Two-dimensional van der Waals (2D vdW) magnets have attracted enormous attention as an emerging material platform for magnetism, spintronics, and multifunctional applications. Their single-crystalline layered structures, layer-number controllability, and unique 2D properties provide unique opportunities that are difficult to achieve in conventional magnetic materials. However, the discovery and development of new 2D magnetic compounds require considerable time and effort, and only a limited number of these materials have been reported to be suitable for practical use. Therefore, materials engineering based on already established 2D vdW magnets has become an important research direction to explore new characteristics and find a practical route for device applications. This review summarizes recent materials engineering pathways for 2D vdW magnets. The main contents focus on the engineering strategy through electrostatic, chemical, lattice, symmetry, and heterostructure ways. These approaches provide practical design routes for tailoring magnetic properties beyond intrinsic 2D vdW magnets. Further progress will require broader application to various types of materials and delicate optimization that connects expanding fundamental magnetism with electromagnetic device applications.

The potential of replacing crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) with an eco-friendly alternative, polypropylene (PP), as insulating material is investigated for overhead power distribution lines. Although XLPE exhibits excellent electrical and mechanical properties, the byproducts generated during crosslinking pose environmental challenges. PP is a viable alternative because of recyclability and absence of byproducts during crosslinking. This study evaluated alternating current (AC) breakdown strength, contact angle, and tracking resistance of two commercially available XLPE samples and three types of PP (PP1, PP2, PP3) with varying additive content. AC breakdown strength, analyzed using the Weibull distribution, facilitated relative comparison of insulation performance. PP2 exhibited scale parameters comparable to or exceeding those of XLPE. Contact angles exceeding 90° displayed hydrophobicity across all samples. To address pass/fail evaluation limitations, arcing images from tracking tests were analyzed using the box-counting method for fractal dimension analysis. Fractal dimensions increased with arcing extent, and complexity increased with test duration. Tracking resistance performance order was PP3, PP1, CC, PP2, OC which was attributed to enhanced heat dissipation properties of filler additives. The proposed quantitative method for comparing tracking resistance through fractal dimension analysis, explored the feasibility of using PP insulating materials in overhead power distribution lines.

As electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly adopted worldwide, large numbers are now transported by sea on dedicated car carriers. With this trend, concerns are increasing about fires and explosions caused by battery thermal runaway during marine transport, while existing SOC limits before loading remain largely empirical. This study experimentally investigates gas generation and explosion characteristics of EV lithium-ion cells under thermal runaway conditions representative of enclosed vehicle decks. We identify and quantify the main off-gas components and clarify the flammability behavior and explosion limits of key combustible species. The results provide basic data for assessing EV battery accidents at sea and support the development of safer ventilation and gas-management strategies for ships.

To ensure the long-term reliability of flexible photovoltaic (FPV) modules, it is crucial to develop an effective moisture barrier layer that prevents the infiltration of moisture and oxygen. We developed such a layer composed of parylene (700 nm) and AlOx (70 nm), optimizing its material properties, moisture-blocking performance, and processing conditions. The barrier layer applied to the Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) substrate demonstrated a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 6.33 × 10^-2 g/m²/day and an average visible light transmittance (AVT) of 85.3% over the 380-780 nm wavelength range. For the FPV module with this barrier, Damp/Heat (DH) reliability testing was conducted at 85℃ and 85% relative humidity for up to 1,000 hours. During testing, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) decreased slightly from 25.4% (0 hr) to 24.7% (1,000 hr), reflecting a minimal reduction of only 0.7%. The primary cause of degradation was identified as a -4% relative change in shortcircuit current density (JSC) before and after DH testing. Consequently, the ETFE/parylene/AlOx multilayer moisture barrier proved highly effective in ensuring the long-term reliability of solar modules.

Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy provides valuable insights into the optical and electronic properties of materials by analyzing photon emission induced by electron beam excitation. In this study, we present a novel CL detection system integrated into a transmission electron microscope (TEM) specimen stage, enabling high-resolution optical analysis of internal microstructures. The system features a parabolic mirror, a focusing lens, and a UV-VIS range optical fiber to maximize light collection and transmission efficiency, with performance further enhanced by a liquid nitrogen cooling setup. Using this system, we successfully performed CL mapping of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and GaN thin films. The results revealed that threading dislocations act as non-radiative centers in GaN and locally increase the bandgap energy in InGaN MQWs, causing a blue-shift in CL emission. These findings support a model in which dislocations induce carrier delocalization, preserving high radiative efficiency despite high dislocation densities. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the TEM-integrated CL system for nanoscale optical characterization, offering a new pathway for studying defect-related phenomena in semiconductor materials.

