The report reviews recent research efforts in demonstrating a computing system whose operation principle mimics the dynamics of biological neurons. The temporal variation of the membrane potential of neurons is one of the key features that contribute to the information processing in the brain. We first summarize the neuron models that explain the experimentally observed change in the membrane potential. The function of ion channels is briefly introduced to understand such change from the molecular viewpoint. Dedicated circuits that can simulate the neuronal dynamics have been developed to reproduce the charging and discharging dynamics of neurons depending on the input ionic current from presynaptic neurons. Key elements include volatile memristors that can undergo volatile resistance switching depending on the voltage bias. This behavior called the threshold switching has been utilized to reproduce the spikes observed in the biological neurons. Various types of threshold switch have been applied in a different configuration in the hardware demonstration of neurons. Recent studies revealed that the memristor-based circuits could provide energy and space efficient options for the demonstration of neurons using the innate physical properties of materials compared to the options demonstrated with the conventional complementary metal-oxidesemiconductors (CMOS).

Energy storage capacitors based on dielectric ceramics with superior polarization properties and dielectric constant can provide much higher output power density due to their very fast energy charging/discharging rates, which are particularly suitable for operating pulsed-power devices. For an outstanding energy storage performance of dielectric capacitor, a large recoverable energy density could be derived by introducing a slim polarization-electric field hysteresis loop into dielectric materials by various technical approaches. Many research teams have explored various dielectric capacitor technologies to demonstrate high output power density and ultrafast charging/discharging behavior. This article reviews the recent research progress in high-performance dielectric capacitors for pulsed-power electronic applications.

Magnetoelectric (ME) composites are comprised of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases. Lots of theoretical and experimental works have been done on ME composites in the last couple of decades. The output performance of ME composites has been enhanced by optimizing the constituent phases, interface layer, dimensions of the ME composites, different operating modes, etc. However, the detailed information about the characterization of ME coupling in ME composites is not provided yet. Therefore, in this tutorial paper, we are giving an insight into the details of measurements of ME voltage coefficient of ME composites both at off-resonance and resonance conditions. A symmetric type Gelfenol/PMN-PZT/Gelfenol ME composites were fabricated by sandwiching (011) 32-mode PMN-PZT single crystal between two Galfenol plates by epoxy bonding are used for the example of ME coupling measurement. The details about the experimental setup used for the measurement of ME voltage coefficient are provided. Furthermore, a step-by-step measurement of ME voltage coefficient using computerized program is demonstrated. We believe the present experimental measurement details can help readers to understand the concept of ME coupling and its analysis.

In-situ analyzation and detection of real-time chemical reactions can be a significant part in interpreting the underlying mechanism in very reactive chemical reactions. To do this, first we have designed a microfluidic device (MFD) pattern for observation of synthesis of hierarchical nanostructures based on graphene oxide (GO), conjugating the well-known coupling reaction by which the solution of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)-mediated coupling is enhanced in the presence of n-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) to make amide bonding, hereafter called as the EDC coupling. Then, we have manufactured microfluidic devices with multiple tens of micrometer-sized channels that can circulate those nanomaterials to be chemically reacted in the channels. These microfluidic devices were made by negative photo lithography and soft lithography. We showed the possibility of using Raman spectroscopy to reveal the basic mechanism of the energy storage applications.

Resistive switching behaviors of a co-sputtered zinc silicate thin film (ZnO and SiO₂ targets) have been investigated. We fabricated an Ag/ZnSiO_x/highly doped n-type Si substrate device by using an RF magnetron sputter system. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) indicated that the Zn₂SiO₄ was formed by a post annealing process. A unique morphology was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). As a result of annealing process, 50 nm sized nano clusters were formed spontaneously in 200~300 nm sized grains. The device showed a unipolar resistive switching process. The average value of the ratio of the resistance change between the high resistance state (HRS) and the low resistance state (LRS) was about 106 when the readout voltage (0.5 V) was achieved. Resistance ratio is not degraded during 50 switching cycles. The conduction mechanisms were explained by using Ohmic conduction for the LRS and Schottky emission for the HRS.

