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Han‐Hee Cho

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology · Engineering

About the Lab

Professor Han-Hee Cho's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced conjugated polymers and nanostructured materials for next-generation organic electronics. The lab focuses on developing air-, solvent-, and thermally stable materials through innovative molecular engineering, including cross-linking strategies, donor-acceptor architecture tuning, and surface modification of graphene quantum dots. Key research directions include high-performance all-polymer solar cells, exciton dissociation enhancement, and precise control of electronic and optical properties via structural modulation. The lab also explores functional nanomaterials for optoelectronic and energy conversion applications.

conjugated polymersorganic photovoltaicsmolecular engineeringgraphene quantum dotsall-polymer solar cells

Research Overview

Papers
68
Total Citations
2,016
Papers (5y)
19
Primary Field
Engineering

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
19total
2021
2022
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
283total
20212022202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|171 citations·2011
Solvent-Resistant Organic Transistors and Thermally Stable Organic Photovoltaics Based on Cross-linkable Conjugated Polymers
Hyeong Jun Kim, A‐Reum Han, Chul‐Hee Cho, Hyunbum Kang, Han‐Hee Cho, Moo Yeol Lee, Jean M. J. Fréchet, Joon Hak Oh, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

Conjugated polymers, in general, are unstable when exposed to air, solvent, or thermal treatment, and these challenges limit their practical applications. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop new materials or methodologies that can enable organic electronics with air stability, solvent resistance, and thermal stability. Herein, we have developed a simple but powerful approach to achieve solvent-resistant and thermally stable organic electronic devices with a remarkably improved air st

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
2
Article|140 citations·2013
Importance of Optimal Composition in Random Terpolymer-Based Polymer Solar Cells
Tae Eui Kang, Han‐Hee Cho, Hyeong Jun Kim, Wonho Lee, Hyunbum Kang, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Macromolecules

A new series of donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated random terpolymers (PBDTT–DPP–TPD) were synthesized from electron-rich thienyl-substituted benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b ′]dithiophene (BDTT), in conjugation with two electron-deficient units, pyrrolo[3,4- c ]pyrrole-1,4-dione (DPP) and thieno[3,4- c ]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD), of different electron-withdrawing strengths. The optical properties of these random terpolymers can be easily controlled by tuning the ratio between DPP and TPD; an increase in TPD indu

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
3
Article|101 citations·2017
Design of Cyanovinylene‐Containing Polymer Acceptors with Large Dipole Moment Change for Efficient Charge Generation in High‐Performance All‐Polymer Solar Cells
Han‐Hee Cho, Seonha Kim, Taesu Kim, Vijaya Gopalan Sree, Sung‐Ho Jin, Felix Sunjoo Kim, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Advanced Energy Materials

Abstract Designing polymers that facilitate exciton dissociation and charge transport is critical for the production of highly efficient all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs). Here, the development of a new class of high‐performance naphthalenediimide (NDI)‐based polymers with large dipole moment change (Δ µ ge ) and delocalized lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) as electron acceptors for all‐PSCs is reported. A series of NDI‐based copolymers incorporating electron‐withdrawing cyanovinylene

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
4
Article|97 citations·2015
Surface Engineering of Graphene Quantum Dots and Their Applications as Efficient Surfactants
Han‐Hee Cho, Hyun-Seung Yang, Dong Jin Kang, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

The surface properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) control their dispersion and location within the matrices of organic molecules and polymers, thereby determining various properties of the hybrid materials. Herein, we developed a facile, one-step method for achieving systematic control of the surface properties of highly fluorescent GQDs. The surfaces of the as-synthesized hydrophilic GQDs were modified precisely depending on the number of grafted hydrophobic hexylamine. The geometry of the

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
5
Article|95 citations·2013
Influence of intermolecular interactions of electron donating small molecules on their molecular packing and performance in organic electronic devices
Ki‐Hyun Kim, Hojeong Yu, Hyunbum Kang, Dong Jin Kang, Chul‐Hee Cho, Han‐Hee Cho, Joon Hak Oh, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Materials Chemistry AOA

Intermolecular interactions have a critical role in determining the molecular packing and orientation of conjugated polymers and organic molecules, leading to significant changes in their electrical and optical properties. Herein, we investigated the effects of intermolecular interactions of electron-donating small molecules on their structural, optical, and electrical properties, as well as on their performance in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and organic photovoltaics (OPVs). A seri

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
6
Article|84 citations·2021
A semiconducting polymer bulk heterojunction photoanode for solar water oxidation
Han‐Hee Cho, Liang Yao, Jun‐Ho Yum, Yongpeng Liu, Florent Boudoire, Rebekah A. Wells, Néstor Guijarro, Arvindh Sekar, Kevin Sivula
SJR Q1Nature CatalysisOA
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
7
Article|58 citations·2012
Effect of Incorporated Nitrogens on the Planarity and Photovoltaic Performance of Donor–Acceptor Copolymers
Han‐Hee Cho, Tae Eui Kang, Ki‐Hyun Kim, Hyunbum Kang, Hyeong Jun Kim, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Macromolecules

Systematic control of the chemical structure of conjugated polymers is critically important to elucidate the relationship between the conjugated polymer structures and properties and to optimize their performance in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cell (PSC) devices. Herein, we synthesized three new copolymers, i.e., P0, P1, and P2; these copolymers contain the same benzodithiophene donor unit but have different acceptor units with different numbers of nitrogen atoms in the range of 0–2.

