- Developed nanocrystal synthesis technology that precisely controls the structure, composition, and surface state of nanocrystals by applying various ligands (ex. alkyl ammonium) to the colloidal process.

- In the field of catalysts, the need for a core-shell nanocrystal structure that maximizes the selectivity and efficiency of the reaction by controlling unique chemical and physical properties by straining the lattice structure is emerging. Our team implemented core-shell multi-grain nanoparticles in which defects (ex. defects, grain boundaries) were selectively formed through repetitive processes and solvent-nonsolvent methods.

- Based on our approach, lattice structure control according to synthesis conditions (temperature, pressure, pH) and precursor type (ex. SO42-, Cl-, HCOO-) not only forms controlled core-shell nanocrystals but also injects additionally. The purpose of this study is to study the formation of anisotropic/asymmetry characteristics of nanocrystals according to the ligand (ex. L, D-Ascorbic acid) and the reaction mechanism through active point control using this.

[ Ligand-engineering via micro-environment control ]

- Developed a technology to improve the selectivity of electrochemical reactions by introducing an organic modifier on the electrode surface. In this study, research was conducted to increase the selectivity and efficiency of electrochemical reactions by establishing a microenvironment on the catalyst surface and controlling the local density, composition, and molecular motion of reactants.

[ Nanofabrication of nanocrystal catalyst for device application ]

- Nanocrystals arranged at regular intervals under a specific stimulus are predicted to have different properties from nanocrystals with a dense structure. Accordingly, comparing/analyzing nanocrystal thin films arranged at regular intervals with densely structured thin films produced through a self-assembly process makes it possible to study the basic properties of materials and structures, and based on this, expansion into various fields is possible.

- EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) is a technology that combines TEM and electron energy loss spectroscopy and is a technology that can precisely analyze the elemental composition, chemical state, and electronic structure of nanocrystals at the atomic level. To analyze nanocrystal properties in the microscopic area, we conducted joint research with researchers at the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM) at Berkeley Lab in the United States.

- 3D Tomography is a technology that reconstructs the internal structure of nanoscale materials into high-resolution 3D images at the atomic level through 2D TEM images taken from various angles. This allows for precise analysis of complex microstructures and defects.

- 4D-STEM is a technology that analyzes the structure and properties of nanoscale materials at high resolution using electron beams. It generates multi-dimensional data and can analyze the electric/magnetic/structural properties of materials simultaneously. It is possible to check the distribution of electrons scattered by the electron beam, and through this, quantitative analysis is possible. Currently conducting joint research with Colin Opus' group to obtain 4-dimensional data on metal/metal oxide nanocrystals.

This field focuses on controlling the size, shape, and atomic arrangement of inorganic nanocrystals to develop functional nanomaterials with enhanced performance. Using advanced characterization techniques, the lab investigates the links between nanocrystal characteristics and performance and optimizes the synthetic parameters using machine learning algorithms to attain the desired structures and properties. 

- Soft Material 3D Organizations

In this field, the emphasis is placed on developing sophisticated 3D nanoarchitecture from various materials, such as inorganic nanocrystals, liquid crystals, framework materials, block copolymers, synthetic biomolecules, and proteins. The lab employs advanced characterization techniques to investigate the interfacial structures and interactions between building blocks. The objective is to merge the concepts of living beings into functional nanomaterials.