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Redefining the Role of Carbon: POSTECH Professor Kyu-Young Park Receives the Nanocarbons Division SES Research Young Investigator Award

Carbon materials, once regarded merely as “supporting actors” that help improve electrical conductivity in batteries, are now gaining attention as key materials that can determine battery performance and safety.

Professor Kyu-Young Park of the Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Eco Materials Technology (GIFT) at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has recently received the Nanocarbons Division SES Research Young Investigator Award, presented by the Nanocarbons Division of the Electrochemical Society (ECS). 

Established in 2007, the award recognizes outstanding research achievements in the field of nanocarbon materials, and Professor Park is the first Korean researcher to receive the honor.

The ECS is a leading international academic society in the fields of electrochemistry and solid-state science.

Through its annual spring and fall meetings, the society brings together researchers from around the world to share the latest research achievements in energy, materials, and environmental technologies. 

The Nanocarbons Division SES Research Young Investigator Award is presented to a researcher aged 38 or younger who has demonstrated outstanding research achievements in the field of carbon nanomaterials. 

Only one researcher is selectd for the award every two years, making it a highly prestigious distinction.

Professor Park’s research has demonstrated that carbon nanomaterials can do far more than simply enhance electrical conductivity. 

They can control structural changes in electrodes and unstable chemical reactions that occur during battery charging and discharging, thereby improving battery lifespan and safety. The ECS recognized Professor Park not only for identifying these new functions of carbon nanomaterials, but also for translating his findings into practical battery manufacturing technologies and contributing to the advancement of next-generation rechargeable battery electrode technologies.

In particular, this research presents a new approach to electrode design by viewing carbon not simply as an additive, but as a key material capable of simultaneously enhancing a battery’s energy storage capacity, power performance, lifespan, and safety. Based on these findings, Professor Park’s research team is continuing to develop next-generation battery technologies, including high-capacity electrodes capable of storing more energy, highly durable electrodes that maintain performance over extended periods, and electrodes with improved thermal stability.

Professor Park commented, “This award would not have been possible without the dedication of the students and fellow researchers I have worked with. I will continue to explore new functions of carbon materials and translate them into practical battery manufacturing technologies to improve the performance and safety of next-generation rechargeable batteries.”

The award ceremony was held on May 26 in Seattle, USA, during the 249th ECS Meeting. As part of the award, Professor Park delivered a distinguished lecture titled “Redefining the Function of Carbon for Next-Generation Rechargeable Electrode Design.”