Min Ah Lee
Pohang University of Science and Technology · 工学
研究室紹介
Professor Min Ah Lee's research lab specializes in advancing next-generation energy storage technologies, with a primary focus on sustainable and high-performance batteries. The lab develops innovative materials and chemical strategies—such as molecularly engineered prelithiation, nano-hybrid organic electrodes, and multi-electron redox molecules—for enhancing the efficiency, energy density, and cycle life of lithium-ion and aqueous batteries. Key research directions include the design of tunable organic catholytes, such as flavins and phenazines, and the engineering of stable metal anodes, including silicon-based and zinc-based systems. The lab emphasizes molecular-level control of electrochemical processes through rational materials design and advanced characterization.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15Prelithiation is of great interest to Li-ion battery manufacturers as a strategy for compensating for the loss of active Li during initial cycling of a battery, which would otherwise degrade its available energy density. Solution-based chemical prelithiation using a reductive chemical promises unparalleled reaction homogeneity and simplicity. However, the chemicals applied so far cannot dope active Li in Si-based high-capacity anodes but merely form solid-electrolyte interphases, leading to only
A nanohybridization strategy is presented for the fabrication of high performance lithium ion batteries based on redox-active organic molecules. The rearrangement of electroactive aromatic molecules from bulk crystalline particles into molecular layers is achieved by non-covalent nanohybridization of active molecules with conductive scaffolds. As a result, nano-hybrid organic electrodes in the form of a flexible self-standing paper-free of binder/additive and current collector-are synthesized, w
Although often overlooked in anode research, the anode's initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) is a crucial factor dictating the energy density of a practical Li-ion battery. For next-generation anodes, a blend of graphite and Si/SiO<sub><i>x</i></sub> represents the most practical way to balance capacity and cycle life, but its low ICE limits its commercial viability. Here, we develop a chemical prelithiation method to maximize the ICE of the blend anodes using a reductive Li-arene complex solutio
A new class of multi-electron redox phenazine was proposed to build ready-to-charge sustainable organic batteries.
Flavin Battery: Flavins are used as a molecularly tunable cathode material that reversibly reacts with two lithium ions and two electrons per formula unit. Combined ex situ analyses and DFT calculations reveal that the redox reaction occurs using two successive single-electron transfer steps at nitrogen atoms of the diazabutadiene motif (see picture). As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are peer reviewed an
A synthetic method to construct a highly stable, densely packed Zn anode is presented by provoking the unusual Cu–Zn alloying alongside Zn plating. The compact Zn anode retains its morphology over repeated plating/stripping cycles in aqueous media.
The practical limits of coinage-metal-based plasmonic materials demand sustainable, abundant alternatives with a wide plasmonic range of the solar energy spectrum. Aluminum (Al) is an emerging alternative, but its instability in aqueous environments critically limits its applicability to various light-harvesting systems. Here, we report a design strategy to achieve a robust platform for plasmon-enhanced light harvesting using Al nanostructures. The incorporation of mussel-inspired polydopamine n
Hydroxyapatite (HAp)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrid composite materials are successfully synthesized via a biomineralization process that employs poly(dopamine) (PDA), a synthetic mimic of mussel adhesive proteins. Creating bio-inorganic composites for regenerative medicine requires appropriate fillers to enhance their mechanical robustness; for example, natural bones are composed mainly of HAp supported by collagen fibers. In this regard, many efforts have been made to harness HAp as a bone sub
Core-shell plasmonic nanohybrids are synthesized through a simple solutionbased process utilizing mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA). The multi-purpose PDA not only facilitates plasmonic metal formation, but also serves as a scaffold to incorporate photosensitizers around the metal cores, as well as an adhesive between the nanohybrids and the substrate. The resulting plasmonic assembly exhibits highly enhanced light absorption in photo catalytic systems to augment artificial photosynthesis.
Integrating safety features to cut off excessive current during accidental internal short circuits in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) can reduce the risk of thermal runaway. However, making this concept practical requires overcoming challenges in both material development and scalable manufacturing. Here, we demonstrate the roll-to-roll production of a safety reinforced layer (SRL) on current collectors at a rate of 5 km per day. The SRL, made of molecularly engineered polythiophene (PTh) and carbon add
Tree of a kind: An integrated artificial photosynthetic system is developed by reassembling raw materials from plants as support matrix for the encapsulation of porphyrins. The hybrids allow visible-light-driven regeneration of NADH and production of fine chemicals. The synthetic wood not only provides a microenvironment for porphyrin encapsulation but also makes the photosynthesis more effective due to the redox-active lignin component. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are pub
We establish thermodynamically controlled Li-coupled electron transfer from recyclable electron donors to cathodes as a viable route for directly regenerating spent cathodes under ambient conditions.
Concurrent modification of linear carbonates combining alkyl-chain extension and alkoxy substitution enables thermally stable high-performance batteries by decreasing volatility and increasing solvation ability simultaneously.
Flavin-Batterie: Flavine wurden als molekular abstimmbares Kathodenmaterial verwendet, das reversibel mit zwei Lithiumionen und zwei Elektronen pro Formeleinheit reagiert. Ex-situ-Untersuchungen und DFT-Rechnungen zeigen, dass an der Redoxreaktion zwei aufeinanderfolgende Einelektronen-Transferreaktionen an den Stickstoffatomen der Diazabutadien-Einheit beteiligt sind (siehe Bild). As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such