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Hyunsang Hwang

Pohang University of Science and Technology · Engineering

About the Lab

Professor Hyunsang Hwang's research lab specializes in next-generation nanoelectronics and neuromorphic computing, focusing on the development of advanced resistive switching devices and oxide semiconductor materials for brain-inspired computing systems. The lab pioneers innovative materials and device architectures—such as HfO₂-based ferroelectrics, RRAM synapses, and threshold switching neurons—aimed at enabling ultra-low power, high-density, on-chip learning neuromorphic systems. Key research directions include the optimization of atomic layer deposition processes, dielectric engineering (e.g., N₂O-based oxynitrides), and the integration of functional oxide materials for scalable, non-volatile memory and artificial synapse applications. The lab's work bridges materials science, device physics, and circuit-level neuromorphic design to advance energy-efficient artificial intelligence hardware.

neuromorphic computingRRAMferroelectric HfO₂oxynitride dielectricsspiking neural networks

Research Overview

Papers
401
Total Citations
17,524
Papers (5y)
93
Primary Field
Engineering

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
93total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
1,560total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|230 citations·2018
RRAM-based synapse devices for neuromorphic systems
Kibong Moon, Seokjae Lim, Jungyul Park, Changhyuck Sung, Seungyeol Oh, Jiyong Woo, J. Lee, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Faraday Discussions

Hardware artificial neural network (ANN) systems with high density synapse array devices can perform massive parallel computing for pattern recognition with low power consumption. To implement a neuromorphic system with on-chip training capability, we need to develop an ideal synapse device with various device requirements, such as scalability, MLC characteristics, low power operation, data retention, and symmetric/linear conductance changes under potentiation/depression modes. Although various

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
2
Article|209 citations·1990
Electrical characteristics of ultrathin oxynitride gate dielectric prepared by rapid thermal oxidation of Si in N2O
Hyunsang Hwang, Wenchi Ting, B. Maiti, Dim-Lee Kwong, Jack C. Lee
SJR Q1Applied Physics Letters

This letter presents a unique process to grow high quality ultrathin (∼60 Å) gate dielectrics using N2O (nitrous oxide) gas. Compared with conventional rapid thermally grown oxide in the O2, the new oxynitride dielectrics show very large charge-to-breakdown (at +50 mA/cm2, 850 C/cm2 for oxynitride compared to 95 C/cm2 for the control thermal oxide) and less charge trapping under constant current stress. Significantly reduced interface state generation was also observed under constant current str

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
3
Article|154 citations·2019
Various Threshold Switching Devices for Integrate and Fire Neuron Applications
Donguk Lee, Myonghoon Kwak, Kibong Moon, Wooseok Choi, Jae-Hyuk Park, Jongmyung Yoo, Jeonghwan Song, Seokjae Lim, Changhyuck Sung, Writam Banerjee, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Advanced Electronic Materials

Abstract This study demonstrates an integrate and fire (I&F) neuron using threshold switching (TS) devices to implement spike‐based neuromorphic system. An I&F neuron can be realized using the hysteric voltage switch characteristics of a TS device. To investigate the effects of various TS devices on neuron behavior, neurons are compared using three different types of TS device: NbO 2 ‐based insulator‐to‐metal transition (IMT) device, B–Te‐based ovonic threshold switching device, and Ag/H

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
4
Article|149 citations·2012
High Current Density and Nonlinearity Combination of Selection Device Based on TaOx/TiO2/TaOx Structure for One Selector–One Resistor Arrays
Wootae Lee, Jubong Park, Seonghyun Kim, Jiyong Woo, Jungho Shin, Godeuni Choi, Sangsu Park, Daeseok Lee, Euijun Cha, Byoung Hun Lee, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1ACS Nano

We demonstrate a high-performance selection device by utilizing the concept of crested oxide barrier to suppress the sneak current in bipolar resistive memory arrays. Using a TaO(x)/TiO(2)/TaO(x) structure, high current density over 10(7) A cm(-2) and excellent nonlinear characteristics up to 10(4) were successfully demonstrated. On the basis of the defect chemistry and SIMS depth profile result, we found that some Ta atoms gradually diffused into TiO(2) film, and consequently, the energy band o