Bulky iron-core potential transformers (PT) are installed in a tank of gas insulated switchgears (GIS) for a system voltage measurement in power substations. In this paper, we studied an electronic voltage transformer (EVT) embedded in a spacer for miniaturization, eco-friendliness, and performance improvement of GIS. The prototype EVT consists of a capacitive probe (CP) that can be embedded in a spacer and a voltage Follower with a high input and a low output impedance. The CP was fabricated in the form of a Flexible-PCB to acquire the insulation performance and to withstand vibration and shock during operation. Voltage ratio of the prototype EVT is about 42,270, and the frequency bandwidth of -3 dB ranges from 0.33 Hz to 3.9 MHz. The voltage ratio error evaluated at about 6%, 12% and 18% of the rated voltage of 170 kV was 0.32%, and the phase error was 12.9 minutes. These results were within the accuracy for the class 0.5 specified in IEC 60044-7 and satisfy even in ranges from 80% to 120% of the rated voltage. If the prototype EVT replaces the conventional iron-core potential transformer, it is expected that the height of the GIS could be reduced by 11% and the amount of SF6 will be reduced by at least 10%.

The development of efficient electron donor (or hole-transporting) molecules that can be used in various optoelectronic device fields is highly demanded. In this work, a novel class of triptycene-based three-dimensional (3D) triphenylamine (TI-TPA) derivatives with different end substituents was designed and prepared for transparent electron donor materials. Owing to the rigid 3D triptycene framework, the obtained TI-TPA derivatives had an amorphous morphology with high thermal decomposition temperature. The oxidation potential of these TI-TPA derivatives decreased as the electron donating strength of the end substituent increased. Among TI-TPA derivatives, TI-TPA-OMe exhibited the highest HOMO level (-5.31 eV) which is similar to that of Spiro-OMeTAD (-5.22 eV). In addition, TI-TPA-OMe was found to form a strong charge transfer complex with the triptycene-based acceptor TI-BQ, leading to a new absorption band at around 640 nm. These results can be applied for developing efficient electron donor materials that can mimic the advantages of the spiro-linked structure and TPA units of Spiro-OMeTAD.

Recently many efforts have been made to develop a novel class of non-fullerene electron acceptor materials for highperformance organic solar cells. In this work, anthraquinone derivatives, TMAQ and THAQ, were prepared and their availability as electron acceptor materials for organic solar cells were investigated in terms of optical, thermal, electrochemical properties, and solar cell devices. Compared to TMAQ, a significant bathochromic shift of absorption band was observed for THAQ owing to intramolecular hydrogen-bond-assisted CT interactions. Thanks to the fused aromatic ring structure and benzoquinone unit, both TMAQ and THAQ exhibited a high thermal stability and an efficient electron reduction process. In particular, the intramolecular O-H---O=C hydrogen bond of THAQ plays an important role in improving the thermal stability and electron reduction properties. In the P3HT:acceptor solar cell system, THAQ-based devices had more than ca. 6 times higher power conversion efficiency than TMAQ -based devices. These results serve as a guide for developing high-efficient anthraquinonebased electron acceptor materials.

Since the ZnO varistor is a semiconductor device, the internal thermal distribution during the varistor operation is recognized as an important factor in the performance and deterioration of the varistor. For an optimal varistor structure design, the thermal runaway phenomenon during the varistor operation was interpreted using the Comsol 5.2 analysis program by a finite element analysis. The maximum temperature of the center measured in the cross section of the ZnO varistor was confirmed to increase as the temperature moved from the lower electrode to the center towards the upper electrode up to 572.6 K. The electrodes are thinned so that the influence of the Schottky barrier is not great. The heat gradient balance is determined to be improved when the electrode of the hybrid form is introduced. The thickness, density, pore distribution, impurity uniformity, and particle size of the ZnO varistor are required, and it is determined that the pyrolysis gradient will be improved regardless of the electrode thickness. When these results are applied to design the ZnO varistor, the optimal structure of the ZnO varistor can be obtained.

Thermal batteries are specialized as primary reserve batteries that operate when the internal heat source is ignited and the produced heat (450~550oC) melts the initially insulating salt into highly conductive eutectic electrolyte. The heat source is composed of Fe powder and KClO4 with different mass ratios and is inserted in-between the cells (stacks) to allow homogeneous heat transfer and ensure complete melting of the electrolyte. An ideal heat source has following criteria to satisfy: sufficient mechanical durability for stacking, appropriate heat calories, ease of combustion by an igniter, stable combustion rate, and modest peak temperature. To satisfy the aforementioned requirements, Fe powder must have high surface area and porosity to increase the reaction rate. Herein, the hydrothermal and spray drying synthesis techniques for Fe powder samples are employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of Fe powder samples and their applicability as a heat source constituent. The direct comparison with the state-of-the-art Fe powder is made to confirm the validity of synthesized products. Finally, the actual batteries were made with the synthesized iron powder samples to examine their performances during the battery operation.

