Metal sacrificial-layer-assisted transfer is a promising strategy for transferring thermally annealed thin films onto flexible polymer substrates without exposing the receiver substrate to thermal damage. However, stable release of the annealed thin-film stack remains challenging because high-temperature annealing can alter the etching behavior of the sacrificial metal layer and the protective oxide layer. In this study, we propose a thin-film transfer process using a Ni metal sacrificial layer and etch access holes, in which an SU-8/Ti/SiO₂ transferable stack was fabricated on a rigid sapphire donor substrate, annealed at 400–700°C, selectively released by Ni etching, and transferred onto a flexible PET receiver substrate. As the annealing temperature increased from 400 to 700°C, the SiO₂ etch rate decreased from 6.8–6.96 to 2.61–3.83 nm/s, while the Ni release time increased from 72–77 to 82–95 min; nevertheless, the transferable stack was successfully transferred under all process conditions with image-based transfer yields of 58.81–82.76%, with the highest yield obtained for the 200 nm Ni sacrificial layer annealed at 550°C. These results demonstrate the process feasibility of the proposed metal sacrificial-layer and etch-access-hole-based transfer approach for transferring thermally annealed thin-film structures from rigid donor substrates to flexible receiver substrates.

The phase transition of Li₃PO₄ solid electrolyte for secondary batteries in vacuum has been studied by using real-time synchrotron X-ray scattering. According to the vacuum heating results, the crystal β-Li₃PO₄ phase was stable only from room temperature to 400°C. The crystal γ-Li₃PO₄ phase appeared at 410°C and the crystal β-Li₃PO₄ phase completely disappeared at 430°C. The transition from the β-Li₃PO₄ to the γ-Li₃PO₄ phases occurred primarily at 410°C, which is 40°C lower than the transition temperature of 450°C in air. The decrease in the phase transition temperature in vacuum, compared to that in air, is attributed to a relatively high concentration of oxygen vacancies. As the isothermal annealing time at 390°C was increased to 8 hours, the β-Li₃PO₄ phase was completely transitioned into the γ-Li₃PO₄ phase. Our study revealed the detailed transition behavior from the β-Li₃PO₄ to the γ-Li₃PO₄ phases during real-time annealing in vacuum.

We have studied the thermal stability of NCM622 cathode material for Li-ion batteries using real-time synchrotron x-ray scattering below 600°C in both air and vacuum. The expansion of the mean particle size, which reached maximum values of 10.3 μm in air and 10.6 μm in vacuum at 200°C, was attributed to the dehydration of intergranular water within the NCM622 powders. Across all annealing temperatures, the amount of crystal NCM622 phase in air was consistently higher than that in vacuum. The crystal domain sizes in air showed less variation than that in vacuum during annealing from RT to 500°C. These indicate that the crystal NCM622 phase is more thermally stable during annealing in air than in vacuum. This stability is attributed to the presence of 21% oxygen in air, which is absent under vacuum conditions.

Organic solar cells based on bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structures have attracted considerable attention because of their low fabrication cost, mechanical flexibility, and compatibility with solution-processing techniques. In BHJ organic photovoltaic devices, nanoscale morphology and crystallinity of the photoactive layer critically influence photovoltaic performance. In this study, the effects of solvent selection and thermal annealing on crystallization evolution and photovoltaic characteristics of P3HT:PCBM organic solar cells were systematically investigated. Three different solvents, including toluene, chlorobenzene (CB), and dichlorobenzene (DCB), were employed for active-layer fabrication, followed by post-thermal annealing treatment. UV–visible absorption spectroscopy revealed solvent-dependent differences in molecular ordering and intermolecular π–π interactions within the active layer. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that thermal annealing significantly enhanced crystallinity and lamellar ordering of P3HT domains, particularly for CB-processed films. Electrical characterization demonstrated that solvent evaporation behavior strongly affects photovoltaic performance. Among the investigated devices, the thermally annealed CB-processed device exhibited the highest power conversion efficiency of 1.83% with an enhanced short-circuit current density of 7.057 mA cm⁻². The improved device performance is attributed to optimized crystallization behavior and balanced nanoscale phase separation induced by the moderate evaporation characteristics of CB. In contrast, although DCB-assisted films exhibited relatively strong optical absorption and enhanced crystallinity, excessively slow solvent evaporation likely induced excessive aggregation and coarse phase separation, limiting efficient photovoltaic characteristics. These results demonstrate that solvent engineering combined with thermal annealing is an effective strategy for controlling morphology evolution and crystallization behavior in P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells.

