Plant-Based Smart Adhesives
Jeonbuk National University Researchers Develop an Adhesive Innovation
Kalin Ned — January 6, 2026
Researchers at Jeonbuk National University have created a plant-based smart adhesive, which responds to light and its primary component is derived from rose oil.
Professor Kwang-Un Jeong, who led the research team along with colleague Ph.D. Student Mr. Mintaek Oh, elaborated on the innovation: “We synthesized a tetrahydrogeraniol-based monomer, a derivative of rose oil, and successfully fabricated an eco-friendly adhesive containing 95% of it. The final adhesive, incorporating a small amount of a functional monomer that responds to light and adheres strongly to various substrates, exhibits highly responsive adhesion, allowing quantitative control of its bonding strength. It is eco-friendly, cost-effective, versatile, and reusable.”
This development of the plant-based smart adhesive addresses two concurrent challenges — the environmental impact of conventional petroleum-based adhesives and the growing industrial need for advanced materials that can be precisely controlled.
