あなたの研究テーマについて教えてください。What is your research theme?
My research theme is to elucidate the operation mechanism of ternary polymer blend solar cells by investigating the relationship of blend morphology - photovoltaic function in nanoscale.
In the first year of doctoral course, I have finished on investigation of the relationship of blend morphology - photocurrent of ternary polymer blend solar cells by photoconductive atomic force microscopy (PC-AFM) and finalized the conclusion that, in the ternary blend system, where three chemical components are blended together, two electron donors should not possess the insignificantly different levels of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) from each others, while the more stable in energy level should provide higher charge carrier mobility and efficient pathways. In this way, the device can provide the highest performance on the organic solar cells. This final conclusion broke the bottleneck of the organic solar cells development, giving rise to the potential to become the commercial choices in the industries.
As to the second year, I have finished the investigation of the surface photovoltage mapping of binary polymer solar cells by Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), where planar heterojunction (PHJ) and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices were measured the photovoltage in nanoscale and compared with the open circuit voltage (Voc) in macroscale. While this study is more of the fundamental comprehension of how to interpret the results from KPFM measurement properly in PHJ and BHJ structured devices.
なぜ博士課程へ進学しましたか？Why did you decide to pursue a doctoral program?
Most of the time in the master's program I had spent on learning many new technical and practical skills which crucially required to proceed on researching in this field. Left only at the end of the program for fully grasping the satisfied range of knowledge in these fields, leading to the feeling of wanting to expand my expertise and advance my knowledge in organic solar cells even further and deeper. This feeling motivated me hard to pursue a doctoral program, as I use my full potential without spending 3/4 time mastering software analysis and experiment skills since I have already been practicing in my master's program.
Graniteの支援で役立っている・助かっていることを教えてください。Please share what has been helpful or beneficial through the support provided by Granite.
The first thing has to be mentioned is about the workshop on 11/5 in 2024.
This workshop provided me the special opportunity to directly practice on how to present my research to the company and how to communicate with people outside of my field. I felt that this workshop is a privilege only for Granite students.
Second of all, the funding for my research, as this gave me chance to attend the international conference in 2024 for the first time in my life.
Without this support, I would have never had this opportunity ever. Last but not least, the program for studying abroad, as there are three main programs in selections; 1. Collaboration 2. Global Visionary Bridge and 3. English studying program. Personally, I have selected to second program; Global Visionary Bridge, and I had a chance to directly exchange the state-of-art technologies between the world leading company and laboratory scale in Boston, the states, in 2024.
These are just main benefits or privileges provided by Granite, there are many more small details about what I have been supported by Granite within the past year.
将来の目標、もしくはあなたが胸に秘めた野望があればぜひ教えてください。Please share your future goals or any ambitions you hold close to your heart.
Ever since I was young, I have always been enthusiastic about the physics of energy. That also pushed me here to be an engineer studying about organic solar cells. Everyday and energy second during the day time, we are restricted from harvesting the solar energy only by the solar panels. That is when I got, how about if we have increased the efficiency of the materials, so that we can reduce the space of the panel into the size of the palm of your hands, and plus, how about using plastic as the materials itself so that we can fold the solar cells up whenever we want and put it on our pockets!
So, after I complete my degree, I would like to be an engineer who invented the more efficient materials for harvesting solar energy in daily life that are small enough, flexible enough, and compact enough to be used as the portable energy in daily life.
博士課程進学を考えている人へのメッセージをください。Please share a message for those considering pursuing a doctoral program.
I used to be a person thinking that I am not smart enough to study further than the Bachelor's program. But there is the word from my own professor, who has been supervising me since master's program. He said "I believe that you can do everything." Those words from him have synced in my head so deep that I have come this far.
If you are still hesitating about going for a doctoral program, I would absolutely say you should try. You would never know how far you can go until you actually go, how much you can do until you actually do. Doesn't it feel wonderful to be astounded by a new accomplishment or triumph that you never imagined you could do before?