GaN nanowire (NW)-based hybrid structures have attracted attention for optoelectronic applications due to their high surface area and efficient carrier transport. However, the optical transparency of GaN NWs is often limited by unintended residual species accumulated on the surface and in the inter-wire regions, as well as defect-related absorption, leading to reduced light transmission. In this work, we demonstrate that thermal annealing significantly improves the optical transparency of GaN NWs grown on indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass substrates. The transmittance increased from 47.9% to 78.5% at 550 nm after rapid thermal annealing at 800^oC for 3 min, while a comparable value (~75.5%) was achieved at 600^oC for 5 min. PbBr₃ was deposited onto the GaN NWs to form hybrid structures, and temperature-dependent photoluminescence (TDPL) measurements revealed enhanced emission stability with suppressed peak shift and reduced spectral broadening. Arrhenius analysis based on a two-channel model revealed that the activation energy of the dominant non-radiative recombination pathway increased from 62 meV in the as-grown sample to 85 meV after thermal annealing, while its relative contribution remained nearly unchanged. In contrast, the shallow trap-assisted pathway exhibited a similar activation energy of approximately 6 meV in both samples, but its contribution decreased from 0.35 to 0.17 after annealing. As a result, the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) improved from 75.9% to 87.4%. These results show that thermal annealing improves optical transparency by removing residuals and suppresses defect-related recombination, leading to enhanced carrier dynamics and improved optical performance of PbBr₃-based hybrid structures.

As electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly adopted worldwide, large numbers are now transported by sea on dedicated car carriers. With this trend, concerns are increasing about fires and explosions caused by battery thermal runaway during marine transport, while existing SOC limits before loading remain largely empirical. This study experimentally investigates gas generation and explosion characteristics of EV lithium-ion cells under thermal runaway conditions representative of enclosed vehicle decks. We identify and quantify the main off-gas components and clarify the flammability behavior and explosion limits of key combustible species. The results provide basic data for assessing EV battery accidents at sea and support the development of safer ventilation and gas-management strategies for ships.

With the advancement of the information society, the demand for highly integrated and multi-functional electronic devices is rapidly increasing. To meet these demands, high-performance transistors with low power consumption, high-speed operating, and mechanical flexibility are essential. Among various candidates, semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT)-based transistors, which exhibit intrinsically ambipolar characteristics, have emerged as promising components for CMOS-like circuits. In this study, s-SWCNT were selectively dispersed using rr-P3DDT, a thiophene-based conjugated polymer, and filed-effect transistors (FETs) were fabricated by inducting directional alignment for enhanced charge transport through an off-centered spin-coating process. The electrical characteristics of the fabricated s-SWCNT FETs were evaluated under various thermal annealing conditions (100℃, 150℃, 200℃, and 250℃). Off-centered spin-coated and high temperature annealed s- SWCNT FETs exhibited high field-effect mobilities over 5 cm²/Vs in both p-type and n-type operation, along with ideal Vshaped ambipolar transfer curves. These results indicate a significant enhancement in ambipolar performance due to efficient desorption of residual oxygen and water molecules in active channel via high temperature annealing. Furthermore, CMOS-like inverter circuits demonstrated an ideal inversion voltage (VIN = V_DD/2) and a high voltage gain of approximately 9.5. These findings highlight the potential of SWCNT-based materials for realizing next-generation flexible electronic circuits that combine high-performance, energy efficiency, and simplified solution-processing.

Thermal batteries are designed to activate at high temperatures (~500℃), therefore, the electrodes used in these systems are typically made into pellet form using compression molding techniques that do not involve polymer binders. However, the compression molding technique poses limitations in scaling up the electrode area without increasing thickness for high-power properties. Additionally, the tape casting method has been studied as a way to solve with, but too low a loading level is still an obstacle to practical use. This study fabricated a film cathode of high loading level (35.79 mAh·cm^-2) using the tape casting method for these problem. As utilized fabricated cathode, it investigated the influence of electrode thickness and density on electrochemical performance. Furthermore, a film cathode with a larger area but the same amount of active material as the pellet was fabricated, enabling the design of high-power cells with the same energy density. We expect that the fabricated film cathode with a high loading level and scalable area will enable the development of various thermal battery designs.

