Welcome to Our Research Group of

Soft Surfaces and Interfaces

The modification of surfaces of materials to impact specific physical, chemical, or biological properties is important in a wide range of settings from bioanalytical and medical devices to nanomaterials and microelectronics. As the dimensions of the devices continue to decrease, the surface/volume ratio drastically increases, making the surface properties especially critical.

Research in our laboratory focuses on developing surface functionalization techniques that are simple and versatile, and on creating surfaces that can provide functions. We chose organic polymeric materials as the surface modifier to introduce functional groups to surfaces, thus changing their specific physical and chemical properties. We have developed two new methods for attaching polymer films to substrates. By using polymers of defined structures, architecture and properties, we have created surfaces for stimuli-responsiveness, antifouling, or sensing. We also employ the technique of molecular imprinting to introduce molecular recognition to polymer films. The scope and activities of our research are summarized below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Covalent Immobilization Using Perfluorophenylazides (PFPAs)

2. UV-Induced Direct Immobilization of Polymer Thin Films

3. Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) Thin Films and Microarrays

 

Research in our group has been funded by the following agencies: