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KAIST achieves quantum entanglement essential for quantum error correction
Quantum computing is a technology capable of solving complex problems that classical computers struggle with. To perform accurate computations, quantum computers must correct errors that arise during operations. However, generating the quantum entanglement necessary for quantum error correction has long been considered a major challenge.
< Photo 1. (From left) Students Young-Do Yoon and Chan Roh of the Master's and Doctoral Integrated Program of the Department of Physics poses with Professor Young-Sik Ra and Student Geunhee Gwak of the same program >
KAIST (represented by President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 25th of February that a research team led by Professor Young-Sik Ra from the Department of Physics has successfully implemented a three-dimensional cluster quantum entangled state, a key component for quantum error correction, through experimental demonstration.
Measurement-based quantum computing is an emerging paradigm that implements quantum computations by measuring specially entangled cluster states. The core of this approach lies in the generation of these cluster quantum entangled states, with two-dimensional cluster states commonly used for universal quantum computing.
However, to advance towards fault-tolerant quantum computing, which can correct quantum errors occurring during computations, a more complex three-dimensional cluster state is required. While previous studies have reported the generation of two-dimensional cluster states, experimental implementation of the three-dimensional cluster states necessary for fault-tolerant quantum computing had remained elusive due to the extreme complexity of their entanglement structure.
< Figure 1. (a) Experimental schematic. A pulse laser with a wavelength of 800 nm is converted into a pulse laser with a wavelength of 400 nm through second harmonic generation, and this is incident on a nonlinear crystal (PPKTP) to generate multiple quantum entanglement sources. (b) Generation of a 3D cluster state through optical mode basis change >
The research team overcame this challenge by developing a technique to control femtosecond time-frequency modes, successfully generating a three-dimensional cluster quantum entangled state for the first time.
The team directed a femtosecond laser into a nonlinear crystal, simultaneously generating quantum light sources across multiple frequency modes. (A femtosecond laser is a device that emits ultrashort, high-intensity light pulses.) Using this approach, they successfully created a three-dimensional cluster quantum entangled state.
Professor Young-Sik Ra noted, “This study marks the first successful demonstration of a three-dimensional cluster quantum entangled state, which was previously difficult to achieve with existing technology. This breakthrough is expected to serve as a crucial stepping stone for future research in measurement-based and fault-tolerant quantum computing.”
< Figure 2. Results of 3D cluster state generation. (a) Nullifier measurement of the cluster state. (b) 3D cluster state reconstructed using quantum state tomography. (c) Confirmation of quantum entanglement characteristics of the 3D cluster state >
The study was published online in Nature Photonics on February 24, 2025. The first author is Chan Roh, a Ph.D. candidate in KAIST’s integrated master’s and doctoral program, with Geunhee Gwak and Youngdo Yoon contributing as co-authors. (Paper title: “Generation of Three-Dimensional Cluster Entangled State”, DOI: 10.1038/s41566-025-01631-2)
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Quantum Computing Technology Development Program, Mid-Career Researcher Support Program, and Quantum Simulator for Materials Innovation Program), the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (Quantum Internet Core Technology Program, University ICT Research Center Support Program), and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.
2025.02.25 View 492 -
KAIST develops ‘Hoverbike’ to roam the future skies
< Photo 1. A group photo of the research team >
Hoverbike is a kind of next-generation mobility that can complement the existing transportation system and can be used as an air transportation means without traffic congestion through high-weight payloads and long-distance flights. It is expected that domestic researchers will contribute to the development of the domestic PAV* and UAM markets by developing a domestically developed manned/unmanned hybrid aircraft that escapes dependence on foreign technology through the development of a high-performance hoverbike.
*PAV: Personal Aerial Vehicle. It is a key element of future urban air mobility (UAM, Urban Air Mobility) and constitutes an important part of the next-generation transportation system.
KAIST (President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 27th of December that the research team of Professor Hyochoong Bang of the Department of Aerospace Engineering successfully developed the core technology of a highly reliable multipurpose vertical takeoff and landing hoverbike that can be operated by both manned and unmanned vehicles.
This research was participated by the research teams of Professor Jae-Hung Han, Professor Ji-yun Lee, Professor Jae-myung Ahn, Professor Han-Lim Choi, and Professor Chang-Hun Lee of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST, Professor Dongjin Lee of the Department of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at Hanseo University, and Professor Jong-Oh Park of the Department of Electronics Engineering at Dong-A University.
The research team secured key technologies related to the optimal design of a multipurpose aircraft, hybrid propulsion system, highly reliable precision navigation and flight control system, autonomous flight, and fault detection for the development of a high-performance hoverbike.
