Nano/Energy/Catalysts Research Lab.
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Welcome to Nano EnC Lab!

Nano EnC Lab. is a Laboratory in the Materials Science & Engineering at Ajou University.

Our research is directed to engineering new, inexpensive, and solution-processable nanomaterials and implementing them into high performance energy & catalysis devices. We are especially driven by the goal of inexpensive solar energy conversion. We focus on materials systems with sufficient earth abundance and environmental compatibility, and we employ techniques that are highly scalable and economically feasible. 
The approaches are multidisciplinary, involving expertise and knowledge in materials science, chemistry, physics, optoelectronics and electrochemistry...

Our researches

Open positions

○ Open position for a postdoc (2022.07-):  Highly motivated postdoc candidate with strong experimental
​     skills and solid background in
'N2 and NOx electrochemical reduction and solar desalination'
 
​     
(send an email to Prof. Cho, insuncho@ajou.ac.kr)
​
○ Open position for a postdoc (Anytime):  Theoretical calculations (DFT, MD, etc) of electrocatalysis  
​    
(send an email to Prof. Cho, insuncho@ajou.ac.kr)
​
○ 박사 과정 또는 석/박사 통합과정 대학원생 모집 (분야: 화염기반 나노소재 합성, 폐기물-화학연료전환 촉매 개발, CO2-      화학연료전환 전기촉매 개발, 태양광-수소 광전극 개발, 해수-담수화 솔라스펀지 개발).
    관심있는 분들은 이메일 (
insuncho@ajou.ac.kr)로 연락바랍니다.

○ Now we seek highly qualified and motivated PhD or combined MS-PhD students to work in       
    electrocatalysis (NOxRR, N2RR, CO2RR, HER, OER), Synthesis of nanomaterials, and Solar-Desalination! 
    Please feel free to contact to Prof. In Sun Cho (insuncho@ajou.ac.kr)!"
​

Research update


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All-oxides Tandem PEC Cell with STH 1%

  • Synthesis of CuO sharp-edged nanoflake array (SNA) via two-step oriented attachment process.
  • Dramatic reduction of a light reflection loss at visible-to-near infrared region.
  • Improved charge transport and transfer properties than the  nanoparticle-based film counterparts.
  • Optimized CuO SNA exhibits a record photocurrent density (∼6.3 mA/cm2 at 0.0 V vs. RHE)
  • Demonstration of bias-free solar water-splitting with TiO2 branched-nanorod-array photoanode (STH ∼ 1%)
  • published in Applied Surface Science  ​(IF: 6.707, JCR: 2.381%, 2022.02.09)

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High Entropy Alloy of CoCuFeNiMn for Electrocatalytic water splitting

  • The first time, high-entropy-alloy (HEA) introduced as a model bifunctional electrocatalyst in neutral-pH water splitting
  • Hall voltage measurement revealed 68 times higher electrical conductivity of HEA than mixed metal powders
  • At neutral-pH, the most favorable reaction kinetics, promising activity, and stability was obtained at a higher current density
  • HEA electrocatalyst, CuCoNiFeMn, can efficiently split H2O to H2 in pH-universal media
  • published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A  ​(IF: 12.732, JCR: 6.579%)

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Activation of spinel CuAl2O4 for solar water-splitting

● Facile solution synthesis of spinel CuAl2O4 (CAO) film with controlled porosity for the first time.
● Development of an effective solution activation method to incorporate Li+ into the CAO.
● Simultaneous improvement of light absorption, charge transport and transfer properties via the Li+ activation.
● Demonstration of a record photocurrent density of −5.1 mA/cm2 by coupling CuO underlayer.


published in Journal of Catalysis (IF:9.920, JCR: 10.140%)

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Sol-gel synthesis of Bulky-crystalline
CuBi2O4 photocathode

● Development of evaporation-decomposition-controlled synthesis method for spinel CuBi2O4
● Pre-annealing process has a vital impact on grain size, film coverage and uniformity
● Successful synthesis of bulky crystalline CuBi2O4 photocathode with enhanced photocurrent & stability
● Demonstration of a record photocurrent density (-3.5 mA/cm2) via coupling with CuO underlayer


published in Nano Energy (IF:16.602, JCR: 4.299%)

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New ETL materials for PSCs
"Energy-level engineering of the electron transporting layer for improving open-circuit voltage in dye and perovskite-based solar cells"
​published in Energy & Environ. Sci.  (IF:33.250, JCR ranking: 0.2%)

LAB. News



2022.11.06 - 09.
  • ENGE2022 Conference, Ramada hotel, Jeju island. 
2022.08.30.
  • Nano enc workshop with undergraduate intern students. Good job!!
2022.08.22.
  • Yoo Jae and Min Je, congratulations on your master's degree!!!
Picture
2022.01.15.
  • Welcome 'Seo Yeong and Tak Hyun' joining our group as new MS students.

2021



2020.05.12-15. Attending Conference (2021 KSIEC Spring Meeting, BEXCO, Pusan, South Korea)

2022

2020.06.23. Celebration lunch for Dr.Siva's proposal selection (NRF funding, 2.1억/3년) and son birth!
2020.06.30.
  • Congratulations to Sung Won & Dong Hyun on their paper publication (Applied Surface Science, IF: 6.182, JCR 2.38%)
  • Congratulations to Sung Won on his paper publication (Journal of Catalysis, IF: 7.888, JCR 4.55%)

2020

2020.03.01.
  • Welcome 'Dr. Arumugam Sivanantham' joining our group as a postdoc.
  • Welcome 'Qu Li' joining our group as a new Ph.D. student.
  • Welcome 'Min Jae Kim' joining our group as a new M.S. student.

2019

2019.07.04.
Prof. Cho has been appointed as an editorial board member in an international journal, 'Chemistry (ISSN 2624-8549, a peer-reviewed open access journal of chemistry published quarterly online by MDPI).
2019.01.01.
Prof. Cho has been appointed as an editorial board member in an international journal, 'Applied Sciences' (ISSN 2076-3417; CODEN: ASPCC7, IF=2.217) is an international peer-reviewed open access journal on all aspects of applied natural sciences published semi-monthly online by MDPI.

2016
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Collaboration paper on solar water-splitting is selected as a main cover image. (2016.02.18).

2015
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Congratulations to Jin Woon & Hae Yeon for the first place prize in '2015-Creative Materials Selection & Capstone Design competition' (2015. 12. 03).


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In Sun Cho, associate professor
Materials Science & Engineering, Ajou University

Worldcup-ro 206, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 16499, South Korea
Phone: +82-31-219-2468, Mobile: +82-10-7203-0401, FAX: +82-31-219-1613
Email: cisinsnu@gmail.com, insuncho@ajou.ac.kr
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