Morphotropic phase boundary (MPB), which is a special boundary that separates two or multiple different phases in the phase diagram of some ferroelectric ceramics, is an important concept in identifying physics that includes piezoelectric responses. MPB, which had not been discovered in organic materials until recently, was discovered in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co- trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)), resulting from a molecular approach. The piezoelectric coefficient of P(VDF-TrFE) in this MPB region was achieved up to -63.5 pC N^-1, which is about two times as large as the conventional value of -30 pC N^-1 of P(VDF-TrFE). An order-disorder arrangement greatly affects the rise of the piezoelectric effect and the ferroelectric, paraelectric and relaxor ferroelectric of P(VDF-TrFE), so the arrangement and shape of the polymer chain is important. In this review, we investigate the origin of negative longitudinal piezoelectric coefficients of piezoelectric polymers, which is definitely opposite to those of common piezoelectric ceramics. In addition to the mainly discussed issue about MPB behaviors of ferroelectric polymers, we also introduce the consideration about polymer chirality resulting in relaxor ferroelectric properties. When the physics of ferroelectric polymers is unveiled, we can improve the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of ferroelectric polymers and contribute to the development of next-generation sensor, energy, transducer and actuator applications.

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.

Computational material science as an application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) to the discipline of material science has emerged and applied to the research and development of energy materials and electronic materials such as semiconductor. However, there are a few difficulties, such as generating input files for various types of materials in both the same calculating condition and appropriate parameters, which is essential in comparing results of DFT calculation in the right way. In this tutorial status report, we will introduce how to create crystal structures and to prepare input files automatically for the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) and Gaussian, the most popular DFT calculation programs. We anticipate this tutorial makes DFT calculation easier for the ones who are not experts on DFT programs.

Novel self-illuminated smart windows were fabricated consisting of Cu-doped ZnS (ZnS:Cu) powder and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC). This smart window shows not only switchable transparency but also self-illumination without any attachable luminous body. Its electro-optical characteristics, transmittance, and luminance were investigated in relation to various applied voltages and composition ratios. The optical transmittance and luminous intensity increased with increasing applied voltages. However, the optical transmittance decreased with increasing ZnS:Cu powder content. One of the self-illuminated smart windows, which was fabricated with 9 wt% of ZnS:Cu, achieved the optical transmittance of 60.5% (at 550 nm) and the luminance of 11.0 cd/m² at 100 V. This smart window could be used as a normal switchable smart window in daytime and light-emitting signage at night.

This paper is a study on frequency analysis and electronic noise reduction of energy storage system (ESS). We acquired 4 necessary data for about 2 minutes and 4 seconds using a sampling frequency of 10,000 Hz in ESS. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used for electronic noise analysis from the acquired data. As a result, it was confirmed that DC component, fundamental wave, second and higher harmonic component exist. For the attenuation of harmonics, low-pass filter (LPF) was applied. We confirmed that an attenuation of approximately 59.3% appears from the second harmonic. The presence of many harmonic components in the data of the ESS was expected to occur due to the insufficiency of optimization among the modules inside the ESS. Therefore, we propose that a national certification system for ESS should be introduced to settle down the issue properly.

Semiconductor devices have evolved from 2D planar FETs to 3D bulk FinFETs, with aggressive device scaling. Bulk FinFETs make it possible to suppress short-channel effects. In addition, the use of low-k dielectric materials as a vacuum gate spacer have been suggested to improve the AC characteristics of the bulk FinFET. However, although the vacuum gate spacer is effective, correlation between the vacuum gate spacer and the short-channel-effects have not yet been compared or discussed. Using a 3D TCAD simulator, this paper demonstrates how to optimize bulk FinFETs including a vacuum gate spacer and to suppress short-channel effects.

As energy depletion and environmental pollution problems are intensified, research has been conducted actively on alternative energy sources, an eco-friendly and continuous available energy conversion system. So has been organic solar cells whose efficiency is improved to 18.32%. The photoactive layer inside the solar cell is composed of a donor and a acceptor, and the combination of materials capable of effectively exchanging electrons greatly affects the efficiency of the organic solar cell. Accordingly, various researches have been conducted to improve the efficiency, and the maximum efficiency could be achieved by a solar cell with high carrier generation and low charge recombination characteristics through the introduction of a non-fullerene acceptor and material reconstruction. Organic solar cells are still difficult to commercialize due to their efficiency limitations and light stability, but if a photoactive layer consisting of a donor capable of efficiently absorbing long-wavelength light and an acceptor capable of forming an appropriate energy level is designed, the efficiency of the organic solar cell will reach 20%.

Cast-resin transformers are widely installed in various electrical power systems because of their low operating cost and low influence on external environmental factors. However, when they have an internal defect during the manufacturing process or operation, a partial discharge (PD) occurs, and eventually destroys the insulation. In this paper, a Rogowski-type PD sensor was studied to replace commercial PD sensors used for the insulation diagnosis of power apparatus. The proposed PD sensor was manufactured with four different types of PCB-based winding structures, and it was analyzed in terms of the detection characteristics for standard calibration pulses and the changes of the output voltage according to the distance. The output increased linearly in accordance with the applied discharge amount. It was confirmed that the hexagon structure sensor had the highest sensitivity, because the winding cross-sectional area of the sensor was larger than others. In addition, as the distance from the defect increased, the output voltage of the sensors decreased by 7.32% on average. It was also confirmed that the attenuation rate according to the distance decreased as the input discharge amount increased. For the application of this new type sensor, PD electrode system was designed to simulate the void defect. Waveforms and PRPD patterns measured by the proposed PD sensors at DIV and 120% of DIV were the same as the results measured by MPD 600 based on IEC 60270. The proposed PD sensors can be installed on the inner wall of the transformer tank by coating its surfaces with a non-conductive material; therefore, it is possible to detect internal defects more effectively at a closer distance from the defect than the conventional sensors.

