Background

Education

Ajou University, South Korea, B.S. Chemical Engineering (2006)
Seoul National University, South Korea, M.S. Applied Chemistry (2008)
     Thesis: “Development of high efficiency platinum and niobia-added platinum electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cell”
Purdue University, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (2012 – present)

Experience

• Lotte Chemical, South Korea, Research Engineer (2008 – 2010)
• Samsung SDI, South Korea, Research Engineer (2010 – 2012)

Project Description

Combination of first principles calculations with classical thermodynamic and kinetic theories can predict micro and macroscopic catalytic properties of materials. To investigate the fundamentals of liquid-solid interface reaction, we use surface science-based techniques and theory of electrochemistry. Specific area of electrochemical reaction is denitrifination (reduction) of NO_x.

Due to over-fertilization, the possibly noxious NO_x, such as nitrate or nitrite ion, could be accumulated in groundwater, lake, and coastal water and cause serious health risks for human beings. Electrochemical denitrification is one of the promising technologies for removing NO_x species because of its environmental compatibility, energy efficiency, safety, and products’ selectivity. The mechanism of NO_x reduction on noble metal electrode depends on the NO_x concentration in the electrolyte solution, surface structure, coverage and so on. The atomic-scale studies using density functional theory could be the first step in understanding the general scheme of NO_x electrocatalysis and will further serve as a starting point for a future trends-based analysis on different transition metal surfaces.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Publications

• W.-D. Lee, D.-H. Lim, H.-J. Chun, and H.-I. Lee, Preparation of Pt nanoparticles on carbon support using modified polyol reduction for low-temperature fuel cells, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 37 (2012) 12629-12638.
• H.-J. Chun, D. B. Kim, D.-H. Lim, and H.-I. Lee, A synthesis of CO-tolerant Nb₂O₅-promoted Pt/C catalyst for direct methanol fuel cell; its physical and electrochemical characterization, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35 (2010) 6399-6408.
• D. B. Kim, D.-H. Lim, H.-J. Chun, H.-H. Kwon, and H.-I. Lee, Nitrogen-containing graphitized carbon support for methanol oxidation Pt catalyst, Carbon 48 (2010) 673-679.
• D. B. Kim, H.-J. Chun, Y. K. Lee, H.-H. Kwon, and H.-I. Lee, Preparation of Pt/NiO-C electrocatalyst and heat-treatment effect on its electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35 (2010) 313-320.

Patents

• Hee-Joon Chun, Taegon Kim, Joonseop Kim, Wan-Uk Choi, Hisaki Tarui, Jea-Woan Lee, Jae-Yul Ryu, Chang-Keun Back, Young-Chang Lim, Seung-Hee Park, “Negative active material for rechargeable lithium ion battery, negative electrode including the same and method of preparing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same”, U.S. patent 13/330,600 (Feb. 2013).
• Taegon Kim, Hee-Joon Chun, Joonseop Kim, Wan-Uk Choi, Hisaki Tarui, Jea-Woan Lee, Jae-Yul Ryu, Chang-Keun Back, Young-Chang Lim, Seung-Hee Park, “Lithium secondary battery”, Korean patent 1012018070000 (Nov. 2012).
• Young-Jong Seo, Duk-Young Ham, Hee-Joon Chun, “Method for preparing 1-butene”, Korean patent 10-1038724-00-00 (May 2011).