Seungwan Jeung, an M.S.-Ph.D. integrated candidate from the Semiconductor package Module EE Technology Lab (Advisor: Professor Sang Won Yoon), and Dong Beom Seo, an M.S.-Ph.D. integrated candidate from the Laboratory of Emerging Electronics & optoElectronics (Advisor: Professor Chul-Ho Lee) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University, won the Outstanding Presentation Award and the Outstanding Poster Award, respectively, at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Workshop on Advanced Semiconductor Devices (AWAD 2026). The event was held at the Asti Hotel in Busan from July 12th to 14th. Jeung gave a presentation titled, “Simulation Analysis of Triple-Point Electric-Field Concentration and Mitigation via Localized Coating in High-Voltage SiC Power Modules.” In this study, 3D electrostatic simulations were utilized to analyze the electric field concentration phenomenon occurring at the triple point—where the metal layer, ceramic, and insulating material meet—within high-voltage SiC power modules. Additionally, a localized coating was applied to the areas where the electric field concentrates, and the field mitigation effect was confirmed by comparing the electric field distribution before and after the coating. This research is highly significant as it proposes a practical design direction to mitigate the risks of partial discharge and insulation degradation, which increase with higher voltages, thereby improving the insulation reliability of high-voltage SiC power modules. Seo presented a poster titled, “Work Function Tunable Antimony Alloys for Pinning-free Contact in Two-dimensional Transistors.” Addressing the Fermi-level pinning problem at the metal-semiconductor junction—which is a critical bottleneck for 2D semiconductors, a promising next-generation material—he proposed a novel framework utilizing antimony alloy contacts. Through this approach, the research successfully reached the Schottky-Mott limit and realized high-gain inverters alongside world-class low-resistance contacts. This breakthrough is expected to be utilized in highly integrated CMOS logic based on 2D semiconductors in the future. AWAD, marking its 33rd anniversary this year, is an international workshop in the field of semiconductor devices and materials that has been held alternately in Korea and Japan since 1993. The workshop features a broad spectrum of the latest research achievements in the semiconductor field, ranging from fundamental semiconductor physics and new material research to device structures, manufacturing processes, simulations, integrated circuits, and advanced packaging technologies. Moreover, it has established itself as a premier venue for researchers from diverse fields to discuss the future direction and key research challenges of next-generation semiconductor technologies, fostering expanded academic exchange and cooperation across borders and disciplines. Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57966 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr ...

Developed world’s first wafer-integrated 6G Antenna: STARE ​Enabled simultaneous fabrication of antenna and RF switch using semiconductor processes ​Anticipated applications in satellite communications, 6G, and AI data centers ▲ (From left) Researchers Jinhyun Kim, Byeongjin Kim, Minkyu Park, Jeongtaek Oh and Professor Jungsuek Oh of the ECE Department at Seoul National University ▲ Concept diagram of the wafer-integrated 6G antenna, STARE, integrating antennas and RF switches on a semiconductor wafer. It illustrates various application areas, such as satellite communications and autonomous driving. ▲ Infographic comparing conventional variable elements for RIS with the SOD developed by the research team in terms of response speed, cost, and packaging method. SOD is advantageous for miniaturization and low-cost mass production due to its fast response and embedded structure. Simultaneous implementation of antenna and RF switch within a wafer ​A research team led by Professor Jungsuek Oh from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University’s College of Engineering has developed STARE, the world’s first wafer-integrated 6G beamforming antenna. This breakthrough technology simultaneously fabricates both the antenna and the RF semiconductor switch—which controls the propagation direction—on a single wafer. ​Previously, antennas and RF semiconductor switches had to be manufactured separately and undergo an additional assembly process. In contrast, STARE implements both functions within a single semiconductor process, reducing the burden of protruding parts and assembly, and laying the groundwork for cheaper mass production of 6G antennas. Transitioning from assembled RIS to a "semiconductor-integrated device" In 6G and satellite communications, a large number of antennas must swiftly and precisely direct radio waves toward users. To achieve this, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), which reflect or transmit radio waves in desired directions, are drawing attention as a core technology. ​However, conventional RIS relies on a method of attaching radio wave control components, such as liquid crystals or individual diodes, to the antenna one by one. As the number of antennas increased, so did the components, wiring, and assembly processes. This drove up manufacturing costs, posing an obstacle for their application in large-scale communication systems. STARE, developed by the research team, is not an assembled device where wave control components are attached to a completed antenna, but a "semiconductor-integrated device" where both the antenna and the RF semiconductor switch are created together within the wafer. The team established a design method that implements semiconductor devices and antennas—which were traditionally designed using completely different methods—into a single unified system. ​Furthermore, without using expensive through-wafer processes, they implemented a planar structure that transmits radio waves using the magnetic coupling that occurs between the structures on both sides of the wafer. This allows for the precise control of radio wave direction while maintaining a thin form factor with no protruding components. Proposing a universal manufacturing platform for 6G and satellite communications The significance of this research lies in the fact that it did not stop at developing a single antenna prototype; rather, it proposed a new manufacturing platform capable of fabricating active antennas, transmissive array antennas, and RIS in various shapes and arrays entirely through semiconductor processes. ​If further advanced with large-area wafers and more precise wave control technology in the future, it can be utilized in base stations, satellite antennas, and thin beam-steering panels that complement existing repeaters. Moreover, the scope of applications is expected to expand to systems performing joint communication and sensing, communication control for autonomous vehicles and low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and high-speed wireless connections inside AI data centers. ​Professor Oh stated, "This is highly significant in that the semiconductor switch and the antenna were designed and fabricated together on a single wafer from the very beginning." He added, "We will expand this to large-area wafers and precise phase control technology in the future, developing it into a universal 6G radio wave platform applicable to terrestrial and satellite communications, as well as industrial wireless systems." ​The results of this research were published in Nature Communications, an international academic journal, on July 1st. ​Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from the Institute for Information & communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) (2021-0-00763, Development of THz 6G Intelligent Antenna Element/Structure/Network Innovative Convergence Technology). [Reference] - Paper/Journal: STARE: a semiconductor-integrated transmit-array architecture for 6G beamforming, Nature Communications - DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74911-2 [Contact] Professor Jungsuek Oh / jungsuek@snu.ac.kr Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57952 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr...

