Intrinsically stretchable light-emitting diodes, composed of stretchable electrodes, charge transport layers, and luminescent materials, have garnered significant interest for enhancing human well-being and advancing the field of deformable electronics. Various luminescent materials, such as perovskites and organics, have been integrated with stretchable elastomers to function as the stretchable emissive layers in these intrinsically stretchable LEDs. Stretchable conductors including Ag nanowire based percolating structures and conducting polymers have been utilized as stretchable transparent electrode. Despite this progress, their performances in terms of efficiency and stability remain challenging compared to their structurally stretchable and rigid LED counterparts. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in intrinsically stretchable LEDs, focusing on material innovations.
High-density crossbar arrays based on storage class memory (SCM) are ideally suited to handle an exponential increase in data storage and processing as a central hardware unit in the era of AI-based technologies. To achieve this, selector devices are required to be co-integrated with SCM to address the sneak-path current issue that indispensably arises in such crossbar-type architecture. In this perspective, we first summarize the current state of tellurium-based threshold-switching devices and recent advances in the material, processing, and device aspects. We thoroughly review the physicochemical properties of elemental tellurium (Te) and representative binary tellurides, their tailored deposition techniques, and operating mechanisms when implemented in two-terminal threshold switching devices. Lastly, we discuss the promising research direction of Te-based selectors and possible issues that need to be considered in advance.
This paper presents the development and market trends of nano biosensors. These biosensors must possess high sensitivity and selectivity to effectively detect diseases. Presently, many research groups are focusing on the field-effect transistor aspect of nano biosensors, which can identify diseases such as Down syndrome, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and numerous other cancers, utilizing graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide materials. In the case of in-vitro diagnostics, the use of nano biosensors has been rapidly growing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper also discusses market trends and the outlook for both national and international enterprises engaged in the nano biosensor field. Nano biosensors are expected to play a beneficial and significant role soon, contributing to the early diagnosis of diseases and subsequently improving patient outcomes.
Micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs), with a chip size of 100 micrometers or less, have attracted significant attention in flexible displays, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), and bio-medical applications as next-generation light sources due to their outstanding electrical, optical, and mechanical performance. In the realm of bio-medical devices, it is crucial to transfer tiny micro LED chips onto desired flexible substrates with low precision errors, high speed, and high yield for practical applications on various parts of the human body, including someone’s face and organs. This paper aims to introduce a fabrication process for flexible micro LED devices and propose micro LED transfer techniques for cosmetic and medical applications. Flexible micro LED technology holds promise for treating skin disorders, cancers, and neurological diseases.
Demand and necessity for eco-friendly offshore wind farms have been increasing. Research on submarine cables is constantly being considered for a reliable and stable power transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the thermal aging characteristic of submarine cables inside the J-tube of offshore wind farms. In this study, a submarine cable was set in three sections: The first is the part exposed to the air above the sea level at high temperature. The second is the section exposed to repeated temperature fluctuation as the sea level rises and falls. The third is the part submerged at low temperature below the sea level. Aged samples were tested by using the method of electrical evaluation to obtain insulation characteristics. The experimental results show that the dielectric breakdown of the sample with temperature fluctuation was 7% lower than the sample with a constant temperature; thereby, demonstrating that the section where the temperature fluctuation occurred in the submarine cables was weaker than the other. The sections of submarine cable with temperature fluctuations are believed as a weak point during operation; therefore, this part should be monitored preferentially.
The Ga2O3 thin films were deposited using an RF sputtering system and the effect of crystallographic and optical properties under rapid thermal annealing conditions on Ga2O3 thin film was evaluated. A rapid thermal annealing method can fabricate a crystalline Ga2O3 thin film which is applied to various fields with a low cost and a high efficiency compared with the conventional post-annealing method. In this study, the Ga2O3 treated at 900℃ for 1 min showed the beta and gamma phases in XRD measurement. In optical properties, the crystalline Ga2O3 represented a high transmittance of more than 80% in the visible region and was calculated with a high optical bandgap energy of 4.58 eV. The beta and gamma phases Ga2O3 can be obtained by adjusting the rapid thermal annealing temperatures, and the various properties such as the optical bandgap energy can be controlled. Moreover, it is expected that crystalline Ga2O3 can be applied to various devices by controlling not only temperature but process time.
