Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) suffer from efficiency limitations due to interfacial charge recombination at the TiO₂/dye/electrolyte interface. In this study, aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) was introduced onto nanoporous TiO₂ photoelectrodes via a dip-coating process with controlled coating times to investigate the effect of silanization time on interfacial charge transport behavior. Unlike concentration-driven structural modification, this work focuses on the evolution of the APS-modified interface governed by reaction time. The DSSC with 30 min APS treatment exhibited the highest power conversion efficiency of 5.34%, representing a 19% enhancement compared to the untreated device (4.49%), mainly due to increased short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage. However, prolonged coating times (2 h and 24 h) resulted in a significant decrease in photocurrent density, leading to reduced device performance despite partial improvement in recombination resistance. These results are attributed to the time-dependent evolution of the APS interfacial layer. At moderate coating time, APS provides effective surface functionalization, enhancing dye adsorption and suppressing interfacial recombination. In contrast, prolonged coating is expected to induce increased surface coverage and silane condensation, which can hinder electron injection and increase charge transport resistance. Therefore, the photovoltaic performance is governed by a trade-off between recombination suppression and charge injection efficiency, controlled by the silanization time. This study highlights the critical role of interfacial reaction kinetics in determining charge transport behavior and provides an effective strategy for optimizing DSSC performance through time-dependent interface engineering.

Bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics with high Curie temperatures have recently attracted significant attention as promising candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric applications. However, the conventional solid-state reaction method entails high-temperature processing that induces bismuth volatilization, thereby degrading device reliability. In this study, we employed a co-precipitation method enabling atomic-level mixing to significantly lower the synthesis temperature of Nb/Tadoped Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ ceramics compared to the solid-state reaction method. Experimental results demonstrated that the coprecipitation method yielded a pure single phase at 600℃ without intermediate phases. Furthermore, the synthesized nanopowders, with an average size of 100 nm, lowered the onset temperature of sintering shrinkage to 650℃, approximately 200℃ lower than that of the solid-state counterpart. The low-temperature synthesis process proposed in this work is expected to contribute to the performance enhancement of high-temperature piezoelectric devices by effectively suppressing bismuth volatilization and ensuring compositional stability.

With the ongoing rise in renewable energy demand, offshore wind farms are rapidly expanding, increasing the need for advanced development and diagnostic techniques for submarine cables. These cables are essential for efficient and reliable power transmission. A critical issue with these submarine cables is the formation of internal hot spots, which can deteriorate the insulation’s performance and negatively impact the overall reliability of offshore wind energy infrastructure. This research focuses on developing an innovative real-time monitoring system to detect hot spots within submarine cable insulation under varying electrical loads. Experimental tests were conducted on a 66 kV-grade wet-type submarine cable specifically designed for offshore wind applications, applying incremental current loads ranging from 200 A to 500 A. Temperature changes within the insulation due to the generated heat were continuously monitored using Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS). Additionally, to evaluate the DTS system’s precision, repeatability, and overall reliability, the measured temperatures were compared against values obtained from validated spot-type sensors. Experimental results showed a discrepancy of less than 1% between DTS and spot-type sensor measurements at a reference temperature of 60℃, demonstrating the high accuracy and reliability of the developed DTS-based monitoring system. The outcomes of this study suggest that the proposed monitoring system can significantly enhance the capability for early detection and continuous monitoring of hot spots, thereby improving the operational reliability of submarine cables employed in offshore wind energy installations.

Piezoelectricity refers to the phenomenon where mechanical stress is converted into electrical signals or, conversely, electrical signals are converted into mechanical stress. Ferroelectric materials, characterized by high dielectric permittivity and spontaneous polarization, retain their polarization even after the removal of an electric field. In such materials, poling plays a crucial role in enhancing the piezoelectric effect, with the process of aligning dipoles being known as poling. This review focuses on studies that have compared and analyzed the enhancement of piezoelectric properties in ceramics and polymers through two representative poling methods: AC poling (ACP) and DC poling (DCP). Even within the same category of ceramics or polymers, variations in piezoelectric properties are observed based on the material type, poling method, and poling conditions. Under certain conditions, ACP has been shown to provide superior poling effects compared to DCP. Through this review, we propose that ACP has the potential not only to replace the traditionally used DCP in the poling of piezoelectric materials but also to serve as a more effective method. This could spark increased interest in the study of poling methods for piezoelectric polymers, a field that has received relatively less attention.

