Research

1.Nanomaterial Design/Preparation/Characterization
1) A variety of nanomaterials that we can prepare.
a) Carbon nanomaterials (Graphene, Carbon nanotubes, Carbon nanofibers, Carbon nanospheres)
b) Biomass-derived carbons (Plastic bag, Nanocellulose (e.g. Cellulose Nanocrystal, Cellulose Nanofibril), etc.)
c) Metal oxide/sulfide nanomaterials (MnO2, NiO, TiO2, Co3O4, SiO2, etc.)
d) Thermal conductive nanomaterials (BN, AlN, etc.)

2) A variety of techniques that we can do.
a) Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) : Sputtering, thermal evaporator, e-beam evaporator, ALD, etc.
b) Hydrothermal method
c) Electro-spinning (E-spinning)
d) Vacuum filtration process
e) 3D printing

2.Energy Storage devices
a) Li/Na-S batteries
- During the last few decades, Li/Na-S batteries have been researched to improve the energy density of batteries. But the main challenges (such as polysulfide shuttling effect) inhibit the practical use of sulfur-based electrodes for commercial batteries.
- Our aim is to develop stable Li/Na-S sulfur batteries using our nanostructured electrodes and functional membranes.

b) Li/Na metal batteries (Li/Na anodes)
- Lithium/Sodium (Li/Na) metal has many good aspects as an anode electrode. After multiple cycling (discharge/charge), it eventually causes the growth of sharp and long Li (or Na) dendrite across the entire electrode. This results in an internal short circuit in the cell, leading to catastrophic cell failure and safety issues.
- Battery safety is one of the most important topics we need to study in order to use the battery safely in EVs. Our goal is to control the growth of Li/Na dendrites using functional membranes and improve the cycling stability of Li/Na metal batteries. These are three representative approaches where we can fabricate functional membranes using functional materials (See below).