To enhance the tunneling electroresistance (TER) ratio of a ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) device using Al-doped HfO₂ thin films, a thin insulating layer was prepared on a TiN bottom electrode, for which TiN was preliminarily treated at various temperatures in O₂ ambient. The composition and thickness of the inserted insulating layer were optimized at 600℃ and 50 Torr, and the FTJ showed a high TER ratio of 430. During the heat treatments, a titanium oxide layer formed on the surface of TiN, that suppressed oxygen vacancy generation in the ferroelectric thin film. It was found that the fabricated FTJ device exhibits two distinct resistance states with higher tunneling currents by properly heat-treating the TiN bottom electrode of the HfO₂-based FTJ devices in O₂ ambient.

An increase in the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) modules causes reduced power output and shorter lifetime. Because of these characteristics, demands for the heat dissipation of PV modules are increasing. In this study, we attached a heat dissipation sheet to the back sheet of a shingled PV module and observed the temperature changes. The PV shingled module was tested under Standard Test Conditions (STCs; irradiance: 1,000 W/m², temperature: 25℃, air mass: 1.5) using a solar radiation tester, wherein the temperature of the PV module was measured by irradiating light for a certain duration. As a result, the temperature of the PV module with the heat dissipation sheet decreased by 3℃ compared to that without a heat dissipation sheet. This indicated that the power loss was caused by a temperature increase of the PV module. In addition, it was confirmed that the primary parameter contributing to the reduced PV module output power was the open circuit voltage (Voc).

Non-volatile memory is approaching its fundamental limits with the Si3N4 storage layer, necessitating the use of alternative materials to achieve a higher programming/erasing speed, larger storage window, and better data retention at lower operating voltage. This limitation has restricted the development of the charge-trap memory, but can be addressed by using high-k dielectrics. The paper reviews the doping of nitrogen, titanium, and yttrium on high-k dielectrics as a storage layer by comparing MONOS devices with different storage layers. The results show that nitrogen doping increases the storage window of the Gd₂O₃ storage layer and improves its charge retention. Titanium doping can increase the charge capture rate of HfO₂ storage layer. Yttrium doping increases the storage window of the BaTiO₃ storage layer and improves its fatigue characteristics. Parameters such as the dielectric constant, leakage current, and speed of the memory device can be controlled by maintaining a suitable amount of external impurities in the device.

In this study, ZnO:Ga thin films were fabricated on a glass substrate using various Ar flows by an RF magnetron sputter system at room temperature. The dependencies of Ar flow on different properties were investigated. An appropriate control over the Ar flow led to the formation of a high-quality thin film. The ZnO:Ga films were formed as a hexagonal wurtzite structure with high (002) preferential orientation. The films exhibited a typical columnar microstructure and a smooth top face. The average transmittance was 85~89% within the visible area. By decreasing the Ar flow, the sheet resistance was decreased due to an increase in the grain size and a decrease in the root mean square roughness. The lowest sheet resistance of 86 Ω/□ was obtained at room temperature for the 40 sccm Ar flow.

In this study, a TiO₂/TiO_2-x-based resistance variable memory was fabricated using a DC/RF magnetron sputtering system and ALD. In order to analyze the effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the performance of resistance random access memory (ReRAM), the TiO₂/TiO_2-x-based ReRAM was evaluated by applying RF power to the TiO_2-x oxygen-holding layer at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 W, respectively. The ReRAM was fabricated, and the electrical and surface area performances were compared and analyzed. In the case of ReRAM without oxygen plasma treatment, the I-V curve had a hysteresis curve shape, but the width was very small, with a relatively high surface roughness of the oxygen-retaining layer. However, in the case of oxygen plasma treatment, the HRS/LRS ratio for the I-V curve improved as the applied RF power increased; stable improvement was also noted in the surface roughness of the oxygen-retaining layer. It was confirmed that the low voltage drive was not smooth due to charge trapping in the oxygen diffusion barrier layer owing to the high intensity ReRAM applied with an RF power of approximately 150 W.

