Daejin Advanced Materials Opens Joint Research Institute for Next-Generation CNT Dispersion Technology, Begins Technology Advancement

From the left, Professor Chae Obyung of Gachon University, Professor Shin Youngjun, CEO Yoo Sungjun of Daejin Advanced Materials, and Research Director Park Sungbin. Daejin Advanced Materials

Daejin Advanced Materials (CEO Yoo Sungjun) has entered into a strategic industry-academia collaboration with the research team of Professor Shin Youngjun and Professor Chae Obyung from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Gachon University to develop next-generation battery material technologies. As part of this initiative, the company officially opened its corporate research institute headquarters and announced on July 18 that it has begun building its own technology infrastructure to secure a leading position in the global market.

CEO Yoo Sungjun stated, "The opening of this joint research institute marks the starting point for Daejin Advanced Materials to establish its own technology infrastructure and gain dominance in the global market." He added, "We aim to take the lead in the global powder and slurry markets and become a hub for the world battery materials industry." He further emphasized, "This is a strategic move not only for simple research and development, but also to secure an exclusive market position in the long term."

With the opening of this institute, Daejin Advanced Materials will install dispersion equipment at Gachon University for the development of high-dispersion CNT (carbon nanotube) slurry, and will actively pursue practical industry-academia-research collaboration for battery CNT research and development. In particular, the company plans to establish its own technology base that can immediately respond to global markets, including the United States, and to use this as a foundation for future growth.

CNTs are attracting attention as alternatives to conventional carbon black due to their superior electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties for battery conductive materials, but their strong cohesive force makes homogeneous dispersion technology crucial. The opening of this research institute is considered a significant turning point to overcome these technical limitations and to accelerate the advancement and commercialization of CNT materials for batteries.

The opening ceremony was attended by research staff from Daejin Advanced Materials, professors from Gachon University, and university staff, who held a plaque unveiling and discussed ways to collaborate on research. The opening of this branch institute is expected to serve as a strategic base for establishing a university-industry joint R&D ecosystem, going beyond a simple one-time event.

Professor Shin Youngjun, who is participating in the joint research, is a former CTO of LG Energy Solution and a leading figure in the battery industry who has pioneered next-generation battery technologies such as lithium-sulfur batteries and all-solid-state batteries. Professor Chae Obyung, who is also joining this project, is recognized for his expertise in battery engineering.