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Kyu Young Park

Pohang University of Science and Technology · Engineering

About the Lab

Professor Kyu Young Park's research lab focuses on advancing next-generation energy storage materials, particularly in lithium-ion batteries and fuel cell catalysts. The lab explores fundamental degradation mechanisms in high-capacity cathode materials such as LiNiO₂ and LiFePO₄, emphasizing defect engineering, oxygen stability, and ion transport kinetics. Innovative strategies like room-temperature electrochemical annealing and novel electrode designs are developed to enhance performance and durability. The lab also investigates the role of impurities and dopants in improving synthesis efficiency and electrochemical behavior, aiming for cost-effective, sustainable battery technologies.

energy storagelithium-ion batteriesdefect engineeringcathode materialselectrochemical durability

Research Overview

Papers
107
Total Citations
9,971
Papers (5y)
30
Primary Field
Engineering

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
30total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
342total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|148 citations·2020
Understanding capacity fading mechanism of thick electrodes for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries
Kyu‐Young Park, Jiwon Park, Won Mo Seong, Kyungho Yoon, Taehyun Hwang, Kun‐Hee Ko, Ju-Hyeong Han, Yang Jaedong, Kisuk Kang
SJR Q1Journal of Power Sources
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
2
Article|101 citations·2021
Elucidating and Mitigating High‐Voltage Degradation Cascades in Cobalt‐Free LiNiO2 Lithium‐Ion Battery Cathodes
Kyu‐Young Park, Yizhou Zhu, Carlos G. Torres‐Castanedo, Hee Joon Jung, Norman S. Luu, Özgenur Kahvecioğlu, Yiseul Yoo, Jung‐Woo Seo, Julia R. Downing, Hee‐Dae Lim, Michael J. Bedzyk, Christopher Wolverton
SJR Q1Advanced MaterialsOA

Abstract LiNiO 2 (LNO) is a promising cathode material for next‐generation Li‐ion batteries due to its exceptionally high capacity and cobalt‐free composition that enables more sustainable and ethical large‐scale manufacturing. However, its poor cycle life at high operating voltages over 4.1 V impedes its practical use, thus motivating efforts to elucidate and mitigate LiNiO 2 degradation mechanisms at high states of charge. Here, a multiscale exploration of high‐voltage degradation cascades ass

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
3
Article|99 citations·2014
Anti-Site Reordering in LiFePO4: Defect Annihilation on Charge Carrier Injection
Kyu‐Young Park, Inchul Park, Hyungsub Kim, Hee‐Dae Lim, Jihyun Hong, Jongsoon Kim, Kisuk Kang
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

Defects critically affect the properties of materials. Thus, controlling the defect concentration often plays a pivotal role in determining performance. In lithium rechargeable batteries, the operating mechanism is based on ion transport, so large numbers of defects in the electrode crystal can significantly impede Li ion diffusion, leading to decreased electrochemical properties. Here, we introduce a new way to heal defects in crystals by a room-temperature electrochemical annealing process. We

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
4
Article|75 citations·2016
Lithium-excess olivine electrode for lithium rechargeable batteries
Kyu‐Young Park, Inchul Park, Hyungsub Kim, Gabin Yoon, Hyeokjo Gwon, Yongbeom Cho, Young Soo Yun, Jung‐Joon Kim, Seongsu Lee, Docheon Ahn, Yunok Kim, Haegyeom Kim
SJR Q1Energy & Environmental ScienceOA

This article introduces a new type of ‘lithium-excess Li<sub>1+x</sub>Fe<sub>1−x</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>’ cathode material for lithium rechargeable batteries.

