Prof. Kim graduated with B.Eng. in Aeronautical Engineering from Seoul National University; M.Eng.Sci. in Materials Engineering from Monash University; and PhD in composite materials from Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sydney. He was an ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow (1992-1993), then started his faculty career at Australian National University (1993-1994) before joining the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 1994. Prof. Kim had visiting appointments with University of Tokyo and Nanyang Technological University on a Tan Chin Tuan Exchange Fellowship (1998); and has been a Visiting Professor at Center for Advanced Materials Technology, University of Sydney since 2012. He served as Associate Dean of Engineering (2007-2011). Before retirement, He was a Chair Professor at HKUST and directs the Finetex-HKUST R & D Center and the Advanced Engineering Materials Facilities. 

Prof. Kim’s research is focused on advanced materials, ranging from fiber-reinforced composites to nanocomposites with graphene, carbon nanotubes,  nanoclay and 2D materials, and to nanostructured materials for various energy storage applications. He has written well over 350 refereed journal papers, 12 book chapters, 15 books including three authored research monographs, and holds 12 international patents. His research team has been honored with 12 Best Paper Awards from international conferences and competitions. Currently, Prof. Kim holds editorial positions for a number of journals as Editor (Composites Part A), Associate Editor (Aerospace Science and Technology) and Editorial Board Members (Energy Storage Materials, Nanoscale Horizons, etc.). He served as the President of the Asian-Australasian Association of Composites Materials (AACM) (2008-2010); and is elected Fellows of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES), the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). He is a Highly Cited Researcher in Materials Science by Clarivate Analytics (Web of Science).

Teaching Activities

  • MECH1906 Mechanical Engineering for Modern Life
  • MECH5480 Nanocomposite Science & Technology
  • MESF5920 Introduction of Electronic Packaging
  • MESF5370 Composites & Nanocomposites
 

Research Interests

  • Nanocomposites containing carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, graphene, graphite, nanoclay, nano-fillers; fibre reinforced composites and multiscale composites; highly-aligned 2D graphene composites with layered-structures; 3D graphene composites
  • graphene & 2D nanomaterials (h-BN, MoS2, Phosphorus, Sb2S3, MXene, etc.) for multi-functional applications
  • Nanocarbons, 3D graphene, 2D materials, electrospun nanofibers and nanostructured electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage systems: Li ion batteries, Li air batteries, Li sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, Na ion batteries, metal batteries
  • Interface science; adhesion mechanisms in various composite materials; nanoscopic characterization of interphase
  • Damage and fracture of advanced composite materials, microstructure-property relationships

 

Research Projects

  • Defect engineering of electrospun nanofibers for dendrite-free Na metal batteries
  • Flexible, wearable graphene/rubber strain and thermal sensors for health monitoring and warning
  • Multi-functional graphene/polymer composites for thermal interface materials, high electrical conduction, EMI shielding, sound damping
  • Energy storage devices based on graphene, carbon nanotubes and 2D transition metal dichacogenides
  • Electrospun nanofibers and 3D graphene for electrodes in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors 
  • Synthesis and characterization of graphene, graphene/polymer nanocomposites
  • Key materials and application technology of High specific energy and long life recharegeable batteries

 

Research Group Members

  • Prof. Xi SHEN (Research Assistant Professor) 
  • Mr Junxiong WU (PhD student, co-supervision with Prof. Francesco CIUCCI )
  • Mr Muhammad IHSAN UL HAQ (PhD student, co-supervision with Prof. Baoling HUANG)
  • Mr Alessandro SUSCA (PhD student, Hong Kong PhD Fellow)
  • Mr Jeng-Hun LEE (PhD student, Hong Kong PhD Fellow)
  • Mr Haomin CHEN (PhD student, Dual Degree Program with KAIST (Prof. Seokwoo Jeon), co-supervision with Prof. Jinglei Yang)
  • Ms Yunhe ZHAO (PhD student)
  • Mr Nauman MUBARAK (PhD student)
  • Mr Okikiola AGBABIAKA (PhD student, Hong Kong PhD Fellow)
  • Mr Yang LI (PhD student, co-supervision with Prof. Qing CHEN)
  • Ms Enyoung KIM (MPhil student, Asian Future Leaders Scholarship)
  • Mr Muhammad Humza JAVED (MPhil student)
  • Mr Heng ZHANG (PhD student)
  • Mr Miracle Hope ADEGUN (PhD student, Hong Kong PhD Fellow)
  • Ms Mengyang XU (PhD student, co-supervision with Prof. Tom Luo in CBME)
  • Ms Jiawen YOU (PhD student, co-supervision with Prof. Tom Luo in CBME)
  •  

High caliber graduate students and postdoctoral associates who want to become successful in advanced materials research, especially PhD candidates who wish to apply for a Hong Kong PhD Fellowship, please contact me with their CVs and English certificates (like TOEFL or IELTS)  to the email address: mejkkim@ust.hk. Enquries are always welcome.