Various process modifications have been used to minimize SiO₂ gate oxide aging in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). In particular, post-metallization annealing (PMA) with a deuterium ambient can effectively eliminate both bulk traps and interface traps in the gate oxide. However, even with the use of PMA, it remains difficult to prevent high levels of radiation-induced gate oxide damage such as total ionizing dose (TID) during long-term missions. In this context, additional low-temperature heat treatment (LTHT) is proposed to recover from radiation-induced damage. Positive traps in the damaged gate oxide can be neutralized using LTHT, thereby prolonging device reliability in harsh radioactive environments.

Understanding the structure-property relationship in functional materials is crucial as microstructural features such as nano-precipitates, phase boundary, grain boundary segregation, and grain boundary phases play a key role in their functional properties. Atom probe tomography (APT) is an advanced analytical technique that allows for the three-dimensional (3D) mapping of atomic distributions and the precise determination of local chemical compositions in materials. Moreover, it offers sub-nanometer spatial resolution and chemical sensitivity at the tens of parts per million (ppm) level. Owing to its unique capabilities, this technique has been employed to uncover the 3D elemental distributions in a wide range of materials, including alloys, semiconductors, nanomaterials, and even biomaterials. In this paper, various kinds of examples are introduced for elucidating structure-property relationships on functional materials by utilizing the atom probe tomography.

An irradiator is developed using two UVA wavelength ranges of SMD LEDs as a curing light source. This module has dimensions of 545×111×300 mm³ and is equipped with a TIR bar-shaped lens made of PDMS silicone resin. The developed irradiator offers high uniformity, with 89% in the centerline of the horizontal axis direction, for two different wavelength ranges of 365 nm and 385 nm. The radiation intensity from the light source module shows highly directional characteristics, and the irradiator provides a maximum irradiance of 1,634 mW/cm² at a working distance of 50 mm. During the initial 5 minutes of operation, the irradiance experiences a rapid decrease. However, this issue is addressed by optimizing the LED’s current reduction characteristics and managing the Transistor’s temperature rise in the constant current circuit. After continuous operation for approximately 60 minutes. The highest temperature, near the central part of the irradiating surface, reaches 69.7℃, while the lowest temperature, near the edges, is 41.1℃.

Ni-rich cathode materials have been developed as the most promising candidates for next-generation cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries because of their high capacity and energy density. In particular, the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries could be enhanced by increasing the contents of nickel ion. However, there are still limitations, such as low structural stability, cation mixing, low capacity retention and poor rate capability. Herein, we have successfully developed the nanorod-type Ni-rich cathode materials by using co-precipitation method. Particularly, the nanorod-type primary particles of LiNi_0.7Co_0.15Mn_0.15O₂ could facilitate the electron transfer because of their longitudinal morphology. Moreover, there were holes at the center of secondary particles, resulting in high permeability of the electrolyte. Lithium-ion batteries using the prepared nanorod-type LiNi_0.7Co_0.15Mn_0.15O₂ achieved highly improved electrochemical performance with a superior rate capability during battery cycling.

This paper is a study on the optimal microdroplet generation conditions in indirect charging electrostatic spraying. Unlike the direct charging method, which applies power to the nozzle, the indirect charging method applies power to the discharge electrode between the nozzle and the collection electrode. Therefore, an electrically simplified system can be obtained by minimizing the insulation part a stable spray pattern can be obtained with a wide spray angle, and a stable spray pattern can be obtained with a wide spray angle. To conduct the study, an indirect charging type electrostatic spray visualization system was constructed and the static characteristics of the microdroplets were analyzed through image processing of the spray shape of the microdroplets. The total number of microdroplets and the number of microdroplets per power consumption are confirmed according to the changes in the distance between the discharge electrode and the collection electrode, the flow rate, and the applied voltage, which affect the generation of microdroplets, and using this, the optimal generation conditions are derived and the corresponding microdroplet size distribution was analyzed. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the optimal generation condition was at a flow rate of 15 to 20 mL/min and a voltage of -22.5 to -25 kV in terms of the number of microdroplets, and at a flow rate of 15 to 20 mL/min and a voltage of -20 kV in terms of energy consumption efficiency.

