EWHA WOMANS UNIVERSITY | Research

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Thirteen Laboratories at Ewha Womans University Certified as Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management in 2024

Thirteen Laboratories at Ewha Womans University Certified as Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management in 2024 Ewha Womans University demonstrated its exemplary capability for laboratory safety management as 13 laboratories obtained certification from the Ministry of Science and ICT under the Certification of Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management program in 2024. The Certification of Exemplary Laboratories in Safety Management program aims to improve the safety management level of laboratories at universities and research organizations based in Korea and to spread the model standards of laboratory safety management. The certification is available to approximately 83,000 laboratories and is granted to laboratories which pass an assessment by experts. The 2024 assessment took place in August and examined each laboratory’s compliance with 29 requirements in three fields such as a system for a safe laboratory environment, safety-related activities, and safety awareness. At Ewha Womans University, 13 laboratories—Bio & Nano Electro-mechanics Lab, Polymeric Biomaterials Lab, Sustainable Catalysis Lab, Laboratory of Integrative Organismal Protistology, Common Equipment Room, Environmental Electrochemistry Laboratory, Cell Biointerface Engineering Laboratory, NanoBio Engineering Lab, Center for Infectious Disease Treatment & Control, Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry, and Laboratory of Nano Imaging—obtained the certification. The number of certified laboratories has almost doubled from 2023. Ewha Womans University has constantly worked to improve laboratory safety through regular inspections, thorough safety assessment, self-inspections, and safety education. In addition, Ewha’s Exemplary Laboratory Safety program to reward outstanding laboratories in safety management has been in place since 2009 as part of the university’s continued efforts to establish an advanced research environment.
- No.153
- Writer
- Date2025.01.20
- Views59231
152
Tech-Biz EWHA 2024 Held to Showcase Innovative Growth Technologies

Tech-Biz EWHA 2024 Held to Showcase Innovative Growth Technologies The Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation (EUICF) hosted Tech-Biz EWHA 2024 at 2 p.m. on December 18, 2024 (Wed.) at Lee Sam-bong Hall of the ECC building, bringing together cutting-edge innovative growth technologies in one place. Tech-Biz EWHA has been held annually since 2021 under the auspices of the EUICF to facilitate the commercialization of promising future technologies possessed by Ewha and to provide a venue for networking between companies and researchers. This year’s event was held successfully and attracted about 200 participants, including Ewha professors and researchers, member companies, and technology-demanding companies, as well as officials from related organizations such as Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Seoul Business Agency, Korea Technology Finance Corporation, and Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. The event showcased major promising technologies held by Ewha’s faculty members in various fields such as biotechnology, medicine, new drugs, secondary batteries, data, security, and healthcare. Key technologies introduced include a communication-based language-cognitive diagnosis and rehabilitation program (Professor Jee Eun Sung of the Department of Communication Disorders); artificial intelligence (AI)-based image and video processing technology (Professor Jewon Kang of the Electronic & Electrical Engineering major); FMCW radar signal processing-based monitoring system and AI-based semiconductor vision inspection technology (Professor Jeong-Tae Kim of the Electronic & Electrical Engineering major); ultra-fast, ultra-compact respiratory monitoring and humidity sensing technology (Professor Jerome Kartham Hyun of the Chemistry & Nanoscience major); interface control technology for improving the performance and stability of next-generation secondary batteries (Assistant Professor Kwan Woo Nam of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science); BCI-sound-based sleep induction solution (Professor Eunju Jeong of the Department of Music Therapy); sensor and therapeutic technology using human receptor nanodiscs (Professor for Special Appointment Tai Hyun Park of the Department of Nutritional Science & Food Management); and therapeutic adjuvant development technology for breast cancer treatment (Clinical Assistant Professor An Jeongshin of the Ewha Womans University Medical Center). Additional presentations were given by external organizations, including the Scripps Korea Antibody Institute and University of Seoul. The event also featured a session showcasing key technologies from member companies of EWHA Tech-Net that have partnered with Ewha for industry-academia collaboration, subsidiaries of Ewha Womans University, and startups founded by alumnae. During the session, corporate support programs were introduced and a one-to-one technology partnering segment was conducted for participating companies. Furthermore, consultation booths for institutions and exhibition booths for alumnae-founded companies were set up to facilitate the vitalization of the industry-academia collaboration network. Ewha holds more than 3,000 outstanding patents across diverse fields, including advanced biotechnology, AI, semiconductors and displays, next-generation communications, hydrogen, and quantum, gradually expanding the scale of its patents with the establishment of 32 faculty-founded companies, more than 100 student-founded companies, as well as 13 subsidiaries. In particular, through the Tech-Biz EHWA event since 2021, the university has served as a platform for 200 companies to showcase 75 technologies, attracting investment funding of KRW 10.5 billion, two mid-to-large-scale technology transfers, one global technology transfer, and the creation of five technology-based startups.
