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대학뉴스 > 연구성과(영문) 게시판목록 | UNIST
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UNIST Unveils Smart Contact Lens with Meniscus Pixel Printing for Vision-Based Robotic Control
The findings of this research have been published in Advanced Functional Materials on March 11, 2026.
Abstract Contact lenses are emerging as strong candidates for next-generation extended reality (XR) interfaces due to their lightweight and ergonomic form factor. However, integrating photodetector arrays onto the limited area of a lens remains challenging with conventional micropatterning approaches, which rely on masks, multistep processes, and specialized equipment that inherently limit throughput and scalability. To address these constraints, we introduce a Meniscus Pixel Printing (MPP) strategy that enables rapid, mask-free patterning of MAPbI3 perovskite photodetectors without costly or complex fabrication tools. MPP uses a self-confined meniscus at a pipette tip to deterministically transfer perovskite ink, enabling 200 µm pixels to be printed within 1 s per pixel. In addition to planar substrates, MPP demonstrates stable pixel patterning on curved surfaces, highlighting its geometric adaptability and process versatility. Using this approach, we fabricate a 10 × 10 perovskite photodetector array and demonstrate stable photoresponse, retaining 92% of its initial performance after two months of storage. To overcome limited pixel density, a deep-learning-based super-resolution (SR) model reconstructs 10 × 10 inputs into 80 × 80 optical information with 97.2% accuracy and 0.03 s latency. Additionally, an AI-based eye-tracking system recognizes nine eye gestures with 99.3% accuracy, enabling smooth hands-free robotic arm control. A research team, led by Professor Im Doo Jung from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, has developed a groundbreaking smart contact lens that enables users to control robots through eye movements. This innovative device combines embedded optical sensors with AI-based signal processing, offering a lightweight, intuitive human-machine interface with vast potential across industries. The lens incorporates a 10×10 array of light sensors capable of detecting subtle changes in light distribution caused by eye movements, including gaze direction and blinks. These signals are transmitted to control external robotic systems, as demonstrated with a robotic arm. Notably, the team employed a novel Meniscus Pixel Printing (MPP) technique to directly print sensors onto the curved lens surface without masks or complex fabrication steps, ensuring high precision and customizability. In addition to robotic control, the system demonstrates vision sensing capabilities by reconstructing optical information. To address the limited signal resolution inherent to micro-scale devices, the researchers applied deep-learning-based super-resolution algorithms, reconstructing high-fidelity signals equivalent to an 80x80 sensor array in just 0.03 seconds. This enables real-time, accurate control based solely on eye movements, achieving recognition accuracies of up to 99.3% under experimental conditions. This technology marks a significant advancement in ultra-compact human-machine interfaces, enabling precise, hands-free control of electronic devices. Potential applications include remote robotic operation, medical assistive devices, exploration in hazardous environments, defense systems, and smart mobility. Published in the March 2026 issue of Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor: 19.0, JCR Top 5%)—a top-tier journal in materials science—the research was selected as the Front Cover of the latest issue. The study received support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE). Journal Reference Byung-Hoon Gong, Dohyean Kim, Jiyun Jeong, et al., "Meniscus Pixel Printing for Contact-Lens Vision Sensing and Robotic Control," Adv. Funct. Mater., (2026).
2026-04-23
JooHyeon Heo
68
Innovative Scalable Electrochemical Approach for Transforming Waste Glycerol into Hydrogen and High-Value Chemicals
The findings of this research were published online in Joule (IF: 35.4) on March 18, 2026.
Abstract Interest in electrochemical glycerol oxidation reactions (GORs) continues to grow as a promising strategy for hydrogen production. By replacing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), GOR reduces energy consumption while generating hydrogen at the cathode and value-added formate at the anode, offering techno-economic advantages over conventional water electrolysis. However, its practical implementation is still hindered by reliance on precious metal catalysts and performance losses in scaled-up systems. Here, we synthesized a non-precious CuCo oxide (CCO) electrocatalyst at a tens-of-grams scale through co-precipitation and simple surface treatment. When applied to an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, the modified CuCo oxide achieved 110 mA cm−2 at 1.31 Vcell using a 7 cm2 non-precious GOR anode with 96% formate selectivity. The system was further scaled to a 79 cm2 anode, delivering 3.2 A at 1.31 Vcell. This study demonstrates a practical and economically favorable pathway for scalable hydrogen production via glycerol valorization in AEM electrolyzers. A joint research team, led by Professors Ji-Wook Jang, Hankwon Lim, and Hosik Lee from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, in collaboration with Dr. Juchan Yang from the Energy & Environment Materials Research Division at Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), has announced the development of a high-performance, scalable electrochemical system that transforms waste glycerol—an industrial byproduct of biodiesel production—into hydrogen and value-added chemicals, such as formate. This innovative system replaces the conventional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis with glycerol oxidation, resulting in reduced energy consumption and enhanced efficiency. Using a copper-cobalt oxide catalyst, the system a current density of 110 mA/cm² at just 1.31 V, with 96% selectivity for formate. The technology was successfully scaled to a 79 cm² electrode, demonstrating its potential for industrial applications. This advancement provides a sustainable, cost-effective pathway for large-scale hydrogen production through glycerol valorization. By simultaneously generating hydrogen and valuable chemicals from waste biomass, the approach promises significant reductions in green hydrogen costs and improved resource efficiency. Additionally, integrating energy and chemical manufacturing processes supports global efforts toward carbon neutrality and a sustainable hydrogen economy. Moreover, its scalability and compatibility with continuous operation suggest promising prospects for industrial deployment and further scale-up to megawatt-level systems. Juchan Yang, Principal Researcher at KIMS, emphasizes, “This study demonstrates the large-scale synthesis of low-cost, non-precious catalysts and their successful integration into a practical electrolyzer system, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.” Professor Ji-Wook Jang of UNIST adds, “Transforming biomass waste like glycerol into high-value chemicals and hydrogen not only accelerates carbon neutrality but also offers strategic advantages in building a sustainable hydrogen economy.” The findings of this research were published online in Joule (IF: 35.4) on March 18, 2026. The study was supported by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). Core analyzes and computational modeling were conducted using supercomputing resources provided by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), with technical support, as well as the synchrotron radiation source at the 6D beamline of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. Journal Reference Ki-Yong Yoon, Seon Woo Hwang, Hee Yoon Roh et al. , “Commercial-scale glycerol valorization using surface-modified copper cobalt oxide catalyst in high-capacity anion exchange membrane electrolyzer,” Joule , (2026).
2026-04-23
JooHyeon Heo
46
New Study Uncovers Shift in Climate Drivers Intensifying Wildfires in Australia
The findings of this research were published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology on April 11, 2026.