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.

The thermal management issue in OLED (organic light emitting diode) devices has a significant impact on the efficiency, reliability, and life time of the device. In particular, in OLED systems with multipolar or double cathode electrodes, it is important to accurately interpret the effect of heat generated by current flow between electrodes on the emitting layer. In this study, the governing equation was established based on the heat conduction equation to mathematically model and analyze this heat distribution, and the heat distribution analysis was performed using the COMSOL program. It was confirmed that the temperature generated in the OLED with the double cathode structure reached a maximum of 343.157 K centered on the emitting layer. The heat distribution generated in the proposed OLED structure with the double cathode electrodes was confirmed to be highly distributed in the center toward the double cathode electrodes, which is believed to be because the arrangement of the double cathode electrodes improves the symmetrical distribution of temperature while reducing power consumption.

Recently, oxide semiconductors have assumed a pivotal role in electronic displays and transparent electronic devices such as amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO), characterized by high electron mobility and excellent stability. a- IGZO is very suitable for next-generation applications such as flexible displays because it is possible to manufacture highperformance transistors even at low temperatures. However, since the electrical properties tend to deteriorate in hightemperature environments, research aimed at improving thermal stability is needed. In this study, a low-temperature plasma annealing process was introduced to improve the high-temperature stability of the a-IGZO thin film. This process enhances electron mobility by reducing defects in the a-IGZO film and provides stable device performance even under high-temperature conditions. As a result of the experiments of 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, and 20 min, the a-IGZO TFT, which was subjected to plasma annealing at 160℃ for 5 min, showed the best electrical performance, especially in charge mobility and current-voltage characteristics. The technical potential for improving the performance of a-IGZO-based display device was emphasized, and the foundation for applying this power generation to flexible displays and next-generation electronic devices was laid. Future research will focus on determining the optimal annealing conditions by exploring various temperature ranges and plasma parameters to integrate these results into the actual device manufacturing process. These efforts are expected advance significantly to advancing next-generation high-performance display technology.

This study explores the realization of high-efficiency white LED lighting by applying cyan-emitting quantum dot (CQD) and red-emitting quantum dot (R-QD) deposition without any host matrix onto a yellow-emitting phosphor-in-glass (YPIG) substrate using an aerosol-assisted deposition (AAD) process. The AAD process facilitates the direct formation of densely packed QD-deposited layers on the substrate, effectively addressing challenges such as optical efficiency loss and degradation typically associated with organic host matrices. C-QD and R-QD coatings, deposited with thicknesses of 0.84 μm and 0.77 μm on the upper and lower Y-PIG substrate, exhibited robust color conversion properties. These films achieved a luminous efficacy of 77 lm/W and a high color rendering index (CRI) of 96.8 under blue light excitation. The dual-layer structure produced highquality light closely resembling natural daylight, as confirmed through real image. Consequently, the research suggests the potential of AAD-based QD deposition to achieve superior performance without relying on host matrices, offering a viable solution for high-efficiency lighting applications. Further optimization of deposition parameters and exploration of diverse substrates and QD material combinations are expected to expand the applicability of this technique in future research.

This study investigates the effects of chemical etching for anti-glare (AG) treatment and the subsequent deposition of a TiZrO₂/SiO₂ double-layer anti-reflection (AR) coating on glass surfaces. The AG treatment was performed using ammonium fluoride in gel form via screen printing, followed by electron beam deposition of SiO₂/TiZrO₂ layers. The surface roughness, optical transmittance, and refractive index were analyzed. The results revealed that while the surface roughness increased with larger screen patterns during the AG treatment, it was reduced by the deposition of the AR layers. Additionally, the gloss caused by external light was higher with lower surface roughness, but it was effectively reduced by the AR coating. The optical reflectance showed minimal changes during the AG treatment, remaining similar to that of bare glass substrates. However, the AR coating significantly decreased reflectance. The combination of AG treatment and AR coating improved optical transmittance and reduced gloss, making this method beneficial for enhancing visibility in automotive displays. The findings suggest that this approach can mitigate the impact of external light and improve the clarity of displayed information, making it suitable for automotive display applications.

