Discovery Park C136B
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Dr. Choi is an internationally recognized researcher in nanotechnology and has conducted pioneering research on synthesis of nanomaterials and applications in electronic devices and rechargeable batteries.
Dr. Choi awarded MRS Fellow title as the youngest person in 2009; the title of MRS Fellow honors members of the Materials Research Society who are notable for their distinguished research accomplishments and their outstanding contributions to the advancement of materials research, world-wide. The maximum number of new Fellow appointments each year is limited to 0.2% of the current MRS membership.
He has received numerous awards including MRS Medal Award (2006), Samsung Best Patent Award (2002), Samsung Best Paper Award (2002), Samsung Golden Technology Award (1998), CENG Research Award (UNT, 2020), Research Leadership Award (UNT, 2020).
One of the remarkable achievements in his research career was the invention of “Carbon Nanotube Flat Panel Display”, which was recognized as the first nanotechnology device and the result was reported in Science and was covered extensively by news media around the world. His inventions in carbon nanotube flat panel display with high emission and nano-second switching capability can transform its superior functionality in multitude of applications such as 2D digital X-ray and/or back lighting. His work has led to a demonstration by SAMSUNG of over 40-inch field emission flat panel display. The result led to more than 10 journal papers and 5 patents, and SAMSUNG Golden technology Award.
Dr. Choi pioneered to apply carbon nanotubes in electronic devices such as CNT vertical transistor, CNT phase change memory device, and CNT interconnect. The results were published in ~10 papers and ~10 patents, and reported in news media including YTN News and numerous News Papers such as Maeil Business, Seoul Economy, and Hankook Ilbo. The subsequent work on the CNT electronic interconnect concept to achieve nanodevice with high current density capability led to a solution for nano-memory device in SAMSUNG, which led to SAMUNG best patent award.
In addition, Dr. Choi is credited to invention of the single molecular DNA-sensor based on carbon nanotube array has potential application of identification of specific genes based on the hybridization-induced change in electrical signal. This platform could also be used in fundamental research studies understanding the properties of DNA at single molecular level. Variations of the technology could also be useful in such areas as revealing the presence of disease related genes, bacterial and viral. His innovation was patented (US Patent US8,597,492 B2) and reported in Nano Letters ("Direct Electrical Measurements on Single-Molecule Genomic DNA Using Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes"), and news media in the TRN News (January 2002), MIT’s Magazine (June 2003), Analytical Chemistry (2006), Nanowerk (2007), Nature Nanotechnology (2008).
Dr. Choi invented novel rechargeable battery technologies, including an innovative
structure of Li-S battery with a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) film coated Li metal
anode and a catalyst assisted 3D carbon nanotube fiber (CNF) cathode. The invented
Li-S battery has shown the high gravimetric energy density greater than 500Wh/kg,
which is at least two times higher than Li-ion battery and significantly lighter (50%)
than conventional Li-ion batteries. The results were reported in several journal
papers including Nature Nanotechnology (2018), Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2020),
ACS Nano (2020), and Journal of Power Sources (2021). His novel Li-S battery technology
is significant for the development of advanced UAVs that require an energy storage
system capable of lasting for long endurance flights. His team has further improved
the energy density of Li-S batteries through the one-dimensional grain boundary diffusion
of ions through layered two-dimensional materials. He founded a start-up company and
licensed from UNT for developing practical rechargeable batteries. His current work
is focused on continuing advancements in the development of solid-state rechargeable
batteries.
His innovation was patented in UNT (US 63/137,712, UNTP.P0030US.P1/1001149409; U.S.
application No. 17/219,523 (2020); 63/170,862 (2021); PCT/US18/17585; PCT/US2017/026659)
and reported in News media such as North Texas Daily (March 20, 2018); Newspapers
(Seoul Economy, VERITAS, Korea Research Journal, UNT Research News Letter.
He is an author/co-author of over 80 patents, 1 book (Graphene), 11 book chapters, and 260 publications (Google Scholar citations >16,000, h-index 65). He served as Editor-in-Chief in Nanoscience and Technology, Topical Editor in Current Applied Physics (Elsevier), editor of Materials Science and Research, Guest Editor of Battery (MDPI), and a member of editorial boards of several journals. Since joining the UNT in the Fall of 2012, Dr. Choi has published over 50 peer reviewed journal papers, and the majority papers are found in high impact journals such as Nature Nanotechnology, ACS Nano, Advanced Functional Materials, Scientific Report, Small, Materials Today and so on. Dr. Choi has issued and filed 10 patents at UNT. Three of the issued patents have been licensed to a company to make the technology for practical products. He is a founder of the ARK Power Technology Co. and raised ~$600k for the first round.
Dr. Choi has received numerous research grants from NSF, AFOSR, DARPA, SRC, DOE, and industry, including Samsung with totaling ~ $7.0M (his portion). In 2021, he currently has over $1.2M in active research funding from NSF, DOE, AFOSR, and DOD to develop new materials, functional devices, and next generation integrated rechargeable batteries, in addition, he has two service contracts (~$50k) and gift funds (~$80k) from industries.
