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Keun Su Kim
Assistant Professor
Department of Physics
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

AsianScientist (Jan. 21, 2016) – The extraordinary properties of nanomaterials have fascinated scientists for decades. Graphene, which is a mere atom thick, is a hundred times stronger than steel—in seeming contradiction to its physical size. Such materials have myriad applications: graphene-based transistors have developed rapidly, and are now considered a viable option for post-silicon electronics.

Assistant Professor Keun Su Kim, together with his research group at POSTECH, studies the electronic structure of such low-dimensional, or 2D, atomic crystals using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES).

1. How would you summarize your research in a tweet (140 characters)?

I dream of being a designer who tailors a material’s properties using the knowledge of physics for applications in future electronic technologies.

2. Describe a completed research project that you are proudest of.

Over past ten years, two-dimensional (2D) atomic crystals have emerged as a new class of materials that may impact electronic technology. A key determinant of whether they are successful is our ability to control their electronic states and overcome the material’s natural limitations.

We have recently succeeded in controlling the band gap of phosphorene, a 2D semiconductor made of phosphorus. This is a useful technique which provides a great flexibility in design and optimization of electronic devices.



3. What do you hope to accomplish with your research in the next decade?

I hope to improve our controllability of 2D materials, so as to contribute to the realization of high-performance electronics.

4. Who (or what) motivated you to go into your field of study?

During my PhD, I studied atomic-scale materials formed on the surface of solids. At the time, nobody would have believed that this kind of atomic-scale materials would seriously be considered for applications in actual devices. However, since the recent discovery of 2D van der Waals crystals, this is no longer a crazy idea.

It’s fascinating to me that such a simple material of only a few atoms thick exhibits useful properties—totally different from their bulk counterparts.



5. What is the biggest adversity that you experienced in your research?

I think doing research is not very different from creating a work of art. Developing even a small original idea is accompanied by painful dedication. The worst part of this is that it will never end unless I stop doing research. The fruit is sweet, though!

6. What are the biggest challenges facing the academic research community today, and how can we fix them?

Like in every human community, the academic research community involves intense competition for resources. Some people want more resources to be allocated to leading scientists, whereas others want it more evenly allocated to each other. In my opinion, nothing is more important than balance, but how the optimum is decided matters.

7. If you had not become a scientist, what would you have become instead?

I might have become a broadcasting producer. I was a member of my high school broadcasting team. Making a film or documentary was great fun, and broadcasting is highly influential. I think it’s very similar to research in many aspects.



8. Outside of work, what do you do to relax? Do you have any interests and hobbies?

I enjoy going shopping! It’s exciting to see trendy styles come and go. I also like sitting in a café reading papers and magazines.

9. If you had the power and resources to eradicate any world problem using your research, which one would you solve?

I would try to find a beautiful mathematical equation that can explain why, even though the world has changed for the better overall, individuals are increasingly stressed out.

10. What advice would you give to aspiring researchers in Asia?

Challenge yourself on big problems, but also keep in mind that the details make the masterpiece.

This article is from a monthly series called Asia’s Rising Scientists. Click here to read other articles in the series.

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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Kim Keun Su.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.