There is an increasing demand for freeform stretchable display technologies capable of overcoming spatial limitations in next-generation platforms such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). To realize such stretchable displays, all constituent materials—including semiconductors, electrodes, insulators, and substrates—must exhibit sufficient mechanical elasticity. To date, stretchable gate insulators have primarily relied on organic polymers such as poly(4-vinylphenol-co-methyl methacrylate) (PVP-co-PMMA). However, their practical application is significantly limited by poor electrical properties, including low dielectric constant and instability. In this work, we propose a novel gate insulator structure that minimizes the use of solution-based processes, which often suffer from poor uniformity and may damage underlying layers during fabrication. The proposed structure integrates the advantages of both organic and inorganic materials by employing a hybrid configuration. Specifically, high-k HfO₂ thin films are deposited on both the top and bottom of an organic layer composed of PVP-co-PMMA, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde) (PMF) as a crosslinking agent, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) as a solvent. This inorganic–organic–inorganic structure effectively compensates for the inherent electrical limitations of organic materials. As a result, the fabricated thin-film transistors (TFTs) exhibit improved electrical performance and reliability compared to devices employing a single organic gate insulator.

Porous polymeric structures with piezoelectric properties have attracted considerable attention in the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering due to their ability to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. However, conventional fabrication methods for porous structures often face limitations in controlling pore architecture, maintaining structural uniformity, and achieving process reproducibility, in addition to requiring complex processing conditions. To address these issues, we propose a facile and reproducible fabrication method for porous poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) piezoelectric sponges using molded sugar cubes as sacrificial pore templates. By adjusting the particle size of the sugar templates, the pore size and distribution of the sponges could be effectively controlled, and a uniform open-pore network was achieved. The fabricated sponges were evaluated with a focus on pore morphology, mechanical behavior, and piezoelectric performance depending on the sugar particle size, and these evaluations confirmed the structural properties and functional efficacy. This study presents a simple and reproducible fabrication strategy along with a quantitative analysis method for porous structures, which is expected to enhance process accessibility and practical applicability in the development of piezoelectric polymer-based biomaterial platforms.

The polymer crystallization process, promoting the formation of ferroelectric β-phase, is essential for developing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based high-performance piezoelectric energy harvesters. However, traditional high-temperature annealing is unsuitable for the manufacture of flexible piezoelectric devices due to the thermal damage to plastic components that occurs during the long processing times. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of introducing a flash lamp annealing that can rapidly induce the β-phase in the PVDF layer while avoiding device damage through selective heating. The flash lightirradiated PVDF films achieved a maximum β-phase content of 76.52% under an applied voltage of 300 V and an on-time of 1.5 ms, a higher fraction than that obtained through thermal annealing. The PVDF-based piezoelectric energy harvester with the optimized irradiation condition generates a stable output voltage of 0.23 V and a current of 102 nA under repeated bendings. These results demonstrate that flash lamp annealing can be an effective process for realizing the mass production of PVDF-based flexible electronics.

In electrical power substations, bulky iron-core potential transformers (PTs) are installed in a tank of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) to measure system voltages. This paper proposed a low-power voltage transformer (LPVT) that can replace the conventional iron-core PTs in response to the demand for the digitalization of substations. The prototype LPVT consists of a capacitive voltage divider (CVD) which is embedded in a spacer and an impedance matching circuit using passive components. The CVD was fabricated with a flexible PCB to acquire enough insulation performance and withstand vibration and shock during operation. The performance of the LPVT was evaluated at 80%, 100%, and 120% of the rated voltage (38.1 kV) according to IEC 61869-11. An accuracy correction algorithm based on LabVIEW was applied to correct the voltage ratio and phase error. The corrected voltage ratio and phase error were +0.134% and +0.079 min., respectively, which satisfies the accuracy CL 0.2. In addition, the voltage ratio of LPVT was analyzed in ranges of -40~+40℃, and a temperature correction coefficient was applied to maintain the accuracy CL 0.2. By applying the LPVT proposed in this paper to the same rating GIS, it can be reduced the length per GIS bay by 11%, and the amount of SF6 by 5~7%.

