Dr. Yang-Kook Sun is a distinguished professor and leading authority in advanced energy storage materials at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. He earned his PhD in chemical engineering from Seoul National University in 1992 and subsequently served as a group leader at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, where he played a pivotal role in the commercialization of lithium polymer batteries. His transition to academia marked the beginning of a prolific research career focused on next-generation energy storage solutions. Dr. Sun's leadership in the field has been recognized through his appointment as a full professor at one of South Korea's premier research institutions, where he continues to direct cutting-edge research in electrochemical energy storage.
Dr. Sun's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed the development of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, most notably through his discovery of the layered concentration gradient NCM cathode concept, which has significantly improved battery performance and longevity. His work spans multiple battery technologies including lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, lithium-air, and sodium-ion systems, addressing critical challenges in energy density, safety, and sustainability. With an impressive scholarly output of over 474 peer-reviewed publications and 341 registered and applied patents, his research has been widely cited with an H-index of 167 and more than 110,000 total citations. This extensive body of work has established him as one of the most influential researchers in the global battery community, with his innovations directly contributing to the advancement of electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage solutions.
Beyond his individual research contributions, Dr. Sun has fostered numerous international collaborations that have accelerated the pace of innovation in electrochemical energy storage worldwide. His laboratory at Hanyang University serves as a hub for training the next generation of energy storage scientists and engineers, with many of his former students now leading research efforts at major institutions and companies. Dr. Sun's current research focuses on overcoming the fundamental limitations of existing battery technologies through novel material designs and structural engineering approaches. As the world transitions toward sustainable energy systems, his ongoing work continues to provide critical scientific foundations for the next generation of high-performance, safe, and cost-effective energy storage solutions that will power our future.