Citations

• Manufacturing Process Optimization of Oxide-Based Multilayer Ceramic Batteries Using Multilayer Ceramic Processing Technologies
  Won-Su Lee, Jong Kyu Lee, Jung Rag Yoon
  Journal of Electrical and Electronic Materials.2026; 39(5): 519.     CrossRef

The thermal management issue in OLED (organic light emitting diode) devices has a significant impact on the efficiency, reliability, and life time of the device. In particular, in OLED systems with multipolar or double cathode electrodes, it is important to accurately interpret the effect of heat generated by current flow between electrodes on the emitting layer. In this study, the governing equation was established based on the heat conduction equation to mathematically model and analyze this heat distribution, and the heat distribution analysis was performed using the COMSOL program. It was confirmed that the temperature generated in the OLED with the double cathode structure reached a maximum of 343.157 K centered on the emitting layer. The heat distribution generated in the proposed OLED structure with the double cathode electrodes was confirmed to be highly distributed in the center toward the double cathode electrodes, which is believed to be because the arrangement of the double cathode electrodes improves the symmetrical distribution of temperature while reducing power consumption.

In this study, we investigated the electrical stability and performance enhancement of In₂O₃ thin-film transistors (TFTs) through hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ultraviolet (UV) treatment under controlled temperature conditions. The In₂O₃ TFTs were fabricated using a sol-gel process, followed by H₂O₂ treatment at 40, 50, and 60℃ in combination with UV irradiation. The impact of these processing conditions on the device characteristics, including mobility (μ), threshold voltage (Vth), subthreshold swing (S/S), and on/off current ratio, was systematically analyzed. The results indicate that the 50℃ TFTs exhibited the most stable electrical performance, with minimal Vth shift under negative bias stress (NBS) conditions and optimized switching behavior. Furthermore, static inverter measurements confirmed the reliable voltage transfer characteristics (VTCs) and gain performance of the optimized In₂O₃ TFTs. These findings suggest that the proposed H₂O₂ and UV treatment technique can effectively improve the reliability and long-term stability of In₂O₃-based electronic devices, making them promising candidates for future electronic applications.

Cu₂O metal oxide was synthesized using NaBH₄ as a reducing agent in this study. The transformation of Cu composite with the pH adjustment was investigated, and the conditions for Cu₂O synthesis were analyzed. As pH of the solution was changed, the synthesized Cu composite evolved into Cu/Cu₂O and Cu/Cu₂O/CuO composites. The Cu₂O composite synthesized under conditions closest to pure Cu₂O was heat-treated at 200℃. The remaining minor Cu metal was oxidized, resulting in pure Cu₂O particles with enhanced crystallinity. The synthesized Cu₂O exhibited various morphology with particle sizes of about 160~720 nm, and the shape and size of the Cu₂O particles remained significantly unchanged after heat treatment. Surface analysis was conducted to compare the changes before and after heat treatment. No significant changes were observed, except for those attributed to water evaporation. The Cu₂O synthesized via this simple chemical reduction method can be utilized in various application fields, including catalysts, optical devices, and sensors.

Smart electronic skin (E-skin) is an emerging technology that integrates electronic devices with human skin, enhancing human-machine interactions. One critical challenge in its development is effective thermal management to ensure device reliability, longevity, and user comfort. This review highlights passive cooling techniques - thermal conduction, convection, radiation, and phase-change materials - as key strategies to address this challenge without additional power consumption. These integrated mechanisms have demonstrated the ability to efficiently dissipate heat, preventing thermal buildup and maintaining optimal performance in E-skin devices. Recent advancements indicate that combining these methods can significantly enhance the thermal management of flexible electronics. Future research should focus on refining these materials and techniques to overcome challenges related to cost, durability, and environmental stability, thereby advancing the practical application of E-skin technology.

Citations

• Wearable sweat glucose monitoring patches enabled by double network hydrogel-MoS2/PEDOT: PSS nanocomposite
  Suraj Shinde, Omkar A. Patil, Sang Yoon Park, Se Jin Choi, Omkar Pawar, Daniel J. Joe, Sooman Lim, Han Eol Lee
  Microchemical Journal.2025; 215: 114309.     CrossRef

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have gained significant attention for their broad applicability in biomedical imaging, soft robotics, and catalysis owing to their exceptional magnetic properties and biocompatibility. A key challenge in maximizing their functionality lies in achieving a uniform size distribution and dispersity, alongside strong interfacial affinity with the surrounding medium that are essential for optimizing magnetic behavior and processibility. In this study, we present a facile solvothermal synthesis of monodisperse iron oxide NPs with tunable size and controllable surface hydrophobicity by varying precursors, capping agents, and solvents. By varying these synthesis parameters, we demonstrate a clear correlation between NP size, dispersity, and key magnetic properties, including saturation magnetization (MS) and coercivity (HC). This advancement in synthesis methodology offers a reliable, efficient approach for producing high-quality iron oxide NPs, which makes possible for practical use of them across a range of technological and biomedical applications.