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
8
Article|32 citations·2017
Synthesis and side-chain engineering of phenylnaphthalenediimide (PNDI)-based n-type polymers for efficient all-polymer solar cells
Han‐Hee Cho, Taesu Kim, Kimyung Kim, Changyeon Lee, Felix Sunjoo Kim, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Materials Chemistry A

We designed and synthesized a series of n-type conjugated polymers by introducing phenylnaphthalenediimide (PNDI) as a novel n-type building block, and investigated the effect of side-chain engineering in the polymer acceptor on the performance of all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs).

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
9
Review|18 citations·2024
Organic semiconductor bulk heterojunctions for solar-to-chemical conversion: recent advances and challenges
Yu-Ri Kim, Hoon Kim, H. I. Lee, Tack Ho Lee, Han‐Hee Cho
SJR Q1Nanoscale

Solar fuel production involving the conversion of solar energy directly into chemical fuels such as hydrogen and valuable chemicals using photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells and photocatalysts (PCs) offers a promising avenue for sustainable energy while reducing carbon emissions. However, existing PEC cells and PCs fall short of economic viability due to their low solar-to-chemical (STC) conversion efficiency associated with the employed semiconductors, highlighting the clear need for identifying i

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
10
Article|17 citations·2014
Molecular structure-device performance relationship in polymer solar cells based on indene-C60 bis-adduct derivatives
Han‐Hee Cho, Chulhee Cho, Hyunbum Kang, Hojeong Yu, Joon Hak Oh, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q2Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
11
Article|15 citations·2017
Impact of highly crystalline, isoindigo-based small-molecular additives for enhancing the performance of all-polymer solar cells
Han‐Hee Cho, Gibok Han, Robert Younts, Wonho Lee, Bhoj Gautam, Seungjin Lee, Changyeon Lee, Taesu Kim, Felix Sunjoo Kim, Kenan Gündoğdu, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Materials Chemistry A

We have developed a simple yet versatile approach for enhancing the performance of all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) using a highly crystalline small-molecular additive, 6,6′-dithiopheneisoindigo (DTI).

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
12
Article|6 citations·2025
Electron‐Selective Naphthalimide‐Based Monolayers for Tuned Energy Level Alignment in Halide Perovskite Solar Cells
Parnian Ferdowsi, Euimin Lee, Gyujin Jang, Jin Su Park, Donghyun Lee, Sumit Kumar Sharma, Waygen Thor, Jong‐Woon Ha, Han‐Hee Cho, Jun‐Ho Yum, Kevin Sivula
SJR Q1Advanced Energy MaterialsOA

Abstract Charge‐selective contacts critically influence carrier dynamics and overall performance in halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) have emerged as a powerful strategy for precise interfacial engineering, enabling tailored energy level alignment and interfacial interactions to enhance charge extraction. Despite their promise, clear structure–function relationships for SAMs—particularly as electron‐selective contacts (ESCs)—remain poorly developed. Here, a s

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
13
Article|6 citations·2021
Advancing operational stability and performance of organic photoanodes for solar water oxidation
Han‐Hee Cho, Kevin Sivula
SJR Q1Trends in Chemistry
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
14
Article|2 citations·2024
Decoupling Interlayer Spacing and Cation Dipole on Exciton Binding Energy in Layered Halide Perovskites
YeonJu Kim, Simon Nussbaum, Danxuan Chen, N. Grandjean, Rosario Scopelliti, Hengquan Guo, Seung Geol Lee, Han‐Hee Cho, Jun‐Ho Yum, Kevin Sivula
SJR Q1Chemistry of MaterialsOA

Layered halide perovskites (LHPs) are emerging semiconductor materials due to their superior environmental stability compared to that of traditional halide perovskites. While LHPs have tunable optoelectronic properties, quantum and dielectric confinement effects due to organic spacer layers limit their application. Recent attempts to mitigate the high exciton binding energy ( E b ) of LHPs by organic cation engineering have been demonstrated; however, systematic studies to decouple the influence

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
15
Article|2 citations·2018
Solar Cells: Design of Cyanovinylene‐Containing Polymer Acceptors with Large Dipole Moment Change for Efficient Charge Generation in High‐Performance All‐Polymer Solar Cells (Adv. Energy Mater. 3/2018)
Han‐Hee Cho, Seonha Kim, Taesu Kim, Vijaya Gopalan Sree, Sung‐Ho Jin, Felix Sunjoo Kim, Bumjoon J. Kim
SJR Q1Advanced Energy MaterialsOA

In article number 1701436 by Bumjoon J. Kim and co-workers, a series of naphthalenediimide-based polymer acceptors with superior electron mobility and large dipole moment difference is developed by incorporating electron-withdrawing cyanovinylene groups into a polymer backbone. All-polymer solar cells based on these polymers generate outstanding power conversion efficiency of 7.4% with high fill factor (65%), by virtue of the high electron transport and efficient exciton dissociation with greatl

Polymers and PlasticsMaterials Science

Research Areas

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringRenewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentMaterials ChemistryPathology and Forensic MedicinePolymers and PlasticsBiomaterials

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