The energy demand in the world is expected to exceed 740 million TJ by 2040 and our dependence on fossil fuels needs to be switched to sustainable and renewable energy sources like solar energy. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is one of the best approaches to extracting solar energy. There are more than 200 BIPV products in the market currently but when it comes to integrating these products into the technical aspects such as buildings’ structural integrity, thermal, daylight retainment and aesthetic prospects to be considered. The share of BIPV integration potential of different building types in the world of residential, agricultural, industrial, commercial and other buildings account for 66%, 4.8%, 8.1%, 19.9%, and 1.2% accordingly. Many solar technologies developed to achieve architectural requirements, but the main problem is the trade-off between efficiency and aesthetic appeal, which is less than 10% in coloured and transparent solar modules. This paper discusses the different applications of solar photovoltaics (PV) in building architecture, technical requirements, and different module technologies. The article provides a comprehensive guide for researchers and designers working on the development of BIPV integrations.

This study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the role and impact of advanced power semiconductors in solar module systems. Focusing on silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials, it highlights their superiority over traditional silicon in enhancing system efficiency and reliability. The research underscores the growing industry demand for high-performance semiconductors, driven by global sustainable energy goals. This shift is crucial for overcoming the limitations of conventional solar technology, paving the way for more efficient, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable solar energy solutions. The findings suggest significant potential for these advanced materials in shaping the future of solar power technology.

In this paper, in order to investigate the efficiency of solar power generation system operation, we have studied operation cases such as generation amount, utilization rate, and generation time, and the following conclusions were obtained. The amount of power generation in 2017 was 1,311.48 MWh, and the amount of power generation in 2018 was 1,226.03 MWh. In 2021, 1,184.28 MWh was generated, and 90.30% compared to 2017, and the amount of power generation decreased by 1.94% every year. The deterioration of photovoltaic modules could be seen as one cause of the decrease in power generation. 1,977.74 MWh was generated in the spring, and 1,621.77 MWh was generated in the summer. In addition, 1,478.87 MWh was generated in the fall, and 1,110.55 MWh was generated in the winter, showing a lot of power generation in the order of spring, summer, fall, and winter. From 2017 to 2022, the seasonal utilization rate, daily power generation time, and daily power generation were investigated, and it could be seen that the spring utilization rate varies from 19.29% to 16.99%. It could be seen that the daily generation time in winter decreased from 2.67 hours to 2.13 hours, and in spring it generated longer than spring from 4.63 hours to 4.08 hours. In addition, the daily power generation in winter also decreased from 2.67 MWh to 2.13 MWh, and in spring it decreased from 4.63 MWh to 4.08 MWh, but it could be seen that it is more than in winter.

A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, and has been considered as a substitute for continuous power supply due to its high performance, simple structure and eco-friendliness. Recently, it is important to develop a TENG using a non-toxic material in order to use it as a power source for wearable, attachable, and body-embeddable electronics. Here, we developed a human friendly TENG using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel containing acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), a non-toxic plasticizer. PVC gels were fabricated using various ratios of PVC and ATBC, and optimized by investigating dielectric properties, surface potential, output performance, and durability. The PVC gel based TENG generates output signals of 73 V and 4.3 μA, i.e., a 5-fold enhancement in the output power compared to pristine PVC-based TENG. In addition, the PVC gel can be stretched over 500% of strain. This study is expected to be helpful in the future development of non-toxic wearable TENG.

Global warming is accelerating due to the use of fossil fuels that have been used continuously for centuries. Now, humankind recognizes its seriousness, and is conducting research on searching for eco-friendly and sustainable energy. In the field of solar energy, which is a kind of eco-friendly and sustainable, many studies are being conducted to enhance the output performance of the module. In this study, the output improvement for the shingled module structure was studied. In order to improve the output performance of the module, the thickness of the encapsulant was increased, and the lamination process conditions have been improved accordingly. After that, the crosslinking rate was analyzed, and the suitability of the lamination process conditions was judged using this. In addition, a peeling test was conducted to analyze the correlation between the adhesion of the encapsulant and the output performance of the module. Finally, the optimization for the encapsulant material and the lamination process conditions for high-power shingled modules was established, and accordingly, the market share of high-power shingled modules in the solar module market can be expected to rise.

Hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) detection sensors were fabricated using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and various binder materials for ion batteries. To obtain uniformly printed films, the printing precision according to the substrate cleaning method was monitored, and the printing paste mixing ratio was investigated. Binders were prepared using styrene butadiene rubber + carboxymethyl cellulose (SBR+CMC), polyvinylidene fluoride + n-methyl-2-pyrrolidene (PVDF+NMP), and mixed with MWCNTs. The surface morphology of the printed films was examined using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope, and their electrical properties are investigated using an I-V sourcemeter. Finally, sensing properties of MWCNT printed films were measured according to changes in the concentration of the chemical under the various applied voltages. In conclusion, the MWCNT printed films made of (SBR+CMC) were found to be feasible for application to the detection of hazardous and noxious chemicals spilled in seawater.

A poly[bis(4-butypheny)-bis(phenyl)benzidine] (poly-TPD) and poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) bilayer was employed as a hole transport layer (HTL) in solution-processed CdSe/ZnS quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs). The thickness of the PVK layer spin-coated onto the poly-TPD layer, whose thickness was fixed to 40 nm, was varied, with PVK layer thicknesses of 0 nm, 35 nm, 45 nm, and 55 nm. Because the thickness of the PVK can determine the hole transport properties of the HTL, a PVK thickness that maximizes the performance of the HTL for the QLEDs was investigated. By employing the optimized PVK thickness of 45 nm, the current efficiency of the QLED exhibited a 1.74 times improvement when compared with that of the QLED with poly-TPD based HTL without PVK. This was mainly attributed to the decrease in the energy barrier between the HTL and the quantum dot (QD) emitting layer (EML).

A shingled PV module is manufactured by dividing and bonding. In this method, the solar cell is divided by lasers and bonded using electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs). Consequently, the manufacturing cost increases because a process step is added. Therefore, we aim to reduce the production cost by reducing the amount of Ag paste used in the solar cell front. Various electrode structures were designed and simulated. The number of fingers was optimized by designing thinner fingers, and the number of fingers with the maximum power conversion efficiency was confirmed. The simulation confirmed the maximum efficiency in the 4-divided electrode pattern. The amount of Ag paste used for each electrode pattern was calculated and analyzed. The number of fingers was optimized by decreasing the width of the finger; this will not only reduce the amount of Ag paste required but also the increase the efficiency.

Boron nitride (BN) nanofibers were fabricated using BN nanoparticles (70 nm) by electrospinning. Morphologies such as the diameter and density of the BN nanofibers are strongly influenced by the viscosity and dispersion state of the precursor solution. In this study, the precursor solution was prepared by ball milling BN nanoparticles and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, Mw~1,300,000) in ethanol, which was electrospun and then calcined to produce BN fibers. High-quality BN nanofibers were well fabricated at a BN concentration of 15 wt% with their diameters in the range of 500 nm to 800 nm; the viscosity of the precursor solution was 400 mPa·S. The calcination of the as-electrospun BN fibers seemed to be completed by holding them at 350℃ for 2 h considering the TGA data. The morphologies and phases of the BN fibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), respectively; Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) was also used for structure analysis.

Lead zirconate titanate/poly-vinylidene fluoride (PZT/PVDF) piezoelectric devices were fabricated by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs), for use as flexible energy harvesting devices. CNTs were added to maximize the formation of the β phase of PVDF to enhance the piezoelectricity of the devices. The phase transition of PVDF induced by the addition of CNTs was confirmed by analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy images, and atomic force microscopy images. The enhanced output efficiency of the PZT/PVDF piezoelectric devices was confirmed by measuring the output current and voltage of the fabricated devices. The maximum output current and voltage of the PZT/PVDF piezoelectric devices was 200 nA and 350 mV, respectively, upon incorporation of 0.06 wt% CNTs.