Citations

• Magnetically Directed Percolation Networks in Polydopamine-Mediated Carbon Nanotube/Fe₃O₄ Nanocomposites
  Dongyeong Gim, Hyeokju Kwon, Minjeong Ha
  Journal of Electrical and Electronic Materials.2026; 39(3): 288.     CrossRef

This study proposes an innovative methodology for developing flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) capable of conforming to three-dimensional shapes, meeting the increasing demand for electronic circuits in diverse and complex product designs. By integrating a traditional flat plate-based fabrication process with a subsequent three-dimensional thermal deformation technique, we have successfully demonstrated an FPCB that maintains stable electrical characteristics despite significant shape deformations. Using a modified polyimide substrate along with Ag flake-based conductive ink, we identified optimized process variables that enable substrate thermal deformation at lower temperatures (~130℃) and enhance the stretchability of the conductive ink (ε ~30%). The application of this novel FPCB in a prototype 3D-shaped sensor device, incorporating photosensors and temperature sensors, illustrates its potential for creating multifunctional, shape-adaptable electronic devices. The sensor can detect external light sources and measure ambient temperature, demonstrating stable operation even after transitioning from a planar to a three-dimensional configuration. This research lays the foundation for next-generation FPCBs that can be seamlessly integrated into various products, ushering in a new era of electronic device design and functionality.

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.

Citations

• A Review on Energy Yield Enhancement Characteristics of Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems Combined with Solar Tracking
  Hyeong Gi Park
  Journal of Electrical and Electronic Materials.2026; 39(4): 309.     CrossRef

The key to determining the lifetime of OLED device is how much brightness can be maintained. It can be said that there are internal and external causes for the degradation of OLED devices. The most important cause of internal degradation is bonding and degradation in the excited state due to the electrochemical instability of organic materials. The structure of OLED modeled in this paper consists of a cathode layer, electron injection layer (EIL), electron transport layer (ETL), light emission layer, hole transport layer (HTL), hole injection layer (HIL), and anode layer on a glass substrate from top to bottom. It was confirmed that the temperature generated in OLED was distributed around the maximum of 343.15 K centered on the emission layer. It can be seen that the heat distribution generated in the presented OLED structure has an asymmetrically high temperature distribution toward the cathode, which is believed to be because the sizes of the cathode and positive electrode are asymmetric. Therefore, when designing OLED, it is believed that designing the structures of the cathode and anode electrodes as symmetrically as possible can ensure uniform heat distribution, maintain uniform luminance of OLED, and extend the lifetime. The thermal distribution of OLED was analyzed using the finite element method according to Comsol 5.2.

In this study, we successfully synthesized copper oxide (Cu₂O) particles through a hydrothermal method at a relatively low temperature (150℃). The synthesis involved the precise control of molar concentrations of NaOH. Notably, Cu₂O particles were effectively synthesized when NaOH concentrations of 0.15 M and 0.20 M were utilized. While attempts were made at different molar concentrations, the synthesis of pure Cu₂O particles was only achieved at concentrations of 0.15 M and 0.20 M. In this experimental investigation, Cu₂O synthesized under these specific conditions exhibited absorption characteristics within the wavelength range of 640 to 570 nm, consistently exhibiting a band gap energy of 1.9 eV. These Cu₂O particles, characterized by their small band gap energy and straightforward synthetic method, hold significant promise for various applications including semiconductors and solar cells.

The size of semiconductor devices has been scaled down to improve packing density and output performance. However, there is uncontrollable spreading of the dopants that comprise the well, punch-stop, and channel-stop when using hightemperature annealing processes, such as rapid thermal annealing (RTA). In this context, low-temperature deuterium annealing (LTDA) performed at a low temperature of 300℃ is proposed to reduce the thermal budget during CMOS fabrication. The LTDA effectively eliminates the interface trap in the gate dielectric layer, thereby improving the electrical characteristics of devices, such as threshold voltage (VTH), subthreshold swing (SS), on-state current (ION), and off-state current (IOFF). Moreover, the LTDA is perfectly compatible with CMOS processes.

