Research Interests

Materials and systems for energy storages; computational materials science; thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport properties of materials; materials discovery by high-throughput screening and machine learning. 

Research and Professional Experience

2015 – 2020    Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Discovery of solid electrolyte materials for solid-state batteries. Research funded by U.S. Department of Energy (Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, JCESR). Objective: Fundamental understanding of interfacial phenomena, high ionic mobility in solids, and synthesis of metastable phases for solid electrolytes. Responsibilities: Perform atomic-scale modeling (first principles and molecular dynamics simulations) and machine learning study to reveal interfacial characteristics with metal anode, disclose features that govern ion mobility, and discover new solid electrolyte materials.
2012 – 2015    Junior Researcher, Mando Corporation, Seongnam, Korea
Developed electric power steering (EPS) systems for vehicles; Designed and examined new concepts of reduction gears. 
2010 – 2012    Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering, Seoul Nat’l Univ., Seoul, Korea
Design guideline for PEM fuel cells. Research funded by National Research Foundation of Korea and Hyundai Motor Company. Objective: To improve the uniformity and performance of PEM fuel cells. Responsibilities: Conduct numerical simulations, visualization experiments, and lattice Boltzmann simulations to determine the effects of inlet humidity, diffusion layer permeability, and shape of gas channel, and to investigate the kinetic behavior of liquid water inside porous media.

Patents, Patent Applications, and Invention Disclosures

1. USPTO Application 16/585,185; Publication #US 20200106122A1: Systems And Methods For Improved Solid-State Electrolytes, Filed 09/28/2018. Inventors: D. J. Siegel and Kwangnam Kim. Published April 2, 2020.

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Certificate in Computational Discovery and Engineering, May 2020

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2020

Seoul Nat’l Univ., Seoul, Korea, Mechanical Engineering, M.S., February 2012

Hanyang Univ., Seoul, Korea, Certificate in Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea, February 2010

Hanyang Univ., Seoul, Korea, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., February 2010

(+ equal contribution)

1. F. Wang+, H. A. Evans+, Kwangnam Kim+, L. Yin, Y. Li, P-C. Tsai, J. Liu, S. H. Lapidus, C. M. Brown, D. J. Siegel, and Y-M. Chiang, Dynamic Molecular OH Anions in Li2OHCl Anti-perovskite Promotes High Lithium Ion Conduction, Submitted.
2. L. Yin, M. Murphy, Kwangnam Kim, L. Hu, J. Cabana, D. J. Siegel, and S. Lapidus, Synthesis of Anti-perovskite Solid Electrolytes: Comparing Li3SI, Na3SI, and Ag3SI, Inorganic Chemistry, In revision.
3. Kwangnam Kim and D. J. Siegel, Predicting Wettability and the Electrochemical Window of Lithium Metal/Solid Electrolyte Interfaces, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11, 39940-39950 (2019).
4. Kwangnam Kim and D. J. Siegel, Correlating Lattice Distortions, Ion Migration Barriers, and Stability in Solid Electrolytes, Journal of Materials Chemistry A 7, 3216-3227 (2019).
5. Kwangnam Kim and M. Kaviany, Thermal conductivity switch: Optimal semiconductor/metal melting transition, Physical Review B 94, 155203 (2016).
6. Kwang Nam Kim, J. H. Kang, S. G. Lee, J. H. Nam, and C-J. Kim, Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Liquid Water Transport in Microporous and Gas Diffusion Layers of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells, Journal of Power Sources 278, 703-717 (2015).
7. Kwang Nam Kim, D. H. Jeon, J. H. Nam, and B. M. Kim, A numerical study of straight-parallel PEM fuel cells at automotive operation, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 37, 9212-9227 (2012).
8. J. H. Kang, Kwang Nam Kim, J. H. Nam, and C-J. Kim, Visualization experiments and pore-network simulations of invasion-percolation transport of a non-wetting fluid through multiple porous layers, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 37, 1642-1652 (2012).
9. D. H. Jeon, Kwang Nam Kim, S. M. Baek, and J. H. Nam, The effect of relative humidity of the cathode on the performance and the uniformity of PEM fuel cells, International journal of Hydrogen Energy 36, 12499-12511 (2011).

• Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement, College of Engineering - University of Michigan, January 2020
• Scholarship Award, Seoul National University Alumni Association in Chicago Area, October 2019
• Rackham Graduate Student Research Grants, Rackham Graduate School - University of Michigan, December 2018
• Silver Award (2nd place among selected 36) at the 3rd Annual Student Materials Research Symposium, Department of Materials Science & Engineering - University of Michigan, November 2018
• Rackham Conference Travel Grant, Rackham Graduate School - University of Michigan, February 2018 & March 2020 
• Graduate Student Fellowship, Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Michigan, 2015 Fall semester
• Academic-Industrial Fellowship, Mando Corporation, 2011
• Brain Korea 21 Fellowship, National Research Foundation of Korea, 2010 & 2011
• Scholarship Award, Department of Mechanical Engineering - Seoul National University, 2010 Winter & Fall semesters
• Honorable Mention at the Engineering Design Fair, College of Engineering - Hanyang University, November 2009
• Participation Prize (10th place among 194) at the Graduation Thesis Presentation, Department of Mechanical Engineering - Hanyang University, June 2009
• Scholarship Award, Department of Mechanical Engineering - Hanyang University, 2009 Fall semester
• Student Council Scholarship, Hanyang University, 2007 Fall semester