Micro-LEDs, which have a chip size of less than 100 × 100 μm², have been potential candidates for conventional LCDs and OLEDs due to their high optical power, outstanding stability, and nanosecond response time. However, Micro-LED chips are fabricated only on limited substrates due to the high-temperature metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process and lattice-mismatch issues. Therefore, the fabrication of Micro-LED displays requires complex processes such as chip fabrication, transfer, bonding, and repair. Especially, Micro-LED transfer and bonding have been critical challenges for the Micro-LED display commercialization. Here, recent advances in the transfer and bonding of Micro-LEDs are introduced, and novel Micro- LED display fabrication methods are reviewed to provide a practical outlook for both mass production and commercialization of Micro-LED displays.

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.

Flexible micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) based on 2D MXenes offer strong potential for next-generation energy storage in wearable and integrated electronics, yet still face critical challenges such as limited energy density, mechanical reliability, and scalable large-area manufacturing. This review surveys recent strategies to address these limitations, with a particular focus on fabrication techniques and wafer-level integration approaches. Wafer-scale processing on both rigid and flexible substrates has emerged as a key milestone toward scalable, high-yield industrial production of flexible MSCs. By examining the strengths and drawbacks of current fabrication strategies, this review highlights essential directions for advancing MXene-based flexible MSCs toward practical and widespread application.

This study aimed to elucidate factors limiting power conversion efficiency (PCE) in GaN-based micro-light-emitting diodes (μ-LEDs). To this end, we investigated the effects of operating temperature and chip-size of μ-LEDs on their efficiency. For the investigation, 460 nm-emitting μ-LEDs with various chip-sizes were fabricated; then their characteristics were carefully measured from 100 to 400 K. As the chip-size decreases and the operating temperature increases, their PCE and external quantum efficiency (EQE) decrease, while voltage efficiency (VE) increases. This indicates that the EQE plays a more important role than the VE in determining the PCE of μ-LEDs. Particularly, for a chip-size of 20 × 20 μm², the EQE was very lower and the ideality factor was unexpectedly higher compared to the others for all operating temperatures, which is believed to be due to the critical plasma damage at the sidewall during dry-etching process for the chip-size < 20 × 20 μm².

The laser (LASER), originating from the principle of stimulated emission proposed by Albert Einstein, has been a catalyst for substantial advancements across numerous industrial and scientific domains. Initially confined to research and laboratory applications, the scope of laser technology has expanded rapidly over time. This expansion is primarily due to the laser's unique characteristics, such as high-density energy output and precise beam control, which have facilitated its widespread integration into contemporary industrial practices. Specifically, laser materials processing technology enables the machining of diverse materials, including metals, ceramics, and polymers, in a non-contact manner, thereby achieving high precision without the risk of wear or contamination. As a result, laser processing has become indispensable in fields such as advanced electronics manufacturing, medical device production, aerospace, and the automotive industry. Furthermore, laser materials processing exhibits significant potential for high-precision applications that demand minimal thermal deformation of materials, such as microfabrication and the production of complex geometries. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the development and necessity of laser processing technology, explores various laser types and their possible applications, and elucidates why laser technology has emerged as a fundamental component of modern manufacturing, alongside its trajectory for future development.

Micro light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) have been utilized in various fields such as displays, and smart devices, due to their superior stabilities. Since the applications of the μLEDs have been extended to medical devices and wearable sensors, excellent optical properties and uniformity of the μLEDs are important. Hence, several researchers have investigated to enhance the optical efficiency of the μLEDs through micro/nano lens. However, the reported methods for realizing the micro/nano lens have some drawbacks such as complex and high-cost manufacturing processes. Herein, we developed μLEDs with 3D-printed hydrogel microlenses. The printed hydrogel had high transparency and excellent adhesive strength, allowing it to attach onto top surface of the μLEDs without any additional adhesives. Microscale printing technology using a 3D printer achieved quick and fine printing in desired shapes and arrangements, showing the possibility of mass production. The 3D-printed microlens can be applied to improve not only the optical properties of μLEDs but also other optical devices.

