에너지 및 환경촉매 연구실

Since the onset of industrialization, humanity’s progress has been accompanied by serious environmental and energy challenges, including global warming, air pollution, plastic waste accumulation, energy consumption, and the need for renewable energy solutions. Our laboratory focuses on the research and development of catalyst-based processes to address these global issues. Our work targets the reduction of greenhouse gases, removal of air pollutants, conversion of waste resources, and the production of clean energy. To achieve these goals, we take a systematic approach encompassing catalyst synthesis, performance evaluation, and reactor design. Through precise catalyst characterization, we aim to understand reaction mechanisms in detail and use this knowledge to develop highly efficient and durable catalytic processes. In particular, we prioritize the design of catalytic systems capable of operating under more demanding conditions than conventional methods, in order to reduce energy consumption and enhance overall sustainability. Benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are fundamental compounds widely used as building blocks in the production of petrochemical products. Conventional BTX production, typically based on naphtha cracking, is heavily dependent on crude oil and involves high energy consumption. Meanwhile, light alkanes such as methane to butane are readily available as byproducts in various processes. Converting these light alkanes into aromatics offers a promising strategy to reduce reliance on crude oil and improve overall process efficiency. Nitrogen oxides(NOx; NO and NO2), primarily generated through the combustion of fossil fuels, pose serious risks to both human health and the environment by contributing to acid rain, photochemical smog, and ozone layer deco