Abstract Wildfire variability in Southeastern Australia (SEA) has intensified in recent decades, posing increasing risks to ecosystems and agriculture under a changing climate. However, the mechanisms driving the recent amplification of extreme fire weather remain unclear. Using austral-summer data from 1981–2022, we quantify interannual links between the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and land–atmosphere variables. Fire Weather Days (FWD) are defined as days exceeding an extreme FFDI threshold each fire season and are validated against satellite-based burned area and fire intensity across SEA. We show that recent fire risk in SEA is characterized not by a gradual increase but by a regime shift in extreme fire weather conditions. An early-2000s transition is marked by enhanced interannual variability and an approximately fivefold increase in FWD, linked to increased positive skewness in daily FFDI. Among FFDI components, the drought factor (DF), representing hydrological stress, exhibits the largest increase in extreme occurrences, especially when co-occurring with high temperature (T) and low relative humidity (RH). The contribution of compound DF & RH & T events to total FWD more than doubles between 1981–2001 (P1) and 2002–2022 (P2). Segmented regression further reveals strengthened interannual FWD sensitivity to DF in P2. In P1, variability reflected atmospheric warming and drying, whereas P2 is characterized by intensified land–atmosphere coupling that amplifies hydrological stress and compound extremes. This transition coincides with changes in large-scale circulation, with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) emerging as the dominant driver of FWD variability in the recent period, while ENSO exerted a stronger influence earlier. Increased FWD variability is also closely linked to interannual maize yield fluctuations across SEA. These findings highlight a hydrologically-driven regime shift in extreme fire weather and underscore the need for integrated climate-fire-agriculture risk assessment. An international team of researchers, affiliated with UNIST, has identified a dramatic transformation in wildfire patterns across Southeastern Australia (SEA). Analyzing data from 1981 to 2022, the research shows that since the early 2000s, the region has experienced a fivefold increase in extreme fire weather days, driven increasingly by the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) rather than the traditionally dominant El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This shift highlights new challenges in predicting and managing wildfires under a changing climate. Led by Professor Myong-In Lee from the Department of Civil, Urban, Earth and Environmental Engineering at UNIST, this study was conducted in collaboration with experts from the University of Hawaii and POSTECH. In this study, the team identified a regime shift beginning in the early 2000s, characterized by emphasized interannual variability and a sharp rise in extreme fire weather days. Over the past two decades, wildfire risk volatility has more than doubled. This change is primarily attributed to the strengthening of land-atmosphere coupling, where drought conditions intensify surface heating, creating a feedback loop that fuels more frequent and severe wildfires. beginning in the early 2000s, marked by heightened interannual variability and a sharp rise in extreme fire weather days. Over the past two decades, wildfire risk volatility has more than doubled. This change is primarily driven by strengthened land–atmosphere coupling: drought conditions dry out surface soils, creating a feedback loop that amplifies surface heating and fosters more frequent and severe wildfires. While ENSO has traditionally been the main climate driver influencing Australian wildfires, recent evidence indicates that the SAM’s influence has grown, now serving as the dominant factor regulating wildfire variability. Kiwook Kim, the main author of the study, comments, “Our findings emphasize the need for enhanced monitoring of atmospheric circulation patterns and soil moisture levels. This knowledge is vital for improving fire risk predictions and informing climate adaptation strategies to safeguard communities and ecosystems.” “Understanding how climate factors influence wildfires is more critical than ever,” says Professor Lee. “Recognizing the increasing role of the Southern Annular Mode and the complex land-atmosphere interactions enables us to develop more accurate prediction models and better prepare for future wildfire seasons.” The findings of this research were published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology on April 11, 2026. This research was supported by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) under the Climate Change R&D Project for New Climate Regime project, funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Korea. Journal Reference Kiwook Kim, Myong-In Lee, Seungseok Lee, et al. , “Local and remote drivers of increased variability in extreme wildfire conditions in Southeastern Australia,” Agric. For. Meteorol., (2026).
2026-04-22
JooHyeon Heo
98
Bright Quantum Light Emission Achieved at Room Temperature in 2D Semiconductors
The findings of this study have been published in Science Advances on March 13, 2026.
A joint research team, led by Professor Yung Doug Suh of UNIST, who also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Professor Kyoung-Duck Park from POSTECH, has succeeded in realizing a high-efficiency quantum light source that emits bright lights even at room temperature. The achievement overcomes a longstanding limitation of two-dimensional semiconductors—atomically thin materials typically about 100,000 times thinner than a human hair—which previously required either cryogenic temperatures or complex electrical gating structures to produce efficient light emission. At the heart of the study are excitons, the light-emitting quasiparticles that form when electrons bind with “holes”—the absence of an electron that behaves like a positive charge—in a semiconductor. In two-dimensional semiconductors, excitons are especially important because they can enable ultrathin and highly efficient optical devices. However, there has been a major problem: at room temperature, excitons tend to spread out too easily, making it difficult to generate bright light from a precise location. Recently, researchers have become increasingly interested in localized excitons—excitons that are trapped in a confined nanoscale region. A useful analogy is a ball rolling on a flat floor versus a ball sitting in a bowl. On a flat surface, the ball moves around freely, but in a small hollow, it remains trapped in one place. Localized excitons behave similarly: once confined, they can emit light more stably and with better control over wavelength, making them attractive candidates for ideal quantum light sources. But room temperature makes this difficult. As thermal energy rises, excitons can escape from the trapping region, just as a ball may bounce out of a shallow bowl. At the same time, excess charges remaining in the material can interact with excitons or drain away their energy, causing the system to lose energy as heat instead of light. For this reason, the light-emission efficiency of localized excitons in two-dimensional semiconductors has typically remained below 1% under ambient conditions. To overcome this challenge, the team designed a 500-nanometer nanohole structure beneath a monolayer of MoS2, a representative two-dimensional semiconductor. This nanohole acts like a nanoscale bowl, naturally funneling excitons toward its center and confining them to a tiny region. According to the researchers’ simulations, about 98% of excitons in the nanohole region were funneled into the center and formed localized exciton states, indicating highly efficient confinement within the nanoscale region. At the same time, the researchers addressed another major source of loss: excess electrons in the material. During the transfer process used to place the MoS2 layer onto the gold substrate, a thin residual water layer forms naturally at the interface. This layer acts as a dielectric barrier that prevents efficient charge transfer, allowing excess electrons to remain in the semiconductor and degrade emission. By applying thermal annealing, the team removed this water layer and enabled electrons to flow from the MoS₂ into the gold substrate. This effectively neutralized the material and greatly suppressed nonradiative loss pathways. As a result, the system produced bright localized exciton emission under ambient conditions, with the photoluminescence quantum yield increasing by about 130 times compared with the pre-annealed state. The researchers report that the quantum yield in the nanohole region increased from 0.076% (basically unusable) to about 10% (clearly visible bright light), far above the typical value for pristine monolayer MoS₂ at room temperature. By using the quantum confinement effect to trap light-emitting excitonic states within an extremely small region, the researchers demonstrated a practical route toward bright and stable quantum emission over large areas. This result is significant because it shows that quantum emitters made from two-dimensional semiconductors can achieve brightness and stability approaching that of quantum dots used in QLED displays, while retaining the additional advantages of atomically thin materials. The work also suggests a path toward even more advanced devices. By making the nanostructures smaller and further optimizing the optical excitation conditions, the researchers believe it may become possible to achieve high-efficiency single-photon emission at room temperature, something that has remained extremely challenging until now. Professor Kyoung-Duck Park said, “The key achievement of this study is that we realized a quantum light source that emits brightly even at room temperature by gathering and confining light-emitting particles into a single nanoscale point. This structure can serve as a foundation for a wide range of future photonic and quantum devices.” The team also demonstrated that the localized exciton emission could be dynamically and reversibly controlled. By applying gigapascal-scale pressure using the tip of an atomic force microscope, they were able to modulate the strain at the nanohole and thereby tune the behavior of the localized excitons. In annealed samples, this led to an approximately 120% increase in localized exciton emission intensity, and the effect disappeared when the pressure was released, showing that the process is fully reversible. Associate Director Yung Doug Suh of IBS said, “An important aspect of this work is that we were able to dramatically improve performance by precisely controlling how light is generated and lost in a two-dimensional semiconductor. This technology could become an important turning point toward future room-temperature single-photon sources.” Another important aspect of the study is its practical scalability. Many previous strategies for realizing efficient localized exciton emission relied on complex electrical device architectures or cryogenic environments, both of which make real-world implementation difficult. In contrast, the present method uses a relatively simple combination of nanostructuring and thermal processing. Because the approach is compatible with established semiconductor wafer-scale fabrication processes, the work opens the door to scalable, integrated quantum light-source technologies for applications, such as quantum communication, quantum computing, and next-generation nano-LEDs. Beyond quantum communication and quantum computing, the researchers say the platform may also be useful for high-efficiency nanoscale light sources, tunable optoelectronic devices, and future nanophotonic technologies. More broadly, the work provides a new design strategy for controlling excitons in low-dimensional materials: by simultaneously confining excitons spatially and neutralizing unwanted charges, it becomes possible to stabilize bright quantum emission even under ordinary room-temperature conditions. The findings of this research were published in Science Advances on March 13, 2026. Yung Doug Suh Professor, Department of Chemistry, UNIST Associate Director, IBS Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials (CMCM) E: ydougsuh@gmail.com William I. Suh Public Information Officer IBS Public Relations Team T: +82-42-878-8137 E:willisuh@ibs.re.kr Story Source Materials provided by theInstitute of Basic Science. Notes for Editors The online version of the original article can be foundHERE. Journal Reference Taeyoung Moon, Hyeongwoo Lee, Jihae Lee, et al ., “Highly radiative emission of room temperature–localized excitons enabled by charge-neutralized 0D quantum wells in 2D semiconductors,” Sci. Adv. , (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady2186
2026-04-20
JooHyeon Heo
127
Breakthrough Observation of Transient Intermediate in Nitrite-to-Nitric Oxide Conversion
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) on March 20, 2026.