The display industry has recently been at the forefront of innovative advancements in modern electronic devices. Technological progress such as flexible display holds significant potential across various application fields, particularly in wearable devices and rollable displays. A low-temperature process is essential for fabricating such displays. One of the key technologies in displays is the thin film transistor (TFT), with amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) receiving particular attention. a-IGZO is widely applied in high-performance displays due to its high charge mobility and stability. While a thermal treatment above 350℃ is typically required to maximize the electrical performance of a-IGZO TFTs, such high temperatures pose challenges for utilizing polymer substrates like plastics. Here, we thesis investigates the simultaneous lowtemperature plasma annealing process to develop next-generation high-performance flexible display devices. To define the optimal temperature, devices were fabricated and analyzed at varying temperatures of 40℃, 80℃, 120℃, and 160℃. Experimental results indicated that devices fabricated at 160℃ and 80℃ exhibited superior performance, with those at 160℃ demonstrating better performance in terms of current ratio, threshold voltage, and subthreshold swing. These findings confirm that the simultaneous low-temperature plasma annealing process is effective for next-generation high-performance displays.

The key to determining the lifetime of OLED device is how much brightness can be maintained. It can be said that there are internal and external causes for the degradation of OLED devices. The most important cause of internal degradation is bonding and degradation in the excited state due to the electrochemical instability of organic materials. The structure of OLED modeled in this paper consists of a cathode layer, electron injection layer (EIL), electron transport layer (ETL), light emission layer, hole transport layer (HTL), hole injection layer (HIL), and anode layer on a glass substrate from top to bottom. It was confirmed that the temperature generated in OLED was distributed around the maximum of 343.15 K centered on the emission layer. It can be seen that the heat distribution generated in the presented OLED structure has an asymmetrically high temperature distribution toward the cathode, which is believed to be because the sizes of the cathode and positive electrode are asymmetric. Therefore, when designing OLED, it is believed that designing the structures of the cathode and anode electrodes as symmetrically as possible can ensure uniform heat distribution, maintain uniform luminance of OLED, and extend the lifetime. The thermal distribution of OLED was analyzed using the finite element method according to Comsol 5.2.

The Internet of Things (IoT) device is a key component for Industry 4.0, which is the network in homes, factories, buildings, and infrastructures to monitor and control the systems. To demonstrate the IoT network, batteries are widely utilized as power sources, and the batteries inevitably require repeated replacement due to their limited capacity. Magneto-mechanoelectric (MME) generators are one of the candidate to develop self-powered IoT systems since MME generators can harvest electricity from stray alternating current (AC) magnetic fields arising from electric power cables. Herein, we report a magnetomechano- triboelectric generator enabled by a ferromagnetic-ferroelectric composite. In the triboelectric nylon matrix, a ferromagnetic carbonyl iron powder (CIP) was introduced to induce magnetic force near the AC magnetic field for MME harvesting. Additionally, a ferroelectric ceramic powder was also added to the MME composite material to enhance the chargetrapping capability during triboelectric harvesting. The final ferromagnetic-ferroelectric composite-based MME triboelectric harvester can generate an open-circuit voltage and a short-circuit current of 110 V and 8 μA, respectively, which were enough to turn on a light emitting diode (LED) and charge a capacitor. These results verify the feasibility of the MME triboelectric generator for not only harvesting electricity from an AC magnetic field but also for various self-powered IoT applications.

Citations

• Enhanced magneto-mechano-electric conversion with an arc-shaped piezoelectric cantilever for wireless sensor networks
  Xu Liu, Jingen Wu, Xianfeng Liang, Xuan Sun, Xin He, Yiwei Xu, Yang Lu, Dengfeng Ju, Zhongqiang Hu, Ming Liu
  Chemical Engineering Journal.2026; 543: 178357.     CrossRef

The utilization of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in conjunction with cathodoluminescence (CL) has emerged as a valuable tool for the investigation of material optical properties. In recent years, this technique has facilitated significant advancements in the fields of plasmonics and quantum emitters by surpassing prior technical restrictions. The review commences by providing an outline of the diverse STEM-CL operating modes and technical aspects of the instrumentation. The review explains the fundamental physics of light production under electron beam irradiation and the physical basis for interpreting STEM-CL experiments for different types of excitations. Additionally, the review compares STEM-CL to other related techniques such as scanning electron microscope CL, photoluminescence, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy.

