Professors Kim Ki-hyun (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering), Paik Un-gyu, and Sun Yang-kook (Department of Energy Engineering), Yoon Chong-seung (School of Materials Science and Engineering), and Jeon Byong-hun (Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering) have been selected as “2023 Highly Cited Researchers (HCR)” by the global research analytics firm Clarivate.

The list, released by Clarivate on December 20, comprises 6949 researchers worldwide, representing the top 1% based on citation counts in their respective fields. The total number of Korean researchers on the list is 60 (excluding repetition).
 

Over 30 Years of Environmental Pollution Research... Advancements in Airborne Hazardous Substance Measurement Technology

Professor Kim Ki-hyun of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has once again been recognized in the fields of “Environment and Ecology” and “Engineering” this year, following his selection in these categories in the previous two years. He has consecutively been selected for five years in the “Environment and Ecology” category and three years in the “Engineering” category.

For over 30 years, Professor Kim has been conducting research on environmental pollution issues related to air pollution. His main research focus is on developing technologies to remove volatile organic compounds present in the atmosphere. To achieve this, he is working on developing functional materials that can apply photocatalysts and adsorption technologies. Professor Kim is globally recognized in the field of “High-Efficiency Air Purification Systems,” integrating material technologies and air purification technologies. Additionally, he has contributed to the advancement of low-temperature concentrative thermal desorption-based pretreatment analysis technology for accurately measuring trace amounts of odors and harmful substances in the air.

Recognized as a “National Scholar” for his contributions to establishing a management system for air pollution, Professor Kim has also received the “Scientific and Technological Achievement Merit Award” from the Ministry of Science and ICT for his innovations in the field.
 

Development of New Energy Technology... Pioneering Advances in Semiconductor Device Processing Technologies

Professor Paik Un-gyu of the Department of Energy Engineering has been selected as a top 1% researcher in the Cross-field category for four consecutive years.

Professor Paik’s primary research areas include Synthesis and Engineering of Nanomaterials, Energy Devices, and Semiconductor Devices. He is currently conducting research on the development of next-generation energy technologies, such as advanced secondary batteries, leading the future energy-related industries based on material design and modification technologies. In addition, Professor Paik collaborates with leading semiconductor companies both domestically and internationally to advance semiconductor component processing technology.

Furthermore, Professor Baek was appointed as a Fellow (FRSC) of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom in 2023, and he consistently strengthens the international collaborative research network through joint research with renowned universities worldwide.
 

Leading Research in Secondary Battery... Development of Next-Generation Cathode Materials to Drive the Electric Vehicle Market

Professor Sun Yang-kook of the Department of Energy Engineering has been recognized as a top 1% researcher in the field of Materials Science for eight consecutive years since 2016.

Professor Sun has been a global authority in the research of secondary battery materials, producing outstanding results even before the activation of the secondary battery market. Moreover, he has developed a next-generation cathode material that maintains over 90% performance even after 20 years of use, using purely domestic technology. Professor Seon's cathode material technology is expected to play a catalytic role in driving the third-generation electric vehicle market.

In recognition of his contributions, Professor Seon received the “2023 Samsung Ho-Am Award” from the Ho-Am Foundation for his work on developing “Concentration Gradient (Core-Shell Structure) Cathode Materials.” Additionally, he was selected as a Senior Member of the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE) this year, acknowledging his scholarly achievements in the field of lithium-ion and next-generation secondary batteries.
 

Dedicated Efforts in Developing High-Capacity Long-Life Cathode Materials

Professor Yoon Chong-seung of the School of Materials Science and Engineering has once again been recognized as a top 1% researcher in the Cross-Field category, continuing his achievement from the previous year.

For the past 30 years, Professor Yoon has utilized transmission electron microscopy to analyze and develop the microstructure of various materials. In particular, he has collaborated with Professor Sun Yang-kook of the Department of Energy Engineering at Hanyang University for two decades, conducting joint research on advanced cathode materials for next-generation secondary batteries. They have been dedicated to the development of high-capacity, long-lasting cathode materials for use in third-generation electric vehicles.
 

Development of Innovative Renewable Energy Technology... Contributing to the Advancement of the Renewable Energy Industry

Professor Jeon Byong-hun of the Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering has been recognized as a top 1% researcher in the Cross-Field category.

Professor Jeon conducts research in the production of new renewable energy and environmental pollution purification using chemical and biological principles. His primary focus is on the production of next-generation biofuels for carbon neutrality, and he is actively developing innovative biological treatment methods for water and soil pollution cleanup. Professor Jeon has been acknowledged for his contributions to the development of the domestic renewable energy industry, receiving awards such as the Minister’s Award from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment .

On a country basis, the United States (2764 individuals) has produced the highest number of top 1% researchers, followed by China (1169), the United Kingdom (579), Australia (226), the Netherlands (210), France (134), Switzerland (112), and Singapore (106).

Harvard University in the United States has produced the most top 1% researchers among universities and research institutions, with 233 individuals, followed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (228), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (113), and the Max Planck Society in Germany (67).