Abstract The reduction of nitrite (NO2–) to nitric oxide (NO) is a fundamental transformation within both the global nitrogen cycle and enzymatic signaling pathways. Although extensively investigated, the elusive {FeNO}6 intermediate implicated in the 2H+/1e– reduction pathway has rarely been observed or isolated due to the inherent instability. Here, we present a comprehensive mechanistic investigation of nitrite reduction by a mononuclear iron(II)-nitrite complex, [FeII(TBDAP)(NO2)(CH3CN)]+ (1) (TBDAP = N,N′-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)-pyridinophane). Treatment of 1 with 2.5 equiv of triflic acid (HOTf) affords the {FeNO}6 (2) intermediate, which was characterized using a combination of various physicochemical techniques and DFT calculations. Isotopic labeling using Na15NO2 confirmed the formation of 2 via heterolytic N–O bond cleavage. Kinetic studies revealed a HOTf-independent rate constant and a markedly negative value of activation entropy for the formation of 2, suggesting that the rate-determining step involves an associative reaction between Fe(II) and NO+. Electrochemical analysis showed a reversible redox couple for 2, and subsequent one-electron reduction by ferrocene released NO. The generation of NO was confirmed through trapping experiments using [Co(TPP)], resulting in the formation of [Co(TPP)(NO)]. The experimental findings establish {FeNO}6 as an isolable and reactive intermediate, offering new insight into the mechanistic landscape of nitrite reduction. Researchers from UNIST and Jeonbuk National University have, for the first time, captured and analyzed a short-lived iron (Fe)-based intermediate involved in converting nitrite (NO2–) to nitric oxide (NO)—a key process in the nitrogen cycle and biological signaling. This discovery, made at ultra-low temperatures, provides new insights into how vital molecules are produced in nature and in biological systems. Using a specialized Fe(ll)-nitrite complex and reaction conditions at -40°C, Professor Jaeheung Cho from the Department of Chemistry at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Kyung-Bin Cho at Jeonbuk National University isolated the elusive {FeNO}⁶ intermediate, a critical step preceding NO release. Spectroscopic and computational analyses confirmed that this species forms after NO2– accepts a proton and undergoes bond cleavage, with the nitrogen-oxygen ion binding to Fe. Further electron transfer then liberates NO. The study also revealed that the reaction pathway varies depending on whether proton and electron transfers occur sequentially or simultaneously, providing nuanced insight into reaction mechanisms. Professor Cho remarked, “This is the first direct observation of the intermediate in NO2– reduction to NO. Understanding this step could inform targeted therapies for vascular diseases and inspire the design of new catalysts with improved efficiency.” According to the research team, this discovery advances fundamental knowledge of nitrogen cycle chemistry and biological NO production, with potential applications in medicine and sustainable catalysis. By elucidating the reaction pathway, the research opens avenues for developing innovative treatments and catalytic systems. These findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) on March 20, 2026. The study has been supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Journal Reference Seungwon Sun, Youngjin Jeon, Youngseob Lee, et al., “Unveiling an {FeNO}6 Intermediate: A Sequential Mechanistic Investigation of Nitrite Reduction in a Mononuclear Iron(II) Complex,” JACS, (2026).
2026-04-16
JooHyeon Heo
352
Targeted Nanoparticles Eliminate Aging Retinal Cells to Reverse Vision Decline
The findings of this research were published in Nature Communications on March 18, 2026.
Abstract Sensitive cells contribute to degenerative processes in multiple tissues, including the retina. In the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), their accumulation is closely associated with retinal aging and disease progression. Eliminating senescent RPE cells has shown therapeutic potential, but conventional senolytics often lack the specificity required to spare non-senescent cells, raising safety concerns. To overcome this, we performed integrated transcriptomic analyzes of male mouse-derived RPE cells under natural aging and chemically induced senescence conditions. These analyzes identified Bst2 as a membrane-localized marker selectively upregulated in senescent RPE cells, with minimal expression in young controls. Based on this discovery, we developed a modular, antibody-pluggable drug delivery platform–BZ-PON–comprising mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with a recombinant Fc-binding domain and conjugated with anti-Bst2 antibodies. This nanocarrier selectively accumulates in Bst2-expressing senescent RPE cells, enabling targeted drug delivery and sparing healthy retinal cells. In vivo administration of ABT-263-loaded BZ-PON in aged and senescence-induced retinal degeneration models resulted in the selective ablation of senescent cells, restoration of RPE function, and improved visual outcomes. Together, our study integrates senescence-specific marker discovery with precision nanomedicine, establishing a versatile platform for targeted senotherapy. These findings offer a promising therapeutic approach for retinal aging disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration. A collaborative team of researchers from UNIST and Konkuk University College of Medicine has introduced an innovative nanotechnology platform that precisely targets and removes aging retinal cells, leading to partial restoration of vision in mouse models. This advancement opens new possibilities for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness worldwide. As the global population ages, the incidence of AMD continues to rise, damaging the central retina and impairing vision. Current treatments primarily address symptoms but do not fundamentally halt disease progression. The new platform specifically eliminates senescent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells—cells that, when aged, secrete harmful substances that exacerbate retinal degeneration. Led by Professor Ja-Hyoung Ryu from the Department of Chemistry at UNIST and Professor Hyewon Chung from the Department of Ophthalmology at Konkuk University College of Medicine, the research team developed mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with antibodies targeting Bst2, a protein uniquely overexpressed on the surface of senescent RPE cells. These nanoparticles deliver a potent senolytic drug, ABT-263, directly into the aged cells. Once inside, they release the drug, inducing cell death while sparing healthy tissue. The design also ensures safety: even if nanoparticles bind to normal cells, they remain inactive unless exposed to the high-glutathione environment characteristic of senescent cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that intravitreal injection of these drug-loaded nanoparticles selectively removed senescent cells without harming healthy tissue, resulting in significant improvements in retinal electrical responses and partial recovery of visual function in mice. Professor Chung emphasized, “Our targeted approach addresses the disease at its root, moving beyond symptom management. This could revolutionize treatment for dry AMD and other age-related degenerative conditions.” Professor Ryu added, "By identifying a novel marker and engineering targeted nanocarriers, we have paved the way for highly specific therapies that can be adopted to other age-related diseases by simply changing the targeting antibody." The findings of this research were published in Nature Communications on March 18, 2026. This study has been supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Korean ARPA-H Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Journal Reference Jun Yong Oh, Jae-Byoung Chae, Hyo Kyung Lee, et al., “Bst2-targeted senotherapy restores visual function by eliminating senescent retinal cells,” Nat. Commun., (2026).
2026-04-15
JooHyeon Heo
341
Turning Solar Panel Waste into Hydrogen and High-Value Silica
The research was published in the online version of Joule on March 27 and highlighted in its Future Energy section.