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
5
Article|60 citations·2024
Re-evaluation of battery-grade lithium purity toward sustainable batteries
Gogwon Choe, Hyungsub Kim, Jaesub Kwon, Woochul Jung, Kyu‐Young Park, Yong‐Tae Kim
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

Abstract Recently, the cost of lithium-ion batteries has risen as the price of lithium raw materials has soared and fluctuated. Notably, the highest cost of lithium production comes from the impurity elimination process to satisfy the battery-grade purity of over 99.5%. Consequently, re-evaluating the impact of purity becomes imperative for affordable lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we unveil that a 1% Mg impurity in the lithium precursor proves beneficial for both the lithium production p

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
6
Article|59 citations·2020
Concurrently Approaching Volumetric and Specific Capacity Limits of Lithium Battery Cathodes via Conformal Pickering Emulsion Graphene Coatings
Kyu‐Young Park, Jin‐Myoung Lim, Norman S. Luu, Julia R. Downing, Shay G. Wallace, Lindsay E. Chaney, Hocheon Yoo, Woo Jin Hyun, Hyeong‐U Kim, Mark C. Hersam
SJR Q1Advanced Energy MaterialsOA

Abstract To achieve the high energy densities demanded by emerging technologies, lithium battery electrodes need to approach the volumetric and specific capacity limits of their electrochemically active constituents, which requires minimization of the inactive components of the electrode. However, a reduction in the percentage of inactive conductive additives limits charge transport within the battery electrode, which results in compromised electrochemical performance. Here, an electrode design

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
7
Article|32 citations·2023
Scalable conversion of residual lithium into conformal artificial cathode electrolyte interphase via a single-step wet-chemical process for high-voltage Ni-rich cathode operation
Jiyun Park, Youjin Kim, Yura Kim, Jiwon Park, Dong Geun Lee, Jiwon Park, Youngsu Lee, Jin‐Ha Hwang, Kyu‐Young Park, Youngsu Lee, Jinha Hwang, Kyu‐Young Park
SJR Q1Chemical Engineering Journal
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
8
Article|30 citations·2022
Gradational anionic redox enabling high-energy P2-type Na-layered oxide cathode
Seokjin Lee, Wonseok Ko, Hyunyoung Park, Yongseok Lee, Jungmin Kang, Jinho Ahn, Sangyeop Lee, Eunji Sim, Kyuwook Ihm, Kyu‐Young Park, Jongsoon Kim
SJR Q1Chemical Engineering Journal
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
9
Article|21 citations·2022
Mitigating Pt Loss in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Cathode Catalysts Using Graphene Nanoplatelet Pickering Emulsion Processing
Kyu‐Young Park, Matthew E. Sweers, Ulrich Berner, Erhard Hirth, Julia R. Downing, Janan Hui, Jonathan P. Mailoa, Christina Johnston, Soo Kim, Linsey C. Seitz, Mark C. Hersam
SJR Q1Advanced Functional MaterialsOA

Abstract Carbon‐supported Pt nanoparticles are the leading catalysts for the cathode oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. However, these ORR catalysts suffer from poor electrochemical durability, particularly the loss of electrochemical surface area (ECSA) due to Pt nanoparticle dissolution and agglomeration. Here, Pt loss is mitigated through a Pickering emulsion‐processing strategy that employs graphene nanoplatelet dispersions stabilized by the polymer e

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
10
Article|16 citations·2013
Factors that Affect the Phase Behavior of Multi-Component Olivine (LiFexMnyCo1-x-yPO4; 0 <x,y< 1) in Lithium Rechargeable Batteries: One-Phase Reaction vs. Two-Phase Reaction
Kyu‐Young Park, Jihyun Hong, Jongsoon Kim, Young‐Uk Park, Haegyeom Kim, Dong‐Hwa Seo, Sung‐Wook Kim, Jang Wook Choi, Kisuk Kang
SJR Q1Journal of The Electrochemical Society

The structural evolution of multi-component olivines upon delithiation and lithiation was investigated by ex-situ X-ray diffraction. We found that one-phase de/lithiation occurs for multi-component olivines for a fairly large compositional range of transition metal species given that two-phase de/lithiation is generally accepted for olivine cathodes. We discuss the driving force that determines the phase behavior (two-phase reaction vs. one-phase reaction) of olivines in terms of enthalpy of mix

