Dr. Zhigang Suo
Professor
Harvard University
April 20, 2026
The aspiration to develop polymers for sustainability, as well as functions, instigates advances in polymer science. This seminar draws upon recent experience in my group. We discover that a polymer network in which entanglements greatly outnumber crosslinks simultaneously achieves high modulus and high fatigue threshold. As a second example, a composite of multiple species of polymers separates into phases, but the coarsening of the phases can be arrested, leading to stable nanocomposites of high crack resistance. These examples illustrate how chemistry and topology determine mechanical properties of polymers.
Bio: Zhigang Suo is the Allen E. and Marilyn M. Puckett Professor of Mechanics and Materials at Harvard University. He earned a bachelor degree at Xian Jiaotong University in 1985, and a PhD at Harvard University in 1989. Suo joined the faculty of the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989, Princeton University in 1997, and Harvard University in 2003. His research centers on the mechanical behavior of materials. Suo is a member of NAE and NAS, elected for his seminal contributions to many areas, including fracture, deformation, polarization, and diffusion, with applications for microelectronics, large-area electronics, soft materials, active materials, and lithium-ion batteries.
Contact: Rui Huang (ruihuang@mail.utexas.edu)