Summary Although Earth's abundant silicon (Si) is thermodynamically reactive with water to produce hydrogen (H2) and silicon oxide (SiO2, silica), the Si-water reaction is kinetically self-limited by the silica passivation layer that spontaneously forms on Si surfaces. If this limitation of the Si-water reaction can be overcome, hydrogen (H2) can be directly produced from water. Here, we demonstrate that “dynamic” mechanochemistry can overcome the self-limitation of the Si-water reaction, without using corrosive additives, to reach the theoretical limit. As one real-world application, upcycling end-of-life silicon solar panels was performed, with techno-economic analysis suggesting the strong competitiveness of the proposed method for the Si-water reaction. High-purity hydrogen (∼100%) gas and solid silica as a value-added product were produced under a separation-free process. In response to the growing accumulation of end-of-life solar panels, researchers at UNIST have unveiled an innovative, environmentally friendly method to convert photovoltaic silicon into high-purity hydrogen and valuable silica. Led by Professor Jong-Beom Baek from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, this breakthrough promises to revolutionize solar panel recycling and sustainable hydrogen production. The team led by Professor Jong-Beom Baek developed a mechanochemical process that overcomes the self-limiting silica passivation layer on silicon surfaces. By placing silicon and water with small abrasive beads into a rotating vessel, repeated mechanical collisions strip the silica layer, enabling the reaction to proceed to nearly its theoretical maximum. Experimental results show approximately 1,706 mL of hydrogen per gram of silicon—achieving 99.6% of the maximum yield, significantly surpassing conventional thermochemical methods. Moreover, the silica byproduct serves as an effective catalyst support. When used with nickel catalysts, it enhances carbon dioxide conversion and methane selectivity, thanks to its high surface hydroxyl density that improves catalyst dispersion. “By leveraging waste silicon from decommissioned solar panels, our process produces high-purity hydrogen efficiently while also recovering valuable silica for industrial applications,” says Professor Jong-Beom Baek. “This approach not only advances sustainable energy but also contributes to resource circularity and environmental protection.” This technology offers a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally benign alternative to traditional photovoltaic waste management. Operating continuously, the process boasts higher productivity and energy efficiency, making it suitable for industrial deployment. It paves the way for a circular economy in solar energy, transforming waste into valuable resources and supporting the global shift toward clean hydrogen. The findings of this research were published in the online version of Joule on March 27 and were highlighted in the journal's Future Energy section. The study has been supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). Journal Reference Yanhua Shao, Runnan Guan, Jiwon Gu, et al ., “Reaching the theoretical limit of H2 production from the self-limiting silicon-water reaction via dynamic mechanochemistry,” Joule , (2026).
2026-04-14
JooHyeon Heo
431
New Study Unveils High-Performance Porous Carbon Fiber for Rapid Removal of Radioactive Iodine
The findings of this research have been published in Chemical Engineering Journal on April 1, 2026.
Abstract The effective removal of nuclear waste from fission has attracted significant attention, with numerous porous sorbents reported in recent decades. The practical application of current sorbents is often hindered by limited removal efficiency and low production scalability. Here, we developed activated carbon fibers (ACFs) as an ultrafast and effective iodine capture material using a scalable method. The engineered ACFs possess and extraordinary micro/mesoporous structure with a surface area exceeding 2900 m2 g−1 while maintaining mechanical and thermal stability. The resulting fibers demonstrate a superior iodine capture capacity of 3.10 g g−1 and a capture rate of 2.76 g g−1 h−1. To further augment these properties, a novel oxygen-doping strategy was implemented. This approach dramatically improves performance, achieving 51% higher capacity (4.68 g g−1) and 76% faster rate (4.86 g g−1 h−1). Notably, exfoliation reactions of iodine within carbon layers that induced structural changes were discovered. Our work underlines the promise of ACFs for nuclear waste management. A joint research team, led by Professors Han Gi Chae and Seung Geol Lee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST has unveiled a novel, ultra-porous carbon fiber capable of quickly capturing radioactive iodine gases—a critical challenge in nuclear waste treatment and environmental safety. This scalable material demonstrates exceptional adsorption capacity and speed, with potential applications in nuclear facilities and emergency response. The engineered carbon fibers feature an extraordinary surface area exceeding 2,980 m² per gram, thanks to a manufacturing process that creates diverse pore sizes and incorporates oxygen doping. This structure enables the fibers to adsorb up to 4.68 grams of iodine per gram—over 1.5 times higher than conventional materials—and reach saturation within approximately 100 minutes. The oxygen doping enhances the chemical interaction with iodine, further boosting performance by 51% in capacity and 76% in adsorption rate. Additionally, the fibers maintain over 90% of their initial capacity after multiple reuse cycles, supporting cost-effective, large-scale deployment. The fabrication process is straightforward and cost-efficient, avoiding complex shaping steps typical of other materials like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), making mass production feasible. Professor Han Gi Chae explains, “Our findings reveal the dynamic structural changes during iodine adsorption, providing new insights into how porous carbon materials interact with hazardous gases. This advancement could revolutionize safety measures in nuclear waste management and environmental remediation.” This innovative material offers a practical, scalable solution for rapid iodine removal, essential for nuclear safety and environmental protection. Its ease of production and reusability pave the way for widespread application in nuclear facilities, accident response systems, and pollutant treatment. The findings of this research have been published in Chemical Engineering Journal on April 1, 2026. The study has been supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT). Journal Reference Changbeom Jeon, Hyejin Lee, Ga-Hyeun Lee, et al., "Simple oxygen doping strategy for highly porous carbon fibers enabling ultrafast and efficient iodine capture," Chem. Eng. J., (2026).
2026-04-13
JooHyeon Heo
287
UNIST Unveils AI-Driven Framework for Real-Time Multi-Pollutant Air Quality Monitoring
The findings of this research have been published in Environmental Science & Technology on March 20, 2026.
Abstract Simultaneous prediction of multiple air pollutants is essential for quantifying human co-exposure and evaluating the health impacts of pollutant mixtures. However, spatial and temporal gaps in geostationary satellite observations, chemical transport models, and ground-based monitoring networks hinder accurate hourly assessments of multi-pollutant dynamics. Here, we present Deep Learning for Multiple Air Pollutant analysis (DeepMAP), a deep learning framework that simultaneously predicts six major air pollutants─PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, CO, and SO2─at hourly resolution. DeepMAP demonstrated robust performance across multiple pollutants and generalized well to unseen regions. The framework accurately captured dynamic high-concentration co-pollution episodes during March 2021, with normalized RMSE values below 0.36 for all pollutants. DeepMAP revealed that PM10-PM2.5 co-exceedance was the most frequent across East Asia (91 days/year), followed by PM10-PM2.5-NO2 (42), PM2.5-O3 (18), and PM10-PM2.5-O3 (12). Hotspots for PM10-PM2.5-NO2–O3 co-exceedance were identified over the North China Plain, East China, and South Korea, where the regional annual totals reached 24, 19, and 15 days, respectively. A novel co-exposure index further identified three distinct hotspot regions where the contribution of NO2 was approximately twice that observed elsewhere. Our findings provide a high-resolution, data-driven framework for characterizing multi-pollutant co-exposure and identifying regional priorities for air quality management and public health protection. A research team, led by Professor Jungho Im from the Department of Civil, Urban, Earth, and Environmental Engineering at UNIST, has introduced DeepMAP, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence model that accurately estimates hourly levels of six key air pollutants across East Asia. The technology, developed from 2021 to 2023, provides new insights into the widespread and simultaneous exceedance of air quality standards, with significant implications for health policies and environmental management. DeepMAP integrates diverse data sources—including geostationary satellite imagery, atmospheric chemical transport models, meteorological data, and ground observations—to produce real-time, high-resolution maps of PM10, PM2.5, O₃, NO₂, SO₂, and CO. Operating at a 10 km spatial resolution and providing hourly predictions, the model captures dynamic pollution patterns and hotspots, revealing that Korea experiences about 15 days per year with four pollutants exceeding WHO safety thresholds simultaneously. Unlike traditional methods that estimate pollutants individually, DeepMAP’s multi-task learning approach models interactions among pollutants, significantly enhancing estimation accuracy. “By accurately capturing the complex interplay of multiple pollutants in real time, our model offers a powerful tool for assessing exposure risks and guiding effective policy decisions,” said Professor Jungho Im, lead researcher. “This represents a major step toward more realistic and comprehensive air quality management.” The study underscores the health risks posed by combined pollutant exposure, which can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Traditional monitoring methods often fall short in providing detailed, regional, and real-time data. DeepMAP’s capabilities open new avenues for environmental monitoring, public health research, and proactive policymaking, especially during pollution episodes driven by seasonal phenomena like dust storms and high-pressure systems. The findings of this research have been published in Environmental Science & Technology on March 20, 2026. The study has been supported by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) under the Ministry of Environment (ME), and by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT). Journal Reference Eunjin Kang, Sihun Jung, Jungho Im, et al., "Quantifying Multi-pollutant Co-exposure via Deep Learning-Based Simultaneous Prediction Using Geostationary Satellite Data," Environ. Sci. Technol., (2026).
