Solid-state semiconductors
Designing and synthesizing hybrid and optical semiconductor materials — the shared foundation for every direction below.
About the lab
Molecules to devices, light to energy
The Next-generation Renewable Energy & electronics Laboratory (NREL) designs and synthesizes solid-state hybrid and optical semiconductors — combining the tunable functionality of molecules with the robustness of extended solids.
From these materials we build stacked opto-electronic devices — for optical communication, displays, solar cells, and photosensors — and energy devices for CO2 reduction and hydrogen evolution. We also extract and analyze lithium-ion battery electrolytes to decode side reactions and aging mechanisms. The lab shares its name with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where Prof. Kim carried out his postdoctoral research. Explore our research →
NREL 연구실은 합성 분자 화학의 원리를 바탕으로 고체 상태(solid-state materials)의 다양한 하이브리드 반도체 및 광반도체(Optical Semiconductor) 소재를 설계 및 합성하고 있습니다.
이러한 소재 개발을 통해 적층형 광반도체 기반 광-전자소자(광통신, 디스플레이, 태양전지, 광센서) 및 에너지소자(CO2 reduction, H2 evolution) 응용 분야에 적용하고자 합니다. 또한, 이차전지 전해액(LIBs)을 추출/분석하여 공정 및 구동 단계에서의 부반응을 예측하고 노화 메커니즘을 분석합니다.
Research at a glance
Research field
The fundamentals of spin–charge–light interconversion, applied across optoelectronics, catalysis, and energy materials.
Light-emitting diodes & displays
Perovskite, nanocrystal, and organic LEDs for wide-gamut displays and CPL emitters.
Solar cells & photodetectors
Harvesting light with the same absorbers — plus robot- and AI-driven high-throughput fabrication.
Catalysis — CO2 & H2
Photo- and electro-catalysts that convert CO2 to fuels and split water for green hydrogen.
Chirality & spin
Chiral-induced spin selectivity for room-temperature spin-LEDs, CPL detectors, and spin-catalysis.
CMP & battery electrolyte processing
Eco-friendly semiconductor CMP slurries and quantitative Li-ion electrolyte analysis for aging mechanisms.
Latest news
Highlights
Group affiliated with the 2026 RSC Prize winners (CHOISE Team @ NREL, USA).
Daseul Lee develops strain-relaxed chiral bismuth halides for spin selectivity and magnetoresistance.
Sang Woo Bae develops water-stable perovskite color-conversion patterns for microdisplays.
Outreach
Saturday Science Class Live
Prof. Young-Hoon Kim's public lecture, "디스플레이 소자 및 소재의 개발 현황" (Current status of display device & material development), Seoul Science Center · Sep 2025.