Koh Research Group — Korea Institute of Science and Technology

KIST · Clean Energy Research Center · Seoul

Polymers decide what an electrochemical reactor can do.

We tackle fundamental challenges facing renewable energy through the design, synthesis, and application of functional materials — ion-exchange polymers, ionomeric binders, and catalysts.

Research Publications We are hiring
Cross-section of a zero-gap electrolyzer From left to right: anode flow plate, anode catalyst layer, anion-exchange membrane, cathode catalyst layer, gas diffusion layer, and cathode flow plate. Anolyte enters the anode side and leaves with oxygen; humidified carbon dioxide enters the cathode side and leaves as products; hydroxide ions cross the membrane toward the anode. e⁻ OH⁻ anolyte anolyte + O₂(g) humidified CO₂ products anode cathode flow plate AEM GDL flow plate
A zero-gap electrolyzer. The cathode gas-diffusion electrode, on which the catalyst and ionomeric binder are deposited, is pressed directly onto an anion-exchange membrane without a catholyte. See the catalyst layer up close →

한국어

저희 연구실에서 함께 탄소중립의 꿈을 실현할 대학원생과 포스닥 연구원들을 모집합니다. 고분자 재료의 합성과 에너지 전환 분야의 응용(이온교환소재, 촉매, 멤브레인 등)에 관심있는 미래 연구자들의 많은 연락 바랍니다. 탄소중립 연구분야의 선두주자 KIST e-Chemical 팀에서 꿈을 이룰 수 있습니다.

대학원 최고수준의 급여지원(등록금 전액 + 생활비), 4대 보험 적용, 국내외 학회활동 지원 등 최고의 조건에서 연구를 수행할 수 있습니다. Open Positions 페이지에서 자세한 정보를 확인할 수 있습니다.

Approach

An integrated workflow, from monomer to device

Electrification of the chemical industry depends on electrochemical reactors that operate selectively and stably at industrially relevant current densities. We address that through one loop, run end to end in house — insights from each stage feed back into the next generation of materials.

Stage 01 · Synthesis

Design and synthesize functional polymers

Organic synthesis as the foundational tool, for ion-exchange membranes and catalyst binders.

Stage 02 · Devices

Apply them in electrochemical reactors

Converting small molecules into fuels and value-added chemicals using renewable electricity.

Stage 03 · In situ

Probe the interface under operation

Vibrational spectroscopy on the polymer–catalyst interface while the cell is running.

Stage 04 · Stability

Find what degrades, over thousands of hours

Long-term testing that reveals the pathways which must be addressed for practical deployment.
  • ionomers
  • ion-exchange membranes
  • electrocatalysts
  • zero-gap electrolyzers
  • in situ spectroscopy
  • transport within interfaces
  • reaction mechanisms

SelectedFull list on the publications page.

Recent work

30

Dual-interface stabilization of low-iridium anodes for durable proton exchange membrane water electrolysis

E. T. Kim, S. Kim, S.-E. Park, P. Park, E. Ko, J. Joe, H. Y. Son, J. Kang, J. J. Kim, K. Cheon, K. Kim, S. Kim, G. Lee, J. Jeong, M. Cho, N. Kim, J. H. Koh*, K. Kim*

Nat. Commun. 2026, 17, 6818.

29

Ionomer charge density modulates interfacial water and reaction intermediates for CO2 electrolysis to C2 products

Y. I. Song†, J. Park, D. Kim, W. H. Lee, J. K. Kim*, H. S. Jeon*, B. Yoon*, J. H. Koh*

ACS Catal. 2026, 16, 2814–2826.

31

Validation of large language model artificial intelligence-integrated optical microscopy analysis: application to in situ/operando electrochemistry

D. Kim, D. H. Seok, S.-H. Yu, J. H. Moon, J. Wang, J. H. Koh, C. Kim, J.-Y. Choi, H.-S. Oh*, W. H. Lee*

J. Mater. Chem. A 2026, published online.

All publications

News

What the group has been up to

5 Aug 2026

Young In received the Young Scientist Award (Gold) at the NANO KOREA 2026 Conference.

7 Jun 2026

Jisoo Park successfully defended her M.S. thesis, Poly(biphenyl piperidine)-based anion-exchange membranes with transport-effective hydration for zero-gap CO2 electrolysis.

All news

The group

assets/img/group-2026.jpg
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drop the Spring 2026 group photo here
Group picture at KIST, Spring 2026.
Left to right: Hyo Sang Jeon, Jisoo Park, Jihyun Park, Young In Song, Hyung Rae Kim, Won So, and Jai Hyun Koh.

Meet the group

Open positions

We are hiring graduate students and postdocs

We work at the boundaries between chemical engineering, chemistry, and materials science. Several competitive graduate programs and funding are available at KIST.

석/박사(통합)과정 대학원생 및 박사후연구원을 수시 채용하고 있습니다.

Open Positions Contact