Sungkyunkwan University · Engineering
Professor Kilwon Cho's research lab specializes in advanced electronic materials and devices, with a strong focus on organic and 2D semiconductor-based technologies for next-generation flexible and multifunctional electronics. Key research directions include the development of bimodal electronic skins with real-time pressure and temperature discrimination, interface engineering in organic field-effect transistors for enhanced charge transport, and optimization of buffer layer surface energy in polymer solar cells to improve efficiency. The lab also pioneers narrow bandgap semiconductors for near-infrared photodetection and explores molecular doping strategies to open bandgaps in graphene-based transistors.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Human skin imperfectly discriminates between pressure and temperature stimuli under mixed stimulation, and exhibits nonlinear sensitivity to each stimulus. Despite great advances in the field of electronic skin (E-skin), the limitations of human skin have not previously been overcome. For the first time, the development of a stimulus-discriminating and linearly sensitive bimodal E-skin that can simultaneously detect and discriminate pressure and temperature stimuli in real time is reported. By i
Recent technological advances in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have triggered intensive research into the molecular and mesoscale structures of organic semiconductor films that determine their charge-transport characteristics. Since the molecular structure and morphology of an organic semiconductor are largely determined by the properties of the interface between the organic film and the insulator, a great deal of research has focused on interface engineering. We review recent progres
Abstract Enhanced performance of an inverted‐type polymer solar cell is reported by controlling the surface energy of a zinc oxide (ZnO) buffer layer, on which a photoactive layer composed of a polymer:fullerene‐derivative bulk heterojunction is formed. With the approach based on a mixed self‐assembled monolayer, the surface energy of the ZnO buffer layer can be controlled between 40 mN m −1 and 70 mN m −1 with negligible changes in its work function. For the given range of surface energy the po
With the commercialization of first-generation flexible mobiles and displays in the late 2010s, humanity has stepped into the age of flexible electronics. Inevitably, soft multifunctional sensors, as essential components of next-generation flexible electronics, have attracted tremendous research interest like never before. This review is dedicated to offering an overview of the latest emerging trends in soft multifunctional sensors and their accordant future research and development (R&D) direct
Narrow bandgap n-type molecular semiconductors are relevant as key materials components for the fabrication near-infrared organic solar cells (OSCs) and organic photodetectors (OPDs). We thus designed nearly isostructural nonfullerene electron acceptors, except for the choice of solubilizing units, which absorb from 600 to 1100 nm. Specific molecules include CTIC-4F, CO1-4F, and COTIC-4F, whose optical bandgaps are 1.3, 1.2, and 1.1 eV, respectively. Modulation of intramolecular charge transfer
Dual doping-driven perpendicular electric field with opposite directions remarkably increase the on/off current ratio of bilayer graphene field-effect transistors. This unambiguously proves that it is possible to open a bandgap with two molecular dopants (F4-TCNQ and NH2 -functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)) even in a single-gate device structure.
Organic photovoltaics are an important part of a next-generation energy-harvesting technology that uses a practically infinite pollutant-free energy source. They have the advantages of light weight, solution processability, cheap materials, low production cost, and deformability. However, to date, the moderate photovoltaic efficiencies and poor stabilities of organic photovoltaics impede their use as replacements for inorganic photovoltaics. Recent developments in bulk-heterojunction organic pho
Abstract With the aim of enhancing the field‐effect mobility of self‐assembled regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene), P3HT, by promoting two‐dimensional molecular ordering, the organization of the P3HT in precursor solutions is transformed from random‐coil conformation to ordered aggregates by adding small amounts of the non‐solvent acetonitrile to the solutions prior to film formation. The ordering of the precursor in the solutions significantly increases the crystallinity of the P3HT thin films.
Blending poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and amorphous polystyrene (PS) using a marginal solvent (CH2Cl2) with temperature-dependent solubility allows a reduction of the semiconductor content to as low as 3 wt% without considerable degradation of the field-effect electronic properties. Morphological and structural studies reveal that the P3HT molecules in these blends form highly crystalline, interconnected nanofibrillar networks. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as
Abstract Bulk heterojunction solar cells based on blends of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM) are fabricated using self‐assembled P3HT nanowires in a marginal solvent without post‐treatments. The interconnected network structures of self‐organized P3HT nanowires create continuous percolation pathways through the active layer and contribute to enhanced carrier mobility. The morphology and photovoltaic properties are studied as a function of ageing t
A semiconductor-top and dielectric-bottom bilayer structure is fabricated by surface-induced vertical phase separation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends (see figure). This structure allows to prepare high-performance, low-semiconductor-content, and low-voltage-driven TFTs in a very effective method, in which the dielectric and semiconductor layers are deposited onto a substrate in a one-step process. Supporting information for this article is available
A new 3D nonfullerene small-molecule acceptor is reported. The 3D interlocking geometry of the small-molecule acceptor enables uniform molecular conformation and strong intermolecular connectivity, facilitating favorable nanoscale phase separation and electron charge transfer. By employing both a novel polymer donor and a nonfullerene small-molecule acceptor in the solution-processed organic solar cells, a high-power conversion efficiency of close to 6% is demonstrated.
A novel device architecture for preparing a transparent and low-voltage graphene pressure-sensor matrix on plastic and rubber substrates is demonstrated. The coplanar gate configuration of the graphene transistor enables a simplified procedure. The resulting devices exhibit excellent device performance, including a high transparency of ca. 80% in the visible range, a low operating voltage less than 2 V, a high pressure sensitivity of 0.12 kPa(-1) , and excellent mechanical durability over 2500 c
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