< Figure 1. Key features of high-reliability multi-purpose hoverbike >
The hoverbike platform introduced a gasoline engine-based hybrid system to overcome the shortcomings of battery-based drones, achieving approximately 60% better performance and maximum payload weight compared to overseas technology levels. Through this, it is expected to be utilized in various fields such as emergency supply delivery, logistics, and rescue activities for civilian use, and military transport and mission support for military use.
The navigation system was applied by implementing multi-sensor fusion technology based on DGPS/INS* to enable stable flight even in environments without GPS or with weak signals using high-reliability precision navigation technology.
*DGPS/INS: Navigation solution combining high accuracy of Differential GPS (DGPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS)
In addition, high-reliability flight control technology was developed to enable reliable maneuvering even under external factors such as payload and wind, and model uncertainty, and fault detection technology was also developed.
A guidance technique to automatically land on a helipad after selecting a safe automatic landing area by configuring a high-reliability autonomous flight system was implemented with high accuracy. Stable operation is possible even in complex environments through obstacle avoidance and automatic landing autonomous flight technology.
< Figure 2. Hoverbike prototype model >
Professor Hyochoong Bang, the research director, emphasized, “We have proven the high practicality of the hoverbike in various environments through high-reliability flight control and precision navigation technology.” He added, “The hoverbike is a promising research result that can not only provide a major path leading to PAVs and future aircraft, but also surpass existing drone technology by several levels. This achievement is even more meaningful because it is the result of five years of effort by eight joint research teams, including the project’s practitioners, PhD students Kwangwoo Jang and Hyungjoo Ahn.”
This study aims to secure core technologies for manned/unmanned multipurpose hoverbikes that can be utilized as new concept aircraft in the defense and civilian sectors. It started as the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s Defense Technology for Future Challenge Research and Development Project in 2019 and was completed in 2024 under the management of the Agency for Defense Development. It is scheduled to be exhibited for the first time at the 2025 Drone Show Korea (DSK2025), which will be held at BEXCO in Busan from February 26 to 28, 2025.
2024.12.27 View 2420 -
KAIST Secures Core Technology for Ultra-High-Resolution Image Sensors
A joint research team from Korea and the United States has developed next-generation, high-resolution image sensor technology with higher power efficiency and a smaller size compared to existing sensors. Notably, they have secured foundational technology for ultra-high-resolution shortwave infrared (SWIR) image sensors, an area currently dominated by Sony, paving the way for future market entry.
KAIST (represented by President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 20th of November that a research team led by Professor SangHyeon Kim from the School of Electrical Engineering, in collaboration with Inha University and Yale University in the U.S., has developed an ultra-thin broadband photodiode (PD), marking a significant breakthrough in high-performance image sensor technology.
This research drastically improves the trade-off between the absorption layer thickness and quantum efficiency found in conventional photodiode technology. Specifically, it achieved high quantum efficiency of over 70% even in an absorption layer thinner than one micrometer (μm), reducing the thickness of the absorption layer by approximately 70% compared to existing technologies.
A thinner absorption layer simplifies pixel processing, allowing for higher resolution and smoother carrier diffusion, which is advantageous for light carrier acquisition while also reducing the cost. However, a fundamental issue with thinner absorption layers is the reduced absorption of long-wavelength light.
< Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the InGaAs photodiode image sensor integrated on the Guided-Mode Resonance (GMR) structure proposed in this study (left), a photograph of the fabricated wafer, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the periodic patterns (right) >
The research team introduced a guided-mode resonance (GMR) structure* that enables high-efficiency light absorption across a wide spectral range from 400 nanometers (nm) to 1,700 nanometers (nm). This wavelength range includes not only visible light but also light the SWIR region, making it valuable for various industrial applications.
*Guided-Mode Resonance (GMR) Structure: A concept used in electromagnetics, a phenomenon in which a specific (light) wave resonates (forming a strong electric/magnetic field) at a specific wavelength. Since energy is maximized under these conditions, it has been used to increase antenna or radar efficiency.
The improved performance in the SWIR region is expected to play a significant role in developing next-generation image sensors with increasingly high resolutions. The GMR structure, in particular, holds potential for further enhancing resolution and other performance metrics through hybrid integration and monolithic 3D integration with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based readout integrated circuits (ROIC).
< Figure 2. Benchmark for state-of-the-art InGaAs-based SWIR pixels with simulated EQE lines as a function of TAL variation. Performance is maintained while reducing the absorption layer thickness from 2.1 micrometers or more to 1 micrometer or less while reducing it by 50% to 70% >
The research team has significantly enhanced international competitiveness in low-power devices and ultra-high-resolution imaging technology, opening up possibilities for applications in digital cameras, security systems, medical and industrial image sensors, as well as future ultra-high-resolution sensors for autonomous driving, aerospace, and satellite observation.
