Dongguk University
The proposed revolutionary low-cost technology enables smart sensors and wearables to run without batteries Bifunctional integration of indoor organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and photodetectors (OPDs) is paramount for next-generation optoelectronic systems with cutting-edge applications. Recently, researchers from Dongguk University have developed benzene-phosphonic acid as a novel hole transport layer material that facilitates bifunctionally driven organic photonic conversion devices enabled by minimalistic synthesis-based interfacial energetic alignment. This work can revolutionize self-powered smart sensors and wearable devices. <Benzene-phosphonic acid hole transport layer >Next-generation optoelectronic systems (devices that convert light to electrical energy) leverage organic semiconductor-based indoor energy-autonomous architectures for cutting-edge applications. Notably, organic semiconductors possess mechanical flexibility, solution processability, and bandgap-tunable optoelectronic properties, making them highly lucrative for indoor power generation via organic photovoltaics (OPVs), as well as for spectrally selective photodetection through organic photodetectors (OPDs). Unfortunately, technological progress made in the fields of OPVs and OPDs has largely been separate, necessitating further research for the development of bifunctional OPV-OPD systems for concurrent energy harvesting and photodetection.Additionally, the potential self-powered operation of such systems is restricted by conflicting charge transport kinetics, especially in the electron and hole transport layers (ETLs and HTLs, respectively). This limitation impacts device durability and stability and increases fabrication costs, making it indispensable to find new HTL materials such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), 2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer, MoOx, NiOx, and V2O5, beyond conventional options.In a pioneering study, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Jea Woong Jo from the Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, and Associate Professor Jae Won Shim, School of Electrical Engineering, Korea University, has presented benzene-phosphonic acid (BPA) as an innovative minimalist self-assembled monolayer-based HTL. It comprises a benzene core and phosphonic acid anchoring group, facilitating low-cost synthesis and desirable indium tin oxide interfacial properties, including energy alignment, uniform monolayer, and stability. These novel findings were made available online on 6 September 2025 and have been published in Volume 38, Issue 1 of the journal Advanced Materials on 2 January 2026.The key innovation of this research is the development of 'minimalist' molecular bridge BPA that resolves a fundamental conflict in electronics by enabling a single device to operate as both an efficient indoor solar cell and a high-sensitivity light sensor. Dr. Jo highlights the multifaceted advantages of their HTL material, "BPA concurrently provides energy level alignment with a photoactive layer for unimpeded hole-selective contact in the OPV mode, charge blocking capability for minimizing noise current in the OPD mode, robust ambient stability combined with simple and scalable manufacturability, as well as system-level economic viability, reflected in a high power-per-cost ratio under real-world indoor operating conditions."The bifunctional devices based on the proposed material could power the next generation of smart environments by enabling self-powered Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, wearable health monitors that harvest ambient light, and large-scale interactive 'skins' on indoor surfaces that simultaneously collect energy and sense data without the need for external power sources or batteries. By enabling efficient indoor energy harvesting, this work could drastically reduce the global reliance on disposable batteries for billions of sensors, promoting long-term environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the minimalist synthesis approach significantly lowers fabrication costs, making high-performance electronics economically viable for mass deployment."Overall, synergy between performance and commercial practicality positions our BPA-HTL as a transformative enabler for self-powered IoT and wearable optoelectronics,"concludes Dr. Shim. In the next 5 to 10 years, these advancements could hasten the realization of next-generation communication networks and fully smart environments, where self-powered devices provide ubiquitous, seamless connectivity without the ecological or financial burden of current technologies.ReferenceTitle of original paper: Bifunctionally Driven Organic Photonic Conversion Devices Facilitated by Minimalistic Synthesis-Based Interfacial Energetic AlignmentJournal: Advanced MaterialsDOI: 10.1002/adma.202512209About Dongguk UniversityDongguk University, founded in 1906, is located in Seoul, South Korea. It comprises 13 colleges that cover a variety of disciplines and has local campuses in Gyeongju, Goyang, and Los Angeles. The university has 1,300 professors conducting independent research and 18,000 students studying in a variety of disciplines, where researchers are encouraged to work across disciplines in Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Buddhism.Website: https://www.dongguk.edu/eng/About the authorsDr. Jea Woong Jo is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University. He received a PhD degree from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, South Korea, in 2015. He then worked in the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (2015−2016) and the University of Toronto (2016-2018) as a postdoctoral researcher. His research interests include the development and synthesis of organic materials with interactive groups for optoelectronic applications, focusing on quantum dots, perovskites, and organic materials.Dr. Jae Won Shim is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering at Korea University. He received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. His research spans next-generation optoelectronic devices based on organic semiconductors, perovskites, and quantum dots, with emphasis on photovoltaics, photodetectors, and hybrid device architectures. His work particularly focuses on memristive devices, low-noise photodiodes, and high-detectivity design principles, aiming to bridge fundamental material physics with practical imaging and sensing technologies.