- No.151
- Writer
- Date2024.12.27
- Views80864
150
Distinguished Professors Juyoung Yoon and Sue Goo Rhee Recognized as Korea’s Outstanding Scientists and Engineers in 20

Distinguished Professors Juyoung Yoon and Sue Goo Rhee Recognized as Korea’s Outstanding Scientists and Engineers in 2024 Distinguished Professor Juyoung Yoon of the Chemistry & Nanoscience major was awarded the Korea Science Award, which is presented to individuals who have produced world-class research achievements. Professor Yoon was honored with the Korea Science Award for his significant contributions to the development of phototherapeutic agents for intractable cancers, which can be selectively delivered to tumors, thereby enabling simultaneous imaging and treatment. These phototherapeutic agents are expected to pioneer new possibilities in cancer treatment, such as reducing side effects and maximizing treatment effects, thereby elevating cancer treatment research in Korea to a global level. Professor Yoon, a world-renowned scholar in fluorescent chemosensors and molecular recognition research, was named among the world’s top 1 percent of highly-cited researchers (HCR) for 11 consecutive years. He has also demonstrated his world-class research capabilities by ranking in the top 0.05 percent of scientists in the field of organic chemistry, as reflected in the world’s top 2 percent scientist rankings (based on 2023 citation data), jointly organized by Stanford University and Elsevier. To date, he has published over 500 SCI papers (h-index: 134) and has received the 16th Kyung-Ahm Prize (2020) and the Toray Science and Technology Prize (2019). Since 2024, he has also been selected as an Honorary Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society, further cementing his reputation as a scholar of global prestige. Distinguished Professor Sue Goo Rhee was recognized as a distinguished contributor to science and technology in recognition of his outstanding contributions to advancing research on cell signaling. The distinguished contributor to science and technology system is designed to designate scientists and engineers who have contributed to the advancement of science and technology in Korea and to provide them with honorable treatment and support, with the aim of fostering a social atmosphere of respect for scientists and engineers. A pioneer in the research of cell signaling, Professor Rhee was the first to isolate and purify phospholipase C (PLC), a key enzyme in signal transduction, and to identify its gene, thereby elucidating its role in cell signaling mechanisms. His groundbreaking work presented new directions for antioxidant research and led the way in the research on the role of reactive oxygen species in intracellular signaling. In recognition of these achievements, he was honored as Korea’s First National Scientist by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2006. From 1979 to 2004, as a principal investigator at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), he trained about 40 outstanding full-time faculty-level researchers through the postdoctoral research program, most of whom are now spearheading the life sciences field in Korea. Beyond advancing research at Ewha, he has played a pivotal role in elevating Korea’s advanced biotechnology sector to a globally competitive level. Ewha has endeavored to bolster its research competitiveness by launching the R&D Coordination and Planning Council and promoting the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, with the goal of establishing a world-class research ecosystem. These efforts have resulted in remarkable achievements by the university’s distinguished scholars and exceptional faculty members, both domestically and internationally. Notably, a total of 39 researchers from Ewha were included in the world’s top 2 percent scientists list (based on 2023 citation data), jointly published by Stanford University and the world-leading publisher Elsevier. Ewha’s outstanding researchers are expected to play a crucial role in solidifying its status as a research-oriented university by conducting innovative research in collaboration with globally renowned research institutes and expanding its International Research Network (IRN) through various international events, such as international academic conferences and special lectures.
