Our research focuses on the design and engineering of functional materials for electrocatalysis and electrochemical energy technologies. We aim to understand how materials structure and surface properties govern electrochemical reactions and to translate these fundamental insights into advanced energy conversion and storage systems.
MATERIALS DESIGN
We design and engineer functional materials with precisely controlled structures, compositions, and surface properties. By tailoring materials across multiple length scales, we aim to establish fundamental relationships between material architecture and electrochemical behavior.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
W.-K. Lee and T. W. Odom et al., “Controlled Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Structuring by Memory-Based, Sequential Wrinkling,” Nano Letters 2015.
W.-K. Lee and T. W. Odom et al., “Concurrent Design of Quasi Random Photonic Nanostructures,” PNAS 2017.
W.-K. Lee and T. W. Odom et al., “Monolithic Polymer Nanoridges with Programmable Wetting Transitions,” Advanced Materials 2018.
W.-K. Lee and T. W. Odom, “Designing Hierarchical Nanostructures from Conformable and Deformable Thin Materials,” ACS Nano 2019.
ELECTROCATALYSIS
We investigate electrocatalytic reactions by understanding how catalyst structure, composition, and surface properties govern catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. Through the rational design of catalytic materials and interfaces, we aim to uncover fundamental structure–property relationships and develop efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
D. Rhuy and W.-K. Lee et al., “Ultraefficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Strain-Engineered, Multilayer MoS2,” Nano Letters 2022.
Y. Lee and W.-K. Lee et al., “Strain-Enabled Local Phase Control in Layered MoTe2 for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution,” ACS Energy Letters 2023.
J. Park and W.-K. Lee et al., “Conversion of Layered WS2 Crystals into Mixed-Domain Electrochemical Catalysts by Plasma-Assisted Surface Reconstruction,” Advanced Materials 2024.
ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES
We integrate functional materials and electrocatalysts into electrochemical devices for sustainable energy conversion and storage. Our research focuses on translating fundamental materials and interfacial insights into practical device architectures, including water electrolysis for efficient hydrogen production, aqueous batteries for safe and sustainable energy storage, and fuel cells for clean energy conversion.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
J. Han and W.-K. Lee et al., “Efficient and Stable Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution from MoTex/Ni(OH)2 Heterostructures,” Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025.
S. Shin and W.-K. Lee et al., “Strain-Engineered Oxygen-Modified Nickel Telluride/Nickel Oxide Heterostructures for Bifunctional Alkaline Water Electrolysis,” ACS Nano 2025.
S. Han and W.-K. Lee et al., “Amorphized and Oxidized Layered PtSe2 as an All-in-One Electrocatalytic Platform for Hydrazine-Assisted Water Splitting,” Advanced Materials 2026, in revision
AUTONOMOUS ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEMS
We explore the integration of autonomous soft robotic systems with electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies to create new classes of adaptive and self-regulating devices. By combining responsive materials, autonomous actuation, and electrochemical functionality, we aim to move beyond conventional device architectures and open unprecedented opportunities for energy systems that can sense, respond, and operate autonomously.
We envision embedding designer catalytic materials into soft robotic pneumatic systems, integrating autonomous motion with electrochemical energy conversion.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
W.-K. Lee and G. M. Whitesides et al., “A Buckling-Sheet Ring Oscillator for Electronics-free, Multimodal Locomotion,” Science Robotics 2022, 7, eabg5812
A. Nagarkar, W.-K. Lee and G. M. Whitesides et al., “Elastic instability-enabled Locomotion,” PNAS 2021, 118, e2013801118