The effects of the annealing temperature on the structural, morphological, and luminescent properties of SrWO4:Sm3+ thin films grown on quartz substrates by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering were investigated. The thin films were annealed at various annealing temperatures for 20 min in a rapid thermal annealer after growing the thin films. The experimental results showed that the annealing temperature has a significant effect on the properties of the SrWO4:Sm3+ thin films. The crystal structure of the as-grown SrWO4:Sm3+ thin films was transformed from amorphous to crystalline after annealing at 800℃. The preferred orientation along (112) plane and a significant increase in average grain size by 820 nm were observed with increasing the annealing temperature. The average optical transmittance in the wavelength range of 500~1,100 nm was decreased from 72.0% at 800℃ to 44.2% at an annealing temperature of 1,000℃, where the highest value in the photoluminescence intensity was obtained. In addition to the red-shift of absorption edge, a higher annealing temperature caused the optical band gap energy of the SrWO4:Sm3+ thin films to fall rapidly. These results suggest that the structural, morphological, and luminescent properties of SrWO4:Sm3+ thin films can be controlled by varying annealing temperature.
The advantage of OTFT technology is that large-area circuits can be manufactured on flexible substrates using a lowcost solution process such as inkjet printing. Compared to silicon-based inorganic semiconductor processes, the process temperature is lower and the process time is shorter, so it can be widely applied to fields that do not require high electron mobility. Materials that have utility as electrode materials include carbon that can be solution-processed, transparent carbon thin films, and metallic nanoparticles, etc. are being studied. Recently, a technology has been developed to facilitate charge injection by coating the surface of the Al electrode with solution-processable titanium oxide (TiOx), which can greatly improve the performance of OTFT. In order to commercialize OTFT technology, an appropriate method is to use a complementary circuit with excellent reliability and stability. For this, insulators and channel semiconductors using organic materials must have stability in the air. In this study, carbon-doped Mo (MoC) thin films were fabricated with different graphite target power densities via unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBM). The influence of graphite target power density on the structural, surface area, physical, and electrical properties of MoC films was investigated. MoC thin films deposited by the unbalanced magnetron sputtering method exhibited a smooth and uniform surface. However, as the graphite target power density increased, the rms surface roughness of the MoC film increased, and the hardness and elastic modulus of the MoC thin film increased. Additionally, as the graphite target power density increased, the resistivity value of the MoC film increased. In the performance of an organic thin film transistor using a MoC gate electrode, the carrier mobility, threshold voltage, and drain current on/off ratio (Ion/Ioff) showed 0.15 cm2/V·s, -5.6 V, and 7.5×104, respectively.
We have proposed and demonstrated a fiber optic RH (relative humidity) sensor based on fiber Bragg grating covered with a polyimide film. As the polyimide film absolves the moisture in the air, its volume expands. As a result, the grating period of the FBG (fiber Bragg grating) covered with a polyimide film becomes wide and the Bragg wavelength is shifted. The sensor is implemented by fixing a 30 ㎛ thickness polyimide film on the surface of an optical fiber grating using an adhesive, and the characteristics of the device according to humidity are analyzed. The fabricated FBG RH sensor showed a high sensitivity of 0.0186 nm/RH% and a wide measurement range from 30% to 90%. The influence of environmental temperature on the characteristics of the RH sensor was also measured and analyzed. The feasibility of commercialization is presented.
