The Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI; Korean: 한국기초과학지원연구원) is a Korean government-funded research institute that conducts basic science research and relevant pure basic research. KBSI was established in August 1988 as a research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology of Korea. Headquarters are located in Daejeon and Cheongju while nine regional centers are located in eight domestic cities.
Abstract Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs), such as Nafion, have been widely employed as separators between the anode and cathode electrodes in various fuel cells and electrolyzers due to their excellent ionic conductivity and durability. However, several critical aspects of PEMs, including the mechanisms of proton conduction, remain poorly understood. Moreover, the native, degraded, and regenerated states of PEMs require further investigation to enhance their performance. Consequently, comprehensive integrated analyses, particularly those integrating multiscale and multiple time-scale techniques, are essential not only for understanding the behavior of PEMs but also for improving their functional properties. In this context, we briefly overview various analytical methods used for structural and dynamical characterization of PEMs, including the self-diffusion and translational dynamics of ions. The application of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to the study of PEMs is also reviewed. In addition, in-situ/operando analyses and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning with accumulated analytical data are discussed as emerging strategies for developing new design concepts for PEMs.
Beam commissioning of the RAON linac has been carried out with various ion species in the injector and with 40Ar9+ and 40Ar8+ beams in the low-energy superconducting linac SCL3. This paper primarily reports the results obtained with 40Ar8+ beams, while data from other ion species are included when needed. A beam-tuning procedure for the LEBT based on Allison scanner data was established, enabling proper beam matching at the RFQ entrance. In the MEBT, transverse beam parameters were refined through wire-scanner measurements. During SCL3 beam commissioning, cavity settings obtained from phase scans yielded beam energies consistent with TRACK predictions and were confirmed by TOF measurements. The SCL3 transmission was lower than expected, indicating that further study is required to clarify and mitigate the beam-loss mechanisms, including possible limitations in the longitudinal acceptance.
Fully stretchable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), composed entirely of intrinsically stretchable materials, are essential for on-skin displays1-3. However, their low device efficiency has been a persistent barrier to practical applications for more than a decade4. Here we addressed this challenge by incorporating an intrinsically stretchable exciplex-assisted phosphorescent (ExciPh) layer. The elastomer-tolerant triplet-recycling mechanism mitigates exciton energy transfer limitations arising from the insulating elastomer matrix, yielding a light-emitting layer with more than 200% stretchability and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.7%. To translate this performance to fully stretchable devices, we integrated MXene-contact stretchable electrodes (MCSEs), which feature high mechanical robustness and tunable work function (WF), ensuring efficient hole and electron injection. These advances enable fully stretchable OLEDs with a record EQE of 17.0% and minimal luminescence loss under 60% strain. This approach to designing high-efficiency, mechanically compliant optoelectronics will enable the next-generation wearable and deformable displays.
The development of high-performance anode materials is critical for progressing lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology. In spite of the fact that SiOx has gained prevalent attention due to its high theoretical capacity and low cost, its practical application is impeded by poor electrical conductivity, severe volume expansion and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation. In this work, a novel GO-SnS/Sn-SiOx/C composite was synthesized via sol-gel, co-precipitation and loading approaches. The integration of SnS/Sn improved electronic conductivity and capacity; yet, its high reactivity led to continuous electrolyte decomposition. To constrain the inherent challenges associated with SiOx and SnS/Sn, graphene oxide (GO) was employed as a flexible conductive matrix to uniformly disperse SnS/Sn particles and buffer mechanical stress during cycling. The GO-SnS/Sn-SiOx/C composite exhibited superior electrochemical performance, delivering enhanced specific capacity, outstanding rate capability and remarkable long-term cycling stability compared to both bare SiOx/C and SnS/Sn-SiOx/C electrodes. The findings indicated that as-prepared nanohybrid GO-SnS/Sn-SiOx/C released a steady reversible capacity of 759.5 mAh/g with high-capacity retention of 80.6% at 1 A/g after 500 cycles, surpassing SiOx/C (56.3 mAh/g) and SnS/Sn-SiOx/C (96.3 mAh/g) anodes by factors of 13.5 and 7.9, respectively. The reduced charge-transfer resistance and improved lithium-ion diffusion were ascribed to this exceptional enhancement. This tactic paves the path for the advancement of hybridized SiOx anode materials with extended cycle life and excellent processability for high-capacity LIBs.
High-density metal single-atom catalysts (M–SACs) tend to aggregate during synthesis and electrocatalytic processes. To prevent this aggregation, it is essential to develop ultra-low-density M–SACs that exhibit high catalytic activity and stability, which is highly challenging. Additionally, M–SACs maximize the utilization of the active sites and thus increase the atomic efficiency for electrocatalysis. Here, we present the β–phase and α–phase hydroxide-functionalized metals [β–Ni(OH)2 and α–Co(OH)2] as sacrificial templates to produce various M–SACs (M = Pt, Ir, Pd, and Ru) embedded in porous nitrogen-bonded carbon sheets, where the metal hydroxides interact strongly with dicyandiamide–metal complexes, effectively preventing the aggregation of isolated metal atoms. The β–Ni(OH)2-driven platinum variant catalyst (Pt−0.38 wt%:β–PtSAs/S800; Pt−0.54 wt%:β–PtSAs/S850) demonstrates zero-onset potential, ultra-low overpotential (15 mV at 10 mA cm−2), exceptional stability over 10 days of operation, and unprecedented turnover frequencies of 3.68/3.38 H2 s−1/Pt-site, which are 78/72 times higher than that of 20 wt%Pt/C (0.047 H2 s−1/Pt-site) for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Notably, β–PtSAs/S850-based proton-exchange-membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) achieves a current density of 3.0 A cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.75 Vcell@80 ℃ [exceeding the Department of Energy 2026 target], along with stable operation for over 200 h at a current density of 1.0 A cm−2. Experimental observation and theoretical calculations indicate that the inner-hosted PtN2 moieties remain intact within the graphitic sheets due to their lower formation energy under acidic conditions, effectively reducing the overall HER energy barriers and showcasing the true active sites responsible for the remarkable catalytic activity.
