Our research focuses on unraveling the fundamental physical and chemical processes occurring at solid surfaces and interfaces. With particular interests in heterogeneous catalysis for environment and energy applications, we employ advanced surface characterization techniques including in situ infrared spectroscopy to elucidate reaction mechanisms and structure-reactivity relationships. Through these studies we aim to provide fundamental insights that enable the rational design and development of highly efficient and sustainable catalysts and reaction pathways.

우리 연구실은 고체 표면 및 계면에서 일어나는 물리&화학 현상을 이해하는데 관심 있습니다. 주로 환경 및 에너지 분야에 응용 가능한 불균일촉매반응 연구에 중점을 두고 있고, in situ 적외선 분광기를 포함한 다양한 표면 분석 기술들을 활용해 반응메커니즘과 구조-반응성 상관관계를 규명하고 있습니다. 이러한 연구를 통해 궁극적으로 고효율, 친환경 촉매 기술을 개발하는데 필요한 정보를 제공하고자 합니다.

Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS)

DRIFTS is a powerful vibrational spectroscopic technique for chracterizing the molecular species adsorbed on powder catalyst surfaces. Unlike transmission IR spectroscopy, DRIFTS detects IR radiation that undergoes multiple scattering within optically scattering catalyst particles, allowing sensitive detection of vibrational signals from surface adsorbates.

By monitoring the structural evolution of surface species under reaction conditions, DRIFTS provides insights into catalytic reaction mechanisms, while the use of probe molecules such as CO and NO further enables the electronic and geometric structures of surface sites to be elucidated at the atomic level.

Catalysis for environment & energy applications

We integrate catalyst synthesis and operando characterization to deepen the fundamental understanding of structure-activity relationships and reaction mechanisms for 'working catalysts'. These studies provide the basis for the rational design of more efficient and sustainable catalyst structures and reaction pathways.

Our current research focuses on addressing fundamental questions in thermocatalytic reactions with applications in pollution mitigation, hydrogen production via ammonia decomposition, and fine chemical synthesis.

Reaction-driven catalyst restructuring

Traditional catalyst design has focused on the pre-formation of catalyst structures during synthesis. However, many heterogeneous catalysts dynamically restructure under reaction conditions, continously evolving through changes in composition, morphology, and surface atomic arrangement.

Our research seeks to understand these reaction-driven restructuring processes and exploit them as a new catalyst design strategy, where highly active catalyst structures can be generated and stablizied by the reaction environment itself.