This study investigates the post-thermal treatment effects on the efficiency of silicon heterojunction solar cells, specifically examining the influence of annealing on p-type microcrystalline silicon oxide and ITO thin films. By assessing changes in carrier concentration, mobility, resistivity, transmittance, and optical bandgap, we identified conditions that optimize these properties. Results reveal that appropriate annealing significantly enhances the fill factor and current density, leading to a notable improvement in overall solar cell efficiency. This research advances our understanding of thermal processing in siliconbased photovoltaics and provides valuable insights into the optimization of production techniques to maximize the performance of solar cells.

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.

Micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs), with a chip size of 100 micrometers or less, have attracted significant attention in flexible displays, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), and bio-medical applications as next-generation light sources due to their outstanding electrical, optical, and mechanical performance. In the realm of bio-medical devices, it is crucial to transfer tiny micro LED chips onto desired flexible substrates with low precision errors, high speed, and high yield for practical applications on various parts of the human body, including someone’s face and organs. This paper aims to introduce a fabrication process for flexible micro LED devices and propose micro LED transfer techniques for cosmetic and medical applications. Flexible micro LED technology holds promise for treating skin disorders, cancers, and neurological diseases.

In this paper, in order to apply the CF (color filter) type of the micro light emitting device (Micro LED) display method, a study on the manufacturing process of red and green phosphor inks for the inkjet process was conducted. The blue light-emitting KSF and LuAG phosphors were respectively used to control the phosphor particle size to about 1μm, and a phosphor ink was prepared by synthesizing with a low-viscosity solution (IPA/Eg). A chemical dispersion method was applied to selectively control the dispersion characteristics in the manufacture of phosphor inks, and in particular, phosphor inks with a dispersant applied a dispersant secured stable dispersion characteristic compared to phosphor inks without a dispersion process. Therefore, it seems possible to manufacture CF for Micro LED through an inkjet process capable of controlling the dispersion characteristics of phosphor ink.

This paper is an experimental study on the optimal operating conditions of direct charging type electrospray for particulate matter collection. To perform the research, a direct charging type electrospray visualization system was configured to photograph the spray shape of microdroplets, and experiments were performed with varying electrode distance, flow rate, and applied voltage, which are the main factors affecting the particulate matter collection efficacy. Through image processing, the total number of microdroplets according to each condition was analyzed, and the number of microdroplets with a diameter of 1.5 mm or less was confirmed. In addition, by calculating the number of microdroplets per power consumption according to the applied voltage, the optimal operating conditions were derived in terms of energy consumption efficacy, and the microdroplet size distribution was analyzed under the optimal operating conditions. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the optimal operating condition was at a flow rate of 10 mL/min and a voltage of -20 kV in case of 5 mm electrode distance, and at a flow rate of 15 mL/min and a voltage of -30 kV in case of 100 mm electrode distance.

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.

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%.

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.

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 this paper, laser-induced fluorescence properties of four plastics were characterized through spectrometer analysis for real-time microplastic counting. Recently, environmental problems related to microplastics have emerged. In order to detect microplastics, analysis methods such as FT-IR and Raman are used. However, they have the disadvantages of being timeconsuming and requiring a pretreatment process. In most plastic products on the market, 10% to 30% of plasticizers and reinforcing agents are added. Therefore, most microplastics present in seawater and freshwater emit fluorescence signals by 270 nm UV light source regardless of their type due to their molecular structure due to additives. Real-time microplastics counting is possible more easily by using the proposed laser-induced fluorescence detection method because of the fluorescence expression characteristic of 340 nm that appears due to the plasticizer of plastics.

With the recent increase in demand for electronic devices, multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) have become the most important core component. In particular, the next-generation MLCC with extremely high reliability is required for the 4th industrial revolution and electric vehicle applications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop dielectric ceramic materials with high dielectric properties and reliability. During the decades, electrical properties of BaTiO₃ based dielectric ceramics, which have been widely used in MLCC industrial field, have been improved by microstructure and defect chemistry control. However, electrical properties of BaTiO₃ have reached their limits, and new types of dielectric materials have been widely studied. Based on these backgrounds, this report presents the recent development trends of BaTiO₃-based dielectric materials for the nextgeneration MLCCs, and suggests promising candidates to replace BaTiO₃ ceramics.

Electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing, a type of direct contactless microfabrication technology, is a versatile fabrication process that enables a wide range of micro/nanopattern arrays by applying a strong electric field between the nozzle and the substrate. In general, the morphology and the thickness of polymers/quantum dot micropatterns show a systematic dependence on the diameter of the nozzle and the ink composition with a fully automated printing machine. The purpose of this report is to provide typical examples of e-jet printed micropatterns of polymers/quantum dots to explain the effect of each process variable on the result of experiments. Here, we demonstrate several operating conditions that allow high-resolution printing of layers of polymers/quantum dots with a precise control over thickness and submicron lateral resolution.

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.

Phase evolution, sintering behavior, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties of (1-x) mol Ba₃V₄O₁₃ - (x) mol BaV₂O₆ system were investigated. The sintered specimens of all compositions consisted of Ba₃V₄O₁₃ and BaV₂O₆, and no secondary phase was observed. As x increased, the linear shrinkage decreased to the composition of x=0.5, and then increased again, implying that Ba₃V₄O₁₃ and BaV₂O₆ phases interfered mutually with each other during sintering. All compositions showed a dense microstructure with a large grain growth. Cracks were observed in some compositions because of the relatively high sintering temperature of 620~640℃. As x increased, the dielectric constant increased, while the quality factor was maintained from about 50,000 GHz to about 70,000 GHz up to the composition of x=0.9, and then decreased to 20,987~27,180 GHz at the composition of x=1.0. As x increased, the temperature coefficient of the resonance frequency showed a (+) value from a (-) value. The dielectric constant, the quality factor, and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency of x=0.7 composition sintered at 640℃ for 4 hours were 10.61, 71,126 GHz, and -4.9 ppm/℃, respectively. This composition showed a good chemical compatibility with Al powder, indicating that the Ba₃V₄O₁₃-BaV₂O₆ ceramics are a candidate material for ULTCC (Ultra-Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) applications.

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.

In this work, we fabricated oxide on an n-type silicon substrate through local anodic oxidation (LAO) using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The resulting oxide thickness was measured and its correlation with load force, scan speed and applied voltage was analyzed. The surface oxide layer was stripped using a buffered oxide etch. Ohmic contacts were created by applying silver paste on the silicon substrate back face. LAO was performed at approximately 70% humidity. The oxide thickness increased with increasing the load force, the voltage, and reducing the scan speed. We confirmed that LAO/AFM can be used to create both lateral and, to some extent, vertical shapes and patterns, as previously shown in the literature.

With the advent of the IoT (internet of things) era, there has been discussion on how to efficiently use various information from daily life. In academic and industrial society, various smart devices such as smart watches, smart phones, and smart glasses have been developed and commercialized for narrowing the physical/psychological distance with user information. According to recent developments of smart devices, the contemporary people have desired to check their body information and treat disease by themselves. According to the needs of the time, biological researches by phototherapy/monitoring have been actively conducted. Among various light sources, microLEDs have been spotlighted due to their superior optoelectric properties and stability. In this paper, we would like to review the state-of-the research results on the next-generation biological therapy devices via microLEDs.

Micro-LEDs can be applied to various parts of a product. However, it has disadvantages compared to general LEDs in large displays such as low efficiency, intensity, and contrast ratio, among others, owing to their short history of study. The simulations were carried out using ray-tracing software to investigate the change in light intensity and light distribution according to pattern shapes on the sapphire substrate of the flip-chip micro-LED (FC μ-LED) array. Three patterns-concave square patterns, convex square patterns, and Ag coated convex patterns-which existed on the opposite side of FC μ-LEDs (115 ㎛ × 115 ㎛) array, were applied. The intensity of FC μ-LEDs on the center of the receivers depends on the pattern depth with shape. The concave square patterns having FC μ-LEDs arrays show that decreasing intensity as the patterns depth. On the contrary, the convex square patterns having FC μ-LEDs arrays shows that increasing intensity as the patterns depth. In addition, the highest intensity shows that FC μ-LEDs having Ag-coated convex patterns on the opposite side of sapphire lead to a reduction in light crosstalk owing to the Ag film.

