Polydopamine and Its Derivative Surface Chemistry in Material Science: A Focused Review for Studies at KAIST

Polydopamine coating, the first material‐independent surface chemistry, and its related methods significantly influence virtually all areas of material science and engineering. Functionalized surfaces of metal oxides, synthetic polymers, noble metals, and carbon materials by polydopamine and its related derivatives exhibit a variety of properties for cell culture, microfluidics, energy storage devices, superwettability, artificial photosynthesis, encapsulation, drug delivery, and numerous others. Unlike other articles, this review particularly focuses on the development of material science utilizing polydopamine and its derivatives coatings at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology for a decade. Herein, it is demonstrated how material‐independent coating methods provide solutions for challenging problems existed in many interdisciplinary areas in bio‐, energy‐, and nanomaterial science by collaborations and independent research. Polydopamine coating, the first material‐independent surface chemistry, and its derivative methods influence nearly all areas of material sciences. Polydopamine chemistry—material science of four categories (catechol‐containing small molecules, catechol‐tethered polymers, gallol‐containing small molecules, and gallol‐conjugated polymers)—is discussed in detail.