- No.149
- Writer
- Date2024.12.24
- Views75039
148
A Total of 39 Researchers from Ewha Listed Among the World’s Top 2 Percent of Scientists

A Total of 39 Researchers from Ewha Listed Among the World’s Top 2 Percent of Scientists The Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, which has been promoted to facilitate world-class research outcomes, is greatly contributing to bolstering Ewha’s status as a research-intensive university. Ewha has been dedicated to building a creative research ecosystem and enhancing its research capabilities by formulating the development strategy of Ewha Vision 2030+, reinforcing its research vision and planning centered around the newly established R&D Coordination and Planning Council, and promoting the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project to actively foster leading fields with global competitiveness and future-oriented challenging fields. These initiatives have consistently yielded remarkable outcomes, including the selection for major government-funded projects and the publication of world-class international research papers. In addition, a total of 39 researchers from Ewha were listed in the world’s top 2 percent scientist rankings (based on 2023 citation data) jointly released by Stanford University in the U.S. and the leading global publisher Elsevier. This represents an increase of nine researchers compared to the previous year, and notably, Distinguished Visiting Professor Richard M. Ryan of the Department of Education was recognized as the most influential researcher in Korea for his top-tier research achievements, ranking in the world’s top 0.01 percent of researchers. The top 2 percent of scientists are selected based on the analysis of the paper citation impact of researchers who have published at least five papers across 22 major academic fields and 174 sub-fields using the Scopus academic research paper database. Remarkably, Professor Ryan, a world-renowned scholar in the fields of educational psychology and cognitive science, was among the top 0.01 percent of the most-cited researchers worldwide. Among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists, he secured the 16th place globally and ranked first among faculty members affiliated with universities in Korea. Also the Professor Emeritus of Psychology at University of Rochester in the U.S., he currently serves as Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Department of Education at Ewha under the Frontier 10-10 Project Team (led by Professor Anna Kim). Specifically, a total of 39 researchers from various majors at Ewha were named in the top 2 percent scientists list, including eight distinguished scholars invited as part of the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project: Distinguished Professor Yeomin Yoon (Environmental Science & Engineering), Distinguished Professor Kwangmeyung Kim (Pharmacy), Distinguished Visiting Professor Oliver Richmond (International Studies), Distinguished Visiting Professor Heejung Kim (Psychology), Distinguished Visiting Professor Eun-Ah Kim (Physics), Research Professor Shunichi Fukuzumi (Chemistry & Nanoscience), and Professor for Special Appointment Tai Hyun Park (Nutritional Science & Food Management). The list also features Distinguished Professor Juyoung Yoon (Chemistry & Nanoscience), a globally renowned scholar in fluorescent chemosensors and molecular recognition research, who has been named among the world’s top 1 percent of highly-cited researchers (HCR) for 11 consecutive years and Distinguished Professor Wonwoo Nam (Chemistry & Nanoscience), a world-renowned authority in oxygen chemistry research. The increase in global top-level researchers can be largely attributed to the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project, which was introduced with the aim of creating a world-class research ecosystem. To lead changes in future society and propel Ewha’s innovative growth, the university selected a total of 15 project teams in five leading fields with global competitiveness and ten future-oriented challenging fields, respectively. Each project team has solidified Ewha’s status as a research-oriented university by recruiting distinguished scholars and competent faculty members from both home and abroad, conducting innovative research in collaboration with world-class research institutes, and expanding the International Research Network (IRN) through various international events, including international academic conferences and special lectures.
