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National Research Laboratory 2.0 Research Team Identifies Reaction Mechanism for Solar-Powered Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

National Research Laboratory 2.0 Research Team Identifies Reaction Mechanism for Solar-Powered Lithium-Oxygen Batteries An Ewha Womans University research team under the Institute for Multiscale Matter and Systems (IMMS), part of a National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0) program headed by Professor Dong Ha Kim of the Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience, succeeded in systematically identifying how solar energy governs the internal reactions of lithium-oxygen (Li-O₂) batteries through real-time analysis. This study, carried out under the NRL 2.0 funding program with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education, demonstrated that light can regulate chemical reaction pathways inside batteries through plasmonic nanostructures (a nanomaterial technology in which nanoparticles of metals such as gold absorb light to amplify energy and promote chemical reactions). The research findings were published online on January 29 in Advanced Energy Materials, one of the world’s leading academic journals in the field. The research team developed a new plasmonic cathode structure (Au@UiO-66-NH₂) by combining gold (Au) nanoparticles inside the UiO-66-NH₂ metal-organic framework (MOF) designed by IMMS Director Professor Hoi Ri Moon. This structure was designed to enable solar energy to be effectively utilized in battery reactions by promoting light absorption and electron transport while maintaining the structural stability and porosity of the metal-organic framework. Experimental results showed that, unlike conventional batteries, Li-O₂ batteries formed thin-film discharge products (Li₂O₂) under solar irradiation, which decomposed during the charging process with less energy. The battery operated at a very low overpotential of 1.05 V in the first charge/discharge cycle and demonstrated outstanding durability by maintaining stable performance for more than 600 hours with only a small amount of gold. Significantly, this study represents the first time that IMMS published research findings in a world-class academic journal since it was launched late last year under the NRL 2.0 program. By combining plasmonic effects with MOF-based catalyst design, the study presents a new design strategy for high-efficiency and high-stability solar-powered Li-O₂ batteries, demonstrating the research capabilities and international competitiveness of the NRL 2.0 program. (from left) Prof. Dong Ha Kim, Prof. Hoi Ri Moon, Prof. Park, Jaehong This research was carried out with support from the Autonomous Priority Research Institute program at the National Research Foundation of Korea, the NRL 2.0 support program led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education, the BrainLink program, and the Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement program at the Korea Basic Science Institute (National Research Facilities & Equipment Center).
- No.857
- Writer
- Date2026.02.11
- Views9142
856
Ewha College of Education Earns Grade A in Sixth Consecutive Teacher Training Evaluation

Ewha College of Education Earns Grade A in Sixth Consecutive Teacher Training Evaluation Ewha Womans University’s College of Education achieved Grade A, the highest rating, in the Sixth Teacher Training Institution Capability Evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI). The College of Education achieved the remarkable feat of earning the highest rating (Grade A) in six consecutive evaluations: not only the sixth (2022–2024) but also the first (1998–2002), second (2003–2009), third (2010–2014), fourth (2015–2017), and fifth (2018–2021). The Teacher Training Institution Capability Evaluation consists of a comprehensive evaluation of an institution’s educational environment, curriculum, and performance in collaboration with the KEDI in order to support the self-directed improvement of teacher training institutions and to better equip prospective teachers for a career in future education. The history of teacher education at Ewha dates back to 1915 with the establishment of Korea’s first kindergarten training school and traditions that go back more than a century. Established in 1951 as Korea’s first private college of education, the university’s College of Education is the only comprehensive teacher training institution in the country offering all majors in the fields of kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and special education. It has produced more than 31,100 graduates over the years while playing a pivotal role in teacher education. The College of Education was also selected in 2024 to receive support under the Teacher Training University Reform Initiative organized by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and is leading efforts to strengthen AI and digital capacities, lead the transition to a future-oriented teacher training system, and enhance professionalism through synergy between undergraduate programs and the Graduate School of Education. With the College of Education in the vanguard, Ewha plans to foster teachers who will lead the future of education in a rapidly changing educational environment by proactively enhancing teachers’ capabilities in AI and the digital transformation, personalized learning design, and global cooperation in education, further consolidating its status as Korea’s first, best, and biggest teacher training institution.
- No.855
- Writer
- Date2026.02.09
- Views7662
854
Ewha Electronic and Electrical Engineering Graduates Record a 90 Percent Employment Rate in 2025...