Ph.D. candidate Dam Yun (1st Author) from the Electric Energy Conversion Lab (Advisor: Professor Jung-Ik Ha) in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University has won the 2025 Second Place Prize Paper Award from the international academic journal, IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (JESTPE). ​The award-winning paper is titled, "Flying Capacitor Multilevel Converter at Constant Resonant Frequency with Negative-Voltage-Blocking GaN Switch." ​This research focuses on low-voltage, high-current Intermediate Bus Converter (IBC) technology applied to 48V power systems in AI data centers. By utilizing a Resonant Flying Capacitor Multilevel (RFCML) structure, the converter steps down 48V to 12V. The study proposes a method to achieve higher power density and efficiency compared to conventional methods by lowering the peak inductor current. ​IEEE JESTPE is a prestigious academic journal in the field of power electronics, jointly published by the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) and the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS). Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57959 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr...

M.S. candidate Joohyoung Ko—from the Electric Energy Conversion Lab (Advisor: Professor Jung-Ik Ha)—won the Best Poster Award at the 27th IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL 2026), held in Cambridge, UK from July 20th to 23rd. The paper, titled "A Highly Integrated 6:1 Switched-Capacitor Converter with Minimized Components and IC Pins for Mobile Applications," covers research on a novel 6:1 switched-capacitor converter topology that reduces the number of components and improves mountability for implementation in mobile devices. ​COMPEL, held annually, is a prestigious international conference sponsored by the IEEE that focuses on control, modeling, circuit analysis, and simulation technologies in the field of power electronics. Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57935 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr...

