(Hydrogen Research Group Kim Ik-sun, Academic Research Student)

Please introduce this paper.

This paper improves the durability of amorphous cobalt phosphide (CoPx) electrodes used for hydrogen generation through water electrolysis. An electrode called CoPx has a very high hydrogen generation activity, but during the water electrolysis operation (power cycle), the hydrogen generation activity is significantly reduced and durability needs to be improved. This paper deals with the results and analysis of improved durability while maintaining high activity by adding Mn together when making CoPx electrodes.

< Overview of the research used in the press release of the paper>

What is the reason or background of your research?

Personally, more than half of them were motivated by anxiety. When I was about to graduate from my undergraduate program, I was spending every day without knowing what to do. 

 Around that time, I contacted you after seeing a notice posted by a senior who introduced that he was studying as a student at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology in a chat room where prospective graduates were gathered. That was the beginning of graduate school research.

Were there any difficulties or obstacles during the study?

Like the saying, "I see as much as I know," I didn't seem to know anything. After completing an experiment or analysis, it was often impossible to go further because they could not find directions or connections. The clues and breakthroughs that I discovered while discussing this with the research director are very helpful However, it is difficult to have time to discuss it with the professor. I go to see a lot of them, but most of the time I go to see them without development, so I feel very heavy. 

Do you have any memorable episodes from your research career?

Shortly after entering the school, I fell down at home and broke my front tooth. When I looked into the treatment cost, it was more expensive than I thought, so I thought I would do it someday, but Dr. Cho Hyun-seok saw it and told me to pay it back when I could pay it slowly, so I was able to take measures not too late. I forget a lot of things because I have a bad memory, but I'm very grateful for this, so it's memorable.

Is there a goal you want to achieve or something you want to do in the future? 

I hope the current research topic ends well.

Lastly, is there anything you want to say to researchers or other students?

Dear Researchers, Thank you for providing a place for a student named Mo to challenge.

Student researchers hope that the study will be completed successfully without any obstacles.