- No.147
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- Date2024.12.11
- Views52874
146
Exploring Challenges and Opportunities: The 1st Ewha-Asan UniverCT Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Forum

Exploring Challenges and Opportunities: The 1st Ewha-Asan UniverCT Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Forum The Ewha University-Industry Collaboration Foundation (EUICF) hosted the 1st Ewha-Asan UniverCT Climate Tech Entrepreneurship Forum at the auditorium of the University-Industry Collaboration Building on November 26, 2024 (Tue.). As part of the Ewha-Asan UniverCT (University x Climate Tech) program, this forum was designed to raise awareness of climate tech and entrepreneurship, while identifying and supporting female climate-tech entrepreneurs. In March 2024, Ewha Womans University and the Asan Nanum Foundation signed an agreement to spread the culture of climate-tech startups and nurture climate-tech entrepreneurs. Based on this agreement, Ewha has worked to establish a climate-tech startup track in its undergraduate programs and organize various events, including boot camps and forums, with the aim of enhancing students’ awareness of the climate crisis and strengthening their capabilities in climate-tech entrepreneurship. In the first session of this forum, entitled “Challenges and Opportunities in the Climate Tech Era,” lectures were given by Shin-Young Ahn, CEO of A-Stone Ventures, on “Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs from the Perspective of a Venture Capital CEO,” and by Professor Ji Hun Park of the Department of Science Education on “From Lab to Market.” This was followed by a talk show focusing on venture capital and entrepreneurship. In the second session, Jae-Hong Park, CEO of Code of Nature, took the stage as a speaker to share his insights on climate-tech entrepreneurship. The EUICF discovered 15 climate-tech startup teams through the Ewha-Asan UniverCT program. Among them, “CarbonSings” introduced a retrofit solution for CO2 reduction devices based on artificial photosynthesis technology, while “Birna” developed eco-friendly antifouling paint made from protein-degrading enzymes and alginic acid derived from marine byproducts. Both teams advanced to the University Integrated Demo Day and were selected as alumni of the Asan Nanum Foundation, qualifying for follow-up support such as recommendations for venture capital investors and opportunities to participate in growth support programs. In addition, the Ewha-Asan UniverCT program team has been offering interdisciplinary courses, seminars, and forums to introduce climate-tech entrepreneurship to students who are unfamiliar with the field. To explore various approaches to tackling the climate crisis, the team has established a climate-tech startup track and launched a liberal arts course titled “Understanding Climate Tech and Entrepreneurship.” The EUICF plans to continue supporting students by lowering the barriers to climate-tech entrepreneurship and empowering them to take the lead in shaping their careers through various curricular and extracurricular programs. Additionally, it aims to expand the “Ewha-Asan UniverCT” brand further.
- No.145
- Writer
- Date2024.12.02
- Views37703
144
Research Team under Professors Yun-Sil Lee and So-Yeon Park of the College of Pharmacy Identifies Fibrosis Development

Research Team under Professors Yun-Sil Lee and So-Yeon Park of the College of Pharmacy Identifies Fibrosis Development Mechanism Mediated by GTSE1, a New Therapeutic Target The research team led by Professor Yun-Sil Lee from the Fibrosis Control Center (FCC) at the Ewha Womans University College of Pharmacy has identified a new therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis treatment, demonstrating both its efficacy and clinical applicability. The findings were published in the world-renowned journal Molecular Therapy on September 27, 2024, thereby drawing significant attention from the academic community. Pulmonary fibrosis is a type of fibrotic disease where the lungs become stiff and lose their function, which has a high incidence rate among the elderly. It can be triggered by various factors, including fine particulate matter, toxic substances, and COVID-19. Currently, no curative treatment is available. The research team identified G2 and S phase-expressed protein-1 (GTSE1) as a novel biomarker, whose expression is elevated specifically in lung tissues of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of GTSE1 in the disease. The research findings indicate that GTSE1 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and exacerbates the condition by inhibiting the protein degradation of zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), a key transcription factor of EMT. Furthermore, experimental evidence confirmed that removing GTSE1-expressing cells alleviates fibrosis symptoms. The academic value of this study was bolstered by the implication that GTSE1 may have the potential to selectively regulate disease-related EMT without affecting EMT in healthy tissues. The research team demonstrated that the GTSE1-ZEB1 axis plays a major role in the pathology of pulmonary fibrosis, thereby paving the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies based on these findings. This study implies that GTSE1-based therapeutic strategies may open new potential for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. It was conducted with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (Advanced Research Center Program, Creative and Challenging Research Project, STEAM Research Project) and the 2024 new faculty research grant from Ewha Womans University.
