We are an interdisciplinary research group interested in a broad range of fundamental and applied aspects of materials chemistry in general, and macromolecular science in particular. 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 are directed towards the development of multi-phase multi-stimuli-responsive nano-materials. 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.”

– RECENT NEWS –

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 degree 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 degree 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 –

S. Gaikwad, M.W. Urban, “Ring-and-Lock Interactions in Styrenic-based Copolymers,” J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 2023. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.3c01199.
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,” J. 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, D. Davydovich, M.W. Urban, “Shape Memory in Self-Healable Polymers,” Macromolecular Engineering: From Precise Synthesis to Macroscopic Materials and Applications, 2nd Edition, Eds. K. Matyjaszewski, Y. Gnanou, N. Hadjichristidis, M. Muthukumar, Wiley-VCH, 2021.
S. Wang, M.W. Urban, “Self-Healable Fluorinated Copolymers Governed by Dipolar Interactions” Advanced Science, 2021, 8, 2101399. 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.
D. Davydovich, M.W. Urban, Water accelerated self-healing of hydrophobic copolymers,” Nature Commun., 2020, 11, 5743.
S. Wang, M.W. Urban, “Self-Healing Polymers,” Nature Reviews Materials, 2020, 5, 562-583.