Dr. Hun Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), specializing in secondary batteries. He received his Ph.D. in Energy Engineering from Hanyang University in 2023 under the supervision of Prof. Yang-Kook Sun. Before joining KFUPM in August 2026, he served as a Brain Korea Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Assistant Professor at Hanyang University. He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, including 22 as a lead author, with many appearing in high-impact journals, and his work has received more than 4,500 citations (Google Scholar, as of August 2026). [Link]

Educational Qualifications

Ph.D. Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Republic of Korea, 2023

B.S. Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, Republic of Korea, 2017

Courses Taught:

MSE 201: Introduction to Materials

Research Interests [Link]

He explores materials and interfacial chemistries for rechargeable batteries. His research mainly focuses on designing functional electrolyte solutions for Li-ion batteries and developing novel sulfur composite cathodes for all-solid-state batteries. While he has conducted research on Li-ion, Li-metal, Li-S, and all-solid-state batteries, it is not confined to any specific chemistry, reflecting a broader focus on developing safe and high-energy systems. At KFUPM, he aims to develop stable battery chemistries tailored to the local climate, while leveraging data-driven approaches to investigate battery degradation behavior.

1. Functional Electrolytes for Li-ion and Li-metal Batteries

His group develops functional electrolyte solutions for wide-voltage/temperature range Li-ion batteries and Li-metal batteries by tuning solvents, salts, additives, and solvation structures.

2. Composite Materials for All-Solid-State Batteries

His group designs electrode composite materials and electrolyte membranes for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries using Ni-rich NCM/NCA and Chalcogen-based CAMs (S, Li₂S, Se, and SeS₂).

3. Electrolyte-Electrode Interface Design and Characterization

His group investigates how electrolyte and electrode components affect the electrode-electrolyte interface, and how these interactions influence material, electrode, and cell degradation, using electrochemical and surface-sensitive characterization techniques.

4. New Battery Chemistries and Advanced Electrode Processing 

His group explores emerging battery chemistries and advanced electrode-processing strategies. As long as the approach targets safe, high-energy batteries with promising potential, he is ready to explore and tackle any challenge.

Selected Recent Publications (Full publication list: [Link])

• ·     Sung-Min Park^†, Hun Kim^†, Keun-Hee Kim, Nam-Yung Park, Dong-Hyuk Hwang, Min-Jin Jang, Geon-Tae Park, Myung-Chan Kim, Kyung Yoon Chung, Hun-Gi Jung^*, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Ni-Rich Cathodes for High-Energy All-Solid-State Batteries Suppressing Phase-Gradients” Advanced Energy Materials, Accepted (2026).
  • Min-Seok Shin^†, Hun Kim^†, Ji-Min Lee, Myoung-Chan Kim, Yang-Kook Sun^* “High-Performance All-Solid-State Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Batteries Enabled by Iodine Coupling” Materials Today, 99, 103466 (2026). [Link]
  • Hun Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Min-Seok Shin, Ha-Neul Choi, Ilias Belharouak, Yang-Kook Sun^* “High-Areal-Capacity Sulfur Cathode Enabled by Dual-Phase Electrolyte for Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Batteries” Advanced Energy Materials 15, 2500867 (2025). [Link]
  • Hun Kim^†, Jae-Min Kim^†, Geon-Tae Park, Yeon-Ji Ahn, Jang-Yeon Hwang, Doron Aurbach^*, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Improving Cycling Stability of Ni-Rich Cathode for Lithium-Metal Batteries via Interphases Tunning” Advanced Energy Materials 15, 2403386 (2025). [Link]
  • Hun Kim, Jae-Min Kim, Yo-Han Yang, Yeon-Ji Ahn, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Suppressing Ni-Ion Dissolution for Long-Life Li-Metal Batteries” ACS Energy Letters 10, 6074–6081 (2025). [Link]
  • Hun Kim, Ha-Neul Choi, Min-Jae Kim, Shivam Kansara, Jun Tae Kim, Min-Seok Shin, Jang-Yeon Hwang, Hun-Gi Jung, Jun Ming, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Hierarchical Nanowire Host Material for High-Areal-Capacity All-Solid-State S/SeS2 Batteries” Advanced Functional Materials 35, 2415299 (2025). [Link]
  • Hun Kim, Jae-Min Kim, Ha-Neul Choi, Kyeong-Jun Min, Shivam Kansara, Jang-Yeon Hwang, Jung Ho Kim, Hun-Gi Jung, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Improving reaction uniformity of high-loading lithium-sulfur pouch batteries” Carbon Energy 6, e578 (2024). [Link]
• Nam-Yung Park, Han-Uk Lee, Tae-Yeon Yu, In-Su Lee, Hun Kim, Sung-Min Park, Hun-Gi Jung, Yun-Chae Jung, Yang-Kook Sun^* “High-energy, long-life Ni-rich cathode materials with columnar structures for all-solid-state batteries” Nature Energy10, 479–489 (2025). [Link]
• Hun Kim, Ha-Neul Choi, Jang-Yeon Hwang, Chong Seung Yoon, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Tailoring the interface between sulfur and sulfide solid electrolyte for high areal capacity all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries” ACS Energy Letters 8, 3971–3979 (2023). (Monthly Most Read Articles) [Link]

• Hun Kim, Kyeong-Jun Min, Sangin Bang, Jang-Yeon Hwang, Jung Ho Kim, Chong S. Yoon, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Long-Lasting, Reinforced Electrical Networking in High-Loading Li2S Cathode for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries” Carbon Energy 5, e308 (2023). [Link]
• Hun Kim^†, Jang-Yeon Hwang^†, Young-Geun Ham, Ha-Neul Choi, Muhammad Hilmy Alfaruqi, Jaekook Kim, Chong Seung Yoon^*, Yang-Kook Sun^* “Turning on lithium-sulfur full batteries at –10 °C” ACS Nano 17, 14032–14042 (2023). [Link]
• Hun Kim^†, Su-Hyun Lee^†, Jae-Min Kim, Chong Seung Yoon^*, Yang-Kook Sun^* “High-energy-density, long-life Li metal batteries via application of external pressure” ACS Energy Letters 8, 2970–2978 (2023). [Link]