Dr. Sae Hume Park | Chemical Synthesis | Green Chemistry Award

Senior Research Scientist | Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology | South Korea

Dr. Sae Hume Park, a Senior Research Scientist at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), is an accomplished organometallic and organic chemist with expertise spanning organometallic synthesis, catalysis, polymer chemistry, and sustainable material design. His research primarily focuses on developing environmentally sustainable chemical processes utilizing renewable resources such as CO₂ and bio-based feedstocks, integrating both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems for scalable industrial applications. Dr. Park has made significant contributions to hydrocarbon functionalization, polymer precursor synthesis, and hybrid materials for catalysis, achieving impactful advancements in sustainable and green chemistry. His earlier work includes the development of innovative C–H activation methodologies and catalytic transformations employing transition metals and main-group elements. With an extensive publication record in high-impact journals, his studies have influenced areas including green polymer synthesis, methane activation, and electrochemical catalysis. According to Google Scholar, Dr. Park has over 2,560 citations, an h-index of 16, and an i10-index of 17; while Scopus records 78 citations from 76 documents with an h-index of 4. His interdisciplinary research bridges fundamental chemistry and industrial sustainability, emphasizing catalytic efficiency, renewable carbon utilization, and polymer upcycling.

Profiles : Google Scholar | Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications :

Kim, K., Kim, W., Yuk, J. S., Jeong, H., Jeon, H., Yoo, Y., Shin, J., & Park, S. H. (2024). Soybean oil derived-process oil prepared via recyclable organocatalysis for eco-friendly styrene-butadiene rubber composites. Green Chem., 26, 3732.
Jeong, H., Hong, S. J., Yuk, J. S., Lee, H., Koo, H., Park, S. H., & Shin, J. (2023). Renewable and degradable triblock copolymers produced via metal-free polymerizations. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 11, 4871.
Gunsalus, N. J., Koppaka, A., Park, S. H., Bischof, S. M., Hashiguchi, B. G., & Periana, R. A. (2017). Homogeneous functionalization of methane. Chem. Rev., 117, 8521.
Koppaka, A., Park, S. H., Hashiguchi, B. G., Ess, D. H., & Periana, R. A. (2019). Selective C−H functionalization of methane and ethane by a molecular Sb(V) complex. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 58, 2241.
Ryu, J., Jung, N., Lim, D. H., Shin, D. Y., Park, S. H., Ham, H. C., Kim, H. J., Jang, J. H., & Yoo, S. J. (2014). P-modified and carbon-shell coated Co nanoparticles for efficient alkaline oxygen reduction catalysis. Chem. Commun., 50, 15940.

Mrs. Liyu Hou | Catalysis | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Liyu Hou | China University of Petroleum | China

Mrs. Liyu Hou is a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering and Technology at the State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, where her research specializes in heterogeneous catalysis for propane dehydrogenation (PDH). Her work focuses on the design of non-noble metal catalysts supported on oxides or zeolites, with particular emphasis on defect engineering and advanced characterization techniques such as XRD, and in situ DRIFTS. She has made significant contributions to catalytic science by developing Y-doped catalysts through coprecipitation, demonstrating optimal performance initial propane conversion and greater than propylene selectivity sustained after 10 cycles. Her studies revealed that Y³⁺ incorporation into the TiO₂ lattice forms Y–O–Ti bonds, enhances lattice stability, increases surface area, promotes Ti species reduction, and facilitates oxygen vacancy formation, all of which boost PDH efficiency. Furthermore, she has shown that appropriate Y doping stabilizes Ti⁴⁺cus sites and balances the weak-to-medium acid ratio, while excessive Y reduces catalytic activity due to pore blockage. Her research, published in the Journal of Rare Earths and supported by the NSFC and the National Key R&D Program of China, has already gained recognition with 13 citations across 2 documents and an h-index of 1, underscoring her growing impact in catalysis and sustainable energy research.