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Seeing Black Holes More Clearly with Laser Light
<(From Left) Researcher Junyong Choi, Researcher Woosong Jeong, Professor Jungwon Kim, Researcher Jihoon Baek >
Radio telescopes are instruments that capture faint radio signals from space and convert them into images of celestial bodies. To observe distant black holes clearly, multiple radio telescopes must capture cosmic signals at exactly the same time, acting as a single unit. Research teams at KAIST have developed a new reference signal technology that uses laser light to precisely synchronize the observation timing and phase of these telescopes.
KAIST announced on January 15th that a research team led by Professor Jungwon Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering—in collaboration with the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Germany—has implemented a technology that directly applies optical frequency comb lasers to radio telescope receivers for the first time in the world.
While a typical laser emits only one color (frequency), an optical frequency comb laser emits tens of thousands of extremely accurate colors arranged at regular intervals. This appearance resembles the teeth of a comb, hence the name "frequency comb." Since the frequency of each individual "tooth" is known exactly and the intervals can be precision-tuned to the level of an atomic clock, scientists refer to it as an "ultra-precision ruler made of light."
The core of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), a technique where multiple radio telescopes observe simultaneously, is aligning the phases of the radio signals received by each telescope as if aligning them to a single precise ruler. However, existing electronic reference signal methods faced limitations; as observation frequencies increased, the reference signal itself would vibrate minutely, making precise phase calibration difficult.
In response, the KAIST research team developed a method to deliver the optical frequency comb laser directly into the radio telescope, based on the idea of "improving the fundamental precision of phase alignment by utilizing light (lasers) from the signal generation stage." Through this, they successfully solved the problems of reference signal generation and phase calibration simultaneously within a single optical system.
If the conventional method was like using a "ruler with vibrating markings that make it difficult to align phases" at higher frequencies, this new technology can be compared to setting a standard with an "ultra-precision ruler that fixes the phase with extremely stable light." As a result, they have laid the foundation for distant radio telescopes to interoperate as elaborately as one giant telescope.
This technology was verified through test observations at the Korea VLBI Network (KVN) Yonsei Radio Telescope. The research team succeeded in detecting stable interference patterns (fringes) between radio telescopes and proved through actual observation that precise phase calibration is possible. Recently, this system was also installed at the KVN SNU Pyeongchang Radio Telescope, leading to expanded experiments using multiple observation sites simultaneously.
The team expects that this will not only allow for clearer imaging of black holes but also drastically reduce phase delay errors between instruments—a long-standing issue in VLBI observations.
The applications of this technology are not limited to astronomical observations. The team anticipates that it can be expanded to various advanced fields requiring precise space-time measurements, such as▲ Intercontinental ultra-precision clock comparison ▲Space geodesy ▲Deep-space probe tracking
< Illustration of the system principle (Image generated by AI) >
Professor Jungwon Kim of KAIST stated, "This research is a case where the limits of existing electronic signal generation technology were overcome by directly applying optical frequency comb lasers to radio telescopes. It will significantly contribute to improving the precision of next-generation black hole observations and advancing the fields of frequency metrology and time standards."
Dr. Minji Hyun (currently at KRISS) and Dr. Changmin Ahn from KAIST participated as co-first authors. The research findings were published on January 4th in the international academic journal Light: Science & Applications (IF=23.4).
Paper Title: Optical frequency comb integration in radio telescopes: advancing signal generation and phase calibration
DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-02056-w
Lead Authors: Dr. Minji Hyun (KAIST, currently KRISS), Dr. Changmin Ahn (KAIST), Jungwon Kim (KAIST)
This research was conducted with support from the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST) Creative Convergence Research Project, the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP).
2026.01.15 View 69 -
Breaking the 1% Barrier, KAIST Boosts Brightness of Eco-Friendly Ultra-Small Semiconductors by 18-Fold
<(Front rwo, from left) KAIST co-first author Changhyun Joo, co-first author Seongbeom Yeon, (Back row, from left) Jaeyoung Ha, Professor Himchan Cho, Jaedong Jang>
Light-emitting semiconductors are used throughout everyday life in TVs, smartphones, and lighting. However, many technical barriers remain in developing environmentally friendly semiconductor materials. In particular, nanoscale semiconductors that are tens of thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair (about 100,000 nanometers) are theoretically capable of emitting bright light, yet in practice have suffered from extremely weak emission. KAIST researchers have now developed a new surface-control technology that overcomes this limitation.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 14th of January that a research team led by Professor Himchan Cho of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a fundamental technology to control, at the atomic level, the surface of indium phosphide (InP)* magic-sized clusters (MSCs)—nanoscale semiconductor particles regarded as next-generation eco-friendly semiconductor materials.* Indium phosphide (InP): a compound semiconductor made of indium (In) and phosphorus (P), considered an environmentally friendly alternative that does not use hazardous elements such as cadmium
The material studied by the team is known as a magic-sized cluster, an ultrasmall semiconductor particle composed of only several tens of atoms. Because all particles have identical size and structure, these materials are theoretically capable of emitting extremely sharp and pure light. However, due to their extremely small size of just 1–2 nanometers, even minute surface defects cause most of the emitted light to be lost. As a result, luminescence efficiency has remained below 1% to date.