- No.143
- Writer
- Date2024.10.30
- Views28862
142
Finding the Key to Global Startup Success: 2024 Women’s Technology Entrepreneurship Forum Held by Ewha’s Support Corps

Finding the Key to Global Startup Success: 2024 Women’s Technology Entrepreneurship Forum Held by Ewha’s Support Corps for Business Startups Ewha Womans University’s Support Corps for Business Startups held the 2024 Women’s Technology Entrepreneurship Forum under the theme of “Woman, Global, Lab” at Lee Sam-bong Hall of the ECC building on October 14, 2024 (Mon.). Organized by the Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes (COMPA) as part of the project to support the exploration of market-linked business startups based on public technologies, the forum was aimed at current students and early-stage, technology-based entrepreneurs. In the first session, Professor Robert Smith, Director at George Washington University, and Dr. Jung Joo Hwang from the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (IGE) at UC San Diego participated as keynote speakers. They introduced the I-Corps methodology of the National Science Foundation (NSF), global startup cases, and the technology commercialization process at U.S. universities. Professor Robert Smith, who has built a strong relationship with Ewha through the annual I-Corps international hands-on training program provided by George Washington University, presented core strategies for startups under the theme of “Introduction of ‘NSF I-Corps’ Methodology and Analysis of International Start-Up Cases.” Following this, Dr. Jung Joo Hwang introduced the technology commercialization process at U.S. universities, highlighting the importance of industry-academia cooperation and government support as key factors for success. She also detailed the way for domestic startups to prepare for their initial entry into overseas markets through the Global Entrepreneur Accelerator (GEA), a business localization program for a foreign startup. The second session featured presentations on successful cases of female entrepreneurs who have built businesses based on laboratory technologies. The speakers sharing their success stories included Sujin Hwang (Chemistry & Nanoscience, graduating class of 2023), President of EPLE, a company focused on developing eco-friendly rust- and scale-removal technology; Sangmi Chai, Professor of the Division of Business Administration and Founder of CoreTrustLink, a blockchain-based decentralized identity (DID) company; and Hojung Son, CEO of Smartooth Korea, a company specializing in oral diagnosis solutions. The forum concluded with a panel discussion on “Women’s Entrepreneurship: Challenges, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth Strategies,” which explored innovative cases and strategies for achieving sustainable growth in technology-based startups. Since 2021, Ewha’s Support Corps for Business Startups has been providing systematic programs to female prospective entrepreneurs and early-stage women-led lab startups through the project to support the exploration of market-linked business startups based on public technologies. These programs include opportunities for customer discovery interviews, prototype development, networking among women entrepreneurs, investment, and follow-up support, all designed to help commercialize public technologies developed in research laboratories. In addition, the organization is dedicated to identifying and nurturing outstanding female entrepreneurs with the vision of cultivating global entrepreneurial leaders who will shape the new era, thus establishing itself as a leading global institution for women’s entrepreneurship.
- No.141
- Writer
- Date2024.10.16
- Views30414
140
Ewha Research Team Leads Original Technology Development Projects in Life Sciences, Neuroscience, and Environmental Engi

Ewha Research Team Leads Original Technology Development Projects in Life Sciences, Neuroscience, and Environmental Engineering Researchers from Ewha Womans University were selected for the Original Technology Development Project, funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea, to drive the development of key technologies for advancing industrial innovation and growth. Professor Roh Tae-Young from the Department of Life Science (Graduate School) has been selected for the Future Convergence Technology Pioneer Project (strategic) under the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Research Program promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Professor Roh will be awarded KRW 4.5 billion over a period of up to five years (two + three years) to investigate the mechanisms behind dormancy and activation in liver stem cells using epigenomic analysis. The Future Convergence Technology Pioneer Project supports convergence research focused on developing key original technologies capable of creating or transforming paradigms in new technologies and industries. With his selection for this project, Professor Roh plans to present a technological solution to challenges in stem cell research that cannot be addressed with current technologies. The Pioneer Research Center (PRC) aims to secure technological competitiveness that can be applied to liver diseases and other types of cancer, by building a stem cell dormancy model, developing techniques to retain stemness and track cancerization, discovering biomarkers for detecting dormancy and developing related new drugs, and advancing technologies for dormancy-activation transitions. The PRC at Ewha is a convergence research team that includes Professor Roh Tae-Young (principal investigator) and Professor Hyuk-jin Cha from the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University. The research team is expected to develop technologies for biomarker discovery and stem cell fate regulation through (epigenetic) genomic profiling and gene regulatory network identification based on a stem cell/organoid model