Hee-Tae Jung | Materials Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Prof. Hee-Tae Jung | Materials Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology | South Korea

Professor Hee-Tae Jung is a leading global scientist in chemical and biomolecular engineering whose research centers on developing advanced functional nanomaterials and nanostructures to address critical climate-related and environmental challenges. As Chair Professor at KAIST and Director of multiple international research centers including the Saudi Aramco-KAIST CO₂ Management Center and the KAIST-UCB-VNU Global Climate Change Research Center, he leads multidisciplinary teams focused on creating transformative technologies for greenhouse gas mitigation, sustainable energy production, and high-performance sensor systems. His research group, OOEM, pioneers both top-down and bottom-up nanofabrication approaches, introducing innovations such as secondary sputtering, soft-lithography, supramolecular self-assembly, and advanced nano-patterning. These techniques enable precise control of material architectures to achieve unprecedented performance in catalytic, sensing, and energy-conversion applications. A central aim of his work is to bridge fundamental nanoscience with industrial-scale practical devices, accelerating translation of high-impact research into real-world environmental solutions. Professor Jung’s contributions span CO₂ reduction systems, bifunctional water-splitting catalysts, MXene-based gas sensors with ultrahigh signal-to-noise ratios, deep-learning-assisted chemical sensing, high-density nanoparticle generation via carbothermal shock, and large-area supramolecular alignment. His research has been published in top-tier journals including Nature Electronics, Science Advances, Advanced Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, and ACS Nano. With an exemplary record of leadership serving as President of the Korean Environmental Science Society and Associate Editor for several international journals and numerous prestigious awards, Professor Jung is recognized as one of the most influential scientists in nanomaterials, CO₂ management, and climate-centric engineering innovation. His work continues to shape the future of sustainable materials and technologies.

Profiles : Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  • Continuous biochemical profiling of the gastrointestinal tract using a multiparametric smart capsule. (2025). Nature Electronics, 8, 844.

  • Continuous flow-reactor with superior production rate and stability for CO₂ reduction using semiconductor photocatalysts. (2023). Energy & Environmental Science, 16, 2689.

  • Exploring optimal water splitting bifunctional alloy catalyst by Pareto active learning. (2023). Advanced Materials, 35, 2211497.

  • Atomic-scale homogeneous Ru–Cu alloy nanoparticles for highly efficient electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction. (2022). Advanced Materials, 34, 22055270.

  • Generation of high-density nanoparticles in the carbothermal shock method. (2021). Science Advances, 7, eabk2984.

 

Xiaohui Song | Materials Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Xiaohui Song | Materials Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Hefei University of Technology, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

Academic Background

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Xiaohui Song is a leading materials scientist currently serving in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Hefei University of Technology, China. He earned his Ph.D. in 2016 from the prestigious Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where he laid the foundation for his expertise in nanomaterials and electron microscopy. His international academic journey continued as a postdoctoral researcher at two world-renowned institutions: the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and UC Berkeley between 2016 and 2019, enhancing his skills in advanced material characterization techniques.

🔬 Professional Endeavors & Research Focus

Dr. Song’s research is primarily centered on the characterization of surfaces and interfaces of nanomaterials, with a special emphasis on those used in energy storage systems, particularly lithium-ion batteries. His group employs cutting-edge tools such as in situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM), 3D TEM electron tomography, and in situ Raman spectroscopy to investigate the structural and functional properties of materials at the nanoscale. These advanced methods enable a real-time understanding of material behavior, making his research instrumental in pushing the boundaries of battery science.

♻️ Contributions to Battery Recycling & Regeneration

One of Dr. Song’s key research contributions is in the recycling and repair of lithium-ion batteries—a field of increasing global relevance due to the surge in electric vehicles and portable electronics. His work contributes directly to the development of sustainable energy technologies, offering solutions to reduce environmental waste and enhance battery lifespan through microscopic repair techniques and material regeneration.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Through his innovative research, Dr. Song is addressing some of the most pressing challenges in materials science and energy storage. His work supports global sustainability goals by promoting battery recycling technologies, which are crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of modern electronics. His contributions not only impact the scientific community but also the industrial sector, influencing future designs of recyclable and repairable battery systems.

🧪 Technical Expertise

Dr. Song is proficient in a broad spectrum of microscopy and spectroscopic techniques, particularly those used in in situ characterization. His advanced command of TEM, tomography, and Raman analysis allows him to extract intricate structural and chemical information, offering insights into degradation mechanisms, interfacial dynamics, and nanoscale transformations during battery operation.

🧑‍🏫 Teaching and Mentorship

As an Associate Professor, Dr. Song is deeply involved in mentoring students and young researchers, guiding them through both theoretical learning and practical experimentation. His international academic experience enhances his teaching approach, combining rigorous scientific standards with global perspectives in materials research.

🌟 Legacy & Future Outlook

Dr. Xiaohui Song stands at the forefront of next-generation battery technology and nanomaterials research. With a clear commitment to scientific innovation and environmental sustainability, he is paving the way for greener energy solutions. His work not only contributes to academic advancement but also aligns with global efforts toward achieving a circular economy in energy materials. Looking forward, his research aims to deepen our understanding of material interfaces and develop more efficient, durable, and recyclable energy storage systems.

📖Notable Publications

1. Investigating the block copolymer deposition on Au nanoparticle surface via graphene liquid cell

  • Authors: Xingyu Zhang, Dahai Yang, Semi Kim, Bolin Zou, Juyeong Kim, Xiaohui Song

  • Journal: Nano Today

  • Year: 2025

2. Self-assembled zinc polyethylenimine shield for long-lasting zinc anodes

  • Authors: Ying Chen, Suxia Yan, Taofeng Li, Zhilong Zhang, Li Zhang, Xiaohui Song, Junfeng Liu, Yong Wang, Edison Huixiang Ang

  • Journal: Journal of Power Sources

  • Year: 2025

3. Revealing microscopic dynamics: in situ liquid-phase TEM for live observations of soft materials and quantitative analysis via deep learning

  • Authors: Yangyang Sun, Xingyu Zhang, Rui Huang, Dahai Yang, Juyeong Kim, Junhao Chen, Edison Huixiang Ang, Mufan Li, Lin Li, Xiaohui Song

  • Journal: Nanoscale

  • Year: 2024

4. Unraveling nanosprings: morphology control and mechanical characterization

  • Authors: Dahai Yang, Rui Huang, Bolin Zou, Ruoxu Wang, Yong Wang, Edison Huixiang Ang, Xiaohui Song

  • Journal: Materials Horizons

  • Year: 2024

5. Unveiling the Dynamic Pathways of Metal–Organic Framework Crystallization and Nanoparticle Incorporation for Li–S Batteries

  • Authors: Xiaohui Song, Rui Huang, Xingyu Zhang, Qiang Chang, Semi Kim, Daeun Jeong, Qian Hou, Juyeong Kim, Edison Huixiang Ang, Xiaowei Su et al.

  • Journal: Advanced Science

  • Year: 2024

6. Evolution from passive to active components in lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries separators

  • Authors: Tong Liang, Dahang Cheng, Junhao Chen, Xianqi Wu, Hui Xiong, Sutong Yu, Zhennan Zhang, Haiyang Liu, Shurui Liu, Xiaohui Song

  • Journal: Materials Today Energy

  • Year: 2024