2026-04-10
JooHyeon Heo
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UNIST Unveils Smart Contact Lens with Meniscus Pixel Printing for Vision-Based Robotic Control
The findings of this research have been published in Advanced Functional Materials on March 11, 2026.
Abstract Contact lenses are emerging as strong candidates for next-generation extended reality (XR) interfaces due to their lightweight and ergonomic form factor. However, integrating photodetector arrays onto the limited area of a lens remains challenging with conventional micropatterning approaches, which rely on masks, multistep processes, and specialized equipment that inherently limit throughput and scalability. To address these constraints, we introduce a Meniscus Pixel Printing (MPP) strategy that enables rapid, mask-free patterning of MAPbI3 perovskite photodetectors without costly or complex fabrication tools. MPP uses a self-confined meniscus at a pipette tip to deterministically transfer perovskite ink, enabling 200 µm pixels to be printed within 1 s per pixel. In addition to planar substrates, MPP demonstrates stable pixel patterning on curved surfaces, highlighting its geometric adaptability and process versatility. Using this approach, we fabricate a 10 × 10 perovskite photodetector array and demonstrate stable photoresponse, retaining 92% of its initial performance after two months of storage. To overcome limited pixel density, a deep-learning-based super-resolution (SR) model reconstructs 10 × 10 inputs into 80 × 80 optical information with 97.2% accuracy and 0.03 s latency. Additionally, an AI-based eye-tracking system recognizes nine eye gestures with 99.3% accuracy, enabling smooth hands-free robotic arm control. A research team, led by Professor Im Doo Jung from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, has developed a groundbreaking smart contact lens that enables users to control robots through eye movements. This innovative device combines embedded optical sensors with AI-based signal processing, offering a lightweight, intuitive human-machine interface with vast potential across industries. The lens incorporates a 10×10 array of light sensors capable of detecting subtle changes in light distribution caused by eye movements, including gaze direction and blinks. These signals are transmitted to control external robotic systems, as demonstrated with a robotic arm. Notably, the team employed a novel Meniscus Pixel Printing (MPP) technique to directly print sensors onto the curved lens surface without masks or complex fabrication steps, ensuring high precision and customizability. In addition to robotic control, the system demonstrates vision sensing capabilities by reconstructing optical information. To address the limited signal resolution inherent to micro-scale devices, the researchers applied deep-learning-based super-resolution algorithms, reconstructing high-fidelity signals equivalent to an 80x80 sensor array in just 0.03 seconds. This enables real-time, accurate control based solely on eye movements, achieving recognition accuracies of up to 99.3% under experimental conditions. This technology marks a significant advancement in ultra-compact human-machine interfaces, enabling precise, hands-free control of electronic devices. Potential applications include remote robotic operation, medical assistive devices, exploration in hazardous environments, defense systems, and smart mobility. Published in the March 2026 issue of Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor: 19.0, JCR Top 5%)—a top-tier journal in materials science—the research was selected as the Front Cover of the latest issue. The study received support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE). Journal Reference Byung-Hoon Gong, Dohyean Kim, Jiyun Jeong, et al., "Meniscus Pixel Printing for Contact-Lens Vision Sensing and Robotic Control," Adv. Funct. Mater., (2026).
2026-04-23
JooHyeon Heo
68
Innovative Scalable Electrochemical Approach for Transforming Waste Glycerol into Hydrogen and High-Value Chemicals
The findings of this research were published online in Joule (IF: 35.4) on March 18, 2026.
Abstract Interest in electrochemical glycerol oxidation reactions (GORs) continues to grow as a promising strategy for hydrogen production. By replacing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), GOR reduces energy consumption while generating hydrogen at the cathode and value-added formate at the anode, offering techno-economic advantages over conventional water electrolysis. However, its practical implementation is still hindered by reliance on precious metal catalysts and performance losses in scaled-up systems. Here, we synthesized a non-precious CuCo oxide (CCO) electrocatalyst at a tens-of-grams scale through co-precipitation and simple surface treatment. When applied to an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, the modified CuCo oxide achieved 110 mA cm−2 at 1.31 Vcell using a 7 cm2 non-precious GOR anode with 96% formate selectivity. The system was further scaled to a 79 cm2 anode, delivering 3.2 A at 1.31 Vcell. This study demonstrates a practical and economically favorable pathway for scalable hydrogen production via glycerol valorization in AEM electrolyzers. A joint research team, led by Professors Ji-Wook Jang, Hankwon Lim, and Hosik Lee from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, in collaboration with Dr. Juchan Yang from the Energy & Environment Materials Research Division at Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), has announced the development of a high-performance, scalable electrochemical system that transforms waste glycerol—an industrial byproduct of biodiesel production—into hydrogen and value-added chemicals, such as formate. This innovative system replaces the conventional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis with glycerol oxidation, resulting in reduced energy consumption and enhanced efficiency. Using a copper-cobalt oxide catalyst, the system a current density of 110 mA/cm² at just 1.31 V, with 96% selectivity for formate. The technology was successfully scaled to a 79 cm² electrode, demonstrating its potential for industrial applications. This advancement provides a sustainable, cost-effective pathway for large-scale hydrogen production through glycerol valorization. By simultaneously generating hydrogen and valuable chemicals from waste biomass, the approach promises significant reductions in green hydrogen costs and improved resource efficiency. Additionally, integrating energy and chemical manufacturing processes supports global efforts toward carbon neutrality and a sustainable hydrogen economy. Moreover, its scalability and compatibility with continuous operation suggest promising prospects for industrial deployment and further scale-up to megawatt-level systems. Juchan Yang, Principal Researcher at KIMS, emphasizes, “This study demonstrates the large-scale synthesis of low-cost, non-precious catalysts and their successful integration into a practical electrolyzer system, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.” Professor Ji-Wook Jang of UNIST adds, “Transforming biomass waste like glycerol into high-value chemicals and hydrogen not only accelerates carbon neutrality but also offers strategic advantages in building a sustainable hydrogen economy.” The findings of this research were published online in Joule (IF: 35.4) on March 18, 2026. The study was supported by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). Core analyzes and computational modeling were conducted using supercomputing resources provided by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), with technical support, as well as the synchrotron radiation source at the 6D beamline of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. Journal Reference Ki-Yong Yoon, Seon Woo Hwang, Hee Yoon Roh et al. , “Commercial-scale glycerol valorization using surface-modified copper cobalt oxide catalyst in high-capacity anion exchange membrane electrolyzer,” Joule , (2026).
2026-04-23
JooHyeon Heo
46
New Study Uncovers Shift in Climate Drivers Intensifying Wildfires in Australia
The findings of this research were published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology on April 11, 2026.