Ewha Electronic and Electrical Engineering Graduates Record a 90 Percent Employment Rate in 2025, Ranking Second among Universities Nationwide Ewha Womans University’s Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering in the College of Engineering recorded a 90 percent employment rate in 2025, achieving one of the highest outcomes among electronic and electrical engineering departments nationwide. This result once again confirms the outstanding talent of Ewha graduates and the competitiveness of its education. This achievement is based on employment statistics compiled by the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education in Korea data disclosure service, applying the same criteria to all university departments with ten or more graduates. Ewha showed a strong performance in indicators reflecting not only the employment rate but also the graduate school admission rate. When graduate school admission is included, the employment rate reached 93.8 percent, indicating a balanced outcome between employment and further study, while the employment retention rate was recorded at 94.3 percent, demonstrating the high quality of employment and stable entry into major-related positions. These results are regarded as the outcome of continuous educational innovation at both the institutional and departmental levels. The Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering provides a curriculum centered on advanced technology, including semiconductor devices and circuit design, network and communication systems, artificial intelligence and signal processing, bioelectronics, and power and controls. Major courses are based on projects and provide opportunities for research participation, thereby strengthening students’ practical and research capabilities. In response to the technological paradigm shift in the era of artificial intelligence and growing labor demand in the semiconductor industry, Ewha established the Department of Semiconductor Engineering in 2024 and the Division of Convergent Electronic Semiconductor Engineering, which integrates Electronic and Electrical Engineering with Semiconductor Engineering, thereby building an education system for high-tech majors in the fields of electronic and electrical engineering and semiconductors. The university is also running the “Domain-Specific Semiconductor Design Workforce Development Program for Women” with the Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology from 2022 to 2025, a project with a total budget of KRW 2.1 billion, thereby strengthening the foundation of its undergraduate education.
- No.853
- Writer
- Date2026.02.05
- Views10468
852
Professor Dong Ha Kim’s Team Develops Polarization-Selective Photocatalysis Technology — Published in Advanced Materials

Professor Dong Ha Kim’s Team Develops Polarization-Selective Photocatalysis Technology — Published in Advanced Materials A research team led by Professor Dong Ha Kim with the Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience at Ewha Womans University has developed the world’s first polarization-selective photocatalysis technology that uses the chirality of light to increase hydrogen production efficiency by up to twofold. This achievement fundamentally improves the long-standing limitations of solar-driven hydrogen production; namely, inefficient light absorption and charge loss. The results were published on January 15 in the internationally renowned materials science journal Advanced Materials (impact factor: 26.8). Solar-driven hydrogen production has attracted attention as an eco-friendly energy technology; however, conventional photocatalysts have been limited by inefficient light absorption and charge recombination. Professor Kim’s research team introduced polarization, the directional property of light, into catalyst design and proposed a new principle for controlling charge-transfer pathways. The team synthesized chiral gold nanoparticles that selectively respond to right- and left-handed circular polarization (R-Au/C3N4 and L-Au/C3N4) through a light-induced growth method and confirmed a “chiral matching” effect in which hydrogen evolution significantly increases when the chirality of the catalyst matches the polarization of the incident light. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) analysis showed that electron–hole recombination was suppressed and electron lifetime increased, while extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis confirmed stronger Au–O bonding and the formation of active sites. This study experimentally demonstrated that the directional property of light can influence both charge transport and catalyst stability, marking a turning point for solar-driven hydrogen production technology. The paper reporting these findings, titled “Polarization-Selective Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reactions via Chiral Photocatalysis,” was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Autonomous Priority Research Institute program, the National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0) program, the BrainLink program, the Korea Basic Science Institute’s Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement program (National Research Facilities and Equipment Center), and the global chemical company Syensqo.
- No.851
- Writer
- Date2026.01.30
- Views9425
850
Ewha Launches Institute for Multiscale Matter and Systems as National Research Laboratory

