Research

Our research group has studied nanostructured electrocatalysts for efficient energy conversion to generate high-valued chemicals and reduce environmental pollutants. To develop the appropriate electrocatalysts for specific energy conversion reactions, we have focused on the catalytic properties utilizing electrochemical tests and multiscale modeling and calculation. Based on these data, we have synthesized electrocatalysts with enhanced efficiency.

• Water Electrolysis for Green Hydrogen Production

• N2 Reduction Reaction (NRR)

• CO2 Reduction Reaction (CO2RR)

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Oxidation Reaction
  (ex.,  Urea, Ammonia)

• Fuel Cell

We have developed new electrodes for increasing energy storage efficiency including power density, energy density, and cycle life. To come up with a novel and proper electrode, our approach is to study the storage properties through various morphological and physicochemical analyses and multiscale modeling and calculation. Based on these insights, we have designed new electrodes to build a high-performance energy storage system for the future.

• Supercapacitor

• Hybrid Supercapacitor

Artificial photosynthesis, which is inspired by natural photosynthesis, has been considered as the solution to solve both environmental and fuel problems. We have been investigated the fundamental mechanism and the various application of photo-electrocatalysts to enhance the performance of conventional electrocatalysts.

• Photoelectrochemical Reaction

• Photoelectrochemical N2 Reduction Reaction

• Upconverting Nanoparticle

Our research group has utilized computational modeling and calculation to design the approximate electrocatalysts for target reactions. Based on these data, we could synthesize the specific materials, which are assumed to have superior catalytic properties. Contrariwise, these computational calculations could uncover the forbidden reaction mechanism between the electrocatalyst and the target reaction, and support the reason why the electrocatalyst has an outstanding performance of the reaction.

• Heuristics

• Machine Learning

• Density Functional Theory (DFT) Calculation

Proton-conducting materials are a class of solid-state ion-conducting materials that demonstrate significant proton conductivity at moderate temperatures (e.g., 100–600 °C). By enabling proton-mediated electrochemistry under both dry and humid environments, proton-conducting materials provide unique opportunities for enhancing or synergizing a variety of complementary electrochemical and thermochemical processes. Because of this potential, our research group has been devoted to developing new proton-conducting materials with application-oriented insights.

• Synthesis of proton conducting materials.

• Fabrication of proton conducting membrane  

• Synthesis of appropriate catalysts with specific activities (e.g., ammonia synthesis, and CO2 hydrogenation) and compatibility with other components of protonic ceramic devices

• Development for protonic ceramic electrochemical reactors for N2 Reduction Reaction (NRR), CO2 Reduction Reaction (CO2RR), Fuel Cell, etc.