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
5
Article|145 citations·2021
Large Remnant Polarization in a Wake-Up Free Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 Ferroelectric Film through Bulk and Interface Engineering
Alireza Kashir, Hyungwoo Kim, Seungyeol Oh, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1ACS Applied Electronic Materials

A wake-up free Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) ferroelectric film with the highest remnant polarization (Pr) value to date was achieved through tuning of the ozone pulse duration, the annealing process, and the metal/insulator interface. The ozone dosage during the atomic layer deposition of HZO films appears to be a crucial parameter in suppressing the mechanisms driving the wake-up effect. A tungsten capping electrode with a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient enables the induction of an in-plane

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
6
Article|136 citations·2013
Nanoscale RRAM-based synaptic electronics: toward a neuromorphic computing device
Sangsu Park, Jinwoo Noh, Myung-lae Choo, Ahmad Muqeem Sheri, Man Chang, Young-Bae Kim, Chang Jung Kim, Moongu Jeon, Byung-Geun Lee, Byoung Hun Lee, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q2Nanotechnology

Efforts to develop scalable learning algorithms for implementation of networks of spiking neurons in silicon have been hindered by the considerable footprints of learning circuits, which grow as the number of synapses increases. Recent developments in nanotechnologies provide an extremely compact device with low-power consumption.In particular, nanoscale resistive switching devices (resistive random-access memory (RRAM)) are regarded as a promising solution for implementation of biological synap

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
7
Article|126 citations·2019
Near ideal synaptic functionalities in Li ion synaptic transistor using Li3POxSex electrolyte with high ionic conductivity
Revannath Dnyandeo Nikam, Myonghoon Kwak, Jongwon Lee, Krishn Gopal Rajput, Writam Banerjee, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

Abstract All solid-state lithium-ion transistors are considered as promising synaptic devices for building artificial neural networks for neuromorphic computing. However, the slow ionic conduction in existing electrolytes hinders the performance of lithium-ion-based synaptic transistors. In this study, we systematically explore the influence of ionic conductivity of electrolytes on the synaptic performance of ionic transistors. Isovalent chalcogenide substitution such as Se in Li 3 PO 4 signific

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
8
Article|102 citations·2002
Electrical and reliability characteristics of ultrathin oxynitride gate dielectric prepared by rapid thermal processing in N/sub 2/O
Hyunsang Hwang, W. Ting, Dim‐Lee Kwong, J. Lee

The electrical and physical characteristics of oxynitride grown in N/sub 2/O gas ambient have been studied. The dielectric growth rate in N/sub 2/O was found to be highly controllable and lower than that in O/sub 2/. Auger electron spectroscopy studies of oxynitride show a nitrogen-rich layer near the Si-SiO/sub 2/ interface. Compared with the control oxide, the oxynitride shows excellent electrical characteristics such as excellent diffusion barrier to dopant (BF/sub 2/), a significant reductio

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
9
Article|92 citations·2020
Defect Engineering to Achieve Wake‐up Free HfO2‐Based Ferroelectrics
Alireza Kashir, Seungyeol Oh, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Advanced Engineering Materials

Wake‐up effect is still an obstacle in the commercialization of hafnia‐based ferroelectric thin films. Herein, the effect of defects, controlled by ozone dosage, on the field cycling behavior of the atomic layer deposited Hf 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 2 (HZO) films is investigated. A nearly wake‐up free device is achieved after reduction of carbon contamination and oxygen defects by increasing the ozone dosage. The sample which is grown at 30 s ozone pulse duration shows about 97% of the woken‐up P r at the p

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
10
Article|86 citations·2017
Nanometer‐Scale Phase Transformation Determines Threshold and Memory Switching Mechanism
Byeong‐Gyu Chae, Jae Bok Seol, Jeong‐Hwan Song, Kyungjoon Baek, Sang‐Ho Oh, Hyunsang Hwang, Chan‐Gyung Park
SJR Q1Advanced Materials