Abstract Wildfire variability in Southeastern Australia (SEA) has intensified in recent decades, posing increasing risks to ecosystems and agriculture under a changing climate. However, the mechanisms driving the recent amplification of extreme fire weather remain unclear. Using austral-summer data from 1981–2022, we quantify interannual links between the Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and land–atmosphere variables. Fire Weather Days (FWD) are defined as days exceeding an extreme FFDI threshold each fire season and are validated against satellite-based burned area and fire intensity across SEA. We show that recent fire risk in SEA is characterized not by a gradual increase but by a regime shift in extreme fire weather conditions. An early-2000s transition is marked by enhanced interannual variability and an approximately fivefold increase in FWD, linked to increased positive skewness in daily FFDI. Among FFDI components, the drought factor (DF), representing hydrological stress, exhibits the largest increase in extreme occurrences, especially when co-occurring with high temperature (T) and low relative humidity (RH). The contribution of compound DF & RH & T events to total FWD more than doubles between 1981–2001 (P1) and 2002–2022 (P2). Segmented regression further reveals strengthened interannual FWD sensitivity to DF in P2. In P1, variability reflected atmospheric warming and drying, whereas P2 is characterized by intensified land–atmosphere coupling that amplifies hydrological stress and compound extremes. This transition coincides with changes in large-scale circulation, with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) emerging as the dominant driver of FWD variability in the recent period, while ENSO exerted a stronger influence earlier. Increased FWD variability is also closely linked to interannual maize yield fluctuations across SEA. These findings highlight a hydrologically-driven regime shift in extreme fire weather and underscore the need for integrated climate-fire-agriculture risk assessment. An international team of researchers, affiliated with UNIST, has identified a dramatic transformation in wildfire patterns across Southeastern Australia (SEA). Analyzing data from 1981 to 2022, the research shows that since the early 2000s, the region has experienced a fivefold increase in extreme fire weather days, driven increasingly by the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) rather than the traditionally dominant El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This shift highlights new challenges in predicting and managing wildfires under a changing climate. Led by Professor Myong-In Lee from the Department of Civil, Urban, Earth and Environmental Engineering at UNIST, this study was conducted in collaboration with experts from the University of Hawaii and POSTECH. In this study, the team identified a regime shift beginning in the early 2000s, characterized by emphasized interannual variability and a sharp rise in extreme fire weather days. Over the past two decades, wildfire risk volatility has more than doubled. This change is primarily attributed to the strengthening of land-atmosphere coupling, where drought conditions intensify surface heating, creating a feedback loop that fuels more frequent and severe wildfires. beginning in the early 2000s, marked by heightened interannual variability and a sharp rise in extreme fire weather days. Over the past two decades, wildfire risk volatility has more than doubled. This change is primarily driven by strengthened land–atmosphere coupling: drought conditions dry out surface soils, creating a feedback loop that amplifies surface heating and fosters more frequent and severe wildfires. While ENSO has traditionally been the main climate driver influencing Australian wildfires, recent evidence indicates that the SAM’s influence has grown, now serving as the dominant factor regulating wildfire variability. Kiwook Kim, the main author of the study, comments, “Our findings emphasize the need for enhanced monitoring of atmospheric circulation patterns and soil moisture levels. This knowledge is vital for improving fire risk predictions and informing climate adaptation strategies to safeguard communities and ecosystems.” “Understanding how climate factors influence wildfires is more critical than ever,” says Professor Lee. “Recognizing the increasing role of the Southern Annular Mode and the complex land-atmosphere interactions enables us to develop more accurate prediction models and better prepare for future wildfire seasons.” The findings of this research were published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology on April 11, 2026. This research was supported by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) under the Climate Change R&D Project for New Climate Regime project, funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of Korea. Journal Reference Kiwook Kim, Myong-In Lee, Seungseok Lee, et al. , “Local and remote drivers of increased variability in extreme wildfire conditions in Southeastern Australia,” Agric. For. Meteorol., (2026).
2026-04-22
JooHyeon Heo
98
Bright Quantum Light Emission Achieved at Room Temperature in 2D Semiconductors
The findings of this study have been published in Science Advances on March 13, 2026.
A joint research team, led by Professor Yung Doug Suh of UNIST, who also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Professor Kyoung-Duck Park from POSTECH, has succeeded in realizing a high-efficiency quantum light source that emits bright lights even at room temperature. The achievement overcomes a longstanding limitation of two-dimensional semiconductors—atomically thin materials typically about 100,000 times thinner than a human hair—which previously required either cryogenic temperatures or complex electrical gating structures to produce efficient light emission. At the heart of the study are excitons, the light-emitting quasiparticles that form when electrons bind with “holes”—the absence of an electron that behaves like a positive charge—in a semiconductor. In two-dimensional semiconductors, excitons are especially important because they can enable ultrathin and highly efficient optical devices. However, there has been a major problem: at room temperature, excitons tend to spread out too easily, making it difficult to generate bright light from a precise location. Recently, researchers have become increasingly interested in localized excitons—excitons that are trapped in a confined nanoscale region. A useful analogy is a ball rolling on a flat floor versus a ball sitting in a bowl. On a flat surface, the ball moves around freely, but in a small hollow, it remains trapped in one place. Localized excitons behave similarly: once confined, they can emit light more stably and with better control over wavelength, making them attractive candidates for ideal quantum light sources. But room temperature makes this difficult. As thermal energy rises, excitons can escape from the trapping region, just as a ball may bounce out of a shallow bowl. At the same time, excess charges remaining in the material can interact with excitons or drain away their energy, causing the system to lose energy as heat instead of light. For this reason, the light-emission efficiency of localized excitons in two-dimensional semiconductors has typically remained below 1% under ambient conditions. To overcome this challenge, the team designed a 500-nanometer nanohole structure beneath a monolayer of MoS2, a representative two-dimensional semiconductor. This nanohole acts like a nanoscale bowl, naturally funneling excitons toward its center and confining them to a tiny region. According to the researchers’ simulations, about 98% of excitons in the nanohole region were funneled into the center and formed localized exciton states, indicating highly efficient confinement within the nanoscale region. At the same time, the researchers addressed another major source of loss: excess electrons in the material. During the transfer process used to place the MoS2 layer onto the gold substrate, a thin residual water layer forms naturally at the interface. This layer acts as a dielectric barrier that prevents efficient charge transfer, allowing excess electrons to remain in the semiconductor and degrade emission. By applying thermal annealing, the team removed this water layer and enabled electrons to flow from the MoS₂ into the gold substrate. This effectively neutralized the material and greatly suppressed nonradiative loss pathways. As a result, the system produced bright localized exciton emission under ambient conditions, with the photoluminescence quantum yield increasing by about 130 times compared with the pre-annealed state. The researchers report that the quantum yield in the nanohole region increased from 0.076% (basically unusable) to about 10% (clearly visible bright light), far above the typical value for pristine monolayer MoS₂ at room temperature. By using the quantum confinement effect to trap light-emitting excitonic states within an extremely small region, the researchers demonstrated a practical route toward bright and stable quantum emission over large areas. This result is significant because it shows that quantum emitters made from two-dimensional semiconductors can achieve brightness and stability approaching that of quantum dots used in QLED displays, while retaining the additional advantages of atomically thin materials. The work also suggests a path toward even more advanced devices. By making the nanostructures smaller and further optimizing the optical excitation conditions, the researchers believe it may become possible to achieve high-efficiency single-photon emission at room temperature, something that has remained extremely challenging until now. Professor Kyoung-Duck Park said, “The key achievement of this study is that we realized a quantum light source that emits brightly even at room temperature by gathering and confining light-emitting particles into a single nanoscale point. This structure can serve as a foundation for a wide range of future photonic and quantum devices.” The team also demonstrated that the localized exciton emission could be dynamically and reversibly controlled. By applying gigapascal-scale pressure using the tip of an atomic force microscope, they were able to modulate the strain at the nanohole and thereby tune the behavior of the localized excitons. In annealed samples, this led to an approximately 120% increase in localized exciton emission intensity, and the effect disappeared when the pressure was released, showing that the process is fully reversible. Associate Director Yung Doug Suh of IBS said, “An important aspect of this work is that we were able to dramatically improve performance by precisely controlling how light is generated and lost in a two-dimensional semiconductor. This technology could become an important turning point toward future room-temperature single-photon sources.” Another important aspect of the study is its practical scalability. Many previous strategies for realizing efficient localized exciton emission relied on complex electrical device architectures or cryogenic environments, both of which make real-world implementation difficult. In contrast, the present method uses a relatively simple combination of nanostructuring and thermal processing. Because the approach is compatible with established semiconductor wafer-scale fabrication processes, the work opens the door to scalable, integrated quantum light-source technologies for applications, such as quantum communication, quantum computing, and next-generation nano-LEDs. Beyond quantum communication and quantum computing, the researchers say the platform may also be useful for high-efficiency nanoscale light sources, tunable optoelectronic devices, and future nanophotonic technologies. More broadly, the work provides a new design strategy for controlling excitons in low-dimensional materials: by simultaneously confining excitons spatially and neutralizing unwanted charges, it becomes possible to stabilize bright quantum emission even under ordinary room-temperature conditions. The findings of this research were published in Science Advances on March 13, 2026. Yung Doug Suh Professor, Department of Chemistry, UNIST Associate Director, IBS Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials (CMCM) E: ydougsuh@gmail.com William I. Suh Public Information Officer IBS Public Relations Team T: +82-42-878-8137 E:willisuh@ibs.re.kr Story Source Materials provided by theInstitute of Basic Science. Notes for Editors The online version of the original article can be foundHERE. Journal Reference Taeyoung Moon, Hyeongwoo Lee, Jihae Lee, et al ., “Highly radiative emission of room temperature–localized excitons enabled by charge-neutralized 0D quantum wells in 2D semiconductors,” Sci. Adv. , (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ady2186
2026-04-20
JooHyeon Heo
127
Breakthrough Observation of Transient Intermediate in Nitrite-to-Nitric Oxide Conversion
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) on March 20, 2026.