The Ga₂O₃ thin films were deposited using an RF sputtering system and the effect of crystallographic and optical properties under rapid thermal annealing conditions on Ga₂O₃ thin film was evaluated. A rapid thermal annealing method can fabricate a crystalline Ga₂O₃ thin film which is applied to various fields with a low cost and a high efficiency compared with the conventional post-annealing method. In this study, the Ga₂O₃ treated at 900℃ for 1 min showed the beta and gamma phases in XRD measurement. In optical properties, the crystalline Ga₂O₃ represented a high transmittance of more than 80% in the visible region and was calculated with a high optical bandgap energy of 4.58 eV. The beta and gamma phases Ga₂O₃ can be obtained by adjusting the rapid thermal annealing temperatures, and the various properties such as the optical bandgap energy can be controlled. Moreover, it is expected that crystalline Ga₂O₃ can be applied to various devices by controlling not only temperature but process time.

Recently, active research has been conducted to enhance the power characteristics and thermal stability of lithiumion batteries (LiBs) by modifying separators using a ceramic coating method. However, since the thermal properties and surface features of the separator vary depending on the characteristics of the ceramic powders applied to the separator, it is crucial to manufacture ceramic powders optimized for the separator’s performance. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of three types of α-alumina (A-1, A-2, and A-3) produced with varying dispersant contents and milling times, in addition to commercial α-alumina (AES-11). Subsequently, the optimized powders (A-3) were coated onto the separator using an aqueous binder for comparison with the characteristics of an AES-11 coated separator and an uncoated PE separator. The A-3 coated separator improved electrolyte wettability with a low contact angle (44.69°) and increased puncture strength (538 gf). Furthermore, it exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a shrinkage value of 5.64% when exposed to 140℃ for 1 hour, compared to the AES- 11 coated separator (6.09%) and the bare PE separator (69.64%).

Recently, with the development of the smart device market, the integration of high-functional devices has increased the heat density, causing overload of the device, and resulting in various problems such as shortened lifespan, performance degradation, and failure. Therefore, research on heat dissipation materials is being actively conducted to realize next-generation electronic products. The heat dissipation material is characterized in that it is easy to dissipate heat due to its high thermal conductivity and minimizes leakage current flowing through the heat dissipation material due to its low electrical conductivity. In this study, flower-shaped Al₂O₃ and BN composites were engineered with a simple hydrothermal synthesis approach, and their thermal conductivity characteristics were compared and evaluated for each synthesis condition for the application to a heat dissipation material. Spherical BN and flower-shaped Al₂O₃ were easily obtained, and SEM/EDS analyses confirmed the uniform presence of BN between the Al₂O₃, and it can be expected that these shapes can affect the thermal conductivity.

Nitrogen-doped graphene was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using graphene oxide (GO) as the raw material, urea as the reducing agent and nitrogen as the dopant. The morphology, structure, composition and electrochemical properties of the samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorptiondesorption analysis, electrical conductivity and electrochemical tests. The results show that urea can effectively reduce GO and achieve nitrogen doping under the hydrothermal conditions. By adjusting the mass ratio of raw materials to dopants, the graphene with different nitrogen doping contents can be obtained; the nitrogen content range is from 5.28~6.08% (atomic fraction percentage).When the ratio of dopant to urea is 1:30, the nitrogen doping content reaches a maximum of 6.08%.The supercapacitor performance test shows that the nitrogen content prepared by the ratio of 6.08% is the best at 0.1 A·g^-1. The specific capacitance is 95.2 F·g^-1.

The value of experimentally obtained data becomes highest when they are properly analyzed based on valid logics. Many physical and chemical properties such as electrical and magnetic properties, chemical reaction rates, etc. are known to be thermally activated; thus, a proper understanding of thermally-activated processes is of importance. However, there are still a number of papers published with falsely analyzed data. In this contribution, we would like to revisit the meaning of thermally-activated processes, and then reanalyze a data set published misinterpreted. By showing a step-by-step procedure for the reanalysis, we would like to help researchers who may come across such data in the future not to make mistakes in their analysis.