▲ Ph.D. students Seungwoo Bang, Byeongjin Kim, and Professor Jungsuek Oh ▲ Award achievements of Ph.D. students Seungwoo Bang and Byeongjin Kim ​Professor Jungsuek Oh’s research team from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Seoul National University has simultaneously produced winners for the Student Paper Award and the Travel Grant program at IEEE AP-S/URSI 2026, a premier international conference in the field of antennas and propagation. The IEEE AP-S/URSI is a leading global academic event where the latest research on antennas and radio wave propagation is presented. ​Seungwoo Bang, an M.S.-Ph.D. integrated led by Professor Oh, won 3rd place in the Student Paper Competition. Out of 10 Finalists worldwide, Bang was selected as one of the top five award winners after an intensive on-site presentation and Q&A evaluation. The award-winning research focuses on a liquid crystal-based RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface) technology. Instead of connecting wires individually to 10,000 radio wave elements, it controls the array using just 200 common lines (100 horizontal and 100 vertical). The team proposed a method to transmit radio waves not only horizontally and vertically but also diagonally, even within this highly simplified structure RIS is a technology that essentially allows walls or windows to act as "smart mirrors" for radio waves. It can bend and redirect radio waves to areas with weak Wi-Fi signals in a house, underground parking lots, or around elevators. In the future, this technology is expected to be widely utilized in smart buildings, smart factories, autonomous driving, and 6G communications. ​Byeongjin Kim, another M.S.-Ph.D. integrated candidate under the guidance of Professor Oh, was selected as a recipient of the 2026 IEEE AP-S C. J. Reddy Travel Grant. This program evaluates first-author papers and research proposals to support up to 10 outstanding graduate students worldwide, with Kim securing his place this year. ​The achievements of both students serve as an international recognition of Professor Oh’s research team and their exceptional capabilities in the fields of next-generation antennas, RIS, metasurfaces, and 6G wireless communication research. Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57953 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr...

A research team including Ph.D. candidate Young-Seok Lee (first author, co-advised by Professors Jungsuek Oh and Sangwook Nam), from the Wave Fusion Lab, led by Professor Jungsuek Oh, was the sole winner (1st place) of the Best Student Paper Award at the 2026 IEEE Wireless Power Technology Conference & Expo (WPTCE 2026). The event, hosted by IEEE, was held in Halifax, Canada, from July 6th to 9th. Lee delivered an oral presentation titled "DC-to-DC Efficiency Maximization in Wireless Power Transfer with PA and Rectifier Nonlinearities via Semidefinite Relaxation." Following a review by the Technical Program Committee (TPC), he was selected as the singular winner out of 145 papers presented from 26 countries. ​The IEEE WPTCE is the world's largest international conference in the field of wireless power transfer, jointly organized by the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) and the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS). The MTT-S's WPTC (inaugurated in 2013) and the PELS's WoW (inaugurated in 2015) were co-hosted as 'Wireless Power Week' starting in 2018, before officially merging into the single IEEE WPTCE conference in 2023. This marks the first time a researcher from a Korean institution has won first place since the conference's consolidation. This paper departs from conventional methods that evaluate performance based solely on the RF power from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna. Instead, it proposes a framework for optimizing end-to-end efficiency—from the DC power consumed by the transmitting power amplifier (PA) to the DC power output from the receiving rectifier. As the first framework of its kind applied to a MIMO transceiver scenario, it is anticipated to provide an upper-bound guideline for end-to-end efficiency in future wireless power transfer systems. Commercially, it is expected to contribute to enhancing the efficiency of multi-antenna-based long-distance wireless charging, 6G ISAC MIMO, as well as drone and space solar wireless power transfer systems. ​Meanwhile, prior to the conference, Lee was selected for the IEEE MTT-S 'Student Travel Grant' (1,000 CAD). Furthermore, an extended study of this paper, titled "An End-to-End DC-to-DC Efficiency Optimization and Design Analysis for MIMO Wireless Power Transfer Systems," was accepted for publication on June 18th in the IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques (TMTT), the most prestigious academic journal in the microwave field. Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57917 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr...

▲ The Institute of Semiconductor Engineers Summer Conference (2026.07.16) Sunwoo Hong, an M.S.-Ph.D. integrated candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Advisor: Professor Jerald Yoo), won the Outstanding Paper Award in the poster category at the 2026 Institute of Semiconductor Engineers Summer Conference held at Ananti at Busan Cove on July 16th. The Institute of Semiconductor Engineering Summer Conference is an academic event where researchers from industry, research institutes and academia participate across all semiconductor fields, ranging from semiconductor devices and processing to circuit design and AI semiconductors. This year, it was held in Busan for four days, from July 14th to 17th. Various programs took place, including oral and poster presentations, keynote lectures, special sessions and a Semiconductor Live Demo Competition. The award-winning paper, “Design of a Chopper-Stabilized Capacitor-Coupled Instrumentation Amplifier for Wearable EEG Measurement,” is a study dealing with instrumentation amplifier circuits used in wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement devices. To amplify minute EEG signals at the levels of 10 μV, a chopper-stabilized capacitor-coupled instrumentation amplifier (CS-CCIA) was designed, and its operation was verified through a 180 nm CMOS process simulation. Hong presented the research at the poster session on July 16th, and after undergoing evaluation, won the Outstanding Paper Award in the poster category. In the future, he plans on integrating the designed amplifier with an ADC and a digital backend, developing it into a sensor interface for a wearable EEG measurement system. Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57902 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr...