This study reports the fabrication and application of semitransparent Cu nanoparticle layers. Spin coating and subsequent drying of a Cu colloid solution were performed to deposit Cu nanoparticle layers onto Si and glass substrates. As the spin speed of the spin coating increases, the density of the nanoparticles on the substrate decreases, and the agglomeration of nanoparticles is suppressed. This microstructural variation affects the optical properties of the nanoparticle layers. The transmittance and reflectance of the Cu nanoparticle layers increase with increasing spin speed, which results from the trade-off between the exposed substrate area and surface coverage of the Cu nanoparticles. Since the glass substrates coated with Cu nanoparticle layers are semitransparent and colored, it is anticipated that the application of a Cu nanoparticle-dielectric bilayer structure to transparent solar cells will improve the cell efficiency as well as aesthetic appearance.

Heterolayered K(Ta,Nb)O₃/Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates were prepared by a sol-gel process and spin-coating method. The structural and electrical properties were measured to investigate the possibility of application as an electrocaloric effect device. All specimens exhibited dense and uniform cross-sectional structures without pores, and the average thickness of the specimen coated six times was approximately 394 nm. Curie temperatures were observed at 5℃ or less in type-Ⅰ and 10℃ in type-Ⅱ specimens, respectively. Type-Ⅱ specimens coated 6 times showed a relative dielectric constant of 758 and remanent polarization of 9.71 μC/cm₂ at room temperature. The maximum electrocaloric effect occurred between 20 and 25℃, slightly higher than their Curie temperature, and the electrocaloric property (ΔT) of the type-Ⅱ specimens coated 6 times was approximately 1.2℃ at room temperature.

In recent years, the challenge of higher energy efficiency has emerged as urban buildings have become taller, and the area of window glasses has increased. To address the problem of energy efficiency in buildings, research on smart windows is being actively conducted. In this study, an accelerated experiment for thermal stability was conducted to fabricate a liquid crystal cell applicable to external windows. It was confirmed from the study that the function is maintained even in a high-temperature external environment through the change in transmittance by voltage. Compared with the initial transmittance, after the passage of time, the smart window cell to which the sealant was applied showed a small change in transmittance of 1~2%. This result confirmed the thermal stability of the liquid crystal-based smart window.

For electronic paper displays using electrophoresis, the response time and reflectivity of the image panel fabricated by filtering are analyzed. For the filtering process, a square wave and ramp wave are applied to white charged particles with a unique q/m value. We divide the sample panels into #1 to #4 according to the applied waveform in the filtering process. Step waves comprising two steps are used to drive the panel; therefore, we divide the driving conditions into D1~D4. The applied voltage at the first stage of the half cycle of the driving waveform moves the charged particles attached via the image force from the electrode, and the applied voltage at the second stage moves the floating charged particles by detaching. As mentioned, four types of driving conditions (D1 to D4) classified according to the half cycle of the driving waveform are applied to the samples #1 to #4), which are classified according to four types of filtering process. When driving condition D1 is applied to the four types of sample panels, the rise time of #1 is 1.59s, #2 is 1.706s, #3 is 1.853s, and #4 is 1.235s, resulting in #4 being relatively faster compared with other sample panels, and showing the same trend in other driving conditions. As a result, we confirm that applying the driving condition D1 causes abrupt movement of the white charged particles injected into the cell. When the same driving waveform (D1) is applied to each sample, reflectivities of 32.1% for #1, 31.4% for #2, 27.9% for #3, and 63.4% for #4 are measured. From the experiment, we confirm that the driving condition D1 (1s of 3.5 V, 9s of 3.0 V) and ramp wave #4 in filtering are desirable for good reflectivity and response time. Our research is expected to contribute to the improvement of the filtering process and optimization of the driving waveform.