Previously, this issue was addressed by etching the surface with strong chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid (HF). However, the overly aggressive reactions often damaged the semiconductor itself.
Professor Cho’s team adopted a different approach. Instead of removing the surface all at once, they devised a precision etching strategy that allows chemical reactions to proceed in a highly controlled, incremental manner. This enabled selective removal of only the defect sites that hindered light emission, while preserving the overall structure of the semiconductor. During this defect-removal process, fluorine generated by the reaction combined with zinc species in the solution to form zinc chloride, which in turn stabilized and passivated the exposed nanocrystal surface.
< Schematic illustration of overcoming emission efficiency limits via atomic-scale precision control >
As a result, the research team increased the luminescence efficiency of the semiconductor from below 1% to 18.1%. This represents the highest reported performance to date among indium phosphide–based ultrasmall nanosemiconductors, corresponding to an 18-fold increase in brightness.
This study is particularly significant in that it demonstrates, for the first time, that the surfaces of ultrasmall semiconductors—previously considered nearly impossible to control—can be precisely engineered at the atomic level. The technology is expected to find applications not only in next-generation displays, but also in advanced fields such as quantum communication and infrared sensing.
< Eco-friendly Ultra-compact Semiconductor Chemical Reaction (AI-generated image) >
Professor Himchan Cho explained, “This work is not simply about making brighter semiconductors, but about demonstrating how critical atomic-level surface control is for achieving desired performance.”
This research was carried out with Changhyun Joo, a doctoral student, and Seongbeom Yeon, a combined master’s-doctoral student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST, serving as co–first authors. Professor Himchan Cho and Professor Ivan Infante of the Basque Center for Materials, Applications, and Nanostructures (BCMaterials, Spain) participated as co-corresponding authors. The study was published online on December 16 in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), one of the most prestigious journals in chemistry.
※ Paper title: “Overcoming the Luminescence Efficiency Limitations of InP Magic-Sized Clusters,” DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c13963
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea through the Nano Materials Technology Development Program, the Next-Generation Intelligent Semiconductor Technology Development Program, the Quantum Information Science Human Infrastructure Program, and by the Korea Basic Science Institute through its Infrastructure Support Program for Early-Career Researchers.
2026.01.14 View 132 -
KAIST Proposes AI-Driven Strategy to Solve Long-Standing Mystery of Gene Function
<(From Left) Distinguisehd Professor Sang Yup Lee, Dr. Gi Bae Kim, Professor Bernhard O. Palsson>
“We know the genes, but not their functions.” To resolve this long-standing bottleneck in microbial research, a joint research team has proposed a cutting-edge research strategy that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drastically accelerate the discovery of microbial gene functions.
KAIST announced on January 12th that a research team led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Bernhard Palsson from the Department of Bioengineering at UCSD, has published a comprehensive review paper. The study systematically analyzes and organizes the latest AI-based research approaches aimed at revolutionizing the speed of gene function discovery.
Since the early 2000s, when whole-genome sequencing became a reality, there were high expectations that the genetic blueprint of life would be fully decoded. However, even twenty years later, the roles of a significant portion of genes within microbial genomes remain unknown.
While various experimental methods—such as gene deletion, analysis of gene expression profiles, and in vitro activity assays—have been employed, discovering gene functions remains a time-consuming and costly endeavor. This is primarily due to the limitations of large-scale experimentation, complex biological interactions, and the discrepancy between laboratory results and actual in vivo responses.
To overcome these hurdles, the research team emphasized that an AI-driven approach combining computational biology with experimental biology is essential.
In this paper, the team provides a comprehensive overview of computational biology approaches that have facilitated gene function discovery, ranging from traditional sequence similarity analysis to the latest deep-learning-based AI models.
Notably, 3D protein structure prediction technologies such as AlphaFold (developed by Google DeepMind) and RoseTTAFold (developed by the University of Washington) have opened new doors. These tools go beyond simple functional estimation, offering the potential to understand the underlying mechanisms of how gene functions operate. Furthermore, generative AI is now extending research boundaries toward designing proteins with specifically desired functions.
Focusing on transcription factors (proteins that act as genetic switches) and enzymes (proteins that catalyze chemical reactions), the team presented various application cases and future research directions that integrate gene sequence analysis, protein structure prediction, and diverse metagenomic analyses.
<Schematic illustration of computational biology methods for enzyme function prediction>
2026.01.12 View 202 -
KAIST Develops OLED Technology with Double the Screen Brightness
<(From Left) Ph.D candidate Minjae Kim, Professor Seunghyup Yoo, Dr. Junho Kim>
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are widely used in smartphones and TVs thanks to their excellent color reproduction and thin, flexible planar structure. However, internal light loss has limited further improvements in brightness. KAIST researchers have now developed a technology that more than doubles OLED light-emission efficiency while maintaining the flat structure that is a key advantage of OLED displays.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 11th of January that a research team led by Professor Seunghyup Yoo of the School of Electrical Engineering has developed a new near-planar light outcoupling structure* and an OLED design method that can significantly reduce light loss inside OLED devices.* Near-planar light outcoupling structure: a thin structure that keeps the OLED surface almost flat while extracting more of the light generated inside to the outside
OLEDs are composed of multiple layers of ultrathin organic films stacked on top of one another. As light passes through these layers, it is repeatedly reflected or absorbed, often causing more than 80% of the light generated inside the OLED to be lost as heat before it can escape.
