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Sang Woo Han

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology · Materials Science

About the Lab

Professor Sang Woo Han's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of advanced nanostructured materials, particularly noble metal and metal oxide nanomaterials, for energy conversion and catalytic applications. The lab focuses on developing novel synthetic strategies to create hollow, core-shell, dendritic, and ultrathin 2D nanostructures with precise control over composition, morphology, and surface atomic distribution. Key research directions include electrocatalysis for fuel cells and renewable energy technologies—especially oxygen reduction and ethanol/amine oxidation reactions—using Pd-, Pt-, Au-, and ternary-alloy nanocrystals with tailored functionalities. The lab emphasizes structure-property relationships to optimize catalytic activity and stability.

electrocatalysisnanomaterialsnanoalloysenergy conversioncatalyst design

Research Overview

Papers
380
Total Citations
12,750
Papers (5y)
47
Primary Field
Materials Science

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
47total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
506total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|451 citations·2005
Simple Synthesis of Hollow Tin Dioxide Microspheres and Their Application to Lithium‐Ion Battery Anodes
Sang Woo Han, Byung‐Jun Jang, TaeWan Kim, Seung M. Oh, Taeghwan Hyeon
SJR Q1Advanced Functional MaterialsOA

Abstract Hollow tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) microspheres were synthesized by the simple heat treatment of a mixture composed of tin( IV ) tetrachloride pentahydrate (SnCl 4 ·5H 2 O) and resorcinol–formaldehyde gel (RF gel). Because hollow structures were formed during the heat treatment, the pre‐formation of template and the adsorption of target precursor on template are unnecessary in the current method, leading to simplified synthetic procedures and facilitating mass production. Field‐emission scanni

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
2
Article|366 citations·2012
Controlled Synthesis of Pd–Pt Alloy Hollow Nanostructures with Enhanced Catalytic Activities for Oxygen Reduction
Jong Wook Hong, Shin Wook Kang, Bu‐Seo Choi, Dongheun Kim, Sang Bok Lee, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1ACS Nano

Pd-Pt alloy nanocrystals (NCs) with hollow structures such as nanocages with porous walls and dendritic hollow structures and Pd@Pt core-shell dendritic NCs could be selectively synthesized by a galvanic replacement method with uniform Pd octahedral and cubic NCs as sacrificial templates. Fine control over the degree of galvanic replacement of Pd with Pt allowed the production of Pd-Pt NCs with distinctly different morphologies. The synthesized hollow NCs exhibited considerably enhanced oxygen r

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
3
Article|349 citations·2009
One-Step Synthesis of Au@Pd Core−Shell Nanooctahedron
Young Wook Lee, Minjung Kim, Zee Hwan Kim, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Octahedral Au@Pd core-shell nanoparticles have been prepared by a one-step aqueous synthesis method where both metal precursors are present simultaneously with the use of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride as both reductant and stabilizer.

Organic ChemistryChemistry
4
Article|292 citations·1998
Dodecanethiol-Derivatized Au/Ag Bimetallic Nanoparticles: TEM, UV/VIS, XPS, and FTIR Analysis
Sang Woo Han, Yunsoo Kim, Kwan Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic MaterialsMaterials Science
5
Article|225 citations·2010
Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Activity of Au−Pd Alloy Nanodendrites for Ethanol Oxidation
Young Wook Lee, Minjung Kim, Yena Kim, Shin Wook Kang, Joon‐Hwa Lee, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Dendritic Au−Pd alloy nanoparticles were synthesized in high yield through the coreduction of HAuCl 4 and K 2 PdCl 4 in aqueous solutions by using hydrazine as a reducing agent. Relative compositions between Au and Pd at the particle surfaces as well as in bulk phases could be modulated by controlling the molar ratios between metal precursors in the feeding solutions. The formation of nanodendrites may be the result of the fast reduction rate of metal ions and subsequent fast, kinetically contro

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
6
Article|224 citations·2016
Ultrathin Free‐Standing Ternary‐Alloy Nanosheets
Jong Wook Hong, Yena Kim, Dae Han Wi, Seunghoon Lee, Su‐Un Lee, Young Wook Lee, Sang‐Il Choi, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

A synthesis strategy for the preparation of ultrathin free-standing ternary-alloy nanosheets is reported. Ultrathin Pd-Pt-Ag nanosheets with a thickness of approximately 3 nm were successfully prepared by co-reduction of the metal precursors in an appropriate molar ratio in the presence of CO. Both the presence of CO and the interplay between the constituent metals provide fine control over the anisotropic two-dimensional growth of the ternary-alloy nanostructure. The prepared Pd-Pt-Ag nanosheet

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
7
Article|218 citations·2013
One-Pot Synthesis of Trimetallic Au@PdPt Core–Shell Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Performance
Shin Wook Kang, Young Wook Lee, Yangsun Park, Bu‐Seo Choi, Jong Wook Hong, Kyu-Hwan Park, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1ACS Nano

The development of an efficient synthesis method to produce multimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with a desirable structure is strongly required to clarify the structure-composition-property relationship of NPs and to investigate their possible applications. However, the controlled synthesis of NPs consisting of multiple (n ≥ 3) noble metal components has been relatively unexplored in comparison to bimetallic NPs. In the present work, we have demonstrated a facile one-pot aqueous approach for the c

Organic ChemistryChemistry
8
Article|218 citations·2011
Atomic‐Distribution‐Dependent Electrocatalytic Activity of Au–Pd Bimetallic Nanocrystals
Jong Wook Hong, Dongheun Kim, Young Wook Lee, Minjung Kim, Shin Wook Kang, Sang Woo Han
Angewandte Chemie