BaTiO₃ powder was synthesized by a solid-state reaction using BaCO₃ and TiO₂. Different calcination temperatures (800℃, 850℃, 900℃, and 950℃) were set to investigate their effects on the properties of BaTiO₃ powder. The synthesized BaTiO₃ phase was confirmed to be a single phase by XRD, and the tetragonality (c/a) and crystallite size were calculated. Thereafter, each calcinated BaTiO₃ was sintered at five different sintering temperatures (1,100℃, 1,150℃, 1,200℃, 1,250℃, and 1,300℃), and the tetragonality, density, porosity, dielectric constant, and grain size were measured. As the calcination temperature increased, the tetragonality and crystallite size also increased, to 1.008 and 66 nm, respectively, at 950℃. Moreover, most pellets showed increased density, dielectric constant, and tetragonality as the sintering temperature increased up to 1,250℃; the same parameters slightly decreased at 1,300℃. It is noteworthy that the tetragonality of BaTiO₃ at 1,250℃ exhibits a very high c/a value of 1.0084. In addition, the grain size and dielectric constant measured near the Curie temperature increased as the sintering temperature increased.

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is mostly used as a current-insulating medium in gas-insulated switchgears (GIS), owing to its excellent dielectric strength and arc-extinguishing performance. The global warming potential (GWP) of SF6, however, is 23,900 times that of CO₂, and its life time in the atmosphere is 3,200 years. For these reasons, new eco-friendly gases to replace SF6 are required. In this study, the partial discharge (PD) characteristics of green gas for grid (g³) and dry air (N₂/O₂) were analyzed to compare with those of SF₆. A PD electrode system was designed to simulate the protrusion defect in GISs and fabricated for experimentation. To compare the PD characteristics of each gas, the discharge inception voltage (DIV), discharge extinction voltage (DEV), discharge magnitude, discharge pulse number, and phase pattern were analyzed. Results from this study are expected to provide fundamental materials for the design of eco-friendly GISs.

Power factor improvement at high temperatures has been a major research topic for the development of skutterudite thermoelectric materials. Here, we attempted to optimize the process parameters for manufacturing skutterudite materials, especially for p-type systems. We focused on the effect of aging time variation to maximize the hightemperature performance of the Ce-filled Fe₃CoSb₁₂ skutterudite system. The optimized aging time was concluded to be a key parameter for the formation of single-phase nanostructures in this p-type skutterudite system. The optimized condition was effective in reducing the bipolar effect at high temperature ranges by increasing the carrier concentration in the p-type system. To confirm the conclusions, the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor were measured. The results matched well with the microstructure and with those of an XRD analysis performed for the system.

Heating films were prepared with composites of poly (methyl methacrylate) and conductive graphite. The as-prepared composite was deposited on a PET film and then fabricated using a bar coater to produce a film with uniform thickness. Copper electrodes were attached to both ends of the as-prepared film, and the heating characteristics of the film were analyzed while applying a DC voltage. The electrical conductivity and heating temperature of the heating films depended on the size, structure, content, and the dispersion characteristics of the graphite in the composite. The thermal energy was adjusted by controlling the electrical energy, based on the Joule heating theory. The electrical resistance of the film was altered in proportion to Ohm’s law, and the heating temperature was changed according to the structure of the film (interelectrode spacing or electrode length) and the conductive graphite content. When the content of conductive graphite in the film increases, the electrical resistance decreases, and the heating temperature increases; however, there is no significant change above a certain content (50%).

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.

Vocational education needs to be transformed to cultivate talents with diverse fusion competencies, which is in line with the recent changes that have become a part of the complex technological developments in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Therefore, it is very important for college graduates to obtain employment skills as they are required to prepare for careers within the complex environments of future societies. With the transition to the Internet of Things (IoT)-based control in the manufacturing industry, the development of technological education and related training programs is required to cultivate practical talents for students who have acquired not only the information on existing programmable logic controller (PLC)-based technology, but also that on embedded programming technology. Therefore, to develop an NCS-based education program for analog signal processing to ensure that programming can easily be learned for cultivating practical talent, this study summarizes the opinions of field experts, selects the appropriate NCS competency unit, and designs an adequate technology education training program.

The Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase was synthesized by arc-melting process under three different processing times. We confirmed that the reaction between the TiCX phase and Ti-Si liquid phase is important for the synthesis of the Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase. Results suggest that the Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase decomposed when the arc-melting time was greater than 80s. Herein, we aim to determine the detailed parameters for the reported arc-melting process, which can provide useful insights on the synthesis of the Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase by arc-melting process. Furthermore, we compared the electrical characteristics and densities of the three samples.