Researchers develop a new synthesis method for metal-single atom catalysts that dramatically boost electrolysis-based hydrogen productionMetal single-atom catalysts (M-SACs) are highly attractive for proton-exchange-membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), a clean and efficient hydrogen production method. However, in high-density M-SACs, metal atoms tend to aggregate, reducing catalytic activity and durability. Now, researchers from Dongguk University have developed a new synthesis method for M-SACs that prevents the aggregation of metal atoms, significantly improving the hydrogen production performance of PEMWE systems.<Dongguk University Researchers propose a new synthesis method for metal-single atom catalysts>Among clean energy sources, hydrogen (H2) has emerged as the preferred energy carrier, boasting a high calorific value and net zero carbon emissions. Proton-exchange-membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising, clean and efficient method that produces high purity H2 with only oxygen as a by-product. Combined with renewable electricity sources, this method can contribute to sustainable H2 production.In recent years, metal single-atom catalysts (M-SACs) have attracted growing attention for PEM water electrolysis. Because each metal atom acts as an active catalytic site, these materials use precious metals far more efficiently than conventional catalysts, potentially lowering costs while improving performance. However, in high-density M-SACs, which are most favourable for PEMWEs, metal atoms tend to aggregate either during synthesis or electrolysis, reducing both catalytic activity and durability.To address this issue, a research team led by Assistant Professor Jitendra N. Tiwari and Professor Young-Kyu Han from the Department of Energy and Materials Engineering at Dongguk University in South Korea have developed an innovative synthesis method for M-SACs. “Our technique utilizes metal hydroxides as sacrificial templates, co-reducing them in a two-step high-temperature heat-treatment process,” explains Dr. Tiwari. “This process effectively prevents the aggregation of metal atoms due to steric hindrance, creating atomically dispersed metal single-atom catalysts.” Their study was made available online on October 28, 2025 and published in Volume 168 of Materials Science & Engineering R in January 2026.Using β-nickel hydroxide (β-Ni(OH)₂) as the template, the researchers synthesized platinum (Pt)-based single atom catalysts called β-PtSAsS800 and β-PtSAsS850. In the process, a dried mixture of β–Ni(OH)2, Pt precursors, and dicyandiamide, was subjected to pyrolysis at 850°C or 800°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The β–Ni(OH)2 template limits the mobility of metal ions in the mixture, while dicyandiamide provides carbon (C) and nitrogen(N). The final structure of the catalysts consists of single Pt atoms bonded to N atoms, atomically dispersed on graphitic nanosheets.The synthesized catalysts demonstrated outstanding catalytic performance, with β-PtSAsS850 achieving an extraordinarily low overpotential of 15 millivolts and turnover frequencies 72–78-fold higher than commercial Pt/C catalysts. The material also demonstrated impressive durability, maintaining its structure and performance for more than 10 days of continuous testing. Notably, the β-PtSAsS850-based PEMWE system surpassed the U.S. Department of Energy 2026 target, indicating its potential for industrial applications. It also demonstrated robust performance for over 200 hours.Theoretical calculations and experiments showed that this enhanced performance is due to the PtN2 catalytic sites within graphitic sheets, which significantly lower the energy barrier for hydrogen production. The researchers also synthesized M-SACs with other metals like iridium, palladium and ruthenium, demonstrating the generalizability of the approach.