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.

BaTiO₃ is one of the ferroelectric materials with excellent dielectric properties such as high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and is widely used for the manufacturing of capacitors, piezoelectric converters, microsensors, and ferroelectric memories. Inkjet printing is a technology which uses digital and contactless methods which significantly improves flexibility associated with material and structural design, reducing manufacturing costs. Therefore, the top and bottom electrodes, BaTiO₃ ink, and photocurable resin were all printed by an inkjet to produce a BaTiO₃ capacitor. The properties of the printed thin film were analyzed. It was confirmed that the photocurable resin ink was well-infiltrated between the BaTiO₃ powder particles printed by inkjet. The dielectric properties of the capacitor such as dielectric constant which varies in accordance with frequency, polarization and tunability that changes with voltage, were measured.

Numerical simulation is a good way to predict the conversion efficiency of solar cells without a direct experimentation and to achieve low cost and high efficiency through optimizing each step of solar cell fabrication. TOPCon industrial solar cells fabricated with n-type silicon wafers on a larger area have achieved a higher efficiency than p-type TOPCon solar cells. Electrical and optical losses of the front surface are the main factors limiting the efficiency of the solar cell. In this work, an optimization of boron-doped emitter surface and front electrodes through numerical simulation using “Griddler” is reported. Through the analysis of the results of simulation, it was confirmed that the emitter sheet resistance of 150 Ω/sq along the front electrodes having a finger width of 20 μm, and the number of finger lines ~130 for silicon wafer of M6 size is an optimized technology for the front emitter surface of the n-type TOPCon solar cells that can be developed.

YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk as a high temperature oxide superconducting conductor has the high critical temperature of 92 K. YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk superconductors have been fabricated by a seeded melting growth. Magnetic properties were studied by using superconductor of melted YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y oxides. It was demonstrated that Y₂BaCuO₅ particles acts as a pinning center which plays an important role on the magnetic properties. The thickness of the upper and lower pellets of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y bulk was formed at 40 mm with 55 g of the composition, and the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-y superconductor was manufactured through a heat treatment process. Manufacturing the superconducting bulk, it is possible to improve the pore density of the superconducting bulk by providing a path through which oxygen could be emitted.

A 100 mm × 50 mm-sized (100) gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) single crystal ingot was successfully grown by edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG). The preferred orientation and the quality of grown Ga₂O₃ ingot were compatible with a commercial Ga₂O₃ substrate by showing strong (100) orientation behaviors and 246 arcsec in X-ray rocking curve. Raman characterization was also performed for both samples; thereby providing various Raman-active characteristics of Ga₂O₃ crystals. In particular, we observed A_g(5) and A_g(10) peaks of Raman active mode, directly related to the impurity of the grown Ga₂O₃ crystal. Hence, the comparison of the crystal quality and Raman analysis might be useful for further enhancement of Ga₂O₃ single crystal quality in the future.

Microgrid, which enables the production and consumption of electricity to be done independently on a small scale, has been studied on one of the solutions of reinforcement for flexibility of electronic system. This study examined the application effect of new microgrid by applying hybrid battery in electric power storage device. We designed the system to highlight the advantage of each battery and complement the disadvantage by using hybrid system with Lithium-ion battery and interval Redox flow battery. It runs with lithium-ion battery during the initial startup while the Redox flow battery operates for a long time at the end of excessive period, and it enables a discharge of Lithium-ion and Redox flow battery at the same time when the load has a large output. We chose Maldives as a subject of this study for organizing and optimizing independent microgrid. Maldives is the country to accomplish 100% domestic electricity in South Asia, but the whole electric power is supplied through diesel generation imported fossil fuel. We organized and optimized microgrid for energy independence on Malahini island to solve Maldives energy cost problem and global energy environment matters. We analyzed the daily power supply and accumulated the power supply from September 18, 2018~February 11, 2019. The accumulated power supply was about 120.4 MWh and the daily power supply was about 800~1000 kWh. Based on the collected information, we divided the cases into three models which are only diesel generator, solar generator as well as diesel generator, and solar+ESS+diesel generator. We analyzed the amount of oil consumption compared to the cost of construction and power output. The result showed that solar+ESS+diesel generator was most economically feasible. As well, we obtained that our considering hybrid battery system reduced the fuel consumption for diesel power generation about 10~15%.

Energy harvesting technologies that can convert wasted various energy into usable electrical energy have been widely investigated to overcome the limitation of batteries for the powering of IoT sensors and small electronic devices. Hybrid energy harvesting is known as a technology that enhances the output power of single energy harvesting device by housing two or more various energy harvesting mechanisms. In this study, we introduce a hybrid MME (Magneto-Mechano-Electric) generator coupled with the triboelectric effect. Through FEA modeling, four triboelectric materials, including PI (Polyimide), PFA(Teflon), Cu, and Al, were selected and compared with the expected triboelectric potentials. The effect of surface morphology was investigated as well. Among various combination of triboelectric materials and surface morphologies, PFA-Al combination with the surface morphology having nano-scale square projections showed highest output potential under triboelectrification. It is also experimentally confirmed that output voltage and power of the hybrid MME generator with triboelectric material combinations.