. Submitted (2024)
16) Y. Kwon, M. S. Kwon, In preparation (2024)
17) D. Kim, C. Yu, M. S. Kwon, In preparation (2024)
18) Y. Park, M. S. Kwon, In preparation (2024)


(2) Sub-group #2: Research on the development of organic and polymer materials for sustainable/renewable energy.
Subgroup 2's research has gained significant prominence recently, especially through collaborative efforts with several professors in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Seoul National University, following the lab's relocation to Seoul National University. This research encompasses a wide range of topics related to fundamental organic and polymer materials crucial for applications in solar cells, water electrolysis (Membrane/ionomer), soft electronics, soft robotics, CO2 upcycling, vitrimer, batteries, etc. It is a field that necessitates collaborative research with experts across various domains, and it is poised to become a core research area for the Kwon Group in the future.

see key references:
1) J. C. Yu, S. Badgujar, M. S. Kwon, M. H. Song et. al. Adv. Mater. 31, 1805554 (2019)
2) H. Song, M. S. Kwon, J. Kim et. al. Nano Lett. 20, 5185 (2020)
3) G. Ryoo, M. S. Kwon et. al. J. Enegy. Chem. 93, 478 (2024)
4) J. H. Jang, C. S. Kim, O. S. Nayal, U. Lee, M. S. Kwon, K. T. Nam Nat. Synth. 3, 846-857 (2024)
5) G. Ryoo, M. S. Kwon et. al. Adv. Fuct. Mater. 2408545 (2024)
6) G. Ryoo, M. S. Kwon et. al. In preparation (2024)

 

(3) Sub-group #3: Research on functional materials aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of devices.
Starting in 2022, Subgroup 3 has embarked on research aimed at enhancing the functionality and efficiency of organic optoelectronic devices. Our approach involves the development of novel core structures suitable for organic electronic materials, along with the exploration of their performance characteristics. Once a new core structure is devised, we proceed to develop organic single-molecule or polymer materials based on it. These materials find applications in various devices, including OLEDs, OTFTs, solar cells, and thermoelectric devices, through collaborative research efforts. While this field is relatively new, it holds tremendous potential for further development.

see key references:
1) S. Song, M. S. Kwon. J. Gierschner et. al. Adv. Mater. 2404388 (2024)
2) Y. Kang, M. S. Kwon et. al.. In preparation (2024)

Technical approach

Our research seeks to better understand nature’s rule and provide solutions to problems at the interface of chemistry, physics, and materials science via tools of organic/polymer chemistry. We are particularly interested in the design and synthesis of functional organic molecules (e.g. polymers and small molecules) with enhanced properties from consideration of the specific needs of a given application. We seek to build novel molecular design principles by establishing the molecular structure-property relationships and also develop novel synthetic methodologies to make new types of organic functional molecules with enhanced functional properties which are not possible by existing synthetic methods. 

Recruiting graduate students

Our lab typically selects around four new graduate students annually. We mainly focus on candidates from doctoral programs or those pursuing an integrated master's and doctoral program, with selections from master's programs being rare exceptions. In our selection process, we evaluate various aspects including 'self-management,' 'motivation,' 'sense of community,' and 'leadership,' in addition to academic ability. A key criterion is the potential for harmonious integration with current lab members. When choosing new students, we value not only the advisor's opinion but also the perspectives of current lab students. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded selection. Prospective students interested in our lab should send an email to minsang@snu.ac.kr, including a CV, transcript, and a brief self-introduction. Our lab's mission is to nurture talents capable of thriving not only in academia, national research institutes, and top domestic companies, but also in prestigious universities, research institutes, and corporations globally. As such, students who are solely focused on obtaining a 'Ph.D.' might find our lab environment challenging. We operate according to a 'Lab Manual,' which is collaboratively updated annually by all lab members. This manual guides various aspects of lab life, including thesis writing, conference participation, assignment management, and graduation procedures.