Meet Hyuenwoo Yang

I’m a third-year postdoc in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. My principal investigator (PI) is Dr. Gregory Parsons, an expert in thin film deposition and etching technology who excels at turning academic research into real-world solutions. For fun, I love playing ball sports like soccer and have recently been learning tennis from Sooyoung, a friend in my department. I also enjoy traveling to new cities and exploring them by bike. My career goal is to become a pioneer in engineering academia, contributing to real-world solutions across fields like energy and medical research. One quirky fact: I want to be a sci-fi novel writer—I want to expand my nerdy imagination to exciting stories!

What instruments are you using for your research and why do you like them?

I use Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD) in my research. These techniques are amazing because they let me deposit thin films with atomic-level precision, controlling thickness and composition down to the tiniest scale. I love them for their ability to create uniform coatings on complex, three-dimensional structures, which is essential for enhancing materials in applications like energy storage and conversion. ALD builds inorganic layers atom by atom through sequential reactions, while MLD extends that precision to organic or hybrid materials, offering flexibility to tweak properties for specific goals. Their reliability and versatility make them my go-to tools.

What have you been researching?

Rising CO₂ levels pose a significant threat to global environments suitable for human habitation. Developing methods to remove or convert CO₂ into valuable products is crucial for sustainability. My research focuses on enhancing silicon photocathodes in photoelectrochemical systems, which use solar energy to convert CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. I study inorganic-organic hybrid and polymer thin films, which improve selectivity for CO₂ reduction, enhance electron transport, and stabilize the electrode. This research has the potential to mitigate climate change by enabling carbon-negative technologies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, with significant economic benefits through energy-efficient CO₂ conversion.

What have you learned from your experience at AIF?

At AIF, I’ve sharpened my skills with familiar tools like XRD and AFM, while discovering new ones like ToF-SIMS and Raman spectroscopy. Beyond the equipment, the real takeaway has been the confidence I’ve gained in analyzing my own samples. Collaborating with AIF staff—who are always ready to brainstorm, troubleshoot, or suggest external resources when needed—has been invaluable. Their support has turned challenging experiments into achievable results, pushing my research further than I thought possible.

u003cstrongu003eu0022I’m thrilled to contribute to a future where solar power tackles climate challenges directly.u0022u003c/strongu003eu003cbru003e- Hyuenwoo Yang

Best thing about AIF in 5 words or less?

Cutting-edge equipment, supportive community

Is there a staff member at AIF that has helped you?

Several staff members have made a huge difference for my future work. Elaine Zhou helps me with ToF-SIMS to visualize the selective materials deposited or synthesized on patterned substrates. Her professionalism inspires me a lot because she is always more focused than me when I give up trying to find the elements on my own samples. She has been helping me with analyzing carbon nanotube based materials recently, and I am pleased to say that I will submit that draft in two months. Jenny Forrester recently helped me by reminding XRD to analyze tincone thin film which I published recently (in question 3). I have another idea on tincone thin film for more improvements towards CO₂ conversion, and her help in XRD will be valuable in the future. Toby Tung is a talented staff member who is always helpful, whether it’s SEM, AFM, or even ToF-SIMS.

This post was originally published in Analytical Instrumentation Facility (AIF).