Professor Sang Hyun Kim, the lead researcher, commented, “This research demonstrates that significantly higher performance than existing technologies can be achieved even with ultra-thin absorption layers.”
< Figure 3. Top optical microscope image and cross-sectional scanning electron microscope image of the InGaAs photodiode image sensor fabricated on the GMR structure (left). Improved quantum efficiency performance of the ultra-thin image sensor (red) fabricated with the technology proposed in this study (right) >
The results of this research were published on 15th of November, in the prestigious international journal Light: Science & Applications (JCR 2.9%, IF=20.6), with Professor Dae-Myung Geum of Inha University (formerly a KAIST postdoctoral researcher) and Dr. Jinha Lim (currently a postdoctoral researcher at Yale University) as co-first authors. (Paper title: “Highly-efficient (>70%) and Wide-spectral (400 nm -1700 nm) sub-micron-thick InGaAs photodiodes for future high-resolution image sensors”)
This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.
2024.11.22 View 2773 -
A KAIST Team Develops Face-Conforming LED Mask Showing 340% Improved Efficacy in Deep Skin Elasticity
- A KAIST research team led by Professor Keon Jae Lee has developed a deep skin-stimulating LED mask which has been verified in clinical trials to improve dermis elasticity by 340%.
< Figure 1. Overall concept of face-fit surface-lighting micro-LEDs (FSLED) mask. a. Optical image of the FSLED mask showing uniform surface-lighting. schematic illustration of the FSLED mask. The 2D to 3D transformation procedure b. Difference in cosmetic effect on deep skin elasticity, wrinkles, and sagging between FSLED mask and CLED mask. (improvement percentage in eight weeks) >
Conventional LED masks, with their rigid design, fail to conform closely to the skin's contours. This limitation causes substantial light reflection, with up to 90% reflected over a distance of 2 cm, reducing light penetration and limiting stimulation of the deep skin layers essential for effective skin rejuvenation.
To address these challenges, Professor Lee's team developed a face-conforming surface lighting micro-LED (FSLED) mask, which can provide uniform photostimulation to the dermis. The key technology lies in the mask's ability to deliver uniform light to deep skin tissues while maintaining a conformal skin attachment. This is achieved through a 3D origami structure, integrated with 3,770 micro-LEDs and flexible surface light-diffusion layer, minimizing the gaps between the light source and the skin.
In clinical trials involving 33 participants, the FSLED mask demonstrated a 340% improvement in deep skin elasticity compared to conventional LED masks, proving its efficacy in significantly reducing skin wrinkles, sagging and aging.
Professor Keon Jae Lee said, “The FSLED mask provides cosmetic benefits to the entire facial dermis without the side effects of low-temperature burns, making home-care anti-aging treatment that enhances the quality of human life possible. The product is being manufactured by Fronics, KAIST startup company, and will be distributed globally through Amorepacific's network, with sales starting in November.”
This result titled “Clinical Validation of Face-fit Surface-lighting Micro Light-emitting Diode Mask for Skin Anti-aging Treatment”, in which Min Seo Kim, a student of the Master-Doctorate integrated program, and Jaehun An, a Ph.D. candidate, in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of KAIST, took part as co-first authors, was published in Advanced Materials on October 22nd, 2024 (DOI: 10.1002/adma.202411651).
Introductory Video: Face-conforming surface LED mask for skin anti-aging ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSccLwx8N_w )
2024.10.29 View 4218 -
KAIST Changes the Paradigm of Drug Discovery with World's First Atomic Editing
In pioneering drug development, the new technology that enables the easy and rapid editing of key atoms responsible for drug efficacy has been regarded as a fundamental and "dream" technology, revolutionizing the process of discovering potential drug candidates. KAIST researchers have become the first in the world to successfully develop single-atom editing technology that maximizes drug efficacy.
On October 8th, KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced that Professor Yoonsu Park’s research team from the Department of Chemistry successfully developed technology that enables the easy editing and correction of oxygen atoms in furan compounds into nitrogen atoms, directly converting them into pyrrole frameworks, which are widely used in pharmaceuticals.
< Image. Conceptual image illustrating the main idea of the research >
This research was published in the prestigious scientific journal Science on October 3rd under the title "Photocatalytic Furan-to-Pyrrole Conversion."
Many drugs have complex chemical structures, but their efficacy is often determined by a single critical atom. Atoms like oxygen and nitrogen play a central role in enhancing the pharmacological effects of these drugs, particularly against viruses.