Abstract The reduction of nitrite (NO2–) to nitric oxide (NO) is a fundamental transformation within both the global nitrogen cycle and enzymatic signaling pathways. Although extensively investigated, the elusive {FeNO}6 intermediate implicated in the 2H+/1e– reduction pathway has rarely been observed or isolated due to the inherent instability. Here, we present a comprehensive mechanistic investigation of nitrite reduction by a mononuclear iron(II)-nitrite complex, [FeII(TBDAP)(NO2)(CH3CN)]+ (1) (TBDAP = N,N′-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)-pyridinophane). Treatment of 1 with 2.5 equiv of triflic acid (HOTf) affords the {FeNO}6 (2) intermediate, which was characterized using a combination of various physicochemical techniques and DFT calculations. Isotopic labeling using Na15NO2 confirmed the formation of 2 via heterolytic N–O bond cleavage. Kinetic studies revealed a HOTf-independent rate constant and a markedly negative value of activation entropy for the formation of 2, suggesting that the rate-determining step involves an associative reaction between Fe(II) and NO+. Electrochemical analysis showed a reversible redox couple for 2, and subsequent one-electron reduction by ferrocene released NO. The generation of NO was confirmed through trapping experiments using [Co(TPP)], resulting in the formation of [Co(TPP)(NO)]. The experimental findings establish {FeNO}6 as an isolable and reactive intermediate, offering new insight into the mechanistic landscape of nitrite reduction. Researchers from UNIST and Jeonbuk National University have, for the first time, captured and analyzed a short-lived iron (Fe)-based intermediate involved in converting nitrite (NO2–) to nitric oxide (NO)—a key process in the nitrogen cycle and biological signaling. This discovery, made at ultra-low temperatures, provides new insights into how vital molecules are produced in nature and in biological systems. Using a specialized Fe(ll)-nitrite complex and reaction conditions at -40°C, Professor Jaeheung Cho from the Department of Chemistry at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Kyung-Bin Cho at Jeonbuk National University isolated the elusive {FeNO}⁶ intermediate, a critical step preceding NO release. Spectroscopic and computational analyses confirmed that this species forms after NO2– accepts a proton and undergoes bond cleavage, with the nitrogen-oxygen ion binding to Fe. Further electron transfer then liberates NO. The study also revealed that the reaction pathway varies depending on whether proton and electron transfers occur sequentially or simultaneously, providing nuanced insight into reaction mechanisms. Professor Cho remarked, “This is the first direct observation of the intermediate in NO2– reduction to NO. Understanding this step could inform targeted therapies for vascular diseases and inspire the design of new catalysts with improved efficiency.” According to the research team, this discovery advances fundamental knowledge of nitrogen cycle chemistry and biological NO production, with potential applications in medicine and sustainable catalysis. By elucidating the reaction pathway, the research opens avenues for developing innovative treatments and catalytic systems. These findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) on March 20, 2026. The study has been supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Journal Reference Seungwon Sun, Youngjin Jeon, Youngseob Lee, et al., “Unveiling an {FeNO}6 Intermediate: A Sequential Mechanistic Investigation of Nitrite Reduction in a Mononuclear Iron(II) Complex,” JACS, (2026).
2026-04-16
JooHyeon Heo
352
Targeted Nanoparticles Eliminate Aging Retinal Cells to Reverse Vision Decline
The findings of this research were published in Nature Communications on March 18, 2026.
Abstract Sensitive cells contribute to degenerative processes in multiple tissues, including the retina. In the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), their accumulation is closely associated with retinal aging and disease progression. Eliminating senescent RPE cells has shown therapeutic potential, but conventional senolytics often lack the specificity required to spare non-senescent cells, raising safety concerns. To overcome this, we performed integrated transcriptomic analyzes of male mouse-derived RPE cells under natural aging and chemically induced senescence conditions. These analyzes identified Bst2 as a membrane-localized marker selectively upregulated in senescent RPE cells, with minimal expression in young controls. Based on this discovery, we developed a modular, antibody-pluggable drug delivery platform–BZ-PON–comprising mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with a recombinant Fc-binding domain and conjugated with anti-Bst2 antibodies. This nanocarrier selectively accumulates in Bst2-expressing senescent RPE cells, enabling targeted drug delivery and sparing healthy retinal cells. In vivo administration of ABT-263-loaded BZ-PON in aged and senescence-induced retinal degeneration models resulted in the selective ablation of senescent cells, restoration of RPE function, and improved visual outcomes. Together, our study integrates senescence-specific marker discovery with precision nanomedicine, establishing a versatile platform for targeted senotherapy. These findings offer a promising therapeutic approach for retinal aging disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration. A collaborative team of researchers from UNIST and Konkuk University College of Medicine has introduced an innovative nanotechnology platform that precisely targets and removes aging retinal cells, leading to partial restoration of vision in mouse models. This advancement opens new possibilities for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness worldwide. As the global population ages, the incidence of AMD continues to rise, damaging the central retina and impairing vision. Current treatments primarily address symptoms but do not fundamentally halt disease progression. The new platform specifically eliminates senescent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells—cells that, when aged, secrete harmful substances that exacerbate retinal degeneration. Led by Professor Ja-Hyoung Ryu from the Department of Chemistry at UNIST and Professor Hyewon Chung from the Department of Ophthalmology at Konkuk University College of Medicine, the research team developed mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with antibodies targeting Bst2, a protein uniquely overexpressed on the surface of senescent RPE cells. These nanoparticles deliver a potent senolytic drug, ABT-263, directly into the aged cells. Once inside, they release the drug, inducing cell death while sparing healthy tissue. The design also ensures safety: even if nanoparticles bind to normal cells, they remain inactive unless exposed to the high-glutathione environment characteristic of senescent cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that intravitreal injection of these drug-loaded nanoparticles selectively removed senescent cells without harming healthy tissue, resulting in significant improvements in retinal electrical responses and partial recovery of visual function in mice. Professor Chung emphasized, “Our targeted approach addresses the disease at its root, moving beyond symptom management. This could revolutionize treatment for dry AMD and other age-related degenerative conditions.” Professor Ryu added, "By identifying a novel marker and engineering targeted nanocarriers, we have paved the way for highly specific therapies that can be adopted to other age-related diseases by simply changing the targeting antibody." The findings of this research were published in Nature Communications on March 18, 2026. This study has been supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Korean ARPA-H Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW). Journal Reference Jun Yong Oh, Jae-Byoung Chae, Hyo Kyung Lee, et al., “Bst2-targeted senotherapy restores visual function by eliminating senescent retinal cells,” Nat. Commun., (2026).
2026-04-15
JooHyeon Heo
341
Turning Solar Panel Waste into Hydrogen and High-Value Silica
The research was published in the online version of Joule on March 27 and highlighted in its Future Energy section.