We modeled the helical turbine and three modified helical turbines for the structure of the hydraulic turbine for discharge water energy harvesting. A structure that can reduce the load applied to the blade by placing a center plate is our basic concept. The shape was reduced to 1/5, fixed to a size of 240 mm in height and 247 mm in diameter, and modeled by changing the width and the angle of the hydraulic turbine blade. The pipe inner diameter of the simulation pipeline equipment is 309.5 mm, and the simulation section was 4 m in the entire section. The flow velocity was measured for two cases, 1.82 m/s and 2.51 m/s, with the parameters being the amount of power generation, hydraulic turbine’s torque, and hydraulic turbine’s rotation speed. The measurement results confirmed that the flow velocity at the center, which has no pipe surface resistance, has a great influence on the amount of power generation; therefore, the friction area of the turbine blade should be increased in the center area. In addition, if the center plate is placed on the helical turbine, durability can be improved as it reduces the stress on the blade.

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 investigated the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of lead-free 0.74(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO3-0.26SrTiO₃ (BNST26) piezoelectric ceramics sintered using a microwave furnace. For comparison, specimens were also prepared using a conventional furnace sintering (CFS). Average grain sizes of 2.4 μm and 3.2 μm were obtained in the sample sintered at 1,100℃ for 5 min using microwave sintering (MWS) and at 1,175℃ for 2 h using CFS, respectively. To quantify the changes in the microstructures and electrical properties according to the sintering conditions, the polarization hysteresis, bipolar and unipolar strain curves, and temperature dependence of permittivity were evaluated. As a result, it was determined that the Pmax (maximum polarization), Pr (remanent polarization) and Smax (maximum strain) values tend to increase with the average grain size. Based on these results, it is concluded that the MWS method can produce lead-free ceramics with superior performance in a relatively short time compared to the conventional CFS method.

Induction motors connected with a three-phase AC system may malfunction due to reverse phase or open phase faults. Conventional overcurrent relays and overheating relays are used to prevent such accidents; however, their drawbacks include a low response speed and false operation. Therefore, in this study, a digital relay for the reverse-open phase was designed and fabricated. This relay can detect the reverse phase and open phase faults and send a trigger signal to the control circuit. The proposed relay was developed based on a microcontroller. The detection times of the reverse phase and open phase were verified as 320ms and 80ms, respectively. Compared with conventional relays that only protect the motor from one type of fault, the proposed relay can detect both, reverse phase and open phase faults. In addition, the fault detection, identification criterion, and trigger signal patterns can be modified by programming according to the requirements of users.

Pure BiFeO₃ (BFO) and (Eu, V) co-doped Bi_0.9Eu_0.1Fe_0.975V_0.025O_3+δ (BEFVO) thin films were deposited on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO₂/Si(100) substrates by chemical solution deposition. The effects of co-doping were observed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical properties of the BEFVO thin film were improved as compared to those of the pure BFO thin film. The remnant polarization (2P_r) of the BEFVO thin film was approximately 26 μC/cm² at a maximum electric field of 1,190 kV/cm with a frequency of 1 kHz. The leakage current density of the co-doped BEFVO thin film (4.81×10^-5 A/cm² at 100 kV/cm) was two orders of magnitude lower than of that of the pure BFO thin film.

Pb(Sb_0.5Nb_0.5)x(Zr_0.51Ti_0.49)_1-xO₃ (abbreviation: PSN-PZT) ceramics were synthesized, using conventional bulk ceramic processing technology, with various PSN doping contents. The maximum density of PSN-PZT was 97% of the theoretical density in the samples sintered at 1,250℃. The maximum values of the piezoelectric properties achieved using the conventional processes were: k_p of 0.625, d₃₃ of 531 pC/N, and g₃₃ of 33 mV·m/N. Finally, we fabricated a piezo-speaker with the optimized PSN-PZT ceramics. The SPL of the speaker was measured at a distance of 1 m, with a driving voltage of 40 V_rms in the frequency range of ~300 Hz to 9 kHz. The measured SPL_max was at a very high level (95 dB), which was superior in quality in comparison with those of other commercial products.