This phenomenon, where the introduction of specific atoms into a drug molecule dramatically affects its efficacy, is known as the "Single Atom Effect." In leading-edge drug development, discovering atoms that maximize drug efficacy is key.
However, evaluating the Single Atom Effect has traditionally required multi-step, costly synthesis processes, as it has been difficult to selectively edit single atoms within stable ring structures containing oxygen or nitrogen.
Professor Park’s team overcame this challenge by introducing a photocatalyst that uses light energy. They developed a photocatalyst that acts as a “molecular scissor,” freely cutting and attaching five-membered rings, enabling single-atom editing at room temperature and atmospheric pressure—a world first.
The team discovered a new reaction mechanism in which the excited molecular scissor removes oxygen from furan via single-electron oxidation and then sequentially adds a nitrogen atom.
Donghyeon Kim and Jaehyun You, the study's first authors and candidates in KAIST’s integrated master's and doctoral program in the Department of Chemistry, explained that this technique offers high versatility by utilizing light energy to replace harsh conditions. They further noted that the technology enables selective editing, even when applied to complex natural products or pharmaceuticals. Professor Yoonsu Park, who led the research, remarked, "This breakthrough, which allows for the selective editing of five-membered organic ring structures, will open new doors for building libraries of drug candidates, a key challenge in pharmaceuticals. I hope this foundational technology will be used to revolutionize the drug development process."
The significance of this research was highlighted in the Perspective section of Science, a feature where a peer scientist of prominence outside of the project group provides commentary on an impactful research.
This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Creative Research Program, the Cross-Generation Collaborative Lab Project at KAIST, and the POSCO Science Fellowship of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.
2024.10.11 View 3397 -
Professor Jimin Park and Dr. Inho Kim join the ranks of the 2024 "35 Innovators Under 35" by the MIT Technology Review
< (From left) Professor Jimin Park of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dr. Inho Kim, a graduate of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering >
KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 13th of September that Professor Jimin Park from KAIST’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dr. Inho Kim, a graduate from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (currently a postdoctoral researcher at Caltech), were selected by the MIT Technology Review as the 2024 "35 Innovators Under 35”.
The MIT Technology Review, first published in 1899 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the world’s oldest and most influential magazine on science and technology, offering in-depth analysis across various technology fields, expanding knowledge and providing insights into cutting-edge technology trends.
Since 1999, the magazine has annually named 35 innovators under the age of 35, recognizing young talents making groundbreaking contributions in modern technology fields. The recognition is globally considered a prestigious honor and a dream for young researchers in the science and technology community.
< Image 1. Introduction for Professor Jimin Park at the Meet 35 Innovators Under 35 Summit 2024 >
Professor Jimin Park is developing next-generation bio-interfaces that link artificial materials with living organisms, and is engaged in advanced research in areas such as digital healthcare and carbon-neutral compound manufacturing technologies. In 2014, Professor Park was also recognized as one of the ‘Asia Pacific Innovators Under 35’ by the MIT Technology Review, which highlights young scientists in the Asia-Pacific region.
Professor Park responded, “It’s a great honor to be named as one of the young innovators by the MIT Technology Review, a symbol of innovation with a long history. I will continue to pursue challenging, interdisciplinary research to develop next-generation interfaces that seamlessly connect artificial materials and living organisms, from atomic to system levels.”
< Image 2. Introduction for Dr. Inho Kim as the 2024 Innovator of Materials Science for 35 Innovators Under 35 >
Dr. Inho Kim, who earned his PhD from KAIST in 2020 under the supervision of Professor Sang Ouk Kim from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, recently succeeded in developing a new artificial muscle using composite fibers. This new material is considered the most human-like muscle ever reported in scientific literature, while also being 17 times stronger than natural human muscle.
Dr. Kim is researching the application of artificial muscle fibers in next-generation wearable assistive devices that move more naturally, like humans or animals, noting that the fibers are lightweight, flexible, and exhibit conductivity during contraction, enabling real-time feedback. Recognized for this potential, Dr. Inho Kim was named one of the '35 Innovators Under 35' this year, making him the first researcher to win the honor with the research conducted at KAIST and a PhD earned from Korea.
Dr. Kim stated, “I aim to develop robots using these new materials that can replace today’s expensive and heavy exoskeleton suits by eliminating motors and rigid frames. This will significantly reduce costs and allow for better customization, making cutting-edge technology more accessible to those who need it most, like children with cerebral palsy.”