The gas insulation switchgear, which is a device for protecting a power system, cannot be supported by the insulation gas itself in a charge unit stored in a metal container. Therefore, molding technology is required to manufacture a gas insulation switch spacer. The APG method injection molding simulation was performed by applying the variables obtained through the physical properties of an epoxy composite used for manufacturing an insulating spacer to a moldflow software. After varying the temperature conditions of heater in the simulation, the thermal characteristics and the degree of hardening of the spacer were analyzed, based on which the optimum process conditions are presented.

We present the structural and optical properties of Au@TiO₂ core-shell microsphere structure prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis method. As a way to improve the efficiency of organic solar cells, the Au@TiO₂ core-shell microsphere was synthesized to use the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. The synthesized results were confirmed to have the Au@TiO₂ core-shell structure using a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. An absorption was observed to occur at 527 nm belonging to the visible light region using a visible light spectroscopy, which supports the LSPR phenomenon. We suggest that the Au@TiO₂ core-shell microsphere is highly likely to be applied to organic solar cells including dye-sensitized solar cells. In addition, we expect it to be widely used not only in the energy but also in the bio as well as in the environmental fields.

In order to increase the electrochemical performance of thermal battery anode, LIFT anode having the same weight but a larger lithium content in electrodes was fabricated by mixing lithium, iron and titanium. By applying these electrodes, a single cell and a thermal battery were prepared, and the effect of LIFT anode on electrochemical performance was evaluated. The LIFT-applied single cell presented a better cell performance than LIFe-applied single cell at 500℃ and 550℃. The discharge performance of LIFT-applied single cell, which included the operating time (787s), specific capacity (1,683 Asg^-1), and electrode utilization (80.7%), was improved collectively compared to the LIFe applied single cell (736s, 1,245 As g^-1, and 74.6%) at 500℃. As the discharge progressed, the internal resistance of LIFT anode decreased, because the lithium migration path was formed due to the presence of large titanium particles among iron particles. These results were analyzed in terms of the microstructure of electrode using SEM. Energy density of LIFT-applied single cell also increased by 10% to 142.1 Wh kg^-1 compared to that of LIFe-applied single cell (127.4 Wh kg^-1). In addition, the LIFT-applied single cell presented a stable discharge performance for 6,500s without a short circuit which could occur by molten lithium under an open circuit voltage condition with a high pressure (4 kgf cm^-2). As observed in the high temperature thermal battery performance tests, the voltage and specific capacity of LIFTapplied thermal battery are superior to those of LIFe-applied thermal batteries, indicating that the energy density of LIFT-applied thermal batteries should remarkably increase.

Bulk-sized PbTiO₃ (PT), which is widely known as a high-performance ferroelectric oxide but cannot be fabricated into a monolithic ceramic due to its high c/a ratio, was successfully prepared with a high tetragonality by partially substituting Ni ions for Pb ions using a solid-state reaction method. We found that Ni-doped PT was well-fabricated as a bulk monolith with a significant c/a ratio of ~1.06. X-ray diffraction on as-sintered and crushed samples revealed that NiTiO₃ secondary phase was present at the doping level of more than 2 at.%. Scanning electron microscopic study showed that NiTiO₃ secondary phase grew on the surface of PT specimens regardless of the doping level possibly due to the evaporation of Pb during sintering. We demonstrated that an unconventional introduction of Ni ions into A-site plays a key role on the fabrication of bulk PT, though how Ni ion functions should be studied further. We expect that this study contributes to a further development of displacive ferroelectric oxides with a high c/a ratio.

Capacitive-type humidity sensors with a high sensitivity and fast response/recovery times have attracted a great attention in non-contact respiration biological signal monitoring applications. However, complicated fabrication processes involving high-temperature heat treatment for the hygroscopic film is essential in the conventional ceramic-based humidity sensors. In this study, a non-toxic ceramic/metal halide (BaTiO₃(BT)/NaCl) humidity sensor was prepared at room temperature using a solvent-free aerosol deposition process (AD) without any additional process. Currently prepared BT/NaCl humidity sensor shows an excellent sensitivity (245 pF/RH%) and superior response/recovery times (3s/4s) due to the NaCl ionization effect resulting in an immense interfacial polarization. Furthermore, the non-contact respiration signal variation using the BT/NaCl sensor was determined to be over 700% by maintaining the distance of 20 cm between the individual and the sensor. Through the AD-fabricated sensor in this study, we expect to develop a non-contact biological signal monitoring system that can be applied to various fields such as respiratory disease detection and management, infant respiratory signal observation, and touchless skin moisture sensing button.