Herein we investigated the effect of the conductive agent on the electrochemical performance of the SiOx anode. SiOx anodes have a relatively low volume expansion (~160%) compared to Pure-silicon, but have a problem in that they have a poor electrical conductivity characteristic. In this study, physical and electrochemical measurements were performed using two 0-dimensional amorphous carbon conductive agents with different crystallinity and surface area. The crystal structure of the conductive agents and the local graphitization degree were analyzed through XRD and Raman, and the surface area of the particles was observed through BET. In addition, the electrical performance according to the graphitization degree of the conductive agents was confirmed through a 4-point probe. As a result of the electrochemical cycle and rate performance, it was confirmed that the performance of SiOx using a conductive agent having a low graphitization degree and a high surface area was improved. The results in this study suggest that the graphitization degree and surface area of the amorphous carbon conductive agent may play an important role in the SiOx electrode.

Passivation quality is mainly governed by epitaxial growth of crystalline silicon wafer surface. Void-rich intrinsic a- Si:H interfacial layer could offer higher resistivity of the c-Si surface and hence a better device efficiency as well. To reduce the resistivity of the contact area, a modification of void-rich intrinsic layer of a-Si:H towards more ordered state with a higher density is adopted by adapting its thickness and reducing its series resistance significantly, but it slightly decreases passivation quality. Higher resistance is not dominated by asymmetric effects like different band offsets for electrons or holes. In this study, multilayer of intrinsic a-Si:H layers were used. The first one with a void-rich was a-Si:H(I₁) and the next one a-SiO_x:H(I₂) were used, where a-SiO_x:H(I₂) had relatively larger band gap of ~2.07 eV than that of a-Si:H (I₁). Using a-SiO_x:H as I₂ layer was expected to increase transparency, which could lead to an easy carrier transport. Also, higher implied voltage than the conventional structure was expected. This means that the a-SiO_x:H could be a promising material for a high-quality passivation of c-Si. In addition, the i-a-SiO_x:H microstructure can help the carrier transportation through tunneling and thermal emission.

Color conversion layer refers to a layer that converts the blue light emitted from the backlight into the red and green light. Heavy metal-free quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals have attracted great attention as base materials for color conversion layers due to their outstanding optical characteristics. Here, we review recent advances in the development of color conversion layers based on quantum dots. First, we overview the representative optical characteristics of quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals, and then introduce printing techniques for color converting layers including photolithography, inkjet printing, and nanoimprinting. Finally, we conclude this review with a brief perspective.

Artificial neuromorphic devices are considered the key component in realizing energy-efficient and brain-inspired computing systems. For the artificial neuromorphic devices, various material candidates and device architectures have been reported, including two-dimensional materials, metal-oxide semiconductors, organic semiconductors, and halide perovskite materials. In addition to conventional electrical neuromorphic devices, optoelectronic neuromorphic devices, which operate under a light stimulus, have received significant interest due to their potential advantages such as low power consumption, parallel processing, and high bandwidth. This article reviews the recent progress in optoelectronic neuromorphic devices using various active materials such as two-dimensional materials, metal-oxide semiconductors, organic semiconductors, and halide perovskites

The SiO₂/TiO₂ multilayer thin films used for narrow band pass filter were fabricated using E-beam evaporation method. The narrow band pass filter was used to enhance the resolution of spectroscopy and sensor applications with near infrared (NIR) light source. The narrow band pass filter with multilayer thin films were designed with Essential Macleod program. The multilayers of SiO₂/TiO₂ with 32 layers were deposited on the silicon encapsulation of IR with peak wavelength (λp) of 660 nm and NIR LEDs with λp of 830 nm, 880 nm, and 955 nm. After NIR light passed through the narrow band pass filter, the full width of half maximum of 33.4~48.6 nm became narrow to 20~24 nm owing to the absorption of photons with short or long wavelength of designed band of 20 nm. The SiO₂/TiO₂ band pass filter fabricated in this study can be used for sensor, optoelectronics, and NIR spectroscopy applications.