2024.09.13 View 4442 -
KAIST researchers devises a technology to utilize ultrahigh-resolution micro-LED with 40% reduced self-generated heat
In the digitized modern life, various forms of future displays, such as wearable and rollable displays are required. More and more people are wanting to connect to the virtual world whenever and wherever with the use of their smartglasses or smartwatches. Even further, we’ve been hearing about medical diagnosis kit on a shirt and a theatre-hat. However, it is not quite here in our hands yet due to technical limitations of being unable to fit as many pixels as a limited surface area of a glasses while keeping the power consumption at the a level that a hand held battery can supply, all the while the resolution of 4K+ is needed in order to perfectly immerse the users into the augmented or virtual reality through a wireless smartglasses or whatever the device.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 22nd that Professor Sang Hyeon Kim's research team of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering re-examined the phenomenon of efficiency degradation of micro-LEDs with pixels in a size of micrometers (μm, one millionth of a meter) and found that it was possible to fundamentally resolve the problem by the use of epitaxial structure engineering.
Epitaxy refers to the process of stacking gallium nitride crystals that are used as a light emitting body on top of an ultrapure silicon or sapphire substrate used for μLEDs as a medium.
μLED is being actively studied because it has the advantages of superior brightness, contrast ratio, and lifespan compared to OLED. In 2018, Samsung Electronics commercialized a product equipped with μLED called 'The Wall'. And there is a prospect that Apple may be launching a μLED-mounted product in 2025.
In order to manufacture μLEDs, pixels are formed by cutting the epitaxial structure grown on a wafer into a cylinder or cuboid shape through an etching process, and this etching process is accompanied by a plasma-based process. However, these plasmas generate defects on the side of the pixel during the pixel formation process.
Therefore, as the pixel size becomes smaller and the resolution increases, the ratio of the surface area to the volume of the pixel increases, and defects on the side of the device that occur during processing further reduce the device efficiency of the μLED. Accordingly, a considerable amount of research has been conducted on mitigating or removing sidewall defects, but this method has a limit to the degree of improvement as it must be done at the post-processing stage after the grown of the epitaxial structure is finished.
The research team identified that there is a difference in the current moving to the sidewall of the μLED depending on the epitaxial structure during μLED device operation, and based on the findings, the team built a structure that is not sensitive to sidewall defects to solve the problem of reduced efficiency due to miniaturization of μLED devices. In addition, the proposed structure reduced the self-generated heat while the device was running by about 40% compared to the existing structure, which is also of great significance in commercialization of ultrahigh-resolution μLED displays.
This study, which was led by Woo Jin Baek of Professor Sang Hyeon Kim's research team at the KAIST School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering as the first author with guidance by Professor Sang Hyeon Kim and Professor Dae-Myeong Geum of the Chungbuk National University (who was with the team as a postdoctoral researcher at the time) as corresponding authors, was published in the international journal, 'Nature Communications' on March 17th. (Title of the paper: Ultra-low-current driven InGaN blue micro light-emitting diodes for electrically efficient and self-heating relaxed microdisplay).
Professor Sang Hyeon Kim said, "This technological development has great meaning in identifying the cause of the drop in efficiency, which was an obstacle to miniaturization of μLED, and solving it with the design of the epitaxial structure.“ He added, ”We are looking forward to it being used in manufacturing of ultrahigh-resolution displays in the future."
This research was carried out with the support of the Samsung Future Technology Incubation Center.
Figure 1. Image of electroluminescence distribution of μLEDs fabricated from epitaxial structures with quantum barriers of different thicknesses while the current is running
Figure 2. Thermal distribution images of devices fabricated with different epitaxial structures under the same amount of light.
Figure 3. Normalized external quantum efficiency of the device fabricated with the optimized epitaxial structure by sizes.
2023.03.23 View 6092 -
KAIST researchers develops a tech to enable production of ultrahigh-resolution LED with sub-micrometer scale pixels
Ultrahigh-resolution displays are an essential element for developing next-generation electronic products such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and smart watches, and can be applied not only to head-mounted displays, but also to smart glasses and smart lenses. The technology developed through this research is expected to be used to make such next-generation ultrahigh-resolution displays and other various sub-micro optoelectronic devices.
KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 22nd that Professor Yong-Hoon Cho's research team of KAIST Department of Physics developed the core technology for an ultrahigh resolution light-emitting diode (LED) display that can realize 0.5 micron-scale pixels smaller than 1/100 of the average hair thickness (about 100 microns) using focused ion beams.
Commonly, pixelation of ultrahigh-resolution LED displays usually relies on the etching method that physically cuts the area around the pixel, but as the pixel becomes smaller due to the occurrence of various defects around it, leading to side-effects of having leakage of current increased and light-emission efficiency decreased. In addition, various complex processes such as patterning for pixelation and post-processing for prevention of leakage current are required.
