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Sung Hoon Lee

Korea University · Materials Science

About the Lab

Professor Sung Hoon Lee's research lab specializes in the development of advanced quantum dot (QD) materials and optoelectronic devices, with a focus on solution-processed, core/shell-structured QDs for high-performance light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). The lab pioneers innovative synthetic strategies to engineer compositionally graded QDs—particularly InP- and Cd-based systems—enabling high photoluminescence quantum yield, enhanced stability, and efficient charge transport. Key research directions include optimizing energy level alignment, designing functional electron/hole transport layers, and engineering multilayer QD heterostructures to achieve bright, efficient, and stable QLEDs with narrow emission spectra and long operational lifetimes. The lab also explores scalable fabrication techniques such as layer-by-layer assembly for practical, multicolor QLED applications.

quantum dotsQLEDssolution-processed semiconductorscore/shell heterostructuresoptoelectronic materials

Research Overview

Papers
270
Total Citations
7,521
Papers (5y)
26
Primary Field
Materials Science

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
26total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
29total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|937 citations·2012
Bright and Efficient Full-Color Colloidal Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Using an Inverted Device Structure
Jeonghun Kwak, Wan Ki Bae, Donggu Lee, Insun Park, Jaehoon Lim, Myeongjin Park, Hyunduck Cho, Heeje Woo, Do Y. Yoon, Kookheon Char, Seonghoon Lee, Changhee Lee
SJR Q1Nano Letters

We report highly bright and efficient inverted structure quantum dot (QD) based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) by using solution-processed ZnO nanoparticles as the electron injection/transport layer and by optimizing energy levels with the organic hole transport layer. We have successfully demonstrated highly bright red, green, and blue QLEDs showing maximum luminances up to 23,040, 218,800, and 2250 cd/m(2), and external quantum efficiencies of 7.3, 5.8, and 1.7%, respectively. It is also notice

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
2
Article|522 citations·2008
Single-Step Synthesis of Quantum Dots with Chemical Composition Gradients
Wan Ki Bae, Kookheon Char, Hyuck Hur, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

We demonstrate a single-step synthetic method for highly luminescent (i.e., quantum yield up to 80%) and stable quantum dots (QDs) by using the reactivity difference between Cd and Zn precursors and that between Se and S precursors. A wide range of emission wavelengths (500−610 nm) with a narrow fwhm (<35 nm) is obtained by changing the ratios of the precursors. Under the reaction conditions selected, Cd- and Se (with a bit of S)-based cores are formed first and Zn- and S-based shells are formed

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
3
Article|381 citations·2013
Highly Efficient Cadmium-Free Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Enabled by the Direct Formation of Excitons within InP@ZnSeS Quantum Dots
Jaehoon Lim, Myeongjin Park, Wan Ki Bae, Donggu Lee, Seonghoon Lee, Changhee Lee, Kookheon Char
SJR Q1ACS Nano

We demonstrate bright, efficient, and environmentally benign InP quantum dot (QD)-based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) through the direct charge carrier injection into QDs and the efficient radiative exciton recombination within QDs. The direct exciton formation within QDs is facilitated by an adoption of a solution-processed, thin conjugated polyelectrolyte layer, which reduces the electron injection barrier between cathode and QDs via vacuum level shift and promotes the charge carrier balance w

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
4
Article|300 citations·2011
InP@ZnSeS, Core@Composition Gradient Shell Quantum Dots with Enhanced Stability
Jaehoon Lim, Wan Ki Bae, Donggu Lee, Min Ki Nam, Joohyun Jung, Changhee Lee, Kookheon Char, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

Utilizing the reactivity difference between TOPSe and TOPS, we synthesized InP@ZnSeS QDs with the composition gradient in a radial direction where ZnSe alleviated lattice strain and ZnS protected QDs from degradation so that we achieved QDs with high QE and photo/chemical stability. In terms of systematic investigation on the relationship between the shell nanostructure and QD stability, we demonstrated that QDs with thick gradient shells exhibited high QE and much enhanced stability against the

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
5
Article|289 citations·2009
Highly Efficient Green‐Light‐Emitting Diodes Based on CdSe@ZnS Quantum Dots with a Chemical‐Composition Gradient
Wan Ki Bae, Jeonghun Kwak, Ji Won Park, Kookheon Char, Changhee Lee, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Advanced Materials

Highly efficient green-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on [email protected] quantum dots (QDs) with a chemical-composition gradient are demonstrated. Through the moderate control of QD coverage in multilayered devices, excellent device performance has been achieved. The color-saturated green-light emission (see figure for Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) co-ordinates) is mainly from the QD layers (more than 99% of total emission). Detailed facts of importance to specialist reade

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
6
Article|237 citations·2010
Multicolored Light-Emitting Diodes Based on All-Quantum-Dot Multilayer Films Using Layer-by-Layer Assembly Method
Wan Ki Bae, Jeonghun Kwak, Jaehoon Lim, Donggu Lee, Min Ki Nam, Kookheon Char, Changhee Lee, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Nano Letters

A systematic analysis of the exciton-recombination zone within all-quantum dot (QD) multilayer films prepared by a layer-by-layer assembly method was made, using sensing QD layers in QD-based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). Large area practical multicolored colloidal QLEDs were also demonstrated by patterning and placing variously colored QDs (red, orange, yellow-green, and green) in the exciton-recombination zone.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
7
Article|225 citations·2014
R/G/B/Natural White Light Thin Colloidal Quantum Dot‐Based Light‐Emitting Devices
Wan Ki Bae, Jaehoon Lim, Donggu Lee, Myeongjin Park, Hyunkoo Lee, Jeonghun Kwak, Kookheon Char, Changhee Lee, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Advanced Materials