Herein, we report the fabrication of low-voltage N-type organic field-effect transistors by using high capacitance fluorinated polymer gate dielectrics such as P(VDF-TrFE), P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), and P(VDF-TrFE-CFE). Electronwithdrawing functional groups in PVDF-based polymers typically cause the depletion of negative charge carriers and a high contact resistance in N-channel organic semiconductors. Therefore, we incorporated intermediate layers of a low-k polymerto prevent the formation of a direct interface between PVDF-based gate insulators and the semiconducting active layer. Consequently, electron depletion is inhibited, and the high charge resistance between the semiconductor and source/drain electrodes is remarkably improved by the in corporation of solution-processed charge injection layers.

Aluminum nitride fibers were synthesized by carbothermal reduction and nitridation of precursor fibers obtained by electrospinning. The starting materials used to synthesize the AlN fibers were Al(NO₃)₃·9H₂O and urea. Polyvinylpyrrolidone with increasing viscidity was used as the carbon source to obtain a composite solution. The mixed solution was drawn into a plastic syringe with a stainless steel needle, which was used as the spinneret and connected to a 20 kV power supply. A high voltage was supplied to the solution to facilitate the formation of a dense net of fibers on the collector. The precursor fibers were dried at 100℃ and then heated to 1,400℃ for 1 h in a microwave furnace under N2 gas flow for the carbothermal reduction and nitridation. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the synthesized fibers consisted of the AlN phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the diameter of the calcined fibers was approximately 100 nm.

We fabricated 1-D and 2-D diffraction gratings of SiOx anti-reflection (AR) film grown on a quartz substrate and integrated them into a c-Si photovoltaic (PV) submodule. The light-trapping effect of the resulting submodules was studied in terms of the oblique optical incident angle, θ_i. As the θ_i increased, solar conversion efficiency, η, was improved as expected by the increased optical transmission caused by the grating. For θ_i≤30°, the relative solar conversion efficiency, Δη, of a 1-D SiOx (t=300 nm) grating, compared to that of a flat SiOx AR-coated integrated PV submodule, was improved very little, with a small variation of within 2%, but increased markedly for θ_i≥40°. We observed a change of Δη as large as 10.7% and 9.5% for the SiOx grating of period t=800 nm and 1200 nm, respectively. For a 2-D SiOx (t=300 nm) grating integrated PV submodule, however, the optical trapping behavior was similar in terms of θ_i but its variation was small, within ±1.0%.

Using both EVA and POE encapsulants, we fabricated polycrystalline Si PV modules and performed a set of reliability tests of PID, DH, TC, and Complex prior to outdoor installation. The power output with temperatures and insolation as well as I-V characteristics had been monitored under outdoor environments for 18 months. In the entire period, the total power of 3,576 kWh from POE PV modules was observed larger than 3,449 kWh from EVA PV modules by 3.5%. All the PV modules showed a 5.6~9.2% drop in the conversion efficiency. As for the solar power generation, the PV modules performed through PID, TC test revealed distinct difference in between EVA and POE for which the POE PV module produced more power by +11.4% and +6.6%, respectively, as measured in the 18^th month. In addition, POE was proved to protect better the solar cells under PID influence.

In this paper, we fabricated flexible CNT/PVDF piezoelectric composite device by introducing CNTs (carbon nanotubes) into PVDF (poly-vinylidene fluoride) solution using spray coating technique. Flexible PEDOT:PSS conducting polymer was used as electrodes. We tried to improve the piezoelectric performance from the CNT/PVDF composite film by increasing the portion of the β-phase PVDF in the film. We confirmed the structural conformation of the CNT/PVDF composite film as a function of CNT concentration by using FT-IR (fourier transform infra-red). As increasing CNT concentration, portion of the β-phase PVDF and resulting piezoelectric performance increased in the CNT/PVDF composite film. We found that CNTs introduced were played as seeds for formation of the β-phase PVDF in the CNT/PVDF composite film and resulting improvement of the piezoelectric performance.

