Research Seminars @ Illinois

View Full Calendar

Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

Materials Faculty Candidate Dr. Junfeng Chen, University of California Santa Barbara, "Precise and Smart Macromolecules for Catalysis and Bio-Applications"

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Prof. Prashant Jain
Location
1024 Chem Annex
Date
Jan 26, 2024   11:15 am - 12:15 pm  
Contact
Randy Prince
E-Mail
rlprince@illinois.edu
Phone
217-333-2540
Views
209
Originating Calendar
Chemistry - Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Seminars

Polymers exhibit many remarkable features in modern materials science, biotechnologies, and pharmaceutical applications. Achieving better control of polymer structures offers a unique opportunity to understand the structure-activity relationship of materials and enable new applications. In this talk, we will explore how folded single-chain polymer nanoparticles can enhance synthetic chemistry under biological conditions in an enzyme-mimic manner. These polymer nanoparticles have significantly improved catalytic efficiency compared to traditional synthetic catalysts, and they demonstrate unique selectivity when working with proteins. Additionally, I will discuss our strategies to prepare precise macromolecules, including single-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivatives and a high-throughput method to develop libraries of discrete oligomers and polymers, with applications in self-assembly and antibacterial materials. We will showcase the versatile impact that polymer structures can have on the design and functions of materials, particularly in biological applications.

link for robots only