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
11
Article|11 citations·2025
Enhancing Mechanical Resilience in Li-Ion Battery Cathodes with Nanoscale Elastic Framework Coatings
Jong‐Heon Lim, Jaehyun Kim, Jiwoong Oh, Jaesub Kwon, Kyoung Eun Lee, Youngsu Lee, Seong‐Eun Park, Jun Lim, Dongwook Shin, Changshin Jo, Yong‐Tae Kim, Janghyuk Moon
SJR Q1ACS NanoOA

Lattice volume changes in Li-ion batteries active materials are unavoidable during electrochemical cycling, posing significant engineering challenges from the particle to the electrode level. In this study, we present an elastic framework coating designed to absorb and reversibly release strain energy associated with particle volume changes, thereby enhancing mechanical resilience at both the particle and electrode levels. This framework, composed of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), is app

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
12
Article|9 citations·2025
Understanding mechanical failure behaviours and protocol optimization for fast charging applications in Co-free Ni-based cathodes for lithium-ion batteries
Jaesub Kwon, Jaehyun Kim, Jong‐Heon Lim, Kyoung Eun Lee, Seok-Mun Kang, Youngsun Kong, Donghyun Kim, Kyu‐Su Kim, Gogwon Choe, Sang‐Mun Jung, Docheon Ahn, Yoon‐Uk Heo
SJR Q1Materials Horizons

. This study provides insights into the fast charging applications of high-Ni cathodes, thereby advancing the understanding of their behaviour and optimization.

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
13
Article|5 citations·2016
Thermal structural stability of a multi-component olivine electrode for lithium ion batteries
Kyu‐Young Park, Hyungsub Kim, Seongsu Lee, Jongsoon Kim, Jihyun Hong, Hee‐Dae Lim, Inchul Park, Kisuk Kang
SJR Q2CrystEngComm

In this paper, the structural evolution of Li(Mn<sub>1/3</sub>Fe<sub>1/3</sub>Co<sub>1/3</sub>)PO<sub>4</sub>, which is a promising multi-component olivine cathode materials, is investigated using combined <italic>in situ</italic> high-temperature X-ray diffraction and flux neutron diffraction analyses at various states of charge.

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
14
Article|5 citations·2017
Trackable galvanostatic history in phase separation based electrodes for lithium-ion batteries: a mosaic sub-grouping intercalation model
Kyu‐Young Park, Jihyun Hong, Won‐Mo Seong, Jung‐Joon Kim, Kyojin Ku, Byungju Lee, Kisuk Kang
SJR Q1Energy & Environmental Science

Here, we demonstrated for the first time the transient voltage variation occurring dependent on the history of current density induced.

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
15
Article|4 citations·2024
Comparison Study of a Thermal-Driven Microstructure in a High-Ni Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Critical Calcination Temperature for Polycrystalline and Single-Crystalline Design
Kyoung Eun Lee, Yura Kim, Ju Seong Kim, Kyoung Sun Kim, Ki Joo Hong, Sang Cheol Nam, Hyungsub Kim, Dongwook Lee, Kyu‐Young Park
SJR Q1ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

High-Ni layered oxide cathodes are promising candidates for lithium-ion batteries due to their high energy density. However, their cycle stability is compromised by the poor mechanical durability of the particle microstructure. In this study, we investigate the impact of the calcination temperature on microstructural changes, including primary particle growth and pore evolution, using LiNi 0.88 Mn 0.08 Co 0.04 O 2 (N884), with an emphasis on the critical calcination temperature for polycrystalli

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering

Research Areas

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringElectronic, Optical and Magnetic MaterialsPolymers and PlasticsMaterials ChemistryAutomotive EngineeringIndustrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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