News & Updates

KIST–KIER–KITECH Carbon Neutrality Technology Workshop

Our lab took part in the KIST–KIER–KITECH Carbon Neutrality Technology Workshop, held on 31 August – 1 September 2026 at Vieche Palace Resort in Boryeong and hosted by KIST and chaired by Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha. Forty-one researchers from KIST, KIER and KITECH came together to exchange technologies on petroleum-alternative bio and circular resources and to shape joint convergence research. The programme opened with an invited lecture by Prof. Hochan Jang (Auburn University). Each institute then presented its flagship technology, and the second day was devoted to a planning meeting on petrochemical processes based on bio and circular resources, with all participating researchers.

New publication in Carbon Letters

New publication in Carbon Letters from Dr. Chang Soo Kim's laboratory, in collaboration with VKIST! Congrats to Imam for the publication.

New publication in Catalysis Science & Technology

Congrats to Ju Young and Jisong for their publication in Catalysis Science & Technology!

New publication in RSC Sustainability

Congrats to Imam, Sarah, and Vanny for their publication in RSC Sustainability!

New publication in Applied Catalysis O: Open

Congrats to Jisong for the publication in Applied Catalysis O: Open!

New publication in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

Congrats to Tayyab and Vanny for their publication in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental!

Dr. Hyunjoo Lee wins Woman Scientist and Engineer of the Year Award

Congratulations to Dr. Hyunjoo Lee, who received the 25th Woman Scientist and Engineer of the Year Award in the industry category at the 2025 Korea Women Scientist and Engineer Awards on 1 December 2025. Organized by WISET (Korea Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology), the award is presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, and honors her contribution to carbon neutrality through the commercialization of low-energy CO₂ absorbents — including the DACU (Direct Air Capture and Utilization) project she leads, which captures CO₂ directly from air using a specialized solvent and converts it efficiently into fuels and chemical feedstocks. Dr. Lee also began serving as director of the KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology this year, after 30 years of carbon-neutrality research at KIST.

이현주 한국과학기술연구원(KIST) 책임연구원이 2025년 12월 1일 열린 '2025 대한민국 여성과학기술인 어워드'에서 산업 부문 제25회 올해의 여성과학기술인상을 수상했다. 한국여성과학기술인육성재단(WISET)이 주관하는 이 상은 과학기술정보통신부 부총리 겸 장관상으로 수여되며, 저에너지 이산화탄소 흡수제를 상용화해 탄소중립에 기여한 공로를 인정받았다. 이 박사는 공기 중 이산화탄소를 특수 용매로 흡수해 연료와 화학원료로 전환하는 DACU(Direct Air Capture and Utilization) 프로젝트를 이끌고 있으며, 올해부터 KU-KIST 융합대학원 원장을 겸직한다. KIST에서 30년간 탄소중립 기술을 연구해왔다.

Also covered by: Herald Business · Money Today

New publication in Chemical Engineering Journal

New publication in Chemical Engineering Journal from Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha's laboratory, on producing sustainable aviation fuels via two-step alkylation and hydrodeoxygenation of biomass pyrolysis oils over metal-acid bifunctional catalysts. Congratulations to the team!

Dr. Kyeongsu Kim receives the 19th Miwon Commercial Young Scientist Award

Congratulations to Dr. Kyeongsu Kim, who was named one of the ten recipients of the 19th Miwon Commercial Young Scientist Award. The awardees were selected from young researchers who passed the written review at the society's general meeting and gave outstanding presentations at the Young Scientist Forum, and the ceremony was held in Daegu in November 2025. Each recipient receives a certificate and a prize of KRW 500,000.

김경수 한국과학기술연구원(KIST) 선임연구원이 제19회 미원상사신진과학자상 수상자 10명 중 한 명으로 선정됐다. 대구에서 열린 시상식에서 학회 총회 서면심사를 통과하고 신진과학포럼에서 우수한 발표를 한 연구자들에게 상장과 상금 50만 원이 수여됐다.

Dr. Hyunjoo Lee featured on Unrealscience: electrochemical NOx removal

Dr. Hyunjoo Lee appeared together with Dr. Dong Ki Lee on the science YouTube channel Unrealscience (안될과학) to introduce an electrochemical route for removing nitrogen oxides (NOx). Unlike conventional selective catalytic reduction (SCR), which needs high temperatures and a reducing agent, the technology converts NOx into harmless nitrogen (N₂) at room temperature using electrical energy alone — a new paradigm for NOx abatement and a direct extension of the group's NOx removal research.

