Researcher : Dr. Chae Bin Kim, 김채빈 (Ph.D): 2016.09~2017.08 @ KIST
Graduate Student: Ki-Beom Jeong, 정기범 (Master Course): 2016.01~2017.08 @ KIST
Polymer & Organic Energy Materials
Research
Bridging the Synthetic and the Biological
Encoding biological intelligence into synthetic matter to engineer a resilient, bio-hybrid planet.
Bridging synthetic precision and biological complexity to close the loop on the Water-Energy-Food nexus.
We transcend the traditional divide between the living and the non-living.
By translating the structural logic of nature into synthetic systems, we design matter that mimics life’s most defining traits: adaptability, selectivity, and communication.
Our research utilizes molecular programming to create circular polymers that heal and degrade on command, and porous architectures that mine critical resources with high precision. From engineering bio-interfaces that augment bacterial metabolism to building sensory networks that digitize ecological signals, we apply this "biological intelligence" across scales.
Ultimately, we are architecting a symbiotic infrastructure to secure water, energy, and food for a changing planet.
Programmable & Circular Materials:
Programming matter to adapt, heal, and degrade on command
We design "active" materials that serve critical needs before closing the loop of the circular economy. By mimicking nature's self-assembly, we create polymers that dynamically reconfigure their structures for high-performance applications.
Key Focus:
Polymer Networks
Bio-inspired Adhesives
Programmed Deconstruction
Circular Polymer Systems
1) Chem. Eng. J. 2024, 497, 1547303
Precision Resource Mining: Harvesting critical resources with molecular precision
We view separation as precise molecular logistics. We engineer highly selective porous architectures to purify water and "mine" valuable resources from the most complex mixtures on Earth.
Key Focus:
Lithium Extraction
Advanced Desalination
Water Sorption & Purification
Flow Chemistry (Catalysts & In-Line Purification)
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) processing.
1) Adv. Mater. 2022, 34, 2206982
Symbiotic Bio-Interfaces: Augmenting living systems for metabolic control
This is the frontier where biology meets nanotechnology. We develop functional coatings—"Second Skins"—that protect organisms in harsh environments while enabling molecular communication to direct biological factories.
Key Focus:
Symbiosis-based Metabolic Control
Eco-friendly & Stress-resistant Fertilizers
Deep Space Agriculture
1) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202416114
2) Small, 2025, e07801
3) Chem. Asian. J., 2025, e00670
Environmental Intelligence: Digitizing the chemical signals of our ecosystem
