Global information analytics company Elsevier announced its list of the World’s Top 2% Scientists last September. The ranking represents the number of globally competitive researchers at each institution—Hanyang University stood out with 102 researchers included on the list.

From electric vehicles and smartphones to urban air mobility(UAM), battery technology has become essential to all aspects of modern life. Among those recognized, Professor 온라인 토토사이트 신고 Dong-won from the Department of Chemical Engineering shared his insights on the present and future of K-battery industry.

Upon being named one of the world’s top 2% researchers, Professor Kim humbly said, “I feel embarrassed because my research achievements are not so extraordinary.” He added, “This honor is not mine alone, but it is the culmination of effort by my students and collaborating researchers.”

This achievement is particularly meaningful amid intense global competition in the battery industry. “The recognition demonstrates that the excellence of Korean battery technology is now acknowledged worldwide,” Kim explained. “More than a numerical measure of publications, it reflects international recognition for research that delivers tangible influence to both academia and industry.”

The greatest research accomplishments of Professor Kim stem from his work on all-'solid-state batteries,' described as the “dream battery.” This next-generation technology eliminates the fire and explosion risks inherent in commercial lithium-ion batteries by replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with nonflammable solids and employing high-energy lithium metal anodes.

Led by Professor Kim, the Electrochemical Materials Laboratory focuses on solving the ‘interfacial instability’ issue between the lithium metal anode and solid electrolyte, acting as a critical obstacle to commercialization. “The unstable interface was the biggest challenge,” he said. “We designed protective layers providing both chemical and mechanical stability to overcome it.” Through this innovation, his team achieved high energy density with outstanding safety and long lifespan.

The study result, published in collaboration with SK On, showcased groundbreaking all-solid-state batteries operable at room temperature. The team’s new lithium-metal surfacing technique suppresses dendrite formation, one of the main causes of degradation and short-circuiting, ensuring longer lifespan and enhanced safety. The simplified process and low cost provide advantages for mass production, pushing commercialization of high-energy-density all-solid-state batteries closer to reality.

“Successful commercialization of all-solid-state batteries will revolutionize our daily lives,” said Kim. A single charge of electric vehicles would range 800 to 1,000 km, taking only the time of refueling traditional cars. “Most importantly, safety will be dramatically improved with no fire hazards,” he noted. Kim predicted that the technology will embark on exponential growth in emerging industries such as autonomous driving, UAM, wearable devices, and large-scale ESSs(Energy Storage Systems). He also emphasized other promising next-generation technologies, including semi-solid batteries which are cost-effective and compatible with existing lithium-ion manufacturing systems as well as lithium-sulfur and sodium-ion batteries. 

Behind Professor Kim’s notable successes in his career of research lies a story of humility and perseverance. Describing himself as a “diligent researcher rather than a genius,” he shared, “I simply try to give my best effort in everything I do.” He encourages his students to face research challenges with passion and persistence: “Failure isn’t something to fear. Consistency and sincerity are what make the breakthroughs possible in next-generation battery research.”

What sets Kim’s research apart is its focus on real-world application. “My goal is to develop technologies that go beyond the lab and become useful in industrial sites,” he said. Calling his approach ‘Bridge Research,’ Kim underscored the need to balance ‘academic value’ with ‘industrial scalability’.

Professor Kim’s Electrochemical Materials Laboratory maintains close collaborations with the major battery companies in Korea such as SK On, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, Hyundai Motor Company, and POSCO Holdings. “Working with the industry allows us to identify and solve real field-level challenges,” Kim explained. “That’s where the most powerful synergy in research comes from.”

“To establish global leadership in the battery field, competition with countries like China over materials and core technologies will be crucial,” he stated, expressing his ambition “to contribute as a scholar to securing Korea’s global leadership in next-generation battery technologies.”

To aspiring scholars, he offered warm encouragement: “Research is a continuous cycle of trial and error,” Kim noted. “Small achievements build toward major innovations. Above all, I hope Hanyang students face challenges with confidence, passion, and persistence.”