Professor Yong-Hoon Cho's research team developed a technology that can create pixels down to the size of a microscale without the complicated pre- and post-processing using a focused ion beam. This method has the advantage of being able to freely set the shape of the emitting pixel without causing any structural deformation on the material surface by controlling the intensity of the focused ion beam.
The focused ion beam technology has been widely used for ultrahigh-magnification imaging and nanostructure fabrication in fields such as materials engineering and biology. However, when a focused ion beam is used on a light emitting body such as an LED, light emission of a portion hit by the beam and a surrounding area rapidly decreases, which has been a barrier to fabricating a nano-scale light emitting structure. Upon facing this issue, Professor Cho's research team began the research on the idea that if they turned things around to use these problematic phenomena, they can be used in ultra-fine pixelation method on a sub-micron scale.
The research team used a focused ion beam whose intensity was softened to the extent that the surface was not shaved, and found that not only the light-emission rapidly decreased in the area hit by the focused ion beam, but also the local resistance greatly increased. As a result, while the surface of the LED is kept flat, the portion hit by the focused ion beam is optically and electrically isolated, enabling pixelation for independent operation.
Professor Yong-Hoon Cho, who led the research, said, “We have newly developed a technology that can create sub-micron-scale pixels without complicated processes using a focused ion beam, which will be a base technology that can be applied to next-generation ultrahigh-resolution displays and nano-photoelectronic devices.”
This research in which the Master's student Ji-Hwan Moon and the Ph.D. student Baul Kim of KAIST Department of Physics participated as co-first authors, was carried out with the support of the National Research Foundation of Korea's Support Program for Mid-Career Researchers and the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation. It was published online in 'Advanced Materials' on February 13, and was also selected as the internal cover of the next offline edition. (Title: Electrically Driven Sub-Micron Light-Emitting Diode Arrays Using Maskless and Etching-Free Pixelation)
Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the technology for ultrahigh density sub-micron-sized pixels through He focused ion beam (FIB) irradiation on an LED device
Figure 2. Ultra-high-density pixelation technology of micro light-emitting diodes (μLED) through He focused ion beam (FIB) irradiation
Figure 3. Rectangular pixels of different sizes (surface structure picture and luminescence picture) realized by a focused ion beam. Luminescence pictures of pixel arrays ranging in size from 20 µm x 20 µm to 0.5 µm x 0.5 µm, with surface flatness maintained.
2023.03.08 View 6555 -
KAIST Team Develops Surface-Lighting MicroLED Patch with Significant Melanogenesis Inhibition Effect
A KAIST research team led by Ph.d candidate Jae Hee Lee and Professor Keon Jae Lee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a surface-lighting microLED patch for UV-induced melanogenesis inhibition.
Melanin is brown or dark pigments existing in the skin, which can be abnormally synthesized by external UV or stress. Since the excessive melanin leads to skin diseases such as spots and freckles, proper treatment is required to return normal skin condition.
Recently, LED-based photo-stimulators have been released for skin care, however, their therapeutic effect is still controversial. Since conventional LED stimulators cannot conformally attach to the human skin, distance-induced side effects are caused by light loss and high heat transfer. To achieve effective phototreatment, the LED stimulator needs to be irradiated in contact with the human skin surface, enabling proper and uniform light deliver to the dermis with minimal optical loss.
In this work, the research team fabricated skin-attachable surface-lighting microLED (SµLED, 4 × 4 cm2) patch by utilizing a thousand of microLED chips and silica-embedded light diffusion layer. 100 µm-sized LED chips are vertically-interconnected for high flexibility and low heat generation, allowing its long-term operation on the human skin.
< Image 1. The overall concept of SµLED patch. a) SµLED patch operated on the human skin. b) Schematic illustration of SµLED patch structure. c) 4 × 4 cm2-sized SµLED patch. d) Schematic illustration of the advantages of SµLED patch such as efficient light delivery, low heat generation, and surface-lighting irradiation. >
The research team confirmed melanogenesis inhibition by irradiating the SµLED patch and the conventional LED (CLED) on the artificial human skin and mice dorsal skin. The SµLED-treated groups of human cells and mouse tissues showed minimal epidermal photo-toxicity and consistently effective reduction in synthesized melanin, compared to CLED-treated groups. In addition, significant suppression of proteins/catalysts expression involved in melanin synthesis such as MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), Melan-A and tyrosinase was verified.