AI-Based Reverse Design of Processing Conditions Extends Quantum Dot QLED Lifetime by 40 Times - Improves next-generation display performance by reverse-designing optimal solvent properties for quantum dot processing A technology has been developed that enables artificial intelligence to reverse-design the processing conditions for quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) devices after extensive trial and error. When applied to actual devices, the technology doubled efficiency and improved lifetime by more than 40 times, raising expectations that it could accelerate the development of next-generation displays. ▲ (From left) Professor Jeonghun Kwak of the ECE Department at SNU, Professor Jaehoon Lim of Sungkyunkwan University, and Ph.D. candidate Beomsoo Chun of the ECE Department at SNU Seoul National University’s College of Engineering announced that a joint research team led by Professor Jeonghun Kwak of SNU and Professor Jaehoon Lim of Sunkyunkwan University has developed an AI-based platform that reverse-designs the optimal solvent properties needed to arrange quantum dots uniformly and densely during the fabrication of quantum dot light-emitting diodes. This research was supported by the Future Display Strategy Research Laboratory Support Program and the Nano and Material Technology Development Program, promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. The findings were published online on July 15 in Reports on Progress in Physics, a leading international journal in physics published by the Institute of Physics (IOP) in the United Kingdom. QLEDs are devices that use quantum dots, nanometer-scale semiconductor particles, as their light-emitting layer. They are considered a promising technology for next-generation displays. To realize high-performance QLEDs, quantum dot particles must be arranged uniformly and densely within a thin film, much like bricks in a wall. The challenge is that, in this type of solution process, the brightness and lifetime of the device can vary significantly depending on which solvent is used to form the thin film. Because it is difficult to predict how specific solvent conditions affect device performance, researchers have largely relied on experience and repeated experiments to identify optimal conditions, resulting in significant time and cost limitations. To address this complexity, the research team trained AI to learn the relationship between the physical properties of solvents and the structure of quantum dot thin films. First, the team fabricated quantum dot thin films using five representative solvents and quantified how uniformly the surfaces were formed using atomic force microscopy (AFM).* They then trained a machine learning model on solvent properties, including vapor pressure, viscosity, density, and dielectric constant, as well as thin-film morphology data, enabling the model to inversely predict the solvent properties that could form the most uniform quantum dot thin film. Although no single solvent possessed all of the optimal properties proposed by the AI, the research team realized the AI-suggested conditions by combining multiple solvents. These were complex conditions that would have been difficult to identify through conventional repeated experiments alone. When applied to an actual QLED fabrication process, the optimized solvent system improved efficiency by approximately two times and operating lifetime by more than 40 times compared with conventional single-solvent processing. Professor Kwak stated, “This research demonstrates that AI can be used to design display materials and processes in a data-driven manner. We expect this approach to be applicable to the development of various next-generation electronic devices, including OLEDs and solar cells.” ▲ Figure 1. Conceptual diagram of the AI-based QLED process design platform (Left) In a conventional process, quantum dots are arranged unevenly, which interferes with charge transport and degrades device performance. (Right) The AI-based process design platform developed by the research team predicts the optimal solvent composition, enabling a more uniform arrangement of quantum dots. QLEDs fabricated using this platform achieved a twofold improvement in efficiency and a 40-fold improvement in lifetime. [Reference] - Paper/Journal: Machine-learning-enabled solvent engineering for uniform quantum dot packing in efficient and stable quantum-dot light-emitting diodes, Reports on Progress in Physics, 89, 078002 - DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6633/ae8470 - Electronic Times (2026. 07. 15) : AI가 찾아낸 최적의 QLED 공정…효율 2배·수명 40배 향상 - DongA Science (2026. 07. 15) : AI로 공정 역설계…QLED 수명 40배 늘렸다 [Contact] Professor Jeonghun Kwak / Advanced Opto & Nano Electronics Laboratory / 02-880-1781 / jkwak@snu.ac.kr Source: https://ece.snu.ac.kr/ece/news?md=v&bbsidx=57895 Translated by: Changhoon Kang, English Editor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, changhoon27@snu.ac.kr ...