S4 Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
Colloids and molecular assemblies provide a powerful platform to design functional materials where structure and properties can be finely tuned through interfacial control and self-organization. Recent advances in polymer surfaces, colloidal interfaces, and supramolecular structures highlight how nanoscale interactions can be translated into emergent functions at larger scales. These innovations are driving new directions in soft materials science, where precise surface engineering and controlled assemblies enable versatile platforms for adaptive, sustainable, and multifunctional systems. This session will bring together recent progress in molecular design, advanced synthetic strategies, and interfacial characterization, with a focus on understanding and exploiting the unique behaviors of polymers, colloids, and complex supramolecular structures. Emphasis will be placed on bridging fundamental insights with scalable methodologies, enabling pathways toward innovative soft material systems with tunable properties and broad technological impact.
Topics will include:
- Advanced design and synthesis of polymers and colloids with tailored interfacial properties.
- Colloidal interfaces and assemblies: structure formation, dynamics, and emergent functions.
- Complex macromolecular and supramolecular structures for hierarchical and adaptive material design.
- Innovative approaches to control polymer and colloid surfaces via chemical, physical, and bio-inspired strategies.
- Advanced characterization methods for probing interfacial and assembly phenomena across scales.
- Scalable processing, sustainability, and future directions in colloid- and interface-based functional materials.
Keynote Speakers:
- Hans-Jürgen BUTT (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany)
- Shu YANG (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
- Katharina LANDFESTER (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany)
- Nicholas L. ABBOTT (Cornell University, USA)
- Orlin D. VELEV (North Carolina State University, USA)
- Dong Jun AHN (Korea University, Republic of Korea)
- Chul Min PARK (Yonsei University, Republic of Korea)
Invited Speakers:
- Xuehua ZHANG (University of Alberta, Canada)
- Dong-Po SONG (Shandong University, China)
- Jiun Tai CHEN (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan)
- Daeyeon LEE (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
- Vinothan N. MANOHARAN (Harvard University, USA)
- Xu Deng (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China)
- Syuji FUJII (Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan)
- Atsushi HOZUMI (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan)
- Myongsoo LEE (Fudan University, China)
- Chang Soo LEE (Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea)
- Jin Woong KIM (Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea)
- Ju Hyun PARK (Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea)
- So Jung PARK (Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea)
- Young Jong KANG (Hanyang University, Republic of Korea)
- Jun Hyuk MOON (Korea University, Republic of Korea)
- So Yeon KIM (Seoul National University, Republic of Korea)
- Shin Hyun KIM (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Republic of Korea)
- Jung Wook KIM (Seoul National University, Republic of Korea)
- Tae Seop SIM (Ajou University, Republic of Korea)
- Hyo Min LEE (Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Republic of Korea)
- Jin Hye BAE (Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea)
- Kyu Han KIM (Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH), Republic of Korea)
- Hye Rim HWANG (Ewha Womans University, Republic of Korea)
- Sang Chul NOH (Chonnam National University, Republic of Korea)
- Young Ho EOM (Hanyang University, Republic of Korea)
- Hong Seok YOON (Hanyang University, Republic of Korea)
- Chang Yeon LEE (Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea)
- Da Heun KIM (University of Seoul, Republic of Korea)
Symposium Organizers
Dong Ki YOON
KAIST
Republic of Korea
nandk@kaist.ac.kr
Sanghyuk WOOH
Chung-Ang University
Republic of Korea
woohsh@cau.ac.kr
Sangchul ROH
Chonnam National University
Republic of Korea
scroh@jnu.ac.kr
Kang Hee KU
UNIST
Republic of Korea
kangheeku@unist.ac.kr