이현주 한국과학기술연구원(KIST) 책임연구원이 이동기 박사와 함께 유튜브 채널 '안될과학(Unrealscience)'에 출연해 전기화학적 질소산화물(NOx) 저감 기술을 소개했다. 이 기술은 기존 고온 선택적 촉매환원(SCR) 방식과 달리, 상온에서 전기 에너지만으로 오존과 스모그의 원인인 NOx를 무해한 질소(N₂)로 전환할 수 있는 새로운 패러다임의 기술이다.

New publication in ChemSusChem

New publication in ChemSusChem from Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha and Dr. Kyeongsu Kim's laboratories, on TiO₂-supported Ru–Fe catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) prepared by the glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Congratulations to the team!

New publication in Chemical Engineering Journal

New publication in Chemical Engineering Journal from Dr. Chun-Jae Yoo's laboratory, on atomically dispersed silver on nanosheet-stacked amorphous alumina for enhanced NOx reduction. Congratulations to the team!

New publication in Green Chemistry

New publication in Green Chemistry from Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha's laboratory, on the production of high-carbon-number hydrocarbon bio-aviation fuels via catalytic hydrogenation of vanillin and non-catalytic condensation. Congratulations to the whole team!

Next-generation sustainable aviation fuel from non-edible biomass

A team led by Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha and Dr. Chun-Jae Yoo at the KIST Clean Energy Research Center has developed a next-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from non-edible plant resources such as waste wood and agricultural and forestry residues. Conventional SAF consists mostly of paraffins, which limits how much petroleum-derived jet fuel it can replace; the new fuel also contains high-energy naphthenic and aromatic components, giving it a composition close to that of petroleum jet fuel and a much higher blending ratio. It can cut carbon emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel, and the team demonstrated more than 100 hours of continuous operation of the process, showing its potential for commercialization. The work was published in Energy Conversion and Management.

KIST 청정에너지연구센터의 하정명 책임연구원과 유천재 선임연구원 연구팀이 나무·풀 등 비식용 식물자원으로 차세대 지속가능항공유(SAF)를 개발했다. 기존 SAF는 파라핀 성분 위주로 대체율에 한계가 있었지만, 이번 연료는 나프텐·방향족 등 고에너지 성분을 포함해 석유 항공유와 유사한 조성을 갖춰 대체율을 크게 높였다. 일반 항공유 대비 탄소배출량을 최대 80%까지 줄일 수 있으며, 100시간 이상 연속 공정 운전에 성공해 상용화 가능성을 입증했다. 연구 결과는 국제학술지 Energy Conversion and Management에 게재됐다.

Also covered by: Science Focus

Dr. Chun-Jae Yoo receives the 13th Miwon Commercial Young Scientist Award

Congratulations to Dr. Chun-Jae Yoo, who was selected as one of the nine recipients of the 13th Miwon Commercial Young Scientist Award at the autumn general meeting of the Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Established in 2016, the award supports outstanding early-career researchers with the potential to make major scholarly contributions, and each recipient receives a certificate and a prize of KRW 500,000.

유천재 한국과학기술연구원(KIST) 선임연구원이 한국공업화학회 추계총회에서 열린 제13회 미원상사신진과학자상 수상자 9명 중 한 명으로 선정됐다. 2016년 제정된 이 상은 학술적으로 큰 기여를 할 잠재력이 있는 우수 신진연구자를 지원하기 위한 것으로, 수상자에게는 상장과 상금 50만 원이 수여됐다.

Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha profiled in Insight Korea's 'Future 100 Technologies' series

Dr. Jeong Myeong Ha of KIST's Clean Energy Research Center was featured in the 24th installment of Insight Korea magazine's "Future 100 Leading Technologies" series, spotlighting his work on catalytic chemical process technology for producing high-carbon biofuels. The profile, written by Kyung-won Lee, appeared in the January 2020 issue (Vol. 267, pp. 80–82).

하정명 한국과학기술연구원(KIST) 청정에너지연구센터 책임연구원이 인사이트코리아(엑설런스코리아) '미래 100대 기술의 주역들' 시리즈 24번째 순서로 소개됐다. 고탄소 바이오연료 생산을 위한 촉매화학공정 기술을 주제로 이경원 기자가 취재했으며, 2020년 1월호(Vol.267, 80~82쪽)에 게재됐다.