“Our strategy offers a new way for synthesizing highly active M-SACs, valuable for developing highly efficient energy conversion and storage devices,” concludes Prof. Han. “Moreover, the excellent performance of the synthesized catalysts in electrolysis could help make hydrogen more economically competitive with fossil fuels for the first time. In the long term, this will accelerate hydrogen adoption, contributing to the fight against climate change.”ReferenceAuthors: Jitendra N. Tiwari a,*, Muhammad Umer b, Gokul Bhaskaran c, Matthias Vandichel b, Min Gyu Kim d, Hionsuck Baik e, Yun Suk Huh c,*, Young-Kyu Han a,*Title of original paper: β–phase hydroxide-steered inner-hosted metal sites for exceptionalhydrogen productionJournal: Materials Science and Engineering RDOI: 10.1016/j.mser.2025.101130About Dongguk UniversityDongguk University, founded in 1906, is located in Seoul, South Korea. It comprises 13 colleges that cover a variety of disciplines and has local campuses in Gyeongju, Goyang, and Los Angeles. The university has 1300 professors who conduct independent research and 18000 students undertaking studies in a variety of disciplines. Interaction between disciplines is one of the strengths on which Dongguk prides itself; the university encourages researchers to work across disciplines in Information Technology, Bio Technology, CT, and Buddhism.Website: https://www.dongguk.edu/eng/About Assistant Professor Jitendra N. TiwariDr. Jitendra N. Tiwari is an Assistant Professor at Dongguk University, specializing in carbon-based catalysts for energy applications. Following postdoctoral research at NCTU, Taiwan, he served as a senior scientist and research assistant professor at POSTECH and UNIST. His work focuses on advancing materials engineering for sustainable energy solutions.About Professor Young-Kyu HanDr. Young-Kyu Han is a Professor in the Department of Energy and Materials Engineering at Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. His current research interests are the atomic/molecular quantum simulation of organic and inorganic hybrid materials. He is also working on the design of new promising materials based on atomic-level simulation.
-Achieved stable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) from achiral perovskite nanocrystals-Presents potential for future optoelectronic and semiconductor-integrated devices-Published in Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor 19.1) ▲ From left: Sang-Eun Cho, Department of System Semiconductor; Atanu Jana; and Devlinadas, PhD candidateDongguk University (President Jae-Woong Yoon) announced that Professor Sang-Eun Cho from the School of System Semiconductor Engineering and his research team have successfully developed a stable and tunable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) material that emits across the full visible spectrum—based on achiral perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs).The study, titled “Ultrastable Perovskite Encased in a Helical Cage for Tunable Full-Color Mirror-Image Circularly Polarized Luminescence,” was recently published online in Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor 19.1), a prestigious journal in the fields of materials science and nanotechnology. The article is scheduled to appear in the November 2025 print issue.The research team developed a novel polymer-capped PNC composite, integrating a surface adsorption and ion exchange strategy using two-dimensional ZrH₂P₂O₈ nanosheets. This approach simultaneously addressed two major limitations of existing CPL materials—low photoluminescence efficiency and poor stability. As a result, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the nanocrystal composite was dramatically improved from 30.9% to 88.57%.Furthermore, by embedding the stabilized PNCs into a chiral polymer matrix, the team successfully demonstrated clear mirror-image CPL signals in both solution and solid states. This achievement represents a rare example of inducing strong CPL behavior from inherently achiral materials, and holds significant promise for applications in next-generation displays, quantum communication, optical memory devices, and bio-imaging technologies.Professor Cho stated, “Our work demonstrates that even achiral perovskite nanocrystals can exhibit highly stable and efficient CPL characteristics. This material offers a strong foundation for advancing future optoelectronic and semiconductor-integrated technologies where both stability and emission efficiency are critical.”
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