With the purpose of instilling an awareness of the safety of users of electrical equipment and inducing voluntary facility improvement through the safety rating system for general low voltage electrical equipment, simulation and field application of the safety rating of general low voltage electrical equipment were conducted. For the introduction and application of the safety rating system for general low-voltage electrical equipment, data related to domestic safety was investigated and analyzed, cases of introduction in other fields were reviewed, and for design, the 4M risk assessment method of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the cases of safety index development in Korea were analyzed and standardized. Safety rating system simulations were conducted for general low-voltage electrical equipment, and problem improvement measures were prepared by analyzing the results through on-site verification and simulation applied to the initial design. Design standards for the introduction of the safety rating system for general low-voltage electrical equipment were prepared, and 394 youth training facilities were applied to the field to see if the design standards were practically applicable to the field. With the application of the safety rating system for low-voltage electrical equipment for general use, youth training facilities that had been classified as ‘appropriate’ were able to induce an upgrade to a higher level through voluntary facility improvement according to the application of grades (A to E). As a result of inducing voluntary repair projects based on the results of the 1st and 2nd inspection of youth training facilities, it was confirmed that 86 facilities received grade A, 225 facilities received grade B, and only 311 facilities received grade A to B out of a total of 394 facilities, and there was no grade E.
Carbon black with high purity and excellent conductivity is used as a conductive filler in the semiconductive compound for EHV (Extra High Voltage) power cables of 345 kV or higher. When carbon black and CNT (carbon nanotube) are applied together as a conductive filler of a semiconductive compound, stable electrical properties of the semiconductive compound can be maintained even though the amount of conductive filler is significantly reduced. In EHV power cables, since the semi-conductive layer is close to the conductor, stable electrical characteristics are required even under high-temperature conditions caused by heat generated from the conductor. In this study, the theoretical principle that a semiconductive compound applied with carbon black and CNT can maintain excellent electrical properties even under high-temperature conditions was studied. Basically, the conductive fillers dispersed in the matrix form an electrical network. The base polymer and the matrix of the composite, expands by heat under high temperature conditions. Because of this, the electrical network connected by the conductive fillers is weakened. In particular, since the conductive filler has high thermal conductivity, the semiconductive compound causes more thermal expansion. Therefore, the effect of CNT as a conductive filler on the thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, and volume resistivity of the semiconductive compound was studied. From this result, thermal expansion and composition of the electrical network under high temperature conditions are explained.
In this paper, a 1,200 V Si-based IGBT used in electric vehicles and new energy industries was designed. A field stop IGBT with a separate gate structure, which is the proposed structure, was designed to change trench depth and split gate width variables. Then, the general trench structure and electrical characteristics were compared and analyzed. As a result of conducting the trench depth experiment, it was confirmed that the breakdown voltage was the highest at 6 μm, and the on-state voltage drop was the lowest at 3.5 μm. In the separate gate width experiment, it was confirmed that the breakdown voltage decreased as the variable increased, and the on-state voltage drop increased. Therefore, it may be seen that it is preferable not to change the width of the separate gate. In addition, experiments show that there is no difference in on-state voltage drop compared to a structure in which a general field stop structure has a separate gate structure. In other words, it is determined that adding a dummy gate with a separate gate structure to the active cell will significantly improve the on-voltage drop characteristics, while confirming that the on-voltage drop does not change, and while having excellent characteristics in terms of breakdown voltage.
The fault current limiting characteristics of three-phase transformer type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL), which consisted of three-phase primary and secondary windings wound on E-I iron core, one high-TC superconducting (HTSC) element connected with the secondary winding of one phase and another HTSC element connected in parallel with other two secondary windings of two phases, were analyzed. Unlike other three-phase transformer type SFCLs with three HTSC elements, three-phase transformer type SFCL using double quench has the merit to perform fault current limiting operation for three-phase ground faults with two HTSC elements. To verify its proper three-phase ground fault current limiting operation, three-phase ground faults such as single-line ground, double-line ground and triple-line ground faults were generated in three-phase simulated power system installed with three-phase transformer type SFCL using double quench. From analysis of its fault current limiting characteristics based on tested results, three-phase transformer type SFCL using double quench was shown to be effectively operated for all three-phase ground faults.
