IF 22.87: Publication in a World‑Leading Journal

Professor Jung‑Hee Lee (Department of BIN Convergence Engineering) has developed a fundamental technology applicable not only to residential fuel cells but also to hydrogen fuel‑cell vehicles.

This research concerns the development of a high‑temperature cation‑conducting membrane using silicate nanocomposite materials, and the paper was published in Progress in Polymer Science (Vol. 37, No. 6). The journal, with an Impact Factor of 22.87, is the leading publication in the polymer field and ranks among the world’s top scientific journals alongside Nature, Science, and Cell.

Recently, Professor Lee achieved the notable feat of publishing papers in this journal for four consecutive years through various lines of research, including studies related to the dream material graphene.

This research proposes diverse directions for polymer nanocomposite membranes, specifically membranes in which the polymer matrix is reinforced with silicate nanomaterials—key components for polymer fuel cells used in hydrogen fuel‑cell vehicles.

A membrane is a barrier that filters substances. In fuel cells, it refers to a membrane that blocks electrons while selectively allowing only cations to pass.

In particular, the work has attracted considerable domestic and international attention because research on membranes—one of the ten core materials the government has identified for global market leadership—has lagged behind that of advanced countries, leaving the country dependent on 100% imports and with a weak supply base.

Professor Lee investigated membranes with added plate‑shaped nanoparticles, silicates, which increase cation conductivity and improve high‑temperature tolerance. He demonstrated that these membranes exhibit excellent conductivity and material properties.

A major obstacle for previously developed hydrogen fuel cells has been the requirement to supply moisture for operation. Applying the membrane developed by Professor Lee enables fuel‑cell operation without external moisture supply, and this is expected to have significant impact.

Meanwhile, over the past three years Professor Lee has published 65 SCI‑indexed papers, including 32 papers ranked in the top 10%, demonstrating outstanding research capability.

As a global leader in fuel‑cell research, he attracted the Fuel Cell Core Technology Research Center—previously conducted under the ministry—to the Jeonju Science and Industrial Complex in 2006 and served as its director for five years, providing technical support and R&D assistance to companies in the fuel‑cell sector.