To address this issue, light outcoupling structures such as hemispherical lenses or microlens arrays (MLAs) have been used to extract light from OLEDs. However, hemispherical lenses protrude significantly, making it difficult to maintain a flat form factor, while MLAs must cover much larger area than individual pixel sizes to achieve sufficient light extraction. This creates limitations in achieving high efficiency without interference between neighboring pixels.
To increase OLED brightness while preserving a planar structure, the research team proposed a new OLED design strategy that maximizes light extraction within the size of each individual pixel.
Unlike conventional designs that assume OLEDs extend infinitely, this approach takes into account the finite pixel sizes actually used in real displays. As a result, more light can be emitted externally even from pixels of the same size.
In addition, the team developed a new near-planar light outcoupling structure that helps light emerge efficiently in the forward direction without being spread too widely. This structure is very thin—comparable in thickness to existing microlens arrays—yet achieves light extraction efficiency close to that of hemispherical lenses of the same lateral dimension. As a result, it hardly undermines the flat form factors of OLEDs and can be readily applied to flexible OLED displays.
By combining the new OLED design with the near-planar light outcoupling structure, the researchers successfully achieved more than a twofold improvement in light-emission efficiency even in small pixels.
< Quasi-Planar Light Extraction OLED Technology >
This technology enables brighter displays using the same power while maintaining OLED’s flat structure, and is expected to extend battery life and reduce heat generation in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Improvements in display lifespan are also anticipated.
MinJae Kim, the first author of the study, noted, “A small idea that came up during class was developed into real research results through the KAIST Undergraduate Research Program (URP).”
Professor Seunghyup Yoo stated, “Although many light outcoupling structures have been proposed, most were designed for large-area lighting applications, and many were difficult to apply effectively to displays composed of numerous small pixels,” adding, “The near-planar light outcoupling structure proposed in this work was designed with constraints on the size of the light source within each pixel, reducing optical interference between adjacent pixels while maximizing efficiency.” He further emphasized that the approach can be applied not only to OLEDs but also to next-generation display technologies based on materials such as perovskites and quantum dots.
< Schematic Overview and Application Examples of the Proposed Light Extraction Structure >
This research, with MinJae Kim (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KAIST; currently a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University) and Junho Kim (School of Electrical Engineering, KAIST; currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cologne, Germany) as co–first authors, was published online on December 29, 2025, in Nature Communications.
※ Paper title: “Near-planar light outcoupling structures with finite lateral dimensions for ultra-efficient and optical crosstalk-free OLED displays” DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-66538-6
This research was supported by the KAIST Undergraduate Research Program (URP), the Mid-Career Researcher Program and the Future Display Strategic Research Lab Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea, the Human Resource Development Program of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), and the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT).
2026.01.12 View 309 -
KAIST-Yonsei Team Identifies Origin Cells for Malignant Brain Tumor Common in Young Adults
<Dr. Jung Won Park, (Upper Right) Professor Jeong Ho Lee, Professor Seok-Gu Kang>
IDH-mutant glioma, caused by abnormalities in a specific gene (IDH), is the most common malignant brain tumor among young adults under the age of 50. It is a refractory brain cancer that is difficult to treat due to its high recurrence rate. Until now, treatment has focused primarily on removing the visible tumor mass. However, a Korean research team has discovered for the first time that normal brain cells acquire the initial IDH mutation and spread out through the cortex long before a visible tumor mass harboring additional cancer mutations forms, opening a new path for early diagnosis and treatment to suppress recurrence.
KAIST announced on January 9th that a joint research team led by Professor Jeong Ho Lee from the Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering and Professor Seok-Gu Kang from the Department of Neurosurgery at Yonsei University Severance Hospital has identified that IDH-mutant gliomas originate from Glial Progenitor Cells (GPCs) present in normal brain tissue.
Glial Progenitor Cells (GPC): Cells that exist in the normal brain and can become the starting point for malignant brain tumors if genetic mutations occur.
Through precise analysis of tumor tissue obtained via extensive resection surgery and the surrounding normal cerebral cortex, the research team discovered that "cells of origin" harboring the IDH mutation already existed within brain tissue that appeared normal to the naked eye.
< Brain-Derived Refractory Brain Tumor Origin Cells (AI-Generated Image) >
This result proves for the first time that malignant brain tumors do not emerge suddenly at a specific point in time, but rather begin within a normal brain and progress slowly over a long period.
The research team then used "spatial transcriptomics"—a cutting-edge analysis technology that shows "which genes are operating where" simultaneously—to confirm that these origin cells with mutations were indeed Glial Progenitor Cells (GPCs) located in the cerebral cortex.
Furthermore, they successfully reproduced the process of brain tumor development in an animal model by introducing the same genetic "driver mutation" found in patients into the GPCs of mice.