Perovskite materials are promising candidates for next-generation optoelectronic devices owing to their outstanding external quantum efficiency, high color purity, and ability to tune the light emission wavelength. However, conventional thermal annealing processes caused the degradation of perovskite, resulting in poor optoelectronic properties and a short lifetime. Herein, we propose a laser-induced recrystallization of perovskite thin film to enhance its light-emitting properties. Laser-induced recrystallization process was performed using rapid and instantaneous laser heating, which successfully induced grain growth of the perovskite material. The laser processing conditions were thoroughly optimized based on theoretical calculations and various material analyses such as x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Controlling ambient humid condition through high performance humidity sensors has become important for various fields, including industrial process, food storage, and the preservation of historic remains. Although aerosol deposited humidity sensors using ceramic BaTiO₃ (BT) material have been widely studied because of their longtime stability, there remain critical disadvantages, such as low sensitivity, low linearity, and slow response/recovery time in case of the sensors fabricated at room temperature. To achieve superior humidity sensing properties even at room temperature condition, BT-Cu composite films utilizing aerosol deposition (AD) process have been proposed based on the percolation theory. The BT-Cu composite films showed gradually improved sensing properties until the Cu concentration reached 15 wt% in the composite film. However, the excessive Cu (above 30 wt%) containing BT-Cu composite films showed a rapid decrease of the sensing properties. The results of observed surface morphology of the AD fabricated composite films, to figure out the metal filler effect, showed correlation between surface topography as well as size and the amount of open pores according to the metal filler content. Overall, it is very important not only dielectric constant of the humidity sensing films but also microstructures, because they affect either the variation range of capacitance by ambient humidity or adsorption/desorption of ambient humidity onto/from the humidity sensing films.

Indium-doped Mg_0.05Zn_0.95O thin films were deposited on glass substrates by a sol-gel method. Three types of indium precursors such as indium chloride, indium acetate, and indium nitrate were used as doping sources. Physical properties of fabricated thin films were analyzed through XRD (x-ray diffraction), UV-vis spectrophotometer, Hall effect measurement, and EDS (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy). All In-doped thin films grown in this study exhibited a preferred orientation of (002) with over 80% transmittance. The results showed that the Mg_0.05Zn_0.95O thin film from indium chloride as the indium precursor has higher crystallinity and transmittance with lower resistivity when compared with those from other indium precursors.

Inorganic-organic hybrid perovskite solar cells have demonstrated considerable improvements, reaching 25.5% of certified power conversion efficiency in 2020 from 3.8% in 2009. In normal structured perovskite solar cells, TiO₂ electrontransporting materials require heat treatment process at a high temperature over 450℃ to induce crystallinity. Inverted perovskite solar cells have also been studied to exclude the additional thermal process by using [6,6]-phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as a non-oxide electron-transporting layer. However, the drawback of the PCBM layer is a charge accumulation at the interface between PCBM and a metal electrode. The impact of bathocuproin (BCP) buffer layer on photovoltaic performance has been investigated herein to solve the problem of PCBM. 2-mM BCP-modified perovskite solar cells were observed to exhibit a maximum efficiency of 12.03% compared with BCP-free counterparts (5.82%) due to the suppression of the charge accumulation at the PCBM-Au interface and the resulting reduction of the charge recombination between perovskite and the PCBM layer.

The development of diesel power generation is predominantly geared toward island areas or ships because diesel exhibits weak scale-merit characteristics and power quality problems, which are associated with environmental pollution. However, a new energy paradigm, distribution energy resource (DER), has been emerging as a renewable energy source due to the existing structural problems in waste disposal and complex factors such as the conversion technology of waste emulsified oil (WDF). By combining extended producer responsibility (EPR) support and renewable energy certificates (REC), including waste energy REC 0.25 for other bioenergy and REC 1.0 for power transactions, an adequate profit model can be built through self-energetic power generation, thereby drawing keen attention from related industries. Therefore, if WDF is used appropriately as a high-quality engine fuel, it can lead to the development of various fields such as novel renewable energy sectors, waste management, and EPR-related industries. This study is intended to produce WDF using plastic waste by using it as engine-generator fuel. Moreover, we investigate ways to improve the quality and suitability of WDF as an engine fuel.