< Image 2. The efficacy of melanogenesis inhibition on 3D human skin cells. a). Different irradiation conditions for a-MSH (major factor to stimulate melanin synthesis) treated cells. b) The ratio of pigmented area to total epidermis area. c) Relative variance of melanin level in 1 cm2-sized skin cells. A low variance means that melanin is evenly distributed, and a high variance means that the melanin is irregularly distributed. d) Optical images after in vitro experiments for 12 days. Scale bar, 1cm. e) Histological analysis of 3D skin, showing the greatest reduction in melanin after SµLED irradiation. Scale bar, 20 µm. >
< Image 3. The efficacy of melanogenesis inhibition on mouse dorsal skin. a) Optical images of mice dorsal skin after photo-treatment for 20 days. b) Histological analysis of mice dorsal skin. Less brown color means less expression of protein/catalysis involved in melanin synthesis. Scale bar, 50 µm. >
Prof. Keon Jae Lee said, “Our inorganic-based SµLED patch has outstanding characteristics in light efficiency, reliability, and durability. The SµLED patch is expected to give a great impact on the cosmetic field by reducing side effects and maximizing phototherapeutic effects.” The core technology of cosmetic SµLED has been transferred to Fronics co., Ltd, founded by Prof. Lee. Fronics is building foundry and equipment for mass production of SµLED masks for whole face cover and plans to release the products in March next year.
This paper entitled “Wearable Surface-Lighting Micro-Light-Emitting Diode Patch for Melanogenesis Inhibition” was published in the November 2022 issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials.
2022.11.22 View 10064 -
Professor Shinhyun Choi’s team, selected for Nature Communications Editors’ highlight
[ From left, Ph.D. candidates See-On Park and Hakcheon Jeong, along with Master's student Jong-Yong Park and Professor Shinhyun Choi ]
See-On Park, Hakcheon Jeong, Jong-Yong Park - a team of researchers under the leadership of Professor Shinhyun Choi of the School of Electrical Engineering, developed a highly reliable variable resistor (memristor) array that simulates the behavior of neurons using a metal oxide layer with an oxygen concentration gradient, and published their work in Nature Communications. The study was selected as the Nature Communications' Editor's highlight, and as the featured article posted on the main page of the journal's website.
Link : https://www.nature.com/ncomms/
[ Figure 1. The featured image on the main page of the Nature Communications' website introducing the research by Professor Choi's team on the memristor for artificial neurons ]
Thesis title: Experimental demonstration of highly reliable dynamic memristor for artificial neuron and neuromorphic computing.
( https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30539-6 )
At KAIST, their research was introduced on the 2022 Fall issue of Breakthroughs, the biannual newsletter published by KAIST College of Engineering.
This research was conducted with the support from the Samsung Research Funding & Incubation Center of Samsung Electronics.
2022.11.01 View 7667 -
AI Light-Field Camera Reads 3D Facial Expressions
Machine-learned, light-field camera reads facial expressions from high-contrast illumination invariant 3D facial images
A joint research team led by Professors Ki-Hun Jeong and Doheon Lee from the KAIST Department of Bio and Brain Engineering reported the development of a technique for facial expression detection by merging near-infrared light-field camera techniques with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Unlike a conventional camera, the light-field camera contains micro-lens arrays in front of the image sensor, which makes the camera small enough to fit into a smart phone, while allowing it to acquire the spatial and directional information of the light with a single shot. The technique has received attention as it can reconstruct images in a variety of ways including multi-views, refocusing, and 3D image acquisition, giving rise to many potential applications.
However, the optical crosstalk between shadows caused by external light sources in the environment and the micro-lens has limited existing light-field cameras from being able to provide accurate image contrast and 3D reconstruction.
The joint research team applied a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) in the near-IR range to stabilize the accuracy of 3D image reconstruction that previously depended on environmental light. When an external light source is shone on a face at 0-, 30-, and 60-degree angles, the light field camera reduces 54% of image reconstruction errors. Additionally, by inserting a light-absorbing layer for visible and near-IR wavelengths between the micro-lens arrays, the team could minimize optical crosstalk while increasing the image contrast by 2.1 times.
Through this technique, the team could overcome the limitations of existing light-field cameras and was able to develop their NIR-based light-field camera (NIR-LFC), optimized for the 3D image reconstruction of facial expressions. Using the NIR-LFC, the team acquired high-quality 3D reconstruction images of facial expressions expressing various emotions regardless of the lighting conditions of the surrounding environment.
The facial expressions in the acquired 3D images were distinguished through machine learning with an average of 85% accuracy – a statistically significant figure compared to when 2D images were used. Furthermore, by calculating the interdependency of distance information that varies with facial expression in 3D images, the team could identify the information a light-field camera utilizes to distinguish human expressions.
Professor Ki-Hun Jeong said, “The sub-miniature light-field camera developed by the research team has the potential to become the new platform to quantitatively analyze the facial expressions and emotions of humans.” To highlight the significance of this research, he added, “It could be applied in various fields including mobile healthcare, field diagnosis, social cognition, and human-machine interactions.”
