Dr. Wonbong Choi is a distinguished researcher known for his pioneering contributions in the field of nanotechnology, particularly in the synthesis of nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, and applications in rechargeable batteries and electronic devices. His groundbreaking work has earned him widespread recognition and numerous accolades throughout his career. He is a Materials Research Society (MRS) Fellow and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.

Dr. Choi awarded MRS Fellow title as the youngest person in 2009; the title of MRS Fellow honors members of the Materials Research Society who are notable for their distinguished research accomplishments and their outstanding contributions to the advancement of materials research, world-wide. The maximum number of new Fellow appointments each year is limited to 0.2% of the current MRS membership.

He has received numerous awards including MRS Medal Award (2006), Samsung Best Patent Award (2002), Samsung Best Paper Award (2002), Samsung Golden Technology Award (1998), CENG Research Award (UNT, 2020), Research Leadership Award (UNT, 2020). 

One of the remarkable achievements in his research career was the invention of “Carbon Nanotube Flat Panel Display”, which was recognized as the first nanotechnology device and the result was reported in Science and was covered extensively by news media around the world. His inventions in carbon nanotube flat panel display with high emission and nano-second switching capability can transform its superior functionality in multitude of applications such as 2D digital X-ray and/or back lighting.  His work has led to a demonstration by SAMSUNG of over 40-inch field emission flat panel display. The result led to more than 10 journal papers and 5 patents, and SAMSUNG Golden technology Award.

Dr. Choi pioneered to apply carbon nanotubes in electronic devices such as CNT vertical transistor, CNT phase change memory device, and CNT interconnect. The results were published in ~10 papers and ~10 patents, and reported in news media including YTN News and numerous News Papers such as Maeil Business, Seoul Economy, and Hankook Ilbo. The subsequent work on the CNT electronic interconnect concept to achieve nanodevice with high current density capability led to a solution for nano-memory device in SAMSUNG, which led to SAMUNG best patent award.

In addition, Dr. Choi is credited to invention of the single molecular DNA-sensor based on carbon nanotube array has potential application of identification of specific genes based on the hybridization-induced change in electrical signal. This platform could also be used in fundamental research studies understanding the properties of DNA at single molecular level. Variations of the technology could also be useful in such areas as revealing the presence of disease related genes, bacterial and viral. His innovation was patented (US Patent US8,597,492 B2) and reported in Nano Letters ("Direct Electrical Measurements on Single-Molecule Genomic DNA Using Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes"), and news media in the TRN News (January 2002), MIT’s Magazine (June 2003), Analytical Chemistry (2006), Nanowerk (2007), Nature Nanotechnology (2008).

Dr. Choi invented novel rechargeable battery technologies, including an innovative structure of Li-S battery with a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) film coated Li metal anode and a catalyst assisted 3D carbon nanotube fiber (CNF) cathode. The invented Li-S battery has shown the high gravimetric energy density greater than 500Wh/kg, which is at least two times higher than Li-ion battery and significantly lighter (50%) than conventional Li-ion batteries.  The results were reported in several journal papers including Nature Nanotechnology (2018), Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2020), ACS Nano (2020), and Journal of Power Sources (2021). His novel Li-S battery technology is significant for the development of advanced UAVs that require an energy storage system capable of lasting for long endurance flights. His team has further improved the energy density of Li-S batteries through the one-dimensional grain boundary diffusion of ions through layered two-dimensional materials. He founded a start-up company and licensed from UNT for developing practical rechargeable batteries. His current work is focused on continuing advancements in the development of solid-state rechargeable batteries. His innovation was patented in UNT (US 63/137,712, UNTP.P0030US.P1/1001149409; U.S. application No. 17/219,523 (2020); 63/170,862 (2021); PCT/US18/17585; PCT/US2017/026659) and reported in News media such as North Texas Daily (March 20, 2018); Newspapers (Seoul Economy, VERITAS, Korea Research Journal, UNT Research News Letter.

He is an author/co-author of over 80 patents, 1 book (Graphene), 11 book chapters, and 280 publications (citations >21,000, h-index 70), Editor of a book “Graphene”, an Associate Editor of Jr. Energy Storage (Elsevier), a Guest Editor of Li-S batteries (MDPI), a Topical Editor of Current Applied Physics (Elsevier), and is a member of editorial boards of five journals.