Dr. Kim Hee-yeon and his crew at the Energy Materials Laboratory in the Korea Institute of Energy Research have developed a cutting-edge catalyst technology that maximizes the efficiency of the direct conversion process for methane, which was considered a significant challenge in the catalyst technology area for the past 30 years.

In terms of this new technology, it makes it possible not only to boost up the selectivity of ethylene created but also to inhibit methane oxidation reaction with side reaction by doping nitrogen components with a simple process into a catalyst of from tungsten series. It has even completed domestic registration and U.S patent application.