Jeffrey Pyun

Jeffrey Pyun is a Professor at the University of Arizona, holding dual appointments in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the College of Optical Sciences. He earned his B.A. from Northwestern University (1997), Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University (2002), and completed postdoctoral research at IBM Almaden Research Center and UC Berkeley (2002-2004). His research focuses on synthetic polymer chemistry, advanced materials, and nanocomposites, with applications in photonics, energy, sustainability, and defense. His group is internationally recognized for developing organic/inorganic hybrid polymers, including chalcogenide hybrid inorganic/organic polymers (CHIPs) for infrared imaging and energy storage.

Research areas include energy science, materials and polymer chemistry, surface/solid-state chemistry, and synthetic methods development. The Pyun Group utilizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining polymer synthesis, nanotechnology, and materials science. Their lab facilities include NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, SEM, and imaging cores. Research is supported by collaborations with the W.M. Keck Center for Nano-Scale Imaging and other advanced facilities. Current projects explore sustainable polymers, electrocatalysts for water splitting, and high-refractive-index materials for photonics.

His work addresses global challenges in sustainable materials and energy systems. The group’s innovations span from fundamental polymer chemistry to applied technologies like lithium-sulfur batteries and infrared optical devices.