Bright, low-voltage driven colloidal quantum dot (QD)-based white light-emitting devices (LEDs) with practicable device performances are enabled by the direct exciton formation within quantum-dot active layers in a hybrid device structure. Detailed device characterization reveals that white-QLEDs can be rationalized as a parallel circuit, in which different QDs are connected through the same set of electrically common organic and inorganic charge transport layers.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
8
Article|189 citations·2002
Optimization of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet:Ce3+ Phosphors for White Light-Emitting Diodes by Combinatorial Chemistry Method
Seonghoon Lee, Soo Yeon Seo
SJR Q1Journal of The Electrochemical Society

Filament light bulbs and halogen lamps are widely used to light houses and offices but are energy inefficient. We synthesized optimal phosphors for 460 nm blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fabricated white LEDs to develop energy-efficient, reliable, and long-lived solid-state lighting LED devices. GaN-based blue LEDs are the excitation source for yttrium aluminum garnet: phosphors, and the phosphors convert the blue light into red and green lights. We take combinatorial chemistry method as a

CatalysisChemical Engineering
9
Article|188 citations·2008
Gram-Scale One-Pot Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Blue Emitting Cd1−xZnxS/ZnS Nanocrystals
Wan Ki Bae, Min Ki Nam, Kookheon Char, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

We demonstrated a facile synthesis of highly luminescent blue emitting Cd 1− x Zn x S/ZnS core/shell structured nanocrystals (NCs) in straightforward and reproducible manner. The alloyed Cd 1− x Zn x S cores with homogeneity in both size and composition were prepared by introducing S precursors (S dissolved in the noncoordinating solvent (1-octadecene)) into the mixed solution of Cd−Oleate (Cd(OA) 2 ) and Zn−Oleate (Zn(OA) 2 ) at elevated temperature (300 °C). ZnS shells were successively overco

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
10
Article|186 citations·2008
Self-Organized Regular Arrays of Anodic TiO2 Nanotubes
Yeonmi Shin, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Nano Letters

The formation of self-organized regular arrays of oxide nanotubes lies in a delicate balance between the oxide growth rate and the oxide etching rate and a lattice mismatch between the grown metal oxide and the underlying valve metal. The requisites for their fabrication are the electropolishing and a two-step anodization. The most uniform and self-organized regular arrays of anodic TiO2 nanotubes among those known so far are reported as another example of valve metal oxide nanotube arrays since

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
11
Article|118 citations·2015
High-Power Genuine Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes Based On Colloidal Nanocrystal Quantum Dots
Jeonghun Kwak, Jaehoon Lim, Myeongjin Park, Seonghoon Lee, Kookheon Char, Changhee Lee
SJR Q1Nano Letters

Thin-film ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with emission wavelengths below 400 nm are emerging as promising light sources for various purposes, from our daily lives to industrial applications. However, current thin-film UV-emitting devices radiate not only UV light but also visible light. Here, we introduce genuine UV-emitting colloidal nanocrystal quantum dot (NQD) LEDs (QLEDs) using precisely controlled NQDs consisting of a 2.5-nm-sized CdZnS ternary core and a ZnS shell. The effe

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
12
Article|114 citations·1999
The effect of target density and its morphology on TiO2 thin films grown on Si(100) by PLD
Jihoon Kim, Seonghoon Lee, Hoong-Sun Im
SJR Q1Applied Surface Science
Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
13
Article|93 citations·2008
Organic single-nanofiber transistors from organogels
Jung‐Pyo Hong, Jung‐Pyo Hong, Myoung-Chul Um, Seong-Ryong Nam, Jong‐In Hong, Jong‐In Hong, Seonghoon Lee
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

The self-assembly of molecules in a gel by strong pi-pi stacking interactions between the thienylvinylene anthracene backbones and van der Waals interactions between the long alkyl chains has generated nanofibers; from the organogels, organic single-nanofiber transistors were successfully embodied.

BiomaterialsMaterials Science
14
Article|92 citations·1995
Gas Phase Conformations of Li+, Na+, K+, and Cs+ Complexed with 18-Crown-6
Seonghoon Lee, Thomas Wyttenbach, Gert von Helden, Michael T. Bowers
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTGas Phase Conformations of Li+, Na+, K+, and Cs+ Complexed with 18-Crown-6Seonghoon Lee, Thomas Wyttenbach, Gert von Helden, and Michael T. BowersCite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 40, 10159–10160Publication Date (Print):October 1, 1995Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 October 1995https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja00145a046https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00145a046research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsA

SpectroscopyChemistry
15
Article|90 citations·2012
Controlled Synthesis of CdSe Tetrapods with High Morphological Uniformity by the Persistent Kinetic Growth and the Halide-Mediated Phase Transformation
Jaehoon Lim, Wan Ki Bae, Ko Un Park, Lisa zur Borg, Rudolf Zentel, Seonghoon Lee, Kookheon Char
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

We report scalable controlled synthesis of CdSe tetrapods with high morphological uniformity based on the continuous precursor injection (CPI) approach with halide ligands. The CPI approach involves the successive injection of precursors into the seed solution at a controlled rate so that the reaction condition remains in the kinetic growth regime. To initiate the successful development of tetrapod structure, the controlled amount of halide ligands are added during the reaction, which triggered

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science

Research Areas

Materials ChemistryElectrical and Electronic EngineeringComputer Networks and CommunicationsInformation SystemsHealth Information ManagementSociology and Political Science

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