Ewha Womans University held an opening ceremony for the Institute for Multiscale Matter and Systems (IMMS) on January 22 at Lee Sam-bong Hall in the Ewha Campus Complex. The occasion marked the official launch of the institute, which has been selected for the 2025 National Research Laboratory (NRL 2.0) program, a major government grant from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education. Through transdisciplinary convergence research spanning chemistry, physics, materials science, and artificial intelligence, Ewha IMMS aims to drive innovation in integrated multiscale research and technology development, from atomic- and molecular-level materials design to nano- and micro-scale structures and systems. Backed by a block grant of KRW 10 billion per year for the next decade, totaling KRW 100 billion, the institute plans to integrate experimental, theoretical, AI-driven, and data-driven approaches to conduct leading research in national strategic areas, including next-generation energy materials, functional advanced materials, and intelligent systems. To mark the occasion of the institute’s launch, the opening ceremony was attended by Ewha President Hyang-Sook Lee, Chairperson Eun Mee Kim of the Board of Trustees of Ewha Womans University and IMMS Director Hoi Ri Moon, along with key figures from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Education, the National Research Foundation of Korea, government-funded research institutes, and from across the industry. In her welcoming remarks, President Lee emphasized that the launch will serve as an important turning point in further expanding Ewha’s role as a research university and pledged the university’s full support in ensuring IMMS’s sustainable research outcomes and its contribution to addressing national challenges. Government officials and representatives from relevant organizations also expressed high expectations for the institute’s growth into a key research hub linking university-led research innovation with Korea’s national research strategies. In her introduction, IMMS Director Hoi Ri Moon announced “One Platform, Infinite Impact” as the institute’s vision and outlined three core goals: generating world-leading research outcomes, establishing a transdisciplinary research platform, and nurturing global talents in science. She also shared plans to develop AI-based precision materials design technologies and an AI-driven autonomous laboratory, aiming to contribute to addressing challenges in climate and energy as well as advanced semiconductor fields. With the opening of its new national research laboratory IMMS, Ewha plans to further strengthen its standing as a research university and to accelerate global collaborative research and talent development in advanced fields.
- No.849
- Writer
- Date2026.01.23
- Views13019
848
President Hyang-Sook Lee Visits California to Meet with Alumnae and Explore Partnerships in Silicon Valley

Ewha Womans University President Hyang-Sook Lee visited Los Angeles and San Francisco from January 8 to 12 to engage with Ewha alumnae in the region and to explore opportunities for university-industry collaboration with leading global companies and research institutes in an effort to strengthen the university’s global competitiveness. As the university prepares its 140th anniversary celebrations, the visit aimed to share its vision for a “New Era, New Ewha,” while expanding Ewha’s global networks in pursuit of its advancement as a world-class institution. During her visit, President Lee attended welcome receptions hosted by the Southern and Northern California alumnae associations, where she met with over a hundred Ewha graduates and thanked them for carrying forward Ewha’s spirit abroad, while introducing the university’s key vision and its 140th anniversary fundraising campaign. Attendees expressed their strong support for the university's progress and contributed to the fundraising drive. President Lee also met with next-generation alumnae in the region to explore ways to expand Ewha’s global alumnae network. In addition to the official events, President Lee held a series of individual meetings with prominent alumnae to seek new avenues for cooperation to support the university’s continued development, including the construction of the Ewha West Campus and initiatives to commemorate its 140th anniversary. Following the alumnae events, President Lee visited Silicon Valley to explore opportunities for global university-industry collaboration at leading global companies and research institutes, including Google, SRI International, Apple, and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. At Google, President Lee strengthened connections with Ewha alumnae employees, and at SRI International, she held discussions on collaborative R&D projects as well as entrepreneurship and student internship programs. Her discussions at Apple focused on guest lecture programs and talent development initiatives, and at Stanford HAI talks took place on collaborations in AI research and international research seminars, reflecting a shared commitment to building a sustained research partnership. President Lee’s visit marked a pivotal step in expanding Ewha’s global networks in advanced science and engineering fields, and building on this momentum, Ewha plans to actively strengthen its research capacity and accelerate global talent development as the university moves ahead with its “New Era, New Ewha” vision.
- No.847
- Writer
- Date2026.01.22
- Views9561
846
Ewha Makes Debut at CES 2026 with Innovative AI-driven Technologies

Ewha Womans University’s inaugural participation in the CES 2026, one of the world’s largest technology trade shows held each year in Las Vegas, Nebraska, showcased innovative new technologies from student and faculty startups, establishing a bridge to reach global consumers. Held from January 6 to 9, the event was visited by President Hyang-Sook Lee and university administrators in support of the entrepreneurs at Ewha’s booths in the Seoul Pavilion and to facilitate networking with global buyers. This year’s CES featured Ewha startups in key future industries including AI, healthcare, and security. Student startups Uniuni Corp. and EDM Gadget respectively presented AI-driven safety solutions for people with disabilities and energy optimization technology for data centers, while the faculty startup CoreTrustLink introduced its security technology for internal control automation, all three exhibitors drawing attention from international visitors. Uniuni Corp.’s restroom guard system Savvy was named winner of a CES Innovation Award for the second consecutive year with its high-tech safety solution for detecting falls and medical emergencies in public restrooms for people with disabilities, once again earning global recognition for its technological accomplishment. Ewha’s successful debut at CES demonstrates President Hyang-Sook Lee’s initiatives in university-industry collaboration and technology commercialization resulting in tangible achievements. President Lee’s presence at CES to support Ewha startups to expand their global consumer base serves as a testament to the university’s on-the-ground approach in entrepreneurship and university-industry collaboration policies. Ewha’s Startup Support Organization provided support for the exhibitors through the entire process of their participation, ranging from booth registration and promotion to buyer matching, as well as operating its Student Supporters program at CES to offer students an opportunity to gain field experience in global business. President Hyang-Sook Lee stated that Ewha’s inaugural participation at CES introduced the competitiveness of Ewha startups’ AI-driven technologies to the global stage and that Ewha will continue to strengthen its entrepreneurial ecosystem to deliver global performance. This year’s participation at CES will serve as an opportunity for Ewha to boost university-industry collaboration and support for entrepreneurship on a global scale.
- No.845
- Writer
- Date2026.01.21
- Views12717
844
Ewha Launches 140th Anniversary Commemorative Fundraising Committee for University Advancement