Piezoelectric actuators, which utilize piezoelectric crystals or ceramics, are commonly used in precision positioning applications, offering high-speed response and precise control. However, the use of low-performance ceramics and expensive single crystals is limiting their versatile use in the actuator market, necessitating the development of both high-performance and cost-effective piezoelectric materials capable of delivering higher forces and displacements. The use of textured Pb (lead)-based piezoelectric ceramics formed by so-called templated grain growth method has been identified as a promising strategy to address the performance and cost issue. This review article provides insights into recent advances in texturing Pb-based piezoelectric ceramics for improved performance in actuation applications. We discussed the relevant issues in detail focusing on current challenges and emerging trends in the textured piezoelectric ceramics for their reliability and performance in actuator applications. We discussed in detail focusing on current challenges and emerging trends of textured piezoelectric ceramics for their reliability and performance in actuator applications. In conclusion, the article provides an outlook on the future direction of textured piezoelectric ceramics in actuator applications, highlighting the potential for further success in this field.

A hybrid supercapacitor is a promising energy storage device in view of its excellent capacitive performance. Commercial three-dimensional foam nickel (Ni) can be used as an ideal framework due to an interconnected network structure. However, its application as an electrode material for supercapacitors is limited due to its low specific capacity. Herein, we report a successful growth of MnO₂ on the surface of graphene by a one-step hydrothermal method; thus, forming a three-dimensional MnO₂-graphene-Ni hybrid foam. Our results show that the mixed structure of MnO₂ with nanoflowers and nanorods grown on the graphene/Ni foam as a hybrid electrode delivers the maximum specific capacitance of 193 F·g^-1 at a current density 0.1 A·g^-1. More importantly, the hybrid electrode retains 104% of its initial capacitance after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles at 1 A·g^-1; thus, showing the potential application as a stable supercapacitor electrode.

This paper demonstrates a novel NAND flash memory structure and annealing configuration including through-silicon via (TSV) inside the silicon substrate to improve annealing efficiency using an electro-thermal annealing (ETA) technique. Compared with the conventional ETA which utilizes WL-to-WL current flow, the proposed annealing method has a higher annealing temperature as well as more uniform heat distribution, because of thermal isolation on the silicon substrate. In addition, it was found that the annealing temperature is related to the electrical and thermal conductivity of the TSV materials. As a result, it is possible to improve the reliability of NAND flash memory. All the results are discussed based on 3-dimensional (3-D) simulations with the aid of the COMSOL simulator.

The carbonaceous materials have attracted much attention for utilization of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Among them, hollow carbon spheres have great advantages (high specific capacity and good rate capability) to replace currently used graphite anode materials, due to their unique features such as high surface areas, high electrical conductivities, and outstanding chemical and thermal stability. Herein, we have synthesized various sizes of hollow carbon spheres by a facile hard-template method and investigated the anode properties for lithium-ion batteries. The obtained hollow carbon spheres have uniform diameters of 350 ~ 600 nm by varying the template condition, and they do not have any cracks after the optimization of the process. Increasing the diameter of hollow carbon spheres decreases their specific capacities, since the larger hollow carbon spheres have more useless spaces inside that could have a disadvantage for lithium storage. The hollow carbon spheres have outstanding rate and cyclic performance, which is originated from the high surface area and high electrical properties of the hollow carbon spheres. Therefore, hollow carbon spheres with smaller diameters are expected to have higher specific capacities, and the noble channel structures through various doping approaches can give the great possibility of high lithium storage properties.

The electro-thermal erasing (ETE) configuration utilizes Joule heating intentionally generated at word-line (WL). The elevated temperature by heat physically removes stored electrons permanently within a very short time. Though the ETE configuration is a promising next generation NAND flash memory candidate, a consideration of power efficiency and erasing speed with respect to device structure and its scaling has not yet been demonstrated. In this context, based on 3-dimensional (3-D) thermal simulations, this paper discusses the impact of device structure and scaling on ETE efficiency. The results are used to produce guidelines for ETEs that will have lower power consumption and faster speed.

Defects in solids play a vital role on thermoelectric properties through the direct impacts of electronic band structure and electron/phonon transports, which can improve the electronic and thermal properties of a given thermoelectric semiconductor. Defects in semiconductors can be divided into four different types depending on their geometric dimensions, and thus understanding the effects on thermoelectric properties of each type is of a vital importance. This paper reviews the recent advances in the various thermoelectric semiconductors through defect engineering focusing on the charge carrier and phonon behaviors. First, we clarify and summarize each type of defects in thermoelectric semiconductors. Then, we review the recent achievements in thermoelectric properties by applying defect engineering when introducing defects into semiconductor lattices. This paper ends with a brief discussion on the challenges and future directions of defect engineering in the thermoelectric field.

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