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Incheon National University's Department of Electrical Engineering (Department Head, Professor Yoon Joo-hyung) recently announced that the groundbreaking and practical research of graduate students in the department is attracting academic attention. 

Researchers Choi Chan-hyuk (Master's Course) and Lee Jung-hyun (Master's Course) proposed a way to drastically improve the performance of transparent solar power generation by developing a technology that selectively transmits and absorbs light from natural sunlight. 

The characteristic of this technology is that it selectively blocks infrared rays that cause environmental harmful ultraviolet rays (eye disease and skin cancer) and thermal energy loss while transmitting light in the area viewed by humans in sunlight. A multi-layered structure that blocks more than 80% visible light transmittance and more than 95% ultraviolet/infrared regions was developed and implemented as a transparent film. 

Establishing a transparent solar power system for the purpose of utilizing energy using downtown buildings (especially glass windows) is expected to significantly increase the energy utilization efficiency and utilization of buildings by reducing unnecessary energy losses while producing the necessary electrical energy directly in the building. 

The results of this study have been adopted as the cover paper of Solar RRL, a renowned solar energy academic journal (paper title: Light-Wave Strength-Selective Transparent ITO/Ag/ITO/Ag/ITO Structure for Functional Energy Applications, April 2024) and are attracting academic attention, and the related technology has completed a patent application to secure the originality of the technology. 

Professor Kim Jun-dong, who led the study, said that this study is being researched and developed with the aim of applying it to the military field of transparent electric-electronic devices, displays, electromagnetic shielding, and stealth functions beyond the field of active transparent electric energy production. 

Yoon Joo-hyung, head of the department of electrical engineering, said, "Based on specialized educational foundations (semiconductor-energy tracks, smart energy system tracks, and E-mobility tracks), we are fostering convergent talents who meet the needs of education and industry, and we will further expand flexibility and diversity for future technologies in the future."

Researcher Information From left, Choi Chan-hyuk, Lee Jung-hyun, Kim Jun-dong, and Yoon Joo-hyung