This study is a significant expansion of previous research identifying the "origin" of IDH wildtype malignant brain tumors. In 2018, the joint research team led a paradigm shift in brain tumor research by revealing that IDH wildtype glioblastoma, a representative malignant brain tumor, originates not from the tumor body itself, but from neural stem cells in the subventricular zone—the source of new brain cells in the adult brain (Lee et al., Nature, 2018).
The current study clarifies that even though "IDH wildtype glioblastoma" and "IDH-mutant glioma" are both types of brain cancer, their starting cells and points of origin are entirely different, proving that different types of brain tumors have fundamentally different developmental processes.
< Mechanistic Elucidation of Malignant Brain Tumor Development Induced by IDH Mutations and Subsequent Genetic Alterations in Normal Cortical Glial Progenitor Cells >
Professor Seok-Gu Kang (Co-Corresponding Author) stated, "Brain tumors may not start exactly where the tumor mass is visible. A target approach focused on the origin cells and the site of origin according to the brain tumor subtype will serve as a crucial clue to changing the paradigm of early diagnosis and recurrence suppression treatment."
Based on these research results, Sovagen Co., Ltd, a faculty startup from KAIST, is developing an innovative RNA-based drug to suppress the evolution and recurrence of IDH-mutant malignant brain tumors. Additionally, Severance Hospital is pursuing the development of technologies to detect and control early mutant cells in refractory brain tumors through the Korea-US Innovative Result Creation R&D project.
Dr. Jung Won Park (Postdoctoral Researcher at KAIST Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering), a neurosurgeon and the sole first author of the study, said, "This achievement was made possible by combining KAIST’s world-class basic science research capabilities with the clinical expertise of Yonsei Severance Hospital. The question I kept asking while treating patients—'Where does this tumor originate?'—was the starting point of this research."
The findings were published on January 8th in the world-renowned academic journal Science.
Paper Title: IDH-mutant gliomas arise from glial progenitor cells harboring the initial driver mutation
DOI: 10.1126/science.adt0559
Authors: Jung Won Park (KAIST, First Author), Seok-Gu Kang (Yonsei Severance Hospital, Corresponding Author), Jeong Ho Lee (KAIST, Sovagen, Corresponding Author)
This research was conducted with support from the Suh Kyung-bae Science Foundation, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (Physician-Scientist Training Program).
2026.01.09 View 337 -
KAIST detects ‘hidden defects’ that degrade semiconductor performance with 1,000× higher sensitivity
<(From Left) Professor Byungha Shin, Ph.D candidate Chaeyoun Kim, Dr. Oki Gunawan>
Semiconductors are used in devices such as memory chips and solar cells, and within them may exist invisible defects that interfere with electrical flow. A joint research team has developed a new analysis method that can detect these “hidden defects” (electronic traps) with approximately 1,000 times higher sensitivity than existing techniques. The technology is expected to improve semiconductor performance and lifetime, while significantly reducing development time and costs by enabling precise identification of defect sources.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on January 8th that a joint research team led by Professor Byungha Shin of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at KAIST and Dr. Oki Gunawan of the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center has developed a new measurement technique that can simultaneously analyze defects that hinder electrical transport (electronic traps) and charge carrier transport properties inside semiconductors.
Within semiconductors, electronic traps can exist that capture electrons and hinder their movement. When electrons are trapped, electrical current cannot flow smoothly, leading to leakage currents and degraded device performance. Therefore, accurately evaluating semiconductor performance requires determining how many electronic traps are present and how strongly they capture electrons.
The research team focused on Hall measurements, a technique that has long been used in semiconductor analysis. Hall measurements analyze electron motion using electric and magnetic fields. By adding controlled light illumination and temperature variation to this method, the team succeeded in extracting information that was difficult to obtain using conventional approaches.
Under weak illumination, newly generated electrons are first captured by electronic traps. As the light intensity is gradually increased, the traps become filled, and subsequently generated electrons begin to move freely. By analyzing this transition process, the researchers were able to precisely calculate the density and characteristics of electronic traps.
The greatest advantage of this method is that multiple types of information can be obtained simultaneously from a single measurement. It allows not only the evaluation of how fast electrons move, how long they survive, and how far they travel, but also the properties of traps that interfere with electron transport.
The team first validated the accuracy of the technique using silicon semiconductors and then applied it to perovskites, which are attracting attention as next-generation solar cell materials. As a result, they successfully detected extremely small quantities of electronic traps that were difficult to identify using existing methods—demonstrating a sensitivity approximately 1,000 times higher than that of conventional techniques.
< Conceptual Diagram of the Evolution of Hall Characterization (Analysis) Techniques >
Professor Byungha Shin stated, “This study presents a new method that enables simultaneous analysis of electrical transport and the factors that hinder it within semiconductors using a single measurement,” adding that “it will serve as an important tool for improving the performance and reliability of various semiconductor devices, including memory semiconductors and solar cells.”
The results of this research were published on January 1 in Science Advances, an international academic journal, with Chaeyoun Kim, a doctoral student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, as the first author.
