Carnegie Mellon University

Address
Carnegie Mellon University
4400 Fifth Avenue
Mellon Institute
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Education

Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, South Korea

2000
B.S. on Polymer Science and Engineering

Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
2003
M.S. on Polymer Chemistry

Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
2006
Ph.D. on Polymer Chemistry

Publications

Peer-reviewed Papers

  1. Nese, A.; Kwak, Y.; Nicolay, R.; Barrett, M,; Sheiko, S.S.; Matyjaszewski, K. "Synthesis of Poly(vinyl acetate) Molecular Brushes by a Combination of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) and Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization" Macromolecules, 2010, 43, 4016.
  2. Kwak, Y.; Yamamura Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “ATRP of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate with Less Efficient Catalysts and with Alkyl Pseudohalides as Initiators / Chain Transfer Agents” Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2009, ASAP.
  3. Nicolay, R.; Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “ARGET ATRP with Alkyl Pseudohalides as Initiators / Chain Transfer Agents and ppm Cu Catalyst: a Green Process to Produce Well Defined High Molecular Weight (co)Polymers” Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 541-544.
  4. Huang, C.; Nicolay, R.; Kwak, Y.; Chang, F.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Homopolymerization and Block Copolymerization of N-Vinylpyrrolidone by ATRP and RAFT with Haloxanthate Inifers” Macromolecules 2009, 42, 8198–8210.
  5. Kwak, Y.; Nicolaÿ, R.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Simple and Efficient Synthesis of RAFT Chain Transfer Agents via Atom Transfer Radical Addition-Fragmentation” Macromolecules 2009, 42, 3738-3742. 
  6. Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “ARGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate in the presence of nitrogen-based ligands as reducing agents” Polym. Int. 2009, 58, 242-247. 
  7. Nicolaÿ, R.; Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Synthesis of Poly(vinyl acetate) Block Copolymers by Successive RAFT and ATRP with a Bromoxanthate Iniferter” Chem. Commun. 2008, 5336-5338. 
  8. Kwak, Y.; Nicolaÿ, R.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Concurrent ATRP/RAFT of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate with Dithioesters Catalyzed by Copper(I) Complexes” Macromolecules 2008, 41, 6602-6604. 
  9. Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Effect of Initiator and Ligand Structures on ATRP of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate Initiated by Alkyl Dithiocarbamate” Macromolecules 2008, 41, 6627-6635. 
  10. Tang, W.; Kwak, Y.; Braunecker, W.; Tsarevsky, N. V.; Coote, M. L.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Understanding Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: Effect of Ligand and Initiator Structures on the Equilibrium Constants” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 10702-10713. 
  11. Nicolaÿ, R.; Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Dibromotrithiocarbonate Iniferter for Concurrent ATRP and RAFT Polymerization. Effect of Monomer, Catalyst, and Chain Transfer Agent Structure on the Polymerization Mechanism.” Macromolecules 2008, 41, 4585-4596. 
  12. Kayahara, E.; Yamago, S.; Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T. “Optimization of Organotellurium Transfer Agents for Highly Controlled Living Radical Polymerization” Macromolecules 2008, 41, 527-529. 
  13. Matyjaszewski, K.; Tsarevsky, N. V.; Braunecker, W. A.; Dong, H.; Huang, J.; Jakubowski, W.; Kwak, Y.; Nicolay, R.; Tang, W.; Yoon, J. A. “Role of Cu0 in Controlled/"Living" Radical Polymerization” Macromolecules 2007, 40, 7795-7806. 
  14. Kwak, Y.; Tezuka, M.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T.; Yamago, S. “Kinetic Study on Role of Ditelluride in Organotellurium-Mediated Living Radical Polymerization (TERP)” Macromolecules 2007, 40, 1881-1885. 
  15. Goto, A.; Zushi, H.; Hirai, N.; Wakada, T.; Kwak, Y.; Fukuda, T. “Germanium- and Tin-Catalyzed Living Radical Polymerizations of Styrene and Methacrylates” Macromol. Symp. 2007, 248, 126-131. 
  16. Yamago, S.; Kayahara, E.; Kotani, M.; Ray, B.; Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T. “Highly Controlled Living Radical Polymerization through Dual Activation of Organobismuthines” Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 1304-1306. 
  17. Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T.; Kobayashi, Y.; Yamago, S. “A Systematic Study on Activation Processes in Organotellurium-Mediated Living Radical Polymerizations (TERPs) of Styrene, Methyl Methacrylate, Methyl Acrylate, and Vinyl Acetate” Macromolecules 2006, 39, 4671-4679. 
  18. Kubo, K.; Goto, A.; Sato, K.; Kwak, Y.; Fukuda, T. “Kinetic Study on Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Process for Block and Random Copolymerizations of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate” Polymer 2005, 46, 9762-9768. 
  19. Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T.; Yamago, S.; Ray, B. “Mechanism and Kinetics of Organostibine-Mediated Living Radical Polymerization of Styrene” Z. Phys. Chem. (Munich) 2005, 219, 283-293. 
  20. Yamago, S.; Ray, B.; Iida, K.; Yoshida, J.; Tada, T.; Yoshizawa, K.; Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T. “Highly Versatile Organostibine Mediators for Living Radical Polymerization” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 13908-13909.  
  21. Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Koichi, K.; Yukio, S.; Fukuda, T. “Characterization of Low-Mass Model 3-Arm Stars Produced in Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Process” Macromolecules 2004, 37, 4434-4440. 
  22. Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T. “Rate Retardation in Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization: Further Evidence for Cross-Termination Producing 3-Arm Star Chain” Macromolecules 2004, 37, 1219-1225. 
  23. Wang, A. R.; Zhu, S.; Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T.; Monteiro, M. S. “A Difference of Six Orders of Magnitude: A Reply to "the Magnitude of the Fragmentation Rate Coefficient"” J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2003, 41, 2833-2839. 
  24. Goto, A.; Kwak, Y.; Fukuda, T.; Yamago, S.; Iida, K.; Nakajima, M.; Yoshida, J. “Mechanism-Based Invention of High-Speed Living Radical Polymerization Using Organotellurium Compounds and Azo-Initiators” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 8720-8721. 
  25. Fukuda, T.; Goto, A.; Kwak, Y.; Yoshikawa, C.; Ma, Y. “Penultimate Unit Effects in Free Radical Copolymerization” Macromol. Symp. 2002, 182, 53-64. 
    Goto, A.; Kwak, Y.; Yoshikawa, C.; Tsujii, Y.; Sugiura, Y.; Fukuda, T. “Comparative Study on Decomposition Rate Constants for Some Alkoxyamines” Macromolecules 2002, 35, 3520-3525. 
  26. Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Tsujii, Y.; Murata, Y.; Komatsu, K.; Fukuda, T. “A Kinetic Study on the Rate Retardation in Radical Polymerization of Styrene with Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer” Macromolecules 2002, 35, 3026-3029. 

