Applying materials science to sustainable solutions: an interivew with Kim Dong-jin

Due to the increasing energy demand across several sectors of the industry, strategies to expand renewable energy are also rapidly developing. While CCS may tackle the large-scale reduction of carbon emissions, compact technologies and scientific methods address emission reduction on a closer scale. In this interview, Kim Dong-jin, a PhD Researcher of Materials Science and Engineering at Korea University, emphasized how materials scientists strive to improve the energy efficiency of carbon dioxide reduction and the challenges that lie ahead.

Could you briefly introduce the field you are currently researching and your research topic?

I am currently conducting research on electrochemistry, specifically applying electricity to materials to convert them. Within this field, I primarily focus on electrically reducing carbon dioxide to create other high-value-added materials. More specifically, I work on converting it into various substances like carbon monoxide, ethylene, ethanol, or propanol.

Why do you think materials science is an important discipline for solving environmental and energy problems?

For carbon dioxide to be converted into other substances, it must accept electrons or other materials at the electrode. Materials science primarily researches the materials suitable for use in these electrodes. Typically, we use common metallic materials, or we create different substances using carbon-based materials, or we mix various elements to create composite materials. Developing appropriate catalysts through these methods is what materials science and engineering entails.

How is your current research related to carbon reduction or improving energy efficiency?

For instance, in carbon dioxide reduction reactions, the catalyst material used can significantly improve conversion rates and yield per unit of energy input, or achieve the same yield while reducing the required energy efficiency. This is precisely why materials science and engineering research is essential. Our research direction is crucial for the long-term goal of improving the energy efficiency of carbon dioxide reduction, which is currently very poor. We are playing a crucial role in significantly improving this.

Does the material you are researching have environmental advantages over the materials currently in use?

When we say "environmentally better," we interpret it as requiring investment in energy input. The efficiency differs significantly whether you produce more output relative to that investment or reduce the energy input required to produce the same amount of material. Therefore, producing more output relative to the energy or material input can offer economic advantages. Alternatively, if we take carbon dioxide as an example, capturing it initially and then converting it—if the conversion costs or positive effects are significantly reduced, that would be highly meaningful for mitigation.

What changes could this technology enable if applied to industrial sites like carbon capture?

This is actually being applied now, and for materials, the role is fairly clear. As mentioned, it enhances energy efficiency. Recently, copper-based materials have shown advantages over other metals in developing various substances. Research is being conducted to create substances like propanol or ethylene—materials that are difficult or expensive to produce from scratch—using copper-based development materials. Therefore, in related fields, it is already being utilized in industrial settings, and I believe its potential is truly limitless.

Given the current technological support for Korea's carbon neutrality goals, what are the most critical gaps or areas needing improvement?

This requires some understanding of the broader research context. Ultimately, electricity must come from somewhere. For instance, it needs to be generated at power plants. However, electricity from sources commonly used today, like the thermal power plants we typically rely on in households, isn't economically viable for this purpose.

Therefore, the project places significant importance on connecting this with renewable energy. While it's true that the CO₂ reduction research itself still requires improvements in materials and other areas, I believe the biggest challenge globally, including in Korea, is that the cost of electricity sourced from renewable energy must be significantly reduced. Therefore, I believe significant changes in the underlying infrastructure and facilities are necessary for converting or capturing carbon dioxide into other substances to gain greater value.

After completing your PhD, in what direction do you wish to continue your research?

I will likely continue research, either in academia or possibly in a company. The overall direction likely won't change much. Frankly, I still believe there's significant room for advancement in carbon dioxide conversion. This includes continuing catalyst development or exploring new approaches like integrating the two stages—capturing and converting carbon dioxide—into a single step, which is currently being proposed. Ultimately, it's a chain reaction: when a new system is proposed, it requires specific catalysts, and developing one catalyst necessitates a new system. I believe these elements are highly interconnected. Therefore, as I continue my research career, I plan to maintain a broad interest not only in materials but also in systems.

Finally, as a new materials engineering researcher, do you have a message for students interested in environmental or climate issues?

Honestly, I started in undergraduate studies, choosing new materials engineering as my path, and it's been nearly ten years now. Even during my undergraduate years, I didn't really know exactly what specific materials were used for environmental applications. But ultimately, a lot of it is foundational. For example, in the nano field, it might involve developing nanomaterials, or simply processing several larger materials in a straightforward way. Not every industrial sector requires truly cutting-edge materials. Sometimes, flexibility in approach and application is what yields the best results.

So, if you come into the new materials field, you can study various aspects related to this area. Through professors, you can learn about what disciplines exist or what research is currently being conducted in this field. So, if you feel environmentally motivated, it's sufficient to have a broad interest in the subject. The necessary material development or system development can be thoroughly studied here. That's why I'm considering recommending it.