We are conducting research on converting charcoal powder derived from wood into graphite through laser irradiation.

Graphite is a key anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), directly influencing battery lifespan and charging performance, particularly in electric vehicles. In lithium-ion batteries, the anode stores and releases lithium ions from the cathode to generate electrical energy. Graphite is well-suited as an anode material because it can stably intercalate lithium ions between its layers. However, the global supply of natural graphite is limited, leading to rising costs.

Our ultimate goal is to develop an eco-friendly, laser-based method for producing graphite, enabling sustainable and scalable mass production.

(In collaboration with Prof. Young-Jin Kim's group at KAIST, Prof. Sangbaek Park’s research group at CNU, and Dr. Hana Yoon at KIER.)

We are developing a technology to recycle coffee waste by converting it into hard carbon anodes for secondary batteries.

With the growing global coffee consumption, vast amounts of coffee waste are generated, yet their reuse remains limited. By applying laser irradiation, we can transform coffee waste into carbon electrodes, unlocking its potential for lithium-ion battery (LIB), and sodium-ion battery (SIB) anode materials.

This innovative approach presents a high-value, sustainable solution for repurposing coffee waste into functional electronic components.

(In collaboration with Prof. Young-Jin Kim's group at KAIST, Prof. Sangbaek Park’s research group at CNU.)

We fabricate MnO-doped LIG by first fabricating LIG on wood surfaces, then drop-casting a small amount of metal solution, followed by a second laser irradiation step.

The resulting MnO-doped LIG is utilized as a micro-supercapacitor (MSC), demonstrating excellent stability even after repeated charge-discharge cycles.

Our MSC successfully powers LEDs, digital clocks, and paper electronics, showcasing their potential for versatile energy storage applications.

(In collaboration with Prof. Sangbaek Park’s research group at CNU.)