In this paper, we study the correlation between the crystallinity of semiconductive compounds for eco-friendly power cables and the dispersive properties of carbon black. The crystal structure of the polymer material is advantageous for mechanical properties and heat-resistance. However, the polymer acts as an inhibitor to the dispersibility of carbon black. The purpose of this study is to develop a TPE semiconductive compound technology. The high heat resistance and ultra-smoothness characteristics which are required for high voltage and ultra-high voltage cables should be satisfied by designing and optimizing the structure of a non-crosslinking-type eco-friendly TPE semiconductive compound. The application of excess TPE resin was found to not only inhibit the processability in the compounding process, but also reduced the dispersion properties of carbon black due to higher crystallinity. After the crystallinity of the compound was identified through DSC analysis, it was compared with the related dispersion characteristics. Through this analysis and comparison, we designed the optimal structure of the eco-friendly TPE semiconductive compound.

Methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) thin films were grown at low temperatures on glass substrates via 3-zone chemical vapor deposition. Lead iodide (PbI₂) and lead bis (dipivaloylmethanate) [Pb(dpm)₂] precursors were used as lead sources. Due to the high sublimation temperature (~400℃) of the PbI₂ precursor, a low substrate temperature could not be constantly maintained. Therefore, MAPbI₃ thin films degraded into the PbI₂ phase. In contrast, for the Pb(dpm)₂ precursor, a substrate temperature of ~120℃ was maintained because the sublimation temperature of Pb(dpm)₂ is as low as 130℃ at a high vapor pressure. As a result, high-quality MAPbI3 thin films were successfully grown on glass substrates using Pb(dpm)₂. The rms (root-mean-square) roughness of MAPbI3 thin films formed from Pb(dpm)₂ was as low as ~19.2 nm, while it was ~22.7 nm for those formed using PbI₂. The grain size of the films formed from Pb(dpm)₂ was as large as approximately 350 nm.

In this study, Mg_xZn_1-xO thin films, which can be applied not only to active layers of light-emitting devices (LEDs), such as UV-LEDs, but also to solar cells, high mobility field-effect transistors, and power semiconductor devices, are fabricated using the sol-gel method. ZnO and Mg_0.3Zn_0.7O solution synthesized by the sol-gel method and the thin film were grown by spin coating on a Si (100) substrate and sapphire substrate. The solutions are synthesized by dissolving precursor materials in 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) solvent, and then monoethanolamine (MEA) was added to the mixed solution as a sol stabilizer. Zinc acetate dihydrate is used as a ZnO precursor, while Mg nitrate hexahydrate and Mg acetate tetrahydrate are used as an MgO precursor. Then, the optical and structural characteristics of the fabricated thin films are compared. The molar concentration of the Zn precursor in the solvent is fixed at 0.3 M, and the amount of the Mg precursor is 30% of Mg²⁺/Zn²⁺. The optical characteristics are measured using an UV-vis spectrophotometer, and the transmittance of each wavelength is measured. Structural characteristics are measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Composition analyses are performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The Mg_0.3Zn_0.7O thin film was well formed at the ratio of the Mg precursor added regardless of the type of Mg precursor, and the c-axis of the thin film was decreased, while the band gap was increased to 3.56 eV.