Smart livestock, which combines information and communication technology (ICT) with livestock, can be said to be an effective solution to existing livestock problems such as productivity improvement, odors, and diseases. So far, it has hardly been universalized; thus, it is necessary to develop automation devices to reduce labor by localizing automation devices to expand the distribution of ICT technology to farms, and to advance precise specifications and health management technology using biometric information. Weighing scales currently being used in livestock farms are to prevent the spread of diseases by diagnosis and preparation for AI and other diseases in advance, using information on the growing weight of duck breeding. However, accurate values cannot be obtained due to poor breeding conditions. In this paper, we developed a separate data transmission system kit for the weighing scale and placed the sensor on top of the weighing scale so that the sensor wire is not affected by pollutants or ducks on the floor. A display function was provided, and a method of receiving and analyzing the serial port data of the weighing device, and then transmitting them to the data collection server was implemented.

For enhancing the flame-retardant properties of wallpapers, we developed an organic-inorganic hybrid solution with ZrSiO4 as a functional ceramic powder, coated on non-woven fabric using dip coating, spray coating, and slot-die coating methods. Their flame retardant properties were characterized by a 45° combustion tester, which is manufactured according to the flame-retardant performance standard (KOFEIS 1001 and KS F 2819). In organic-inorganic hybrid solution, with increasing the concentration of acid-catalyst (acetic acid), the precipitation of ZrSiO₄ powders increased, and the flame retardant properties decreased. The highest flame retardant result was obtained for the solution adding 5 wt% acetic acid. The optimization of the coating method and coating number resulted in the most excellent flame-retardant properties being obtained for the non-woven fabric coated for 5 or 7 times by dip coating method, and their flame-retardant properties corresponded to class 2 flame-retardant performance of wallpapers.

The insulator used for the transmission line is a device that is bonded with a cap, pin, ceramic, and cement to withstand insulation capacity and mechanical load. The insulator design can help to reduce the dispersion of the electric field; thus, the optimization of today’s design, especially as demanded power grows, is critical. The designs of four manufacturers were used to perform a comparative analysis. Under dry circumstances of the new product, an electric field distribution study was done with no pollutants attached. Manufacturer D’s design has the best voltage uniformity of 24.33% and the arc length of 500 mm or more. Manufacturer C’s design has an equalizing voltage of more than 2% higher than that of other manufacturers. The importance of the design of the insulator and the number of connections according to the installation conditions is very efficient for transmission lines that will increase in the future.

Two-dimensional materials have shown a great promise for the next-generation electronic materials due to their unique optical, physical, and chemical properties that are distinct from their bulk counterparts. Their atomic-level thickness, the feature for flexible tenability, and exposed huge surface allow various approaches for high-performance nanoscale devices. Especially, this review highlights the recent progress on two-dimensional dielectric nanosheets, which are obtained by cheap and mass-producible solution-based exfoliation process, accompanied by the preparation methods, various deposition methods, and the characteristics of devices using a dielectric nanosheet thin films. We also present a perspective on the advantages offered by this two-dimensional dielectric nanosheets for the upcoming future nanoelectonics.

A diffusion heat treatment process for YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk superconductor in a Gd₂O₃ powder was attempted. As a result of measuring the critical temperature of the superconducting bulk, there was no change in the superconducting transition temperature as the Gd particles diffused into the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y lattice, resulting in dense microstructure. As a result of measuring the critical current, the critical current density (Jc) of the superconducting bulk having treated by the Gd thermal diffusion treatment at 0 T increased to 3×10⁴ A/㎠ at 0 T, which was higher than that of the superconducting bulk without thermal diffusion treatment. The surface magnetic force of the superconducting bulk with Gd thermal diffusion treatment was observed at the center of the superconducting bulk with the maximum trapped magnetic force (Hmax) of 1.51 kG. This result means that the Gd thermal diffusion treatment contributes to improving the critical current density Jc of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y, and it is believed that Gd particles migrating into the superconducting bulk through thermal diffusion either fill the surface pores of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductors or act as a flux pinning center.

