We are an interdisciplinary research group interested in a broad range of fundamental and applied aspects of materials chemistry, particularly macromolecular science. Our efforts are geared towards the design and synthesis of adaptive polymers and understanding the molecular-level events governing their behavior in various environments. Synthetic efforts combined with spectroscopic measurements are directed toward developing multi-stimuli-responsive materials and understanding molecular processes governing ubiquitous inter- and intra-chain interactions. Parallel efforts focus on the design of self-healing polymeric materials capable of upcycling with light sensitivity, corrosion inhibition, anti-fouling, antimicrobial, and other unique attributes. Using chemical (IR and Raman) imaging along with an array of other spectroscopic and thermo-mechanical tools, Urban Research Group members design, synthesize, and develop new generations of materials with adaptable, sensing, and signaling properties.

If you are a prospective PhD student who is interested in joining the Urban Research Group, please visit the Clemson Graduate Admissions to learn about the admission process and MSE Graduate Program opportunities. You may also contact Mrs. Laura Kinard at lkinard@clemson.edu if you have specific questions. 

– RECENT NEWS –

Dec 2023. Samruddhi Gaikwad has been awarded the Kentwool Educational Fellow for Excellence in Graduate Research.
Aug. 2022. Dr. Lei Li has joined the Department of Chemistry at Western Kentucky University as an assistant professor.
June 2022. Dr. Siyang Wang has joined the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering as a research associate.
2022. Siyang Wang has been awarded a doctorate at the May 2022 commencement ceremony.
Oct 2021. Dr. Qianhui Liu has joined Kerr Dental Co., CA, USA.
Apr. 2021. Siyang Wang has given an invited talk at the National American Chemical Society meeting as part of the “Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium” sponsored by the Division of Polymer Chemistry of ACS.
Jan 2021. Dr. Dmitriy Davydovich has joined Monosol Corp., IN, USA.
Dec. 2020. Dmitriy Davydovich has been awarded a doctorate at the December commencement ceremony.
Sept. 2019. Siyang Wang has been awarded the Kentwool Educational Fellow for Excellence in Graduate Research.
Aug. 2019. Chris Hornat has been awarded a doctorate degree at the August 2019 commencement ceremony.
April 2019. Dmitriy Davydovich has won the First Prize in the Materials Research Society (MRS) and Optical Society of America (OSA) annual poster competition at Clemson University. 
Aug. 2019. Dr. Ying Yang has joined the University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Chemistry as an assistant professor. 

 

 

 

– RECENTLY PUBLISHED –

J. Liu, S. Biswas, M.W. Urban, “Dynamics of Dipolar and Ionic Interactions in Self-Healable Poly(ionic liquid) Copolymers,” Macromolecules, 2024,  doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.4c00701.

S. Gaikwad, M.W. Urban, “Fluorophilic Sigma(σ)-Lock Self-Healable Copolymers,” Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed., 2024, doi.org/10.1002/anie.202405504

J. Liu, M.W. Urban, “Dynamic Interfaces in Self-Healable Polymers,” Langmuir, 2024, 40, 7268−7285.

S. Gaikwad, M.W. Urban, “Ring-and-Lock Interactions in Styrenic-based Copolymers,” J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 17, 9693–9699.

S. Wang, M.W. Urban. “Redefining Polymer Science via Multi-Stimulus-Responsiveness,” CHEM, 2023, doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2023.04.014.
S. Wang, L. Li, M.W. Urban. “Combined Reprocessibility and Self-Healing in Fluorinated Acrylic-Based Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs),” ACS Appl. Polym. Materials 2022, 4, 12, 9360–9367.
S. Wang, L. Li, Q. Liu, M.W. Urban. “Self-Healable Acrylic-Based Covalently Adaptable Networks,” Macromolecules, 2022, 55, 11, 4703–4709.
V. Montano, M.W. Urban, S. van der Zwaag, S.J. Garcia, “Local strain-induced energy storage as a driving force for autogenous scratch closure,” Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 7073.
L. Liu, S. Wang, Z. Zhao, J. Tong, M.W. Urban, “Electrically Accelerated Self-Healable Polyionic Liquid Copolymers,” Small, 2022, doi.org/10.1002/smll.202201952.
Q. Liu, M.W. Urban, “Stimulus-Responsive Macromolecules in Polymeric Coatings,” Polymer Reviews, 2022, doi.org/10.1080/15583724.2022.2065299.
Q. Liu, L. Li, M.W. Urban, “Probing Molecular Events in Self-Healable Polymers,” Chap. 12, pp. 347-366, Spectroscopic Techniques for Polymer Characterization; Methods, Instrumentation, Applications, Eds. Y. Ozaki, H. Sato, M. Sakeena, 2022, Wiley-VCH GmbH, Germany.
S. Wang, M.W. Urban, “Self-Healable Fluorinated Copolymers Governed by Dipolar Interactions,” Advanced Science, 2021, 8, 2101399. 
S. Wang, Q, Liu, L. Li, M.W. Urban, “Recent Advances in Stimuli-Responsive Commodity Polymers,” Macromol. Rapid Commun., 2021, 2100054, 1-20.