Department of Synthetic Materials and Functional Devices
New materials play a key role in addressing the society challenges and providing new opportunities. For instance, clean energy, clear water, environment protection and sustainable development require breakthrough discovery and application of exotic materials. In addition, new materials provide unique opportunities for the emerging information technology, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, among others.
Our department aims to bridge fundamental synthetic chemistry with precision materials with emergent phenomenon and properties. Our main scientific interests include synthetic methodologies and design principles of novel polymers, interfacial chemistry and reactions, supramolecular chemistry of π-conjugated systems, bottom-up synthesis of carbon nanostructures and graphene nanoribbons, 2D polymers and supramolecular polymers, 2D carbon-rich conjugated polymers, electrochemical exfoliation of 2D crystals, graphene and 2D materials as well as their van der Waals heterostructures. Essentially, all these exotic polymers, carbon and hybrid materials are strongly coupled to electrons, ions, spins and phonons, which enable the discovery of new chemical and physical properties.
Another portfolio of our research is to addressing the required needs and challenges associated with sustainable information and energy technologies. Our goal is to explore and develop novel multifunctional electronic and optoelectronic devices, flexible electronics and spintronics devices. Other important research goals are the creation of new energy storage and conversion devices, particularly through integration of exotic synthetic materials and chemistry.