A machine vision inspection system consists of a camera, optics, illumination, and image acquisition system. Especially a scanning system has to be made to measure a large inspection area. Therefore, a machine vision line scan camera needs a line scan light source. A line scan light source should have a high light intensity and a uniform intensity distribution. In this paper, an offset calibration and slope calibration methods are introduced to obtain a uniform light intensity profile. Offset calibration method is to remove the deviation of light intensity among channels through adding intensity difference. Slope calibration is to remove variation of light intensity slope according to the control step among channels through multiplying slope difference. We can obtain an improved light intensity profile through applying offset and slope calibration simultaneously. The proposed method can help to obtain clearer image with a high precision in a machine vision inspection system.

In this study, the dielectric properties of flame retardant silicone rubber mixed with the amount of silica 50~65 phr were measured at frequencies ranging from 1 to 2.7 MHz and temperature ranges from 30℃ to 160℃. The permittivity decreased with higher frequencies and higher temperatures, and tanδ are thought to have decreased due to the increased heat oxidation of the methyl group bound to Si, which increased the hardness of silicone rubber. FT-IR analysis of specimen mixed with SiO₂ of 50~65 phr showed oscillations of OH groups bound to SiO₂ between wavenumber 3,600 and 3,300. As a result of analyzing surface components by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) on all specimens mixed with SiO₂ of 50 to 65 phr, all specimens contained Si, and the analysis by field emission scanning electron (FE-SEM) confirmed that about 1~5 μm particles were distributed regularly on the surface of the specimens.

Phase evolution, thermal and microwave dielectric properties of cordierite-Al₂O₃ composite were investigated. As the content of Al₂O₃ increased, mullite, sapphirine, and spinel were formed as secondary phases, implying that cordierite may be decomposed by the reaction with Al₂O₃. All sintered specimens exhibited dense microstructures. The densification occurred through liquid phase sintering. As the content of Al₂O₃ increased, the thermal expansion coefficient and the dielectric constant increased, whereas the quality factor decreased. The thermal expansion coefficient, the dielectric constant, and the quality factor of the 90 wt% cordierite 10 wt% Al₂O₃ composite sintered at 1,425℃ were 2.9×10^-6 K^-1, 5.1, and 34,844 GHz, respectively.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become a main energy storage device in various applications, such as portable appliances, renewable energy facilities, and electric vehicles. However, the poor thermal stability of LIBs may cause explosion or fire. The thermal runaway is the result of a failure of the separator inside LIB. Damages like tearing, piercing, and collapsing of the separator were simulated in a mechanical, an electrical, and a thermal way, and small discharge pulses of a few mV were detected at the time of separator damages. From the experimental results, this paper provided a method that can identify the separator failure before thermal runaway in the aspect of a potential explosion and fire prevention measures.

We fabricated BiAlO thin film by a solution process with a brush coating to be used as liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer. Solution-processed BiAlO was coated on the glass substrate by brush process. Prepared thin films were annealed at different temperatures of 80℃, 180℃, and 280℃. To verify whether the BiAlO film was formed properly, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed on Bi and Al. Using a crystal rotation method by polarized optical microscopy, LC alignment state was evaluated. At the annealing temperature of 280℃, the uniform homogenous LC alignment was achieved. To reveal the mechanism of LC alignment by brush coating, field emission scanning electron microscope was used. Through this analysis, spin-coated and brush coated film surface were compared. It was revealed that physical anisotropy was induced by brush coating at a high annealing temperature. Particles were aligned in one direction along which brush coating was made, resulting in a physical anisotropy that affects a uniform LC alignment. Therefore, it was confirmed that brush coating combined with BiAlO thin film annealed at high temperature has a significant potential for LC alignment.

A machine vision inspection system consists of a camera, optics, illumination, and image acquisition system. The illumination system among these uses LED lighting source. Therefore, the driving method of LED lighting source is very important. The two main driving methods of LED lighting system for machine vision are Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control driving and strobe control driving. PWM control driving method has problems such as a temperature rising of LED and a flickering in image measurement for inspection. On the other hand, strobe control driving method has a difficulty in the control of light intensity because of too short on-time. In this study, we propose a new hybrid-dimming control driving method for LED lighting source for machine vision. The proposed new hybrid-dimming control driving method can control current intensity and current on-time simultaneously so that it can extract clearer images with a high precision without the light saturation of image.