Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University·Hanyang University Research Team Develops World-First Technology for Separation and Reuse of Next-Generation Organic Electronic Devices

- Published in international journal <Advanced Materials>

A joint research team from Pukyong National University and Hanyang University has announced the world’s first successful development of a technology enabling the separation and reuse of organic electronic devices, which are essential components in various electronic systems.

The team includes Woo Gyu-won (senior) and Lee Chang-min (junior), undergraduate students in Pukyong National University’s Department of Chemical Engineering; Research Professor Kim Yong-hee; Professor Lee Eun-kwang; and Professor Yoo Ho-chun from Hanyang University. Together, they developed a next-generation regenerative component in the field of organic electronics called the π-ion film and elucidated the operating principles of a modular synaptic electronic device and a low-power neuromorphic computing platform based on this technology.

With the recent advances in AI-powered edge computing (Edge AI) and flexible electronics technology, there has been a surge of interest in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) that offer low-power operation and biocompatibility. However, conventional OECTs suffer from limited lifespans and cannot be reused due to irreversible degradation of the organic semiconductor layer, leading to increased e-waste and higher costs.

To address these challenges, the research team proposed an OECT incorporating the π-ion film. They developed an enhanced π-ion film based on the organic semiconductor P3HT and the ionic liquid BMIM:TFSI, engineered it into a detachable form, and successfully achieved both electrochemical stability and neuromorphic functionality. Notably, the team demonstrated a large-area array comprising 64 devices using the π-ion film, suggesting its potential scalability for applications such as biosensors, wearable medical devices, and AI edge devices.

The results of this study are seen as opening a new chapter in electronic device technology by overcoming the limitations of conventional single-use organic devices and demonstrating the feasibility of modular electronic components whose overall functionality can be maintained simply by replacing individual parts. In particular, the technology is expected to serve as a critical foundation for reducing electronic waste and enabling the sustainable manufacture of electronic devices.

Professor Lee Eun-kwang stated, “This research represents the first case to simultaneously achieve sustainability and modularity in neuromorphic electronic devices, and it is expected to make significant contributions to future industrial applications.”

The findings of this research were recently published in Advanced Materials (IF: 29.4), one of the world’s leading journals in materials science, under the title “Detachable and Reusable: Reinforced π-Ion Film for Modular Synaptic Reservoir Computing.”

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and the Pukyong National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. It was also carried out as part of the AI Semiconductor Specialist Training Program (IITP) and the Technology Innovation Program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).