In this study, we fabricated a metamorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (mHEMT) device with a T-type gate structure for the implementation of W-band monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and investigated its characteristics. To fabricate the mHEMT device, a recess process for etching of its Schottky layer was applied before gate metal deposition, and an e-beam lithography using a triple photoresist film for the T-gate structure was employed. We measured DC and RF characteristics of the fabricated device to verify the characteristics that can be used in W-band MMIC design. The mHEMT device exhibited DC characteristics such as a drain current density of 747 mA/mm, maximum transconductance of 1.354 S/mm, and pinch-off voltage of -0.42 V. Concerning the frequency characteristics, the device showed a cutoff frequency of 215 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 260 GHz, which provide sufficient performance for W-band MMIC design and fabrication. In addition, active and passive modeling was performed and its accuracy was evaluated by comparing the measured results. The developed mHEMT and device models could be used for the fabrication of W-band MMICs.

The rod-shaped Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ particles were synthesized via a topotactic reaction, in which goethite (α-FeOOH) particles are the main constituents. The phases, microstructures and magnetic properties of these particles were studied using XRD, FE-SEM and VSM. The precursor solution consisted of NiSO₄·xH₂O, ZnSO₄·xH₂O, goethite and D.I. water werereacted at four different temperatures (50, 70, 90, 100℃) to generate four differently precipitated particles respectively. During the co-precipitation reaction, the pH of the solution was maintained at 8.0 using NaOH. The particles coprecipitated and calcined at a temperature of 700℃, exhibited a rod-shape similar to its original goethite, which means that the shape of Ni-Zn ferrite particles can be topotactically controlled by the goethite. The particles synthesized at 70 and 90℃ have a saturation magnetization of 29 and 35 emu/g respectively; representing better values than the ones synthesized at the 50 and 100℃, in which some second phases such as Fe₂O₃ were observed.

A high directivity TIR (total internal reflection) lens in the UV-A region was designed using a silicone resin, and a UV light source module with a maximum irradiation density of 150 mW/cm² was fabricated. The beam angle of the TIR lens was designed to be 8.04° and the maximum diameter of the TIR lens was ø13.5. A silicone resin having a UV transmittance of 93% and a refractive index of 1.4 at a wavelength of 365 nm was used, and the lens was manufactured using an aluminum mold, from which silicone could be easily released. The module was fabricated in a metal printed circuit board of COB (chip on board) type using a 0.75×0.75 mm² UV chip. A jig was used to adjust the focal length between lens and chip and to fix the position of the lens. The optical characteristics such as illumination distributions of the lens and module were designed using ‘LightTools’ optical simulation software. The heat dissipation system was designed to use a forced-air cooling method using a heat-sink and fan.

The power conversion efficiency of organic polymer solar cells was enhanced by introducing a ferroelectric polymer layer at the interface between active layer and metal electrode. The power conversion efficiency was increased by 50% through the enhancement of the open circuit voltage. To investigate the role of the ferroelectric layer on the dissociation process of the excitons, non-radiative portion of the exciton decay was directly measured by using photoacoustic technique. The results show that the ferroelectric nature of the buffer layer does not play any roles on the dissociation process of the excitons, which indicates the efficiency enhancement is not due to the ferroelectricity of the buffer layer.

Coil specimens were prepared by continuous coating on a copper wire with flexible PAI (polyamideimide) and PAI/nanosilica (5 wt%) varnish and thermally aged at 150, 200 and 250℃ for 5, 10 and 15 days, respectively. AC insulation breakdown voltage was investigated under inverter surge condition at 60 Hz and 1,000 Hz and insulation breakdown voltage decreased with increasing aging temperature and aging time at each 60 and 1,000 Hz.

Electrical and optical properties of the AC voltage driven organic light-emitting diodes were investigated by measuring the electroluminescence of the device. Device structure of ITO(170 nm)/TPD(40 nm)/Alq3(60 nm)/LiF(0.5 nm)/Al(100 nm) was manufactured using a thermal evaporation. Sinusoidal and square-type AC voltage was applied to the device using a function generator. Amplitude of the applied voltage was 9.0 V, and a frequency was varied from 50 Hz to 50 kHz. Electroluminescence out of the device was measured in a Si photodetector simultaneously with the applied voltage together. An intensity and a delayed residual luminescence from the device were depended on the frequency of the sinusoidal voltage. It is thought to be due to a contribution of the capacitive nature in the equivalent circuit of the device. An electron mobility was estimated using a time constant obtained from the luminescence of the device driven by the square-type AC voltage.

