SJ Kim Lab @ Materials Architecturing Research Center, KIST
Our group aims to develop material-based technologies to build devices that can greatly enhance the quality of human life in the upcoming future. Especially, we are interested in the synthesis and structure control of multi-dimensional nanomaterials and their physicochemical properties. Structures hybridized with nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanowires will maximize device performance, which we aim to apply to the environmental, healthcare, and energy sectors.
Research Overview
Synthesis of Multi-dimensional Nanomaterials
MXenes
Graphene
Nanoparticles
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MXenes are a rising family of 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides with ultrahigh electrical conductivity. Our group has been researching MXenes since 2014, and is one of the first groups to research MXenes in collaboration with the Drexel Nanomaterials Institute. In our lab, we are completely capable of synthesizing multiple types of MXenes (Ti, Mo, V, etc.), starting from MAX phase synthesis to solution delamination.
Other 2D materials of interest include graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and h-BN, which we can synthesize either by solution or CVD methods.
A single nanomaterial can exist in many dimensions, such as nanospheres, nanowires, nanosheets, or 3D nanostructures. By using appropriate chemical synthesis methods, we can manipulate the shape of a nanoparticle to best match the desired properties.
Nanoparticles of interest in our group mainly deal with metal nanoparticles and metal oxide nanoparticles that have catalytic or electrochemical activity.
Hybridization & Formulation
Surface functionalization
The surface energy and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity can be tuned by attaching various organic ligands to nanomaterials. Such manipulation of surface energy can allow the uniform dispersion of nanomaterials in various media.
Conductive inks
Development of solution-processible nanomaterials is highly important in developing a cost-effective process. The formulation of conductive inks with tunable viscosity allows the application of nanomaterials onto various substrates that are used in flexible electronic or electrochemical devices.
Composite nanosheets
Self-assembly
By employing surface tuning and film assembly techniques, we can transform 2D composite nanosheets into shape-controlled nanostructures. We are capable of synthesizing nanometer-thick films through various self-assembly techniques, and also synthesizing industry-scale conductive films through blade coating and spray coating.
Nanoparticles or organic molecules with various dimensions can be decorated on 2D sheets. Attached nanoparticles can act as binding sites for chemical sensors or as reactive sites for electrocatalysts.
Applications
Chemical
sensors
Electrochemical electrodes
EMI
shielding
Functional
membranes