In this paper, we fabricated flexible CNT/PVDF (carbon nanotube / polyvinylidene fluoride) piezoelectric composite device with flexible poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) conducting polymer electrode using spray coating method. We tried to improve the piezoelectric performance from the CNT/PVDF composite film by enhancing electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrodes. Electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrode was enhanced by dipping it into the EG (ethylene glycol) solvent. Changes of chemical composition of the PEDOT:PSS electrode were analyzed with the dipping time by XPS (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) in terms of oxygen (O1s). Finally, Piezoelectric performances such as output voltage and current were measured with the dipping time. We found that enhanced electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS electrodes resulted in improvement of the piezoelectric performance of the CNT/PVDF films.

Floating PV system is installed on the water such as artificial lake, reservoir, river for the purposes of zero energy town and/or large scale of PV station. There are electrical gains from cooling effect by water and reflection of water surface. Particularly, floating PV power station with high efficiency solar cell modules receives a lot of attention recently. Floating PV system is installed on the water, which means grounding method to the frame of solar cell and electrical box such as connector band and distribution panelboard should be applied in different way from grounding method of PV system on land. The grounding resistance should be 10[Ω] in case the voltage is over 400[V] in accordance with Korean Standard. The applicable parameters are the resistivity of water in various circumstances, depth of water, and length of electrode in order to meet 10[Ω] of grounding resistance. We calculated appropriate length of the electrode on the basis of theoretical equation of grounding resistance and analyzed the relation between each parameters through MATLAB simulation. This paper explains grounding system of floating PV power station and presents considerations on grounding design according to the resistivity of water.

Among several types of energy saving smart window technologies, the leader, the dynamic EC (electrochromic) window one needs integrated PV (photovoltaics), to minimize expensive electrical wiring as well as to obviate the need for external energy. Self-powered smart windows were reviewed according to PV types used. DSSCs (dye sensitized solar cells) were found to be compatible with EC cells, to have several categories of next generation smart windows such as PECCs (photoelectrochromic cells), PVCCs (photovoltachromic cells), EC polymer PECCs. In addition silicon solar cells and third generation solar cells were investigated. They are summarized in a table showing their advantages and disadvantages respectively for a fast comparison. The strategy to expedite the commercialization of these next generation smart windows includes developing retrofit smart window coverings for use on flexible polymer substrates adhered to the inside surface of a window and easily replaced after use for upto 10 years.

In this paper, we investigated the relations between dispersion of CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and electrical conductivity in the CNT/PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) composite film. By adding hydrophobic CNTs as filler into the PVDF matrix, we fabricated hydrophobic and electrically conducting polymer coating film. Dispersion of CNTs in the CNT/PVDF composite film plays a significant role in terms of electrical conductivity and wetting property. Spray coating method was used to form the CNT/PVDF composite films by injecting the dispersed CNTs in the PVDF solution with different weight ratios from 0.7 wt% to 7 wt%. We investigated the electrical properties and contact angles of the CNT/PVDF composite films with the CNT concentration. Finally we discussed the conducting mechanism and feasibility of the CNT/PVDF composite film for the conducting polymer films.

In this paper, we fabricated flexible antenna radiator using the CNT/PVDF (carbon nanotube /polyviny lidene fluoride) composite film. We used polymer film as a matrix material for the flexible devices, and introduced CNTs for adding conductivity into the film resulting in obtaining performances of the antenna radiator. Spray coating method was used to form the CNT/PVDF composite radiator, and pattern formation of the radiator was done by shadow mask during the spray coating process. We investigated the electrical properties of the CNT/PVDF composite films with the CNT concentration, and also estimated the radiator performance. Finally we discuss the feasibility of the CNT/PVDF composite radiator for the flexible antenna.