Nano-size BaTiO3 powder was synthesized by relatively simple hydrothermal reaction method. Finely dispersed Ti hydroxide precursor was first precipitated using Ti(SO4)2 and NaOH solution by applying ultrasonic power and washed thoroughly to remove SO4 2- and Na+ ion. Then hydrothermal reaction was done at 160℃ for 6 hrs using solution prepared by washed Ti hydroxide precursor slurry and Ba(OH)2ㆍ8H2O with Ti:Ba mole ratio of 1:1. 200 ~ 500 nm size and uniform size distributed BaTiO3 powder was synthesized by relatively low temperature and simple process.

This paper suggests a high performance lateral super barrier rectifier (Lateral SBR) device which has the advantages of both Schottky diode and pn junction, that is, low forward voltage and low leakage current, respectively. Advantage of the proposed lateral SBR is that it can be easily implemented and integrated in current BCD platform. As a result of simulation using TCAD, BVdss = 48 V, VF = 0.38 V @ IF = 35 mA, T_j = 150℃ were obtained with very low leakage current characteristic of 3.25 uA

The Hall factor in a two-dimensional device with indirect conduction valleys is calculated for several growth on various strain conditions. In the [001] or [111] growth direction, the two-dimensional constant energy surfaces of occupied valleys are shown to be isotropic ally distributed. However, in the [110] growth direction, the distribution of occupied valleys on the plane is not isotropic. This fact is the reason for the anisotropic Hall factor on the sample plane.

This paper dealt with the measurement and analysis of partial discharge (PD) under high voltage direct current (HVDC) in SF6 gas. Electrode systems such as a protrusion on conductor (POC), a protrusion on enclosure (POE), a crack on epoxy plate and a free particle (FP) were fabricated to simulate the insulation defects. The analysis system was designed with a Time-Frequency (T-F) map algorithm programed based on Lab VIEW. This can arrange the acquired PD pulses into frequency and time domain. A HVDC power source is composed of a transformer (220 V/50 kV), a diode (100 kV) and a capacitor (50 kV, 0.5 μF). The gap between the electrodes is 3 mm, and the SF6 gas was set at 5 bar. PD pulses were detected by a 50 Ω non-inductive resistor. In the analysis, PD pulses were distributed below 0.5 MHz and 20 ns ∼ 35 ns for the POC, 0.7 MHz ∼ 1.7 MHz, below 0.6 MHz and 10 ns ∼ 40 ns and 60 ns ∼125 ns for the POE, below 0.1 MHz and 135 ns ∼ 215 ns for the crack, and below 1.6 MHz and 250 ns for the FP.

As a method of simple patterning of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films deposited on flexible substrates, laser direct etching was carried out on TCO films sputtered on polycarbonate (PC) substrates. As a result of different binding energies in TCO films, indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) were more easily etched than zinc oxide with different Nd: YVO4 laser beam conditions.

In this paper, a measurement method to obtain the optical properties of a liquid base on a side-polished single mode fiber was proposed and demonstrated. The device showed periodic resonance coupling against wavelengths. The refractive index and dispersion characteristics of a liquid were calculated by use of the spacings of periodic resonance wavelengths of the device. The thermo-optic coefficient of the liquid was obtained by monitering the shift of resonance wavelengths of the devices with change of environmental temperature.

To operate organic light emitting device (OLED) with alternating current (AC) power source without AC/DC(direct current) converter, we fabricated the fluorescent OLED and measured the emission characteristics with AC and DC. The OLED operated by AC showed higher maximum current efficiency of 8.2 cd/A and maximum power efficiency of 8.3 lm/W. But current efficiency and power efficiency of AC driven OLED showed worse than DC driven OLED at high voltage above 10 V. This result can be explained by the peak voltage of AC was  times than DC, In case of low driving voltage the emission characteristics were improved by the peak voltage of AC, but in case of high driving voltage the emission efficiencies were decreased by the roll off phenomena. Finally, serial OLED arrays using twelve OLEDs driven by AC 110 V showed average voltage of 9.17 V, voltage uniformity of 99.0%, average luminance of 1,175 cd/㎡, luminance uniformity of 94.4%.