Frontier sustainable nanotechnology of South Korea today

Nanotechnology sits at the heart of propelling a sustainable society, brandishing the power to revolutionize a raft of sectors, notably energy, the environment, materials, health, and agriculture. This field is integral to the sustainability agenda, sharply reducing waste, conserving energy, and minimizing the ecological imprint of human endeavors. In these domains, South Korea demonstrates formidable strengths in nano-energy, environmental technology, and the development of sophisticated nanomaterials. Particularly in renewable energy, nanotechnology markedly bolsters the efficacy of solar cells and batteries, while in environmental pursuits, it facilitates the utilization of nanomaterials for pollution mitigation and the creation of energy-efficient semiconductors. The extensive national nanotechnology strategy encompasses sectors from nano-elementary to nano-manufacturing, nano-bio, and nano-energy/environment, underscoring South Korea's commitment to a significant stake in the international market.

The commitment of South Korea to sustainable nanotechnology is vividly reflected in its national policy. Within the framework of the Green New Deal, the country is championing a holistic initiative that envisages the creation of employment and stimulation of economic growth through eco-friendly policies and technological innovations. The Deal, with a budget of approximately £104 billion by 2025, is poised to invigorate key sectors such as green mobility and intelligent healthcare. It is underpinned by a strategy to intensify renewable energy, enhance green infrastructure, and revitalize the industrial sphere, further sweetened with incentives for electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. South Korea's substantial investment in nanotechnology research and development, demonstrated through a meticulous strategic roadmap and proactive engagement in global symposia, affirms its influential position in the nanotech sphere. For example, the NANO KOREA Symposium stands as a testament to this, with the 2023 event being a crucible of cross-disciplinary progress themed “Nanodevice: Evolving into Intelligent Semiconductors,” a clear signal that South Korea is critically influencing the course of global nanotechnology innovation.

Hence, this special issue is a showcase of the forefront of nanotechnological research emanating from South Korea, brought forth by the leading minds from the country's foremost institutions. In line with the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) University Rankings, we have sourced contributions from Seoul National University (SNU), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), which stand at the vanguard of this field. Esteemed colleagues, including five professors from SNU, a pair from KAIST, and a sextet from SKKU, have lent their expertise to this publication. Enclosed within are five original research articles alongside seven critical reviews, spanning a range of subjects from the development of perovskite solar cells and batteries to the application of avant-garde nanomaterials in semiconductors, all within the ambit of nurturing a sustainable society. The articles represent a collective endeavor in the realm of materials science, with an emphasis on innovating to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental reclamation. These contributions are indicative of a robust and cross-disciplinary pursuit within materials science, striving to expand the possibilities of energy storage and generation, while concurrently addressing the urgent need for more ecologically sound energy solutions. We express our profound gratitude to all contributing authors, peer reviewers, and the editorial team at EcoMat for their invaluable contributions and steadfast support in realizing this special issue. Particular gratitude is reserved for Professor Zijian Zheng, Editor-in-Chief at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Dr Wai-Sum Lo, Managing Editor, for their unflagging assistance. Our earnest hope is that this issue will not only brief our readers on the latest developments but will also spark a heightened commitment to this field of paramount importance.

All authors have contributed equally.