At UNT, Dr. Choi mentored a group of 7 PhD, 5 MS, and 10 undergraduate students; gave over 100 presentations at international meetings and conferences; and had ~60 invited talks at international meetings, conferences, universities. His students received several award for their excellent research work including Excellence Award in the Graduate section of the 2019 ASM North Texas Research Symposium; Eunho Cha, a Ph.D. student, was awarded 2nd place in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition (2018); Juhong Park, a Ph.D. student, awarded the Best Poster Award in Electrochemical Society (ECS) in 2018; Sarah Zou, a TAMS student, was honored in National Regeneron Science Talent Search in 2018; and Santanu Das, a postdoc researcher, was awarded the Best Poster Award in 2013 MRS Fall meeting.
We are conducting basic and applied research at the frontier of nanomaterials and their applications in rechargeable batteries, nanoelectronics, and bioelectronics. Our passion lies in the discovery, understand and application of new paradigms to enable next generation devices and systems that can address societal needs. Currently, we're seeking a Postdoc and a PhD Research Assistant to join our Nano Materials and Devices Lab.
May 2021 Research Leadership Award, UNT Division of Research and Innovation (2021). https://vpaa.unt.edu/fs/recognition/SFE-award-winners21
April 2021 Acknowledged in UNT – “Researchers Tackling the Future of UAVs with Self-powered Wireless Sensors” (https://research.unt.edu/news/researchers-tackling-future-uavs-self-powered-wireless-sensors)
March 2021 Acknowledged in UNT: “Studying High-charge Transport in 2D Materials” (https://research.unt.edu/news/studying-high-charge-transport-2d-materials)
September 2020: Dr. Choi has been awarded the 2020 College of Engineering Research Award. https://materials.engineering.unt.edu/news/college-recognizes-faculty-staff
September 2020: UNT will participate in a $1.5 million DOE grant to innovate 3D printed materials for cars, https://engineering.unt.edu/news/unt-will-participate-15-million-doe-grant-innovate-3d-printed-materials-cars; Dallas Innovates (https://dallasinnovates.com/unt-to-advance-3d-printing-for-automobiles-through-a-1-5m-department-of-energy-grant/); Denton Record-Chronicle, (https://dentonrc.com/education/unt-researchers-receive-grant-to-develop-3d-printed-automotive-parts/article_00cdd0ec-b665-5662-818a-3cd5e993bdeb.html)
October 2019: Reported in news media, “Researchers developing an internal sensor for use in total knee replacement surgeries”:
February 2018: Our paper published in Nature Nanotechnology has been reported in news media (https://engineering.unt.edu/news/researchers-create-lithium-ion-replacement)
2017: Featured Article on Materials360 Online: http://www.materials360online.com/newsDetails/61817, “Two new methods reported for growing MoS2 on a large scale”
December 2017: Our paper published in Scientific Report (Nature) has been advertised in UNT News.
Please visit Faculty Info page and click "Publications" tab.
February 2023: NAI Fellow: Dr. Wonbong Choi elected to the rank of National Academy of Inventor (NAI) Fellow | Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes Institute
February 2018: Our team reported high efficiency Li-S batteries based on 2D MoS2 atomic layer protective layer for Li-metal in Nature Nanotechnology https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-018-0061-y (https://engineering.unt.edu/news/researchers-create-lithium-ion-replacement)
February 2018: Sarah Zou (TAMS student) has been named semifinals in the 2018 Regeneron Science Talent Search
December 2017: Our team reported Synthesis of uniform single layer WS2 for tunable photoluminescence that could lead to next-generation, ultra-thin opto-electronic devices (Scientific Report (Nature) ) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-16251-2
December 2013- Santanu Das has won the 2013 MRS Fall meeting poster Award for the poster titled, "Measurement of Graphene Substrates Adhesion Energy Using Nano-Scratch Study".
2012: Graphene Book has Published (ISBN: 978-1-4398-6187-5, CRC Press) Graphene, one-atom-thick planar sheet of carbon atoms densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice, has revolutionized the scientific frontiers in nanoscience and condensed matter physics due to its exceptional electrical, physical and chemical properties. Expected as a possible replacement for silicon in electronics and applications in many other advanced technology, graphene has brought enormous interest of many research groups around the world resulting in abruptly high number of publications and recently in Noble Prize in Physics. This book, edited by Prof. Wonbong Choi and Dr, Jo-won Lee, aims to present an overview of the advancement of research in graphene, in the area of synthesis, properties and applications, such as electronics, heat dissipation, field emission, sensors, composite and energy. Eleven chapters have been presented by experts from each research area.
Material Research Society (MRS) Fellow; selected for recognition with the distinguished title of MRS Fellow (the youngest MRS Fellow) 2009
MRS Medal (2006) “for important developments in the material science and applications of carbon nanotubes”