※ Paper title: “Electronic trap detection with carrier-resolved photo-Hall effect,” DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adz0460
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
< Conceptual Diagram of Charge Transport and Trap Characterization Using Photo-Hall Measurements (AI-generated image) >
2026.01.08 View 366 -
Breaking Performance Barriers of All Solid State Batteries
< (Bottom, from left) Professor Dong-Hwa Seo, Researcher Jae-Seung Kim, (Top, from left) Professor Kyung-Wan Nam, Professor Sung-Kyun Jung, Professor Youn-Seok Jung >
Batteries are an essential technology in modern society, powering smartphones and electric vehicles, yet they face limitations such as fire explosion risks and high costs. While all-solid-state batteries have garnered attention as a viable alternative, it has been difficult to simultaneously satisfy safety, performance, and cost. Recently, a Korean research team successfully improved the performance of all-solid-state batteries simply through structural design—without adding expensive metals.
KAIST announced on January 7th that a research team led by Professor Dong-Hwa Seo from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with teams led by Professor Sung-Kyun Jung (Seoul National University), Professor Youn-Suk Jung (Yonsei University), and Professor Kyung-Wan Nam (Dongguk University), has developed a design method for core materials for all-solid-state batteries that uses low-cost raw materials while ensuring high performance and low risk of fire or explosion.
Conventional batteries rely on lithium ions moving through a liquid electrolyte. In contrast, all-solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte. While this makes them safer, achieving rapid lithium-ion movement within a solid has typically required expensive metals or complex manufacturing processes.
To create efficient pathways for lithium-ion transport within the solid electrolyte, the research team focused on "divalent anions" such as oxygen and sulfur . Divalent anions play a crucial role in altering the crystal structure by integrating into the basic framework of the electrolyte.
The team developed a technology to precisely control the internal structure of low-cost zirconium (Zr)-based halide solid electrolytes by introducing these divalent anions. This design principle, termed the "Framework Regulation Mechanism," widens the pathways for lithium ions and lowers the energy barriers they encounter during transport. By adjusting the bonding environment and crystal structure around the lithium ions, the team enabled faster and easier movement.
To verify these structural changes, the researchers utilized various high-precision analysis techniques, including:
High-energy Synchrontron X-ray diffraction(Synchrotron XRD)
Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis
X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)
Density Functional Theory (DFT) modeling for electronic structure and diffusion.
The results showed that electrolytes incorporating oxygen or sulfur improved lithium-ion mobility by 2 to 4 times compared to conventional zirconium-based electrolytes. This signifies that performance levels suitable for practical all-solid-state battery applications can be achieved using inexpensive materials.
Specifically, the ionic conductivity at room temperature was measured at approximately 1.78 mS/cm for the oxygen-doped electrolyte and 1.01 mS/cm for the sulfur-doped electrolyte. Ionic conductivity indicates how quickly and smoothly lithium ions move; a value above 1 mS/cm is generally considered sufficient for practical battery applications at room temperature.
< Structural Regulation Mechanism of Zr-based Halide Electrolytes via Divalent Anion Introduction >
< Atomic Rearrangement of Solid Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Batteries (AI-generated image) >
Professor Dong-Hwa Seo stated, "Through this research, we have presented a design principle that can simultaneously improve the cost and performance of all-solid-state batteries using cheap raw materials. Its potential for industrial application is very high." Lead author Jae-Seung Kim added that the study shifts the focus from "what materials to use" to "how to design them" in the development of battery materials.
This study, with Jae-Seung Kim (KAIST) and Da-Seul Han (Dongguk University) as co-first authors, was published in the international journal Nature Communications on November 27, 2025.
Paper Title: Divalent anion-driven framework regulation in Zr-based halide solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries
DOI: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65702-2
This research was supported by the Samsung Electronics Future Technology Promotion Center, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the National Supercomputing Center.
2026.01.07 View 717 -
Direct Printing of Nanolasers, the Key to Optical Computing and Quantum Security
< (From left) Professor Ji Tae Kim (KAIST), Dr. Shiqi Hu (First Author, AI-based Intelligent Design-Manufacturing Integrated Research Group, KAIST-POSTECH), and Professor Junsuk Rho (POSTECH) >
In future high-tech industries, such as high-speed optical computing for massive AI, quantum cryptographic communication, and ultra-high-resolution augmented reality (AR) displays, nanolasers—which process information using light—are gaining significant attention as core components for next-generation semiconductors. A research team at our university has proposed a new manufacturing technology capable of high-density placement of nanolasers on semiconductor chips, which process information in spaces thinner than a human hair.
KAIST announced on January 6th that a joint research team, led by Professor Ji Tae Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Professor Junsuk Rho from POSTECH (President Seong-keun Kim), has developed an ultra-fine 3D printing technology capable of creating "vertical nanolasers," a key component for ultra-high-density optical integrated circuits.
Conventional semiconductor manufacturing methods, such as lithography, are effective for mass-producing identical structures but face limitations: the processes are complex and costly, making it difficult to freely change the shape or position of devices. Furthermore, most existing lasers are built as horizontal structures lying flat on a substrate, which consumes significant space and suffers from reduced efficiency due to light leakage into the substrate.
To solve these issues, the research team developed a new 3D printing method to vertically stack perovskite, a next-generation semiconductor material that generates light efficiently. This technology, known as "ultra-fine electrohydrodynamic 3D printing," uses electrical voltage to precisely control invisible ink droplets at the attoliter scale ($10^{-18}$ L).