Summary Although Earth's abundant silicon (Si) is thermodynamically reactive with water to produce hydrogen (H2) and silicon oxide (SiO2, silica), the Si-water reaction is kinetically self-limited by the silica passivation layer that spontaneously forms on Si surfaces. If this limitation of the Si-water reaction can be overcome, hydrogen (H2) can be directly produced from water. Here, we demonstrate that “dynamic” mechanochemistry can overcome the self-limitation of the Si-water reaction, without using corrosive additives, to reach the theoretical limit. As one real-world application, upcycling end-of-life silicon solar panels was performed, with techno-economic analysis suggesting the strong competitiveness of the proposed method for the Si-water reaction. High-purity hydrogen (∼100%) gas and solid silica as a value-added product were produced under a separation-free process. In response to the growing accumulation of end-of-life solar panels, researchers at UNIST have unveiled an innovative, environmentally friendly method to convert photovoltaic silicon into high-purity hydrogen and valuable silica. Led by Professor Jong-Beom Baek from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, this breakthrough promises to revolutionize solar panel recycling and sustainable hydrogen production. The team led by Professor Jong-Beom Baek developed a mechanochemical process that overcomes the self-limiting silica passivation layer on silicon surfaces. By placing silicon and water with small abrasive beads into a rotating vessel, repeated mechanical collisions strip the silica layer, enabling the reaction to proceed to nearly its theoretical maximum. Experimental results show approximately 1,706 mL of hydrogen per gram of silicon—achieving 99.6% of the maximum yield, significantly surpassing conventional thermochemical methods. Moreover, the silica byproduct serves as an effective catalyst support. When used with nickel catalysts, it enhances carbon dioxide conversion and methane selectivity, thanks to its high surface hydroxyl density that improves catalyst dispersion. “By leveraging waste silicon from decommissioned solar panels, our process produces high-purity hydrogen efficiently while also recovering valuable silica for industrial applications,” says Professor Jong-Beom Baek. “This approach not only advances sustainable energy but also contributes to resource circularity and environmental protection.” This technology offers a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally benign alternative to traditional photovoltaic waste management. Operating continuously, the process boasts higher productivity and energy efficiency, making it suitable for industrial deployment. It paves the way for a circular economy in solar energy, transforming waste into valuable resources and supporting the global shift toward clean hydrogen. The findings of this research were published in the online version of Joule on March 27 and were highlighted in the journal's Future Energy section. The study has been supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). Journal Reference Yanhua Shao, Runnan Guan, Jiwon Gu, et al ., “Reaching the theoretical limit of H2 production from the self-limiting silicon-water reaction via dynamic mechanochemistry,” Joule , (2026).
2026-04-14
JooHyeon Heo
431
New Study Unveils High-Performance Porous Carbon Fiber for Rapid Removal of Radioactive Iodine
The findings of this research have been published in Chemical Engineering Journal on April 1, 2026.
Abstract The effective removal of nuclear waste from fission has attracted significant attention, with numerous porous sorbents reported in recent decades. The practical application of current sorbents is often hindered by limited removal efficiency and low production scalability. Here, we developed activated carbon fibers (ACFs) as an ultrafast and effective iodine capture material using a scalable method. The engineered ACFs possess and extraordinary micro/mesoporous structure with a surface area exceeding 2900 m2 g−1 while maintaining mechanical and thermal stability. The resulting fibers demonstrate a superior iodine capture capacity of 3.10 g g−1 and a capture rate of 2.76 g g−1 h−1. To further augment these properties, a novel oxygen-doping strategy was implemented. This approach dramatically improves performance, achieving 51% higher capacity (4.68 g g−1) and 76% faster rate (4.86 g g−1 h−1). Notably, exfoliation reactions of iodine within carbon layers that induced structural changes were discovered. Our work underlines the promise of ACFs for nuclear waste management. A joint research team, led by Professors Han Gi Chae and Seung Geol Lee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST has unveiled a novel, ultra-porous carbon fiber capable of quickly capturing radioactive iodine gases—a critical challenge in nuclear waste treatment and environmental safety. This scalable material demonstrates exceptional adsorption capacity and speed, with potential applications in nuclear facilities and emergency response. The engineered carbon fibers feature an extraordinary surface area exceeding 2,980 m² per gram, thanks to a manufacturing process that creates diverse pore sizes and incorporates oxygen doping. This structure enables the fibers to adsorb up to 4.68 grams of iodine per gram—over 1.5 times higher than conventional materials—and reach saturation within approximately 100 minutes. The oxygen doping enhances the chemical interaction with iodine, further boosting performance by 51% in capacity and 76% in adsorption rate. Additionally, the fibers maintain over 90% of their initial capacity after multiple reuse cycles, supporting cost-effective, large-scale deployment. The fabrication process is straightforward and cost-efficient, avoiding complex shaping steps typical of other materials like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), making mass production feasible. Professor Han Gi Chae explains, “Our findings reveal the dynamic structural changes during iodine adsorption, providing new insights into how porous carbon materials interact with hazardous gases. This advancement could revolutionize safety measures in nuclear waste management and environmental remediation.” This innovative material offers a practical, scalable solution for rapid iodine removal, essential for nuclear safety and environmental protection. Its ease of production and reusability pave the way for widespread application in nuclear facilities, accident response systems, and pollutant treatment. The findings of this research have been published in Chemical Engineering Journal on April 1, 2026. The study has been supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), and the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT). Journal Reference Changbeom Jeon, Hyejin Lee, Ga-Hyeun Lee, et al., "Simple oxygen doping strategy for highly porous carbon fibers enabling ultrafast and efficient iodine capture," Chem. Eng. J., (2026).
2026-04-13
JooHyeon Heo
287
UNIST Unveils AI-Driven Framework for Real-Time Multi-Pollutant Air Quality Monitoring
The findings of this research have been published in Environmental Science & Technology on March 20, 2026.
Abstract Simultaneous prediction of multiple air pollutants is essential for quantifying human co-exposure and evaluating the health impacts of pollutant mixtures. However, spatial and temporal gaps in geostationary satellite observations, chemical transport models, and ground-based monitoring networks hinder accurate hourly assessments of multi-pollutant dynamics. Here, we present Deep Learning for Multiple Air Pollutant analysis (DeepMAP), a deep learning framework that simultaneously predicts six major air pollutants─PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, CO, and SO2─at hourly resolution. DeepMAP demonstrated robust performance across multiple pollutants and generalized well to unseen regions. The framework accurately captured dynamic high-concentration co-pollution episodes during March 2021, with normalized RMSE values below 0.36 for all pollutants. DeepMAP revealed that PM10-PM2.5 co-exceedance was the most frequent across East Asia (91 days/year), followed by PM10-PM2.5-NO2 (42), PM2.5-O3 (18), and PM10-PM2.5-O3 (12). Hotspots for PM10-PM2.5-NO2–O3 co-exceedance were identified over the North China Plain, East China, and South Korea, where the regional annual totals reached 24, 19, and 15 days, respectively. A novel co-exposure index further identified three distinct hotspot regions where the contribution of NO2 was approximately twice that observed elsewhere. Our findings provide a high-resolution, data-driven framework for characterizing multi-pollutant co-exposure and identifying regional priorities for air quality management and public health protection. A research team, led by Professor Jungho Im from the Department of Civil, Urban, Earth, and Environmental Engineering at UNIST, has introduced DeepMAP, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence model that accurately estimates hourly levels of six key air pollutants across East Asia. The technology, developed from 2021 to 2023, provides new insights into the widespread and simultaneous exceedance of air quality standards, with significant implications for health policies and environmental management. DeepMAP integrates diverse data sources—including geostationary satellite imagery, atmospheric chemical transport models, meteorological data, and ground observations—to produce real-time, high-resolution maps of PM10, PM2.5, O₃, NO₂, SO₂, and CO. Operating at a 10 km spatial resolution and providing hourly predictions, the model captures dynamic pollution patterns and hotspots, revealing that Korea experiences about 15 days per year with four pollutants exceeding WHO safety thresholds simultaneously. Unlike traditional methods that estimate pollutants individually, DeepMAP’s multi-task learning approach models interactions among pollutants, significantly enhancing estimation accuracy. “By accurately capturing the complex interplay of multiple pollutants in real time, our model offers a powerful tool for assessing exposure risks and guiding effective policy decisions,” said Professor Jungho Im, lead researcher. “This represents a major step toward more realistic and comprehensive air quality management.” The study underscores the health risks posed by combined pollutant exposure, which can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Traditional monitoring methods often fall short in providing detailed, regional, and real-time data. DeepMAP’s capabilities open new avenues for environmental monitoring, public health research, and proactive policymaking, especially during pollution episodes driven by seasonal phenomena like dust storms and high-pressure systems. The findings of this research have been published in Environmental Science & Technology on March 20, 2026. The study has been supported by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) under the Ministry of Environment (ME), and by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT). Journal Reference Eunjin Kang, Sihun Jung, Jungho Im, et al., "Quantifying Multi-pollutant Co-exposure via Deep Learning-Based Simultaneous Prediction Using Geostationary Satellite Data," Environ. Sci. Technol., (2026).
2026-04-10
JooHyeon Heo
469
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