Ewha Womans University launched its 140th Anniversary Commemorative Fundraising Committee for University Advancement in a ceremony on January 15 at Lee Sam-bong Hall in the Ewha Campus Complex, officially marking the start of its leap toward “New Era, New Ewha” in celebration of the university’s landmark anniversary. The ceremony served to strengthen the financial base for Ewha’s mid- to long-term development and to establish a culture of donation for spreading the value of sharing and service, creating a meaningful start to the launch of the campaign to raise KRW 140 billion commemorating Ewha’s 140th anniversary. The event was attended by over a hundred guests, including committee members and potential donors. President Hyang-Sook Lee opened the ceremony with an introduction of Ewha’s 140th anniversary vision, highlighting that the sustained commitment of donors over the past 140 years has been a driving force behind today’s Ewha. Lee defined the committee members as partners in shaping Ewha’s future, and that Ewha’s rise as a prestigious global private university relies on the solidarity and engagement of all alumnae and support from across society. At the ceremony, the following were appointed co-chairs of the committee: Yeong-ja Kim, Seungsan Nanum Foundation Chairperson; Eun Mee Kim, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Ewha Womans University; Myung Kyung Lee, President of the Ewha Alumnae Association; Hyang-Sook Lee, President of Ewha Womans University; and Myong-sue Chang, former Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Ewha Womans University. In a joint declaration, the co-chairs stated their commitment to the 140th anniversary fundraising campaign as both committee members and as donors, marking the official launch of the Fundraising Committee. The donations raised through this campaign will primarily serve Ewha’s key initiatives for strengthening future competitiveness, including the expansion of research infrastructure, recruitment of outstanding talent, establishment of a university-wide AI convergence education system, and the construction of new campus infrastructure for the future. The committee has thus far secured KRW 60 billion in donations, which will help Ewha make the occasion of its 140th anniversary a turning point toward new leaps in research, education, and social responsibility.
- No.843
- Writer
- Date2026.01.19
- Views10100
842
Top 10 News Highlights 2025
- No.841
- Writer
- Date2025.12.30
- Views10651
840
2025 Ewha Family Christmas Service Held

The 2025 Ewha Family Christmas Service, co-hosted by the Chaplain’s Office and the Ewha Alumnae Association, was held on December 4 at Welch-Ryang Auditorium. First held in 1996, this annual service brings together members of the Ewha community, from students and alumnae to faculty and staff, both current and retired, in anticipation and celebration of the Christmas season. This year, guests also included the children and parents from Ewha Kindergarten and employees and their caregivers from Isu Management Corporation, an Ewha subsidiary established as a standardized workplace for the disabled, which added to the communal spirit and significance of the event. The service opened with the Ewha Christmas Prayer, recited by four representatives, each from faculty, staff, alumnae, and the student body, followed by a scripture reading and a Christmas message from University Chaplain Sunhee Ahn. In her Christmas greetings, President Hyang-Sook Lee emphasized Ewha’s spirit of service and sharing, expressing her hope that the Ewha community would continue to grow into one that shares the grace of Christmas throughout the world. The service also featured celebratory performances by the Ewha Male Faculty Choir, and the College of Music’s choir and ensemble. Offerings collected at the annual service are donated to support Ewha alumnae missionaries, whose work around the world was showcased in a short film at this year’s service, followed by a prayer to send them support. After the service, a lighting ceremony was held for the “Ewha’s Houses of Christmas” installation around campus to mark this meaningful season for the Ewha community to share the joy and love of Christmas together.
- No.839
- Writer
- Date2025.12.15
- Views11338

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