Book Chapters / Reviews

  1. Kwak, Y.; Nicolaÿ, R.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Synergistic Interaction between ATRP and RAFT: Taking the Best of Each World” Aust. J. Chem. 2009, 62, 1384-1401.
  2. Goto, A.; Zushi, H.; Kwak, Y.; Fukuda, T. “Germanium- and Tin-Catalyzed Living Radical Polymerizations of Styrene” ACS Symp. Ser. 2006, 944, 595-603.
  3. Fukuda, T.; Yoshikawa, C.; Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Tsujii, Y. “Mechanisms and Kinetics of Living Radical Polymerization: Absolute Comparison of Theory and Experiment” ACS Symp. Ser. 2003, 854, 24-39.

Patent

  • Matyjaszewski, K.; Kwak, Y.; Nicolay, R. “Transition Metal-Mediated Controlled Radical Polymerization Processes” PCT Int. Appl. 2009, WO 2009111725.

Preprints and Symposium Proceedings

  1. Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization activated by copper catalyst” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2008, 49, 264.
  2. Tsarevsky, N. V.; Braunecker, W.A.; Tang, W.; Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Catalyst performance in atom transfer radical polymerization: a closer look” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2008, 49, 44.
  3. Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Atom transfer radical polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate using alkyl diethyldithiocarbamate initiators” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2008, 49, 418.
  4. Tang, W.; Dong, H.; Kwak, Y.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of Cu0 - mechanism and kinetics study” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2007, 48, 262.
  5. Tang, W.; Kwak, Y.; Tsarevsky, N. V.; Matyjaszewski, K. “Effect of Ligand and Initiator Structures on the equilibrium constants in ATRP” Polymer Preprints Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2007, 48, 392
  6. Kwak, Y.; Goto, A.; Fukuda, T.; Yamago, S. “Kinetic Studies on Activation Processes for Organotellurium- and Organostibine-Mediated Living Radical Polymerizations” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2005, 46, 272.
  7. Goto, A.; Zushi, H.; Kwak, Y.; Fukuda, T. “Germanium- and tin-catalyzed living radical polymerizations of styrene” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2005, 46, 245.
  8. Goto, A.; Kwak, Y.; Tsujii, Y.; Fukuda, T. “Kinetic Study on the Rate Retardation in Radical Polymerization of Styrene with Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer” Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 2002, 43, 311.

Presentations

International Conferences
  • 236th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, 2008.
  • 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, 2008.
  • 230th ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, 2005.
  • 40th International Symposium on Macromolecules - IUPAC World Polymer Congress MACRO 2004, Paris, France.
  • The Second Trilateral Workshop on Organic Chemistry, Kyoto, Japan, 2004.

Domestic Conferences, Japan

  • 54th SPSJ Annual Meeting, Yokohama, Japan, 2005.
  • 53rd SPSJ Annual Meeting, Kobe, Japan, 2004.
  • 52nd SPSJ Symposium on Macromolecules, Yamaguchi, Japan, 2003.
  • 52nd SPSJ Annual Meeting, Nagoya, Japan, 2003.
  • 51st SPSJ Symposium on Macromolecules, Kyushyu, Japan, 2002.
  • 51st SPSJ Annual Meeting, Yokohama, Japan, 2002.
  • 50th SPSJ Annual Meeting, Osaka, Japan, 2001.

Scholorship

  • Japanese Government (MEXT) Research Student Scholarships, 2000-2006

Experience

  • 2006-Present    Research Associate, Center for Macromolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University (USA)
  • Research Supervisor: Professor Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
  • 2006-2006    Research Associate, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University (Japan)
  • 2000-2001    Research Student, Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University (Japan)
  • 1998-1999    Exchange Student (Miyazaki University, Japan)
  • 1994-1996    Military Service (Korean Army)

Research Area

  • Kinetics of Controlled Radical Polymerizations (CRPs) including NMP, ATRP, RAFT, and Iodide-, Germanium-, Organotellurium-, Organostibine-, and Organobismuth-Mediated Polymerizations.
  • Designing New CRP Techniques.
  • Polymer synthesis using various CRP techniques.
  • Photo-Polymerization.
  • Ligand Synthesis for ATRP

Research Interest

  • Kinetics of LRPs, Polymer Brushes, Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials, Self-Assembly by Block Copolymers, and Biopolymers

Experience in Instrumental Technique

  • GPC, GC, ESR, NMR, UV/VIS, FT-IR, MALDI-TOF-MS, SEM, TEM, DSC, Contact Angle Measurement, CV, Glove Box