Energy harvesting technology, which converts wasted energy sources in everyday life into usable electric energy, is gaining attention as a solution to the challenges of charging and managing batteries for the driving of IoT sensors, which are one of the key technologies in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Hybrid energy harvesting technology involves integrating two or more energy harvesting technologies to generate electric energy from multiple energy conversion mechanisms. In this study, a hybrid energy harvesting device called TMPPEG (thermo-magneto-piezoelectric-pyroelectric energy generator), which utilizes low-grade waste heat, was developed by incorporating PVDF polymer piezoelectric components and optimizing the system. The variations in piezoelectric output and thermoelectric output were examined based on the spacing of the clamps, and it was found that the device exhibited the highest energy output when the clamp spacing was 2 mm. The voltage and energy output characteristics of the TMPPEG were evaluated, demonstrating its potential as an efficient hybrid energy harvesting component that effectively harnesses low-grade waste heat.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications, including electric vehicles and portable electronics, due to their high energy density and long cycle life. The performance of lithium-ion batteries can be improved by using solid electrolytes, in terms of higher safety, stability, and energy density. Li1.5Al0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 (LATP) is a promising solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries due to its high ionic conductivity and excellent stability. However, the ionic conductivity of LATP needs to be improved for commercializing all-solid-state lithium battery systems. In this study, we investigate the microstructures and ionic conductivities of LATP by incorporating B2O3 glass ceramics. The smaller grain size and narrow size distribution were obtained after the introduction of B2O3 in LATP, which is attributed to the B2O3 glass on grain boundaries of LATP. Moreover, higher ionic conductivity can be obtained after B2O3 incorporation, where the optimal composition is 0.1 wt% B2O3 incorporated LATP and the ionic conductivity reaches 8.8×10-5 S/cm, more than 3 times higher value than pristine LATP. More research could be followed for having higher ionic conductivity and density by optimizing the processing conditions. This facile approach for establishing higher ionic conductivity in LATP solid electrolytes could accelerate the commercialization of all-solid-state lithium batteries.
Recently, with the development of the smart device market, the integration of high-functional devices has increased the heat density, causing overload of the device, and resulting in various problems such as shortened lifespan, performance degradation, and failure. Therefore, research on heat dissipation materials is being actively conducted to realize next-generation electronic products. The heat dissipation material is characterized in that it is easy to dissipate heat due to its high thermal conductivity and minimizes leakage current flowing through the heat dissipation material due to its low electrical conductivity. In this study, flower-shaped Al2O3 and BN composites were engineered with a simple hydrothermal synthesis approach, and their thermal conductivity characteristics were compared and evaluated for each synthesis condition for the application to a heat dissipation material. Spherical BN and flower-shaped Al2O3 were easily obtained, and SEM/EDS analyses confirmed the uniform presence of BN between the Al2O3, and it can be expected that these shapes can affect the thermal conductivity.
Recently, active research has been conducted to enhance the power characteristics and thermal stability of lithiumion batteries (LiBs) by modifying separators using a ceramic coating method. However, since the thermal properties and surface features of the separator vary depending on the characteristics of the ceramic powders applied to the separator, it is crucial to manufacture ceramic powders optimized for the separator’s performance. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of three types of α-alumina (A-1, A-2, and A-3) produced with varying dispersant contents and milling times, in addition to commercial α-alumina (AES-11). Subsequently, the optimized powders (A-3) were coated onto the separator using an aqueous binder for comparison with the characteristics of an AES-11 coated separator and an uncoated PE separator. The A-3 coated separator improved electrolyte wettability with a low contact angle (44.69°) and increased puncture strength (538 gf). Furthermore, it exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a shrinkage value of 5.64% when exposed to 140℃ for 1 hour, compared to the AES- 11 coated separator (6.09%) and the bare PE separator (69.64%).