Yongha Kim’s Research Featured on the Cover of Macromolecules
This month, Macromolecules recognized the work of Yongha Kim and his collaborators by selecting their latest paper as the journal’s cover article.
The study, entitled “Carboxyl Dissociation Degree (α) and pKa of Weak Polyelectrolyte Membranes in Dilute and Concentrated External Salt Solutions for Sustainable Technologies” has been featured on the cover of Macromolecules.
Being selected for a cover feature underscores the impact and relevance of this work within the polymer science community.
In this study, we systematically investigated the dissociation behavior of weakly charged AA–PEGDA polymer membranes across a wide range of compositions and external salt conditions. By combining potentiometric titration and ATR–FTIR analysis, we connected molecular-scale electrostatic interactions with macroscopic dissociation behavior and pKa shifts in both dilute and concentrated environments.
Our multiscale analysis highlights how external salt concentration and water swelling play central roles in governing dissociation, providing new physical insight into weakly charged polymer systems. These findings offer practical design principles for tuning membrane transport properties in sustainability-related applications.
We are incredibly proud of Yongha and the entire team for their dedication and outstanding work. From thoughtful experimental design to rigorous data analysis, their collaboration reflects the innovation and creativity that define our lab. This cover recognition highlights both the strength of the science and the commitment behind it. Congratulations to everyone involved.
About our work
We design and create high-performance membranes that enable unprecedented separation opportunities. We pursue fundamental breakthroughs that translate into real-world applications, always seeking to bridge the microscopic understanding of materials with macroscopic performance. Our goal is to make separations systems cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable.
About the Oh Lab
At the Oh Lab, we are dedicated to advancing the world’s most important, but challenging, separations in the environment, energy, and health sector. We do this by focusing on the molecular-to-macroscopic design and characterization of polymer membranes. We work at the intersection of chemical engineering, materials science, and molecular transport, focusing on designing advanced polymer membranes for efficient chemical separation.