01
Ionic Polymer Design and Synthesis
Designing and synthesizing charged polymers — polyelectrolytes, ionoelastomers, and high-dielectric elastomers — and learning how molecular structure sets their ionic and mechanical behavior.
Sogang University
Polymer Ionic Materials Laboratory
Exploring the physicochemical phenomena of charged macromolecules, and their applications in functional devices
NEWS · Dec 2025
Selected as a National Future Research Laboratory
Welcome to the Hyeong Jun Kim research group
Charged macromolecules are everywhere! From biological macromolecules to synthetic polyelectrolytes for today's leading technologies, charged macromolecules are fundamental elements of our life.
Our team is engaged in exploring the physicochemical and biological phenomena of charged macromolecules as well as their applications in new functional devices. Our research aims to expand our understanding of charged macromolecules and translate their activities into soft and highly deformable functional devices.
Research
Our work runs from the synthesis of charged polymers, through the physics of the complexes they form, to the soft ionic devices and recycling chemistry they make possible.
02
Complex Coacervation and Phase Behavior
Associative phase separation of oppositely charged polymers, and the glass transition that governs how the resulting complex behaves.
03
Soft Ionic Devices, Iontronics, and Electro-Adhesion
Ionoelastomer heterojunctions, the ionic double layers they form, and the low-voltage electro-adhesion they make possible.
04
Sustainable Polymer Chemistry
Breaking polymers back down to their monomers, using recoverable catalysts built from charged polymers.
Recent News
- Oct 2026
Chemical Engineering Journal paper accepted (Yongsu Kim, first author)
축하합니다, 김용수 학생이 제1저자로 참여한 논문 (제목 : Recoverable Polyanion Bead Catalysts for Selective Depolymerization and Fiber Recovery from Polyester Composites) 이 'Chemical Engineering Journal' 에 게재 승인되었습니다.
Congratulations! Our paper, by Yongsu Kim as first author (titled: Recoverable Polyanion Bead Catalysts for Selective Depolymerization and Fiber Recovery from Polyester Composites) has been accepted for publication in 'Chemical Engineering Journal.'
- Oct 2026
삼성미래기술육성사업 선정
삼성미래기술육성사업 2026년 하반기 과제(소재·ICT 분야)에 '이온 쌍극자의 배향 분극을 통한 유연 엘라스토머의 세라믹급 초고유전율 구현' 과제가 선정되었습니다. 서강대 성봉준 교수님과 공동으로 수행합니다.
- Sep 2026
Nano Letters paper accepted (Younghoon Kim, first author)
축하합니다, 김영훈 박사가 제1저자로 참여한 논문 (제목 : Kinetically Arrested Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexes within Ionic Double Layers) 이 'Nano Letters' 에 게재 승인되었습니다.
Congratulations! Our paper, by Dr. Younghoon Kim as first author (titled: Kinetically Arrested Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexes within Ionic Double Layers) has been accepted for publication in 'Nano Letters.'
Designated Laboratories
Current
- 국가지정 미래기술연구실-113 · 나노소재기술사업 소재글로벌영커넥트Global Young Connect in Materials2025–2026
- 삼성전자 DS부문 전략산학 4기 협력연구실Samsung Electronics DS Division · Strategic Industry–Academia Collaboration Lab (4th)2025–2030
Past2
- 삼성전자 DS부문 신진산학 2기 협력연구실Samsung Electronics DS Division · Emerging Industry–Academia Collaboration Lab (2nd)2022–2025
- 우수신진연구 최초혁신실험실Start-up Innovation Laboratory, NRF Young Researcher Program2022
Join our team
We are looking for highly motivated team members who like to share our vision on charged macromolecule research. Our team pursues highly interdisciplinary research, bridging chemical engineering, polymer chemistry and physics, electronics, robotics, and mechanics. If you are interested, please send an email to hjunkim at sogang.ac.kr.