Through this method, the team successfully printed pillar-shaped nanostructures—much thinner than a human hair—directly and vertically at desired locations without the need for complex subtractive processes (carving material away).
The core of this technology lies in significantly increasing laser efficiency by making the surface of the printed perovskite nanostructures extremely smooth. By combining the printing process with gas-phase crystallization control technology, the team achieved high-quality structures with nearly single-crystalline alignment. As a result, they were able to realize high-efficiency vertical nanolasers that operate stably with minimal light loss.
Additionally, the team demonstrated that the color of the emitted laser light could be precisely tuned by adjusting the height of the nanostructures. Utilizing this, they created laser security patterns invisible to the naked eye—identifiable only with specialized equipment—confirming the potential for commercialization in anti-counterfeiting technology.
< 3D Printing of Perovskite Nanolasers >
Professor Jitae Kim stated, "This technology allows for the direct, high-density implementation of optical computing semiconductors on a chip without complex processing. It will accelerate the commercialization of ultra-high-speed optical computing and next-generation security technologies."
The research results, with Dr. Shiqi Hu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering as the first author, were published online on December 6, 2025, in ACS Nano, an international prestigious journal in the field of nanoscience.
Paper Title: Nanoprinting with Crystal Engineering for Perovskite Lasers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c16906
This research was conducted with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Excellent Young Researcher Program (RS-2025-00556379), the Mid-career Researcher Support Program (RS-2024-00356928), and the InnoCORE AI-based Intelligent Design-Manufacturing Integrated Research Group (N10250154).
2026.01.06 View 524 -
KAIST Demonstrates Potential to Predict Drug Side Effects and Acute Kidney Injury Using a Small Chip
<(From Left) Dr.Jaesang Kim, Professor Seongyun Jeon>
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which muscle damage—often caused by drug intake—can lead to impaired kidney function and acute kidney failure. However, there have been limitations in directly observing how muscle and kidney damage influence each other simultaneously within the human body. KAIST researchers have developed a new device that can precisely reproduce such inter-organ interactions in a laboratory setting.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 5th of January that a research team led by Professor Seongyun Jeon of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Gi-Dong Sim’s team from the same department and Professor Sejoong Kim of Seoul National University Hospital, has developed a biomicrofluidic system that can recreate, in the laboratory, the process by which drug-induced muscle damage leads to kidney injury.
*Microfluidic system: a device that reproduces human organ environments on a very small chip
This study is particularly significant in that it is the first to precisely reproduce, in a laboratory environment, the cascade of inter-organ reactions in which drug-induced muscle injury leads to kidney damage, using a modular (assembly-type) organ-on-a-chip platform that allows muscle and kidney tissues to be both connected and separated.
To recreate conditions similar to those in the human body, the research team developed a structure that connects three-dimensionally engineered muscle tissue with proximal tubule epithelial cells (cells that play a key role in kidney function) on a single small chip.
The system is a modular microfluidic chip that allows organ tissues to be connected or disconnected as needed. Cells and tissues are cultured on a small chip in a manner similar to real human organs and are designed to interact with one another.
In this device, muscle and kidney tissues can be cultured separately under their respective optimal conditions and connected only at the time of experimentation to induce inter-organ interactions. After the experiment, the two tissues can be separated again for independent analysis of changes in each organ. A key feature of the system is that it allows quantitative evaluation of the effects of toxic substances released from damaged muscle on kidney tissue.
<Figure 1. Conceptual Image of the Microfluidic System Experiment (Generated by AI)>
Using this platform, the researchers applied atorvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) and fenofibrate (a triglyceride-lowering drug), both of which are known clinically to induce muscle damage.
As a result, the muscle tissue on the chip showed reduced contractile force and structural disruption, along with increased levels of biomarkers indicative of muscle damage—such as myoglobin* and CK-MM**—which are characteristic changes seen in rhabdomyolysis.
*Myoglobin: a protein found in muscle cells that stores oxygen and is released into the blood or culture medium when muscle is damaged
*CK-MM (Creatine Kinase-MM): an enzyme abundant in muscle tissue, with higher levels detected as muscle cell destruction increases
At the same time, kidney tissue exhibited a decrease in viable cells and an increase in cell death, along with a significant rise in the expression of NGAL* and KIM-1**, biomarkers that increase during acute kidney injury. Notably, the researchers were able to observe the stepwise cascade in which toxic substances released from damaged muscle progressively exacerbated kidney injury.
*NGAL: a protein that rapidly increases when kidney cells are damaged
*KIM-1: a protein that becomes highly expressed as kidney cells—particularly proximal tubule cells—are increasingly damaged
<Figure 2. Configuration of the Muscle–Kidney-on-a-Chip (MKoaC) Platform and Analysis of Drug Responses>
Professor Seongyun Jeon stated, “This study establishes a foundation for analyzing the interactions and toxic responses occurring between muscle and kidney in a manner closely resembling the human body,” adding, “We expect this platform to enable the early prediction of drug side effects, identification of the causes of acute kidney injury*, and further expansion toward personalized drug safety assessment.”*Acute kidney injury: a condition in which the kidneys suddenly lose their ability to function properly over a short period of time
This research, with Jaesang Kim participating as the first author, was published on November 12, 2025, in the international journal Advanced Functional Materials.