in the liver regeneration process, and ultimately conduct convergence research that enables the clinical application of the original technologies required for the treatment of liver diseases, including cirrhosis, alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and liver cancer, and tissue regeneration. The research team, led by Professor Lyoo In Kyoon from the Ewha Brain Institute, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, has also been selected to conduct a new project for the 2024 Future Convergence Technology Pioneer Project (strategic). Under this project, Professor Lyoo’s team will be awarded KRW 4.5 billion over four and a half years until December 2028 to conduct a project titled “Development of a Mental Health Care Platform for High-risk Professionals Through Mind Vital Sign Monitoring”. The research team will use wearable devices to gather various digital biomarkers from high-risk occupational groups exposed to severe job stress and conduct advanced AI modeling research using big data for precision medicine, including high-quality multimodal brain imaging data. Subsequently, the team plans to build an integrated platform that monitors and predicts the risks of mental health issues and human error in real time and provides immediate digital treatment. This research involves a number of renowned experts in the fields of advanced neuroscience, medicine, pharmacology, AI modeling, development of digital biomarkers and digital therapeutics. Through this interdisciplinary convergence research, the team aims to establish an AI-based integrated management solution for mental health risks that employs new technologies distinct from existing methods, thereby providing more systematic solutions to various stress-related situations that have recently emerged as pressing social concerns. Additionally, the research findings are expected to be applied to practical settings in collaboration with Samsung Electronics and utilized by various requesting organizations including the National Fire Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, and Korean National Police Agency. Professor Chanhyuk Park of the Department of Environmental Engineering was selected for Original Technology Development Project (pioneering) for Nano and Future Materials under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Nano and Future Materials Technology Development Program. Professor Park will receive a total of KRW 5 billion in research funding by 2028 to develop original technologies for environmental nanomaterials aimed at the treatment of unregulated hazardous pollutants in wastewater generated by new industrial manufacturing processes and the recovery of resources. Ceramic membrane technology based on environmental nanomaterials is gaining attention for its ability to effectively treat wastewater containing high concentrations of hazardous substances produced in the manufacturing processes of new industrial sectors such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and displays. Ceramic membranes provide excellent physical and chemical durability, maintaining stable performance even under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. They are particularly effective at removing hazardous substances such as heavy metals and organic pollutants, while also enabling the recovery and recycling of essential resources used in new industrial manufacturing processes, such as nitrogen- and fluorine-based compounds, from wastewater. Additionally, ceramic membranes consume less energy than other wastewater treatment technologies and retain their performance even after extended use. As the lead research institution, Ewha will collaborate with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Pusan National University, the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) to conduct research on wastewater treatment technologies with tangible benefits for the public. The research will focus on developing key technologies for treating unregulated water pollutants, including carcinogens found in wastewater from new industries, while also repurposing them as valuable resources, ultimately contributing to the improvement of public safety concerning water sources.
- No.139
- Writer
- Date2024.08.21
- Views51604
138
Research Team under Physics Professor William Jo Develops Next-generation Perovskite Solar Cells

Research Team under Physics Professor William Jo Develops Next-generation Perovskite Solar Cells The research team led by Professor William Jo from the Department of Physics at Ewha Womans University as part of the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project developed a next-generation perovskite solar cell material whose efficiency and stability has been validated after undergoing over 2,000 hours of performance tests. The paper detailing the findings, titled “Autonomous control of ion migration at α-FAPbI3 heterointerfaces via interfacial-self-assembled 2D perovskite,” was published online on August 4 (Sun.), in Advanced Energy Materials (IF 24.4, top 2.6 percent in the energy and fuels category percent), a world-renowned energy and fuels journal. Professor William Jo, who is also the Director of the New and Renewable Energy Research Center and the corresponding author of the study, leads the Frontier 10-10 Project at the Department of Physics alongside Ph.D. candidate Jihyun Kim (first author). Together, the team introduced a process that incorporates ammonium ions into next-generation perovskite solar cells for the first time in the world, successfully achieving high efficiency and stability through the formation of a two-dimensional perovskite. The solar cells developed by the research team achieved a maximum efficiency of 24.38 percent and retained 92 percent of their initial performance for over 2,000 hours. It passed the longest test in Korea, lasting over twice as long as conventional solar cell performance