Oh Hyeong-seok, head researcher (director) at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Clean Energy Research Center, has been selected as the winner of the Science and Technology Person of the Month award for June.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea have been awarding the Science and Technology Person of the Month since 1997 to recognize researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the development of science and technology. The recipient receives a commendation from the Minister and a cash prize of 10 million won.
This month, to commemorate World Environment Day, Oh Hyeong-seok, the director, has been selected as an excellent researcher in the environmental field. Director Oh developed key technologies to convert carbon dioxide, the main culprit of climate change, into high-value compounds such as ethylene, ethanol, and synthesis gas.
Electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion technology is a method that utilizes electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to convert carbon dioxide emitted from industrial processes into high-value compounds. It is being highlighted as an essential technology for achieving national greenhouse gas reduction targets.
This technology emphasizes the importance of developing high-performance catalyst materials that assist in the efficient recombination of carbon dioxide and the deviceification of these catalysts so they can be applied in actual systems. Director Oh developed a technique to precisely control the local pH of the electrodes with nanoscale precision, allowing carbon dioxide to reach the catalyst surface more smoothly. He also created a technology that utilizes real-time analysis platforms such as accelerator-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to accurately track changes in catalyst state and product distribution during electrochemical reactions.
Director Oh's research achievements have been featured in several international academic journals and will be transferred to LG CHEM for practical applications in carbon neutrality technology.
Director Oh noted, "Thanks to the clear goal of industrialization, we were able to progress not only in the development of fundamental technologies but also in empirical research, and the bold investments of forward-looking corporations and the continued support from the government provided strong momentum for our research. I would like to continue contributing to the development of practical technologies that establish a sustainable carbon circular economy."