Kyung Hee University · Chemistry
Professor Kyung-Youl Baek's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced functional polymers and porous materials for environmental and energy applications. Key research directions include the development of star-shaped polymers with microgel cores for selective molecular recognition and separation, the postsynthetic modification of metal-organic frameworks—particularly ZIF-8—for enhanced gas adsorption (e.g., CO₂ and radioactive iodine), and the creation of rigid, luminescent polysilsesquioxane architectures for optoelectronic applications. The lab emphasizes precision synthesis, molecular-level control, and structure-property relationships to address challenges in environmental remediation and sustainable materials.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Star-shaped polymers that consist of well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate) [poly(MMA)] arms and a microgel core of a divinyl compound were prepared in high yield with the RuCl2(PPh3)3-catalyzed living radical polymerization followed by direct in-situ polymer linking reactions with divinyl compounds. In typical examples, these star-shaped polymers had the arm number (f) of 10−30 and M̄w(star) > 105. The following factors were effective in the star-shaped polymer formation: (a) a monofunctionaliz
The facile tuning of the gate size and the chemical functionalization of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) were achieved by the postsynthetic modification with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. The resulting amine functionalized ZIF-8 particles enabled CO<sub>2</sub> selective adsorption and further chemical modifications.
The efficient removal of radioactive iodine (I2) has drawn worldwide attention because of the severe effects of radiotoxicity on the environment and human health. As a result, efficient porous materials for the capture and safe storage of radioactive iodine are required. In this work, nanoscale zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and its amino-functionalized ZIF-8 derivatives with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (Atz), denoted as ZIF8-A, were prepared via postsynthetic modification, and their perfor
A series of microgel core-functionalized star-shaped polymers were synthesized by the polymer linking reaction method in RuCl2(PPh3)3-catalyzed living radical polymerization. The synthesis was achieved by the polymer linking reaction method; i.e., functionalized divinyl compounds were added in situ to the solution of linear living poly(MMA)s prepared with the Ru(II)-catalyzed living radical polymerization. The functionalized microgel cores thus obtained contained acrylamide and methacrylamide. A
Core-functionalized star-shaped polymers consisting of linear poly(methyl methacrylate) arms and a microgel core with functional groups were found to act as efficient hosts for selective interaction with small organic molecules as guests. For example, star polymer 1 with an amide-functionalized core (Mw = 1.21 × 103; DP(arm) = 100; 71 arms/molecule; −NH−CO− in the core) could interact with benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, and benzylamine, whereas such interaction was absent with acetophenone, ethyl
Ladder-like structured polysilsesquioxane with carbazole groups showed unexpected high photo- and electroluminescence efficiencies both in solution and solid states due to its rigid silicone ladder structures, which efficiently isolated the carbazole groups and thus suppressed their excimer formations by inter- and intramolecules.
Abstract Various star‐shaped copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n ‐butyl methacrylate ( n BMA) were synthesized in one pot with RuCl 2 (PPh 3 ) 3 ‐catalyzed living radical polymerization and subsequent polymer linking reactions with divinyl compounds. Sequential living radical polymerization of n BMA and MMA in that order and vice versa, followed by linking reactions of the living block copolymers with appropriate divinyl compounds, afforded star block copolymers consisting of AB‐ or BA
Abstract Star polymers with end‐functionalized arm chains (surface‐functionalized star polymers) were synthesized by the in situ linking reaction between ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (linking agent) and an α‐end‐functionalized linear living poly(methyl methacrylate) in RuCl 2 (PPh 3 ) 3 ‐catalyzed living radical polymerization; the terminal on the surface functionalities included amides, alcohols, amines, and esters. The star polymers were obtained in high yields (75–90%) with initiating syste
Abstract A series of functionalized 2‐bromoisobutyrates and 2‐chloro‐2‐phenylacetates led to α‐end‐functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate)s in Ru(II)‐catalyzed living radical polymerization; the terminal functions included amine, hydroxyl, and amide. These initiators were effective in the presence of additives such as Al(O i ‐Pr) 3 and n ‐Bu 3 N. The chlorophenylacetate initiators especially coupled with the amine additive gave polymers with well‐controlled molecular weights ( M w / M n = 1.2–1
Abstract Star poly(methyl methacrylate)s (P*) of various arm lengths and core sizes were synthesized in high yields by the polymer linking reaction in Ru(II)‐catalyzed living radical polymerization. The yields of the star polymers were strongly dependent on the reaction conditions and increased under the following conditions: (1) at a higher overall concentration of arm chains ([P*]), (2) with a larger degree of polymerization (DP) of the arm chains (arm length), and (3) with a larger ratio ( r
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