Touching Tomorrow atPukyong National University

NEW BEGINNING, NEW INSPIRATION

Pukyong Today List

NOTICE
PKNU people in the field - Tom James Embleton, an international student from the UK
WRITER 대외협력과 WRITE DAY 2022-12-28
COUNT 433
작성자,작성일,첨부파일,조회수로 작성된 표
PKNU people in the field - Tom James Embleton, an international student from the UK
대외협력과 2022-12-28 433

“The generous research support from Pukyong National University has led me to good research results.”

- PhD candidate Tom James Embleton … increased commercialization potential of next-generation all-solid batteries

- development of a new conductive material for driving sulfide electrolyte based all-solid-state battery at room temperature … published papers in international journals

Tom James Embleton, an international student from the UK. Photo Lee Sung-Jae (PR team)

 

 

An international student who is studying at Pukyong National University in Korea, far from England, and is producing excellent research results is attracting the attention of the academic circles.

 

Tom James Embleton, PhD candidate from the department of smart green-tech convergence engineering in Pukyong National University Graduate School is at the center of the topic.

 

After completing his bachelor's and master's courses in Scotland, England, he entered the doctoral course at Pukyong National University last year and has been focusing on research in the advanced energy materials laboratory (advisory professor Oh Pil-Gun) and recently published his research results as the main author in <Applied Surface Science>, an international academic journal in the field of materials science within the top 2.5% based on JCR (journal citation report).

 

The paper he published in this journal is ‘Lithium-Enhanced Functionalized Carbon Nanofibers as a Mixed Electronic/Ionic Conductor for Sulfide All Solid-State Batteries’, which is a study on a new conductive material for room temperature operation of sulfide all-solid batteries.

 

In this study, he proposed the results of securing excellent electronic conductivity and lithium-ion conductivity of the anode electrode with lithium enhanced functionalized carbon nanofibers as a new conductive material, and received an excellent evaluation.

 

Embleton said, “With the support of my professors and friends, I was able to get opportunities to receive various scholarships from Pukyong National University and the government, which really helped me study and research abroad.”

 

The professor Oh Pil-Gun’s research team he belongs is supporting students and researchers in various ways with the support of the national research foundation’s basic laboratory project selected in 2020 and the project for ‘the Korea institute of energy technology evaluation and planning’s waste anode upcycling remanufacturing for circulation of low carbon resources’ that started in 2022.

 

Embleton's research is a field to overcome the limitations of next-generation secondary batteries. Since the currently most widely used lithium secondary battery uses a volatile liquid electrolyte, there is a problem of poor safety against fire, therefore, a lot of research and investment are being conducted in the development of sulfide all-solid-state batteries. This study is also aimed at overcoming the limitations of poor electronic and lithium-ion conductivity compared to existing liquid electrolyte lithium secondary batteries.

 

Professor Oh Pil-Gun (dept. of nanotechnology engineering) said, “In many previous studies, there was a distance from commercialization of a sulfide-based all-solid battery because the battery was driven at a high temperature of 60 degrees or more to secure electron and lithium-ion conductivity. Through this research, it is expected to increase the possibility of commercialization of all-solid batteries by suggesting ways to secure battery performance such as output and charging time of all-solid batteries even at room temperature.”

 

What was the reason that made him so immersed in research in the next-generation secondary batteries at Pukyong National University?

 

“I majored in chemical engineering before my doctoral course, and when I first came to Korea to participate in battery research, I realized that I could organically research the battery field based on chemical engineering,” Embleton added, “While preparing for my doctoral course, I met my advisor (professor Oh Pil-Gun), and I decided to enter Pukyong National University when he explained that he was working on a joint project with promising companies in the battery field.”

 

Studying abroad had its advantages, but of course it also had its challenges. He explained, “Living abroad is series of worries and tension, but I think it is an opportunity to strengthen myself. At first time, it was difficult to adapt to the Korean culture where people should research or study quickly, but now that I am used to it, it seems to be a strength rather than a weakness.”

 

When asked about his plans, he said, “In the short term, I would like to publish two more theses before my graduation following this thesis. To set long-term goal of startup, I want to focus on various research and on-site experiences to realize the commercial potential of battery systems following performance improvement research on all-solid batteries.” <Pukyong Today>

 

The research team of the advanced energy material laboratory. (From the left) Research professor Choi Jae-Hong, PhD candidate Embleton, and Goh Kyung-Mok studying in master’s program.