In this paper, we propose a enhanced anti-corrosion property of the ground system by coatingthe CNT/PVDF composite film on it. Polymer material used for preventing the corrosion of groundsystem is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and conducting filler for obtaining conductivity of the compositefilm is multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNTs were dispersed in the organic solventof methyl ethyl ketone 2-butanone (MEK) with different concentration ratios, and the PVDF was solvedin the MEK solvent with constant concentration ratio of 1 wt%. The CNT/PVDF composite solution wasperpared by mixing and re-dispersing the CNT solution and the PVDF solution. Finally, the CNT/PVDFcomposite films were fabricated by the spray coating method using the above composite solution. Electrical conductivity, surface states, and anti-corrosion property of the CNT/PVDF composite filmscoated on the Cu substrate were evaluated. We found that the CNT/PVDF composite film showedrelatively low resistance, hydrophobic surface state, and chemical stability. Consequently, we couldimprove the anti-corrosion property and maintain the electrical conductivity of the ground system bycoating the CNT/PVDF composite film on it.

ZnO nanowires were grown by hydrothermal synthesis process and piezoelectric poly vinylidenefluoride (PVDF) was then coated on top of the ZnO-nanowires by spray-coating technique. Thecomposite layer of ZnO-nanowires/PVDF was applied to an energy harvesting device based onpiezoelectric-conversion mechanism. A defined mechanical force was given to the nanogenerator device toevaluate their electric power generation characteristics, where output current density and voltage wereexamined. Electric power generation property of the ZnO-nanowires/PVDF based nanogenerator devicewas compared to that of the nanogenerator device with ZnO-nanowires as single active layer. Effect ofthe ZnO-nanowires on improvement of power generation was discussed to examine its feasibility for thenanogenerator device.

It is summarized that potential causes of performance degradations and failure mechanisms ofcrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules installed in Middle East area. In addition, we also reviewedcurrent PV module qualification test (IEC 61215) and the methods for detection of wear-out fault. Thefailure of PV modules in the extreme environmental conditions such as deserts is mainly due to hightemperature, humidity, and dust storms. In particular, cementation phenomenon caused by combination ofsand and moisture leads to rapid degradation in the performance of PV modules. In order to evaluate andguarantee the long term reliability of PV modules, specific qualification tests such as sand dust test, saltmist test and potential induce degradation test considering operating environment of PV module should becarried out.

In this paper, PV modules using a low-temperature conductive film(LT-CF) as a bonding material between a cell and a solder free ribbon were produced and chracterized, which is more environmental-friendly, cost effective and high efficient. Mainly, filed electrical performance of PV modules using three different types of bonding material; a convetional solder ribbon(SR), a LT-CF and a light-capturing Ribbon(LCR) were compared to comfirm the feasibility of LT-CF as a bonding material. The filed test were conducted for 3 months and results were discussed in terms of amount of output energy production and efficiency.

The current downturn of BIPV sector has an enprmous potential to rebound and expand into the PV sector for construction market in the foreseeable future. Solar technology has already gained a significant market due to lack of natural resources in the Korean domestic market. Given the technical infrastructure of state-of-the-art fusion technology, the competitiveness of software-driven BIPV market in the world can bever attractive and have the potential to develop as a key national technology. To do this, from the viewpoint of complexity, technical R&D, national political aspect, social aspect, economic aspect and institutional support systems need to be parallelly formulated, A dedicated BIPV sector has not yet been established, especially policy and institutional framework have very crucial impact on the establishment of BIPV sector.

SiC crystal ingots were grown on 6H-SiC dual-seed crystals with different surface roughness and different seed orientation by a PVT (Physical Vapor Transport) method. 4H and 15R-SiC were grown on seed crystal with high root-mean-square (rms) value. The polytype of grown crystal on the seed crystal with lower rms value was confirmed to be 6H-SiC. On the other hand, all SiC crystals grown on seed crystals with different seed orientation were proven to be 6H-SiC. The surface roughness of seed crystals had no effect on the crystal structure of the grown crystals. However, the crystal quality of 6H-SiC single crystals grown on the on-axis seed were revealed to be slightly better than that of 6H-SiC crystal grown on the off-axis seed.