※ Paper title: “Implementation of Drug-Induced Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury in Microphysiological System,” DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202513519
This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, and more.
2026.01.06 View 186 -
KAIST Solves Key Commercialization Challenges of Next-Generation Anode-Free Lithium Batteries
<(From Left) Ph.D candidate Juhyun Lee, Postdoctoral Researcher Jinuk Kim, (Upper Right) Professor Jinwoo Lee>
Anode-free lithium metal batteries, which have attracted attention as candidates for electric vehicles, drones, and next-generation high-performance batteries, offer much higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, their short lifespan has made commercialization difficult. KAIST researchers have now moved beyond conventional approaches that required repeatedly changing electrolytes and have succeeded in dramatically extending battery life through electrode surface design alone.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 4th of January that a research team led by Professors Jinwoo Lee and Sung Gap Im of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering fundamentally resolved the issue of interfacial instability—the greatest weakness of anode-free lithium metal batteries—by introducing an ultrathin artificial polymer layer with a thickness of 15 nanometers (nm) on the electrode surface.
Anode-free lithium metal batteries have a simple structure that uses only a copper current collector instead of graphite or lithium metal at the anode. This design offers advantages such as 30–50% higher energy density compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, lower manufacturing costs, and simplified processes. However, during the initial charging process, lithium deposits directly onto the copper surface, rapidly consuming the electrolyte and forming an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), which leads to a sharp reduction in battery lifespan.
Rather than changing the electrolyte composition, the research team chose a strategy of redesigning the electrode surface where the problem originates. By forming a uniform ultrathin polymer layer on the copper current collector using an iCVD (initiated chemical vapor deposition) process, they found that this layer regulates interactions with the electrolyte, precisely controlling lithium-ion transport and electrolyte decomposition pathways.
<Figure 1. Schematic of an ultrathin artificial polymer layer (15 nm thick) introduced onto the electrode surface>
In conventional batteries, electrolyte solvents decompose to form soft and unstable organic SEI layers, causing non-uniform lithium deposition and promoting the growth of sharp, needle-like dendrites. In contrast, the polymer layer developed in this study does not readily mix with the electrolyte solvent, inducing the decomposition of salt components rather than solvents. As a result, a rigid and stable inorganic SEI is formed, simultaneously suppressing electrolyte consumption and excessive SEI growth.
Using operando Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the researchers identified the mechanism by which an anion-rich environment forms at the electrode surface during battery operation, leading to the formation of a stable inorganic SEI.
This technology requires only the addition of a thin surface layer without altering electrolyte composition, offering high compatibility with existing manufacturing processes and minimal cost burden. In particular, the iCVD process enables large-area, continuous roll-to-roll production, making it suitable for industrial-scale mass production beyond the laboratory.
<Figure 2. Design rationale of the current collector-modifying artificial polymer layer and the SEI formation mechanism>
Professor Jinwoo Lee stated, “Beyond developing new materials, this study is significant in that it presents a design principle showing how electrolyte reactions and interfacial stability can be controlled through electrode surface engineering,” adding, “This technology can accelerate the commercialization of anode-free lithium metal batteries in next-generation high-energy battery markets such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS).”
This research was conducted with Ph.D candidate Juhyun Lee, and postdoctoral Jinuk Kim, a postdoctoral researcher from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at KAIST, serving as co–first authors. The results were published on December 10, 2025, in Joule, one of the most prestigious journals in the field of energy.
※ Paper title: “A Strategic Tuning of Interfacial Li⁺ Solvation with Ultrathin Polymer Layers for Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries,” Authors: Juhyun Lee (KAIST, co–first author), Jinuk Kim (KAIST, co–first author), Jinwoo Lee (KAIST, corresponding author), Sung Gap Im (KAIST, corresponding author), among a total of 18 authors, DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2025.102226
This research was conducted at the Frontier Research Laboratory, jointly established by KAIST and LG Energy Solution, and was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Mid-Career Research Program, the Korea Forest Service (Korea Forestry Promotion Institute) Advanced Technology Development Program for High Value-Added Wood Resources, and the KAIST Jang Young Sil Fellowship Program.
2026.01.05 View 358 -
KAIST to Showcase K-Tech Competitiveness at KAIST Pavilion during CES 2026
< Figure 1. Bird's-eye view of the KAIST Pavilion at CES 2026 >
KAIST announced on January 2nd that it will participate in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026), held from January 6 to 9, 2026, at Eureka Park in the Venetian Expo, Las Vegas. KAIST will operate a dedicated 111㎡ "KAIST Pavilion" to showcase its innovative technologies to global corporations and investors.
A total of 12 startups will participate in the KAIST Pavilion at CES 2026. Notably, eight of these companies are built on core AI technologies, highlighting KAIST's artificial intelligence research capabilities and its achievements in technology commercialization.
The participating companies will unveil solutions targeting the global market across various high-tech sectors centered on AI, including robotics, bio-health, hardware devices, and content technology.