This research was published in Advanced Intelligent Systems online on December 16, under the title, “Machine-Learned Light-field Camera that Reads Facial Expression from High-Contrast and Illumination Invariant 3D Facial Images.” This research was funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
-Publication“Machine-learned light-field camera that reads fascial expression from high-contrast and illumination invariant 3D facial images,” Sang-In Bae, Sangyeon Lee, Jae-Myeong Kwon, Hyun-Kyung Kim. Kyung-Won Jang, Doheon Lee, Ki-Hun Jeong, Advanced Intelligent Systems, December 16, 2021 (doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202100182)
ProfileProfessor Ki-Hun JeongBiophotonic LaboratoryDepartment of Bio and Brain EngineeringKAIST
Professor Doheon LeeDepartment of Bio and Brain EngineeringKAIST
2022.01.21 View 11680 -
Researchers Control Multiple Wavelengths of Light from a Single Source
KAIST researchers have synthesized a collection of nanoparticles, known as carbon dots, capable of emitting multiple wavelengths of light from a single particle. Additionally, the team discovered that the dispersion of the carbon dots, or the interparticle distance between each dot, influences the properties of the light the carbon dots emit. The discovery will allow researchers to understand how to control these carbon dots and create new, environmentally responsible displays, lighting, and sensing technology.
Research into nanoparticles capable of emitting light, such as quantum dots, has been an active area of interest for the last decade and a half. These particles, or phosphors, are nanoparticles made out of various materials that are capable of emitting light at specific wavelengths by leveraging quantum mechanical properties of the materials. This provides new ways to develop lighting and display solutions as well as more precise detection and sensing in instruments.
As technology becomes smaller and more sophisticated, the usage of fluorescent nanoparticles has seen a dramatic increase in many applications due to the purity of the colors emitting from the dots as well as their tunability to meet desired optical properties.
Carbon dots, a type of fluorescent nanoparticles, have seen an increase in interest from researchers as a candidate to replace non-carbon dots, the construction of which requires heavy metals that are toxic to the environment. Since they are made up of mostly carbon, the low toxicity is an extremely attractive quality when coupled with the tunability of their inherent optical properties.
Another striking feature of carbon dots is their capability to emit multiple wavelengths of light from a single nanoparticle. This multi-wavelength emission can be stimulated under a single excitation source, enabling the simple and robust generation of white light from a single particle by emitting multiple wavelengths simultaneously.
Carbon dots also exhibit a concentration-dependent photoluminescence. In other words, the distance between individual carbon dots affects the light that the carbon dots subsequently emit under an excitation source. These combined properties make carbon dots a unique source that will result in extremely accurate detection and sensing.
This concentration-dependency, however, had not been fully understood. In order to fully utilize the capabilities of carbon dots, the mechanisms that govern the seemingly variable optical properties must first be uncovered. It was previously theorized that the concentration-dependency of carbon dots was due to a hydrogen bonding effect.
Now, a KAIST research team, led by Professor Do Hyun Kim of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering has posited and demonstrated that the dual-color-emissiveness is instead due to the interparticle distances between each carbon dot. This study was made available online in June 2020 ahead of final publication in the 36th Issue of Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics on September 28, 2020.
First author of the paper, PhD candidate Hyo Jeong Yoo, along with Professor Kim and researcher Byeong Eun Kwak, examined how the relative light intensity of the red and blue colors changed when varying the interparticle distances, or concentration, of the carbon dots. They found that as the concentration was adjusted, the light emitted from the carbon dots would transform. By varying the concentration, the team was able to control the relative intensity of the colors, as well as emit them simultaneously to generate a white light from a single source (See Figure).
“The concentration-dependence of the photoluminescence of carbon dots on the change of the emissive origins for different interparticle distances has been overlooked in previous research. With the analysis of the dual-color-emission phenomenon of carbon dots, we believe that this result may provide a new perspective to investigate their photoluminescence mechanism,” Yoo explained.
The newly analyzed ability to control the photoluminescence of carbon dots will likely be heavily utilized in the continued development of solid-state lighting applications and sensing.
Publication:
Yoo, H. J., Kwak, B. E., and Kim. D. H. (2020) Interparticle distance as a key factor for controlling the dual-emission properties of carbon dots. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Issue 36, Pages 20227-20237. Available online at https://doi.org/10.1039/d0cp02120b
Profile:
Do Hyun Kim, Sc.D.
Professor
dokim@kaist.ac.kr
http://procal.kaist.ac.kr/
Process Analysis Laboratory
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
https://www.kaist.ac.kr
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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2020.11.23 View 10491