Creation of nanometer‐scale conductive filaments in resistive switching devices makes them appealing for advanced electrical applications. While in situ electrical probing transmission electron microscopy promotes fundamental investigations of how the conductive filament comes into existence, it does not provide proof‐of‐principle observations for the filament growth. Here, using advanced microscopy techniques, electrical, 3D compositional, and structural information of the switching‐induced con

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
11
Article|83 citations·2017
Multi-layered NiOy/NbOx/NiOy fast drift-free threshold switch with high Ion/Ioff ratio for selector application
Jae-Hyuk Park, Tobias Hadamek, Agham Posadas, Euijun Cha, Alexander A. Demkov, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

Abstract NbO 2 has the potential for a variety of electronic applications due to its electrically induced insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) characteristic. In this study, we find that the IMT behavior of NbO 2 follows the field-induced nucleation by investigating the delay time dependency at various voltages and temperatures. Based on the investigation, we reveal that the origin of leakage current in NbO x is partly due to insufficient Schottky barrier height originating from interface defects

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
12
Article|82 citations·2019
Controlled Ionic Tunneling in Lithium Nanoionic Synaptic Transistor through Atomically Thin Graphene Layer for Neuromorphic Computing
Revannath Dnyandeo Nikam, Myonghoon Kwak, Jongwon Lee, Krishn Gopal Rajput, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Advanced Electronic Materials

Abstract Lithium nanoionic transistors have recently emerged as promising artificial synaptic devices for neuromorphic hardware systems. However, mimicking the essential synaptic functionalities including nonvolatile conductance modulation with a near‐linear analog weight update has been a crucial milestone in those synaptic devices and has a direct impact on pattern recognition accuracy. The volatile channel conductance change due to the instability of the solid electrolyte interface and lithiu

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
13
Article|72 citations·2019
Quantized Conduction Device with 6‐Bit Storage Based on Electrically Controllable Break Junctions
Writam Banerjee, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Advanced Electronic Materials

Abstract Atomic‐level control of conductance in a Cu/Ti/HfO 2 /TiN‐based electrically controllable break junction (ECBJ) is demonstrated. The ECBJ is designed through sophisticated stack engineering and refined electrical operation. Control over bias‐induced ion migration is the key to forming the ECBJ. Precise atomic‐level control is accomplished with an optimized high temperature forming (OHTF) scheme. OHTF‐controlled single‐atomic switching in ECBJs has not yet been studied in detail. During

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
14
Article|61 citations·2018
Zn1−xTex Ovonic Threshold Switching Device Performance and its Correlation to Material Parameters
Yunmo Koo, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

Ovonic threshold switching (OTS) selector device and the material properties analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopic ellipsometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The correlation and the key material parameters determining the device performances were investigated. By comparing the experimental data with the calculation results from various analytical models previously developed for OTS materials, the electrical properties of the device were shown to be dependent on the ke

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
15
Article|57 citations·2014
Hardware implementation of associative memory characteristics with analogue-type resistive-switching device
Kibong Moon, Sangsu Park, Junwoo Jang, Daeseok Lee, Jiyong Woo, Euijun Cha, Sang‐Heon Lee, Jaesung Park, Jeonghwan Song, Yunmo Koo, Hyunsang Hwang
SJR Q2Nanotechnology

We have investigated the analogue memory characteristics of an oxide-based resistive-switching device under an electrical pulse to mimic biological spike-timing-dependent plasticity synapse characteristics. As a synaptic device, a TiN/Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3-based resistive-switching device exhibiting excellent analogue memory characteristics was used to control the synaptic weight by applying various pulse amplitudes and cycles. Furthermore, potentiation and depression characteristics with the same spik

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering

Research Areas

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringMaterials ChemistryCondensed Matter PhysicsElectronic, Optical and Magnetic MaterialsAtomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsArtificial Intelligence

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