tests, and achieved one of the highest results for efficiency and stability in the country. This globally unprecedented feat was achieved by the Ewha research team by introducing a process of adding ammonium ions (NH4+) to tin oxide (SnO2) used in the conventional electron transport layer of perovskite solar cells, thereby preventing charge imbalance within the perovskite thin film and mitigating the decrease in charge extraction capabilities at the interface adjacent to the electron transport layer. The reaction of ammonium ions with tin oxide addresses the defect where ions within the perovskite thin film are adsorbed onto the electron transport layer, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of the cell. Additionally, by utilizing the phenomenon of mutual exchange among cations with low migration barriers, the team induced the self-formation of a two-dimensional perovskite material. This material not only reduced the interface defects in the perovskite but also enhanced device performance by maintaining uniform charge distribution. The research team observed a significant improvement in the charge transport capability of the solar cell, achieving an efficiency of 24.38 percent with a charge rate of 84 percent, while maintaining 91.87 percent of the initial performance stably over 2,070 hours. The research achievements of Professor Jo’s team are credited with advancing the development of next-generation solar cells, which is essential for achieving carbon neutrality, by offering new insights and perspectives into the correlation between migration barriers and charge distribution uniformity. Moreover, these achievements are expected to facilitate the introduction of the world’s first process for adding ammonium ions to next-generation solar cell materials, thereby addressing carbon neutrality and energy challenges through improved charge distribution control. This research was conducted through collaborative efforts between the Ewha Frontier 10-10 Project at the Department of Physics, Professor Ji-Sang Park from the Department of Nano Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, and Dr. Gee Yeong Kim from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea, including the Priority Research Institute Program, Mid-Career Researcher Program, and Technology Development Program to Solve Climate Change.
- No.137
- Writer
- Date2024.08.12
- Views58878
136
Ewha Research Teams Pioneer Development of Advanced Original Technologies

Ewha Research Teams Pioneer Development of Advanced Original Technologies Research teams from Ewha were selected for major projects initiated by the Korean government with the aim to support the development of advanced research and original technologies, thereby enabling universities to conduct global-level innovation research. The Fluorescence Core Imaging Center (Director Dongmin Kang) at the Department of Life Science was selected for the Research Infrastructure Advancement Project, under the Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement Project organized by the Ministry of Education. Consequently, the Fluorescence Core Imaging Center will be installed and operated with cutting-edge research equipment and translational research on aging-related diseases will be conducted with project funding of approximately KRW 70 billion over the next five years. The research team from the Department of Life Sciences will set up advanced research equipment to systematically analyze diseases that occur during the aging process of small animals. They will also conduct translational research on aging-related diseases using an advanced in-vivo small animal molecular imaging system. Through advanced equipment such as the 7 Tesla MRI scanner and a micro-CT image analysis system, the team will obtain detailed multi-dimensional images of individual organisms, tissues, or cells using in vivo small animal molecular imaging technology. The Fluorescence Core Imaging Center was selected for the “Core-Facility Project” in 2019 and has been facilitating the co-utilization of research equipment and joint research with a focus on specialized research using optical molecular imaging technology. In 2022, the center was also selected for the “Bio Research Data Utilization Infrastructure Development Project” to operate the Bioimaging Data Curation Center, thereby taking the lead in securing national competitiveness in the science and technology sector. The joint research team led by Professor Taeyoung Choi from the Department of Physics was selected for the “2024 Leading Project for Quantum Technology Research and Development (Quantum Computing)” project. The Ewha research team will conduct joint research on the development of a 15-qubit ion trap-based universal quantum computing processor with high connectivity, in collaboration with research teams from Seoul National University, Kookmin University, and POSTECH. The team will focus on the development of a technology to perform high-reliability quantum superposition and entanglement based on the “ion qubit,” which demonstrates the highest performance among various quantum computing platforms. To this end, the team will receive a total of KRW 2.65 billion in research funding over four years until 2027. Professor Taeyoung Choi has demonstrated programmable quantum entanglement in five quantum information qubits for the first time in the world, a core achievement for the practical implementation of quantum computers. The team has conducted various research projects, having been consecutively selected for the “2019 Basic Research Laboratory Support Project” and the “2022 Follow-up Research Support Project for the Basic Research Laboratory,” as well as for the “2021 Quantum Computing Development Project” and the “2022 Quantum Technology Cooperation Project (Quantum Computing Field).”
- No.135
- Writer
- Date2024.07.09
- Views83387

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