Kim's research group

Sustainable Electrochemical Energy System Laboratory (SEES)

Overarching Research Goal

Recent natural disasters have highlighted the significant impact of climate change on our daily lives. Excessive use of fossil fuels has led to the accumulation of atmospheric carbon, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), increasing CO2 emissions during combustion. To address this, we must develop eco-friendly energy sources that do not produce CO2 and find ways to utilize excess carbon. Therefore, our group will focus on electrochemical reactions to harness excess carbon as a sustainable energy source. This approach allows excess carbon to be stored in a chemically stable form using electricity, transforming intermittent renewable energy into a sustainable and storable resource. 

Research Topics

Topic 1. Atomic-scale study (Theoretical approach)

Kinetic study of eChem reactions focusing on the electrode-electrolyte interfaces using grand canonical (GC)-DFT, ML assisted GC-DFT.

(Python-based env: ASE, GPAW, SJM, AMP)

Topic 2. Nano- and Micro- scale study (Wet-experimental approach): Catalyst design

• Cathode part: CO2 reduction reaction (CRR), Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), Oxygen evolution reaction (OER), Seawater Splitting

• Anode part: Glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), Biomass oxidation reaction.

[Surface facet control] Thermal treatment, PVD/CVD, metal-based, TMD, large-area surface facet control

[Surface treatment] Surface doping, Nanoparticle synthesis, acid site control

Topic 3. Practical approach: Scale-up, Reactor design for high energy and carbon efficiency

[Practical approach] Utilizing crude glycerol (biodiesel byproduct) for a practical approach, Scale-up design of the reactor

[Energy efficiency] Manipulating the counterpart of CRR  (90% of Etot is consumed in anode part), Paired system coupled with CRR and GOR

[Carbon efficiency] Utilizing the various pH feasibility of GOR coupled with membrane design