Mechanics of materials

We aim to demonstrate the unique behaviors of materials in different sizes and environments,
and present the unseen faces of many intriguing materials through our research.

Representative research topics

View publication list for our latest work here!

Aluminium-carbon (Al-C)-based films

"Formation of Cottrell atmosphere with carbon and boron interstitial atoms enables exceptional strength enhancement for aluminium (Al) and Al-based alloys."

Lead researchers: Zion Lee, Hojang Kim, Injong Oh

Representative publications:

[1] Zion Lee et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. (2026)

[2] Zion Lee et al., Materials Today Nano (2026)

[3] Injong Oh et al., Int. J. Plast. (2023)

Shape memory alloy (SMA) thin films

"Nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti)-based shape memory alloy thin films are unique functional materials exhibiting temperature- and stress-dependent phase transformation behaviors."

Lead researchers: Hyemin Ryu, Zhuo Feng Lee, Ji-Young Kim

Representative publications:

[1] Hyemin Ryu et al., Scr. Mater. (2024)

[2] Zhuo Feng Lee et al., Intermetallics (2026)

[3] Ji-Young Kim et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A (2024)

Additively-manufactured (AM) materials

"High-temperature mechanical characterization of meso-scale additively-manufactured (AM) samples provides enhanced cost efficiency and material insights for alloy development."

Lead researchers: Jong-Soo Bae, Kwang-Hyeok Lim

Representative publications:

[1] Emre Tekoglu et al., Materials Today (2024)

[2] Jong-Soo Bae et al., J. Mater. Res. Technol. (2025)

[3] Kwang-Hyeok Lim et al., Extreme Mech. Lett. (2023)

Membrane deflection experiments (MDE)

"Membrane deflection experiments (MDE) is a high-throughput temperature-variable tensile characterization technique specifically developed for thin film materials."

Lead researchers: Zhuo Feng Lee, Hojang Kim, Jae-Hoon Choi

Representative publications:

[1] Zhuo Feng Lee et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A (2024)

[2] Hojang Kim et al., J. Mech. Phys. Solids (2023)

Thin film fatigue and creep experiments

"Understanding cyclic and time-dependent mechanical response at different loading and temperature conditions are the fundamental assessment to ensure materials' reliability."

Lead researchers: Hyemin Ryu, JungHun Park, Sunkun Choi

Representative publications:

[1] Hyemin Ryu et al., Int. J. Fatigue (2026)

[2] JungHun Park et al., Nanoscale (2024)

[3] Sunkun Choi et al., J. Mech. Sci. Technol. (2025)

Nanoindenter-based experiments

"Femtosecond laser and focused ion beam (FIB) milling can create intrinsic structures to enable a variety of mechanical characterization with different tip geometries."

Lead researchers: Zhuo Feng Lee, Hyemin Ryu, JungHun Park

Representative publications:

[1] Jae-Hoon Choi et al., Int. J. Plast. (2025)

[2] Zhuo Feng Lee et al., Sens. Actuators A: Phys. (2026)

[3] Jiwon Mun et al., J. Nucl. Mater. (2026)

Combinatorial thin film experiments

"A combination of co-sputtering deposition technique and high-throughput methodologies can rapidly assess composition-dependent properties for alloy discovery."

Lead researchers: Zhuo Feng Lee, Injong Oh

Representative publications:

[1] Zhuo Feng Lee et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A (2024)

[2] Injong Oh et al., Int. J. Plast. (2023)

Nanotwinned Ni-Mo-W thin films

"Nanotwinned solid solution nickel-molybdenum-tungsten (Ni-Mo-W) alloy films exhibits high temperature stability and strength with minimal microstructural changes even at 1000 K."

Lead researchers: JungHun Park, Yuhyun Park

Representative publications:

[1] JungHun Park et al., Nanoscale (2024)

[2] Yuhyun Park et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A (2024)