Die Mischung macht's: Au-Pd-Legierungs-, Au@Pd-Kern-Schale-, Pd- und Au-Nanokristalle (NCs) mit identischer Oktaederform und ähnlicher Größe wurden hergestellt, um speziell die Auswirkung der Atomverteilung auf die Leistungsfähigkeit von NC-Katalysatoren zu studieren. Für die Oxidation von Ameisensäure wurde eine starke Abhängigkeit der Aktivitäten und Stabilitäten dieser NCs gefunden: Au–Pd (Legierung) > Au@Pd (Kern-Schale) > Pd ≫ Au. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are publi

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
9
Article|211 citations·2011
Atomic‐Distribution‐Dependent Electrocatalytic Activity of Au–Pd Bimetallic Nanocrystals
Jong Wook Hong, Dongheun Kim, Young‐Wook Lee, Minjung Kim, Shin Wook Kang, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

In the mix: Au–Pd alloy, Au@Pd core–shell, Pd, and Au nanocrystals (NCs) with an identical octahedral shape and with similar NC size were prepared to examine exclusively the effect of atomic distribution on the catalytic performance of NCs (see picture). The catalytic activities and stabilities toward formic acid oxidation highly depend on the atomic distribution in the NCs: Au–Pd alloy > Au@Pd core–shell > Pd ≫ Au NCs.

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
10
Article|176 citations·2012
Hexoctahedral Au Nanocrystals with High-Index Facets and Their Optical and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Properties
Jong Wook Hong, Su‐Un Lee, Young Wook Lee, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Au nanocrystals (NCs) with an unprecedented hexoctahedral structure enclosed exclusively by high-index {321} facets have been prepared for the first time. Manipulating the NC growth kinetics by controlling the amount of reductant and the reaction temperature in the presence of a suitable surfactant was the key synthetic lever for controlling the morphology of the Au NCs. The hexoctahedral Au NCs exhibited efficient optical and surface-enhanced Raman scattering activities due to their unique morp

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic MaterialsMaterials Science
11
Article|168 citations·2016
Metal–Semiconductor Heteronanocrystals with Desired Configurations for Plasmonic Photocatalysis
Jong Wook Hong, Dae Han Wi, Su‐Un Lee, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Precise control over the topology of plasmonic metal–semiconductor heteronanostructures is essential for fully harnessing their plasmonic function and hence for designing innovative solar energy conversion platforms. Here, we present a rational synthesis strategy for the realization of plasmonic metal–semiconductor heteronanocrystals with intended configurations through the site-selective overgrowth of semiconductor Cu 2 O on desired sites of anisotropic Au nanocrystals. Both the exploitation of

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
12
Article|167 citations·2008
Synthesis and Characterization of Flower-Shaped Porous Au−Pd Alloy Nanoparticles
Young Wook Lee, Nam Hoon Kim, Kang Yeol Lee, Kihyun Kwon, Minjung Kim, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

A facile synthesis of flower-shaped porous Au−Pd alloy nanoparticles with ascorbic acid as a reductant and PVP as a stabilizing agent is presented. The alloy nanoparticles were prepared from the aqueous solutions of HAuCl 4 /K 2 PdCl 4 mixtures in molar ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3. The size, structure, optical properties, and composition distribution of the synthesized Au−Pd alloy nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV−vis s

Organic ChemistryChemistry
13
Article|148 citations·2010
Synthesis of AuPt Heteronanostructures with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity toward Oxygen Reduction
Yena Kim, Jong Wook Hong, Young Wook Lee, Minjung Kim, Dongheun Kim, Wan Soo Yun, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

The core of the matter: The catalytic activities of [email protected] heteronanostructures (see scheme; CTAB: cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, NPs: nanoparticles) toward oxygen reduction are highly dependent on the shape of the cores, thus revealing the importance of the core structure for enhancing the activity of core–shell-type nanocatalysts. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or ty

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
14
Article|138 citations·2001
Self-Assembled Monolayers of Aromatic Thiol and Selenol on Silver: Comparative Study of Adsorptivity and Stability
Sang Woo Han, Seung Joon Lee, Kwan Kim
SJR Q1Langmuir

We have investigated comparative adsorptivities and relative stabilities of self-assembled monolayers of thiol (benzenethiol, BT) vs selenol (benzeneselenol, BSe) on a silver surface by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). BT and BSe are chemisorbed on silver as benzenethiolate and benzeneselenolate, respectively, after deprotonation with a tilted orientation with respect to the substrate surface; the benzene rings of

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
15
Article|136 citations·2011
Convex Polyhedral Au@Pd Core–Shell Nanocrystals with High‐Index Facets
Dongheun Kim, Young Wook Lee, Sang Bok Lee, Sang Woo Han
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

The many faces of noble metals: Through the simultaneous reduction of Au and Pd ions in the presence of octahedral Au nanocrystal (NC) seeds, hexoctahedron-like convex Au@Pd core–shell NCs, enclosed predominantly by high-index {12 5 3} facets, were synthesized under aqueous room-temperature conditions (see picture). The convex Au@Pd NCs showed much higher electrocatalytic properties toward ethanol oxidation than other types of Au@Pd NCs. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are pub

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science

Research Areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentElectronic, Optical and Magnetic MaterialsMaterials ChemistryElectrical and Electronic EngineeringMolecular BiologyBiomedical Engineering

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