Professor Seonyang-guk of Hanyang University Named 'Top Scientist of the Year'

Development of High-Performance Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Battery with 800-900km Range per Charge
Ministry of Science and ICT and KOFST to Present Awards at the 29th Annual Science and Technology Conference

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] This year’s top scientist and engineer is Professor Sun Yang-guk (60, photo) of Hanyang University, who developed next-generation high-performance lithium secondary battery technology.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Federation of Science and Technology Societies announced on the 28th that Professor Sun was selected as the recipient of the 2022 'Korea’s Top Scientist and Engineer Award' and will be honored at the 'Korea Scientist and Engineer Annual Conference' on the 29th.

Professor Sun was recognized for his significant contribution to advancing next-generation electric vehicle development by completing the development of core cathode material source technology, a key factor determining the performance of lithium secondary batteries. He pioneered a new path for lithium secondary batteries by developing concentration-gradient cathode materials that simultaneously satisfy high capacity and excellent stability through controlling the concentration of transition metals within the particles that make up the cathode material. This material technology densely packs raw materials that exhibit high capacity inside and wraps the exterior with raw materials that provide superior stability. Through this, it overcomes the limitations of existing cathode materials where capacity and stability conflict.

When applied to electric vehicles, this material enables driving distances of 800 to 900 km on a single charge and maintains over 90% performance even after more than 20 years of use.

Professor Sun has published over 675 papers in prestigious international journals and has been selected as a Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) for six consecutive years. He has also filed and registered 333 patents centered on the source technology of concentration-gradient cathode materials. He has transferred a total of 25 technologies to multiple companies (totaling 31.76 billion KRW). At the opening ceremony of the 2022 Korea Scientist and Engineer Annual Conference, which begins on the 29th, Professor Sun will be awarded the Presidential Citation and a prize of 300 million KRW.