One of the standout participants is Hypergram, a faculty-led startup. Hypergram will introduce 'HG VNIR Pro,' the world’s first commercialized compressive hyperspectral imaging technology. This product is an end-to-end solution that integrates industrial-grade precision hardware with AI analysis software, capable of detecting minute chemical properties invisible to the human eye in real-time. During the exhibition, the company plans to demonstrate high-precision AI image analysis using its high-speed hyperspectral machine vision camera.
< Figure 2. Hypergram >
MOSS, a winner of the CES 2026 Innovation Award, will exhibit an AI-based, all-in-one mobile music production platform. This platform allows the general public and indie musicians to create high-quality music without a heavy financial burden. Visitors can experience the intuitiveness and innovation of the technology at an AI experience zone, where they can create music by linking the MOSS app with the dedicated hardware, 'MOSS Pocket Studio.'
< Figure 3. MOSS (Innovation Award Winning Product) >
BareulEye is developing a medical AI diagnostic solution that detects high-resolution changes in internal organ microstructures based on AI-powered quantitative ultrasound analysis technology. At CES 2026, they will unveil a 3D volume reconstruction technology that utilizes smart mirror-based self-ultrasound imaging.
Leveraging this technological prowess, BareulEye recently secured approximately $10 million (14 billion KRW) in a strategic Series A investment from a leading global healthcare company. Led by Professor Hyeon-min Bae, the Director of the KAIST Institute for Startup & Entrepreneurship and CEO of BareulEye, the company plans to accelerate joint technology development and overseas market expansion.
< Figure 4. BareulEye >
In addition to these, various KAIST startups leading innovation in AI, bio, and hardware devices will participate to solidify their foundations for entering the global market.
The KAIST Pavilion is designed with an open layout and large-scale LED displays to attract attention, featuring independent spaces for each company to facilitate in-depth technical presentations and investment consultations.
"Through CES 2026, we aim to imprint the AI-driven innovative technologies of KAIST startups on the global stage and establish a practical bridgehead for their international expansion," said Keon Jae Lee, Vice President of the KAIST Institute for Technology Value Creation.
2026.01.02 View 1182 -
Opening the Door to B Cell-Based Cancer-Remembering Personalized Cancer Vaccines
< (From left) KAIST Professor Jung Kyoon Choi, Dr. Jeong Yeon Kim, and Dr. Jin Hyeon An >
Neoantigens are unique markers that distinguish only cancer cells. By adding B cell reactivity, cancer vaccines can move beyond one-time attacks and short-term memory to become a long-term immunity that "remembers" cancer, effectively preventing recurrence. KAIST’s research team has developed an AI-based personalized cancer vaccine design technology that makes this possible and optimizes anticancer effects for each individual.
KAIST announced on January 2nd that Professor Jung Kyoon Choi’s research team from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, in collaboration with Neogen Logic Co., Ltd., has developed a new AI model to predict neoantigens—a core element of personalized cancer vaccine development—and clarified the importance of B cells in cancer immunotherapy.
The research team overcame the limitations of existing neoantigen discovery, which relied primarily on predicting T cell reactivity, and developed an AI-based neoantigen prediction technology that integrally considers both T cell and B cell reactivity.
This technology has been validated through large-scale cancer genome data, animal experiments, and clinical trial data for cancer vaccines. It is evaluated as the first AI technology capable of quantitatively predicting B cell reactivity to neoantigens.
Neoantigens are antigens composed of protein fragments derived from cancer cell mutations. Because they possess cancer-cell specificity, they have gained attention as a core target for next-generation cancer vaccines. Companies like Moderna and BioNTech developed COVID-19 vaccines using the mRNA platforms they secured while advancing neoantigen-based cancer vaccine technology, and they are currently actively conducting clinical trials for cancer vaccines alongside global pharmaceutical companies.
However, current cancer vaccine technology is mostly focused on T cell-centered immune responses, presenting a limitation in that it does not sufficiently reflect the immune responses mediated by B cells.
In fact, the research team of Professors Mark Yarchoan and Elizabeth Jaffee at Johns Hopkins University pointed out in Nature Reviews Cancer in May 2025 that “despite accumulating evidence regarding the role of B cells in tumor immunity, most cancer vaccine clinical trials still focus only on T cell responses.”
The research team’s new AI model overcomes existing limitations by learning the structural binding characteristics between mutant proteins and B cell receptors (BCR) to predict B cell reactivity. In particular, an analysis of cancer vaccine clinical trial data confirmed that integrating B cell responses can significantly enhance anti-tumor immune effects in actual clinical settings.
< Schematic Background of the Technology >
Professor Jung Kyoon Choi stated, “Together with Neogen Logic Co., Ltd., which is currently commercializing neoantigen AI technology, we are conducting pre-clinical development of a personalized cancer vaccine platform and are preparing to submit an FDA IND* with the goal of entering clinical trials in 2027.” He added, “We will enhance the scientific completeness of cancer vaccine development based on our proprietary AI technology and push forward the transition to the clinical stage step-by-step.”
*FDA IND: The procedure for obtaining permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct clinical trials before administering a new drug to humans for the first time.
Dr. Jeong Yeon Kim and Dr. Jin Hyeon An participated as co-first authors in this study. The research results were published in the international scientific journal Science Advances on December 3rd.
※ Paper Title: B cell–reactive neoantigens boost antitumor immunity, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx8303
2026.01.02 View 784