From left: Professor Soohyun Kim of the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), researcher Hideaki Nakatsubo, Professor Debananda Mohapatra, and researcher Jeongha Kim. Provided by UNIST.
■ Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced on the 18th that a team led by Professor Soohyun Kim of the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering has developed a new material and manufacturing process to solve the ‘electro-arteriosclerosis’ phenomenon, which occurs as semiconductor circuit line widths decrease. The research findings were published in the international academic journal ‘Advanced Science’ on November 23 (local time). Ruthenium is gaining attention as a next-generation wiring material because its resistance increases at a relatively slower rate even as the line width shrinks. The research team developed a process for creating high-quality ruthenium wiring. It is particularly expected to enable the uniform deposition of thin films on semiconductor structures with narrow and deep features, such as 3D NAND. The process can also reduce costs and time compared to existing methods. Professor Kim stated, “As the high integration of semiconductor devices exponentially increases the difficulty of the wiring process, we have simultaneously achieved reduced resistance in fine line widths, deposition uniformity in 3D structures, and a fast deposition rate.”
■ UNIST announced on the 18th that it has appointed world-renowned media artist Ayoung Kim as a distinguished professor at its Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. Her appointment is for three years, until December 2028. Professor Kim has gained international acclaim for her media art, which utilizes virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence. Her work explores the impact of technology on human perception and social structures. Professor Kim will conduct joint projects with AI researchers at UNIST. She will be responsible for adding an artistic perspective to the technological research process and interpreting AI results in new ways. She will also provide advising in the field of science-art convergence and deliver special lectures on campus. UNIST President Jong-Rae Park commented, “An approach that connects science and art will deepen our research and education in artificial intelligence.”
■ Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) announced on the 18th that Professor Byeong-moon Lee of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor Chanyeon Kim of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering have been selected for projects in the second half of 2025 by the ‘Samsung Future Technology Promotion Program’ and will begin their related research in December. The program is a science and technology research support initiative that Samsung Electronics has been operating since 2013 with a total fund of 1.5 trillion won. In the second half of this year, a total of 17 research teams from institutions including DGIST, KAIST, UNIST, and Seoul National University were selected. Professor Lee will conduct research on the ‘Development of an Ultra-Fast, High-Precision, Skin-Integrated Gesture Recognition Interface for Fully Immersive Extended Reality.’ He will receive a total of 1.6 billion won in research funding over the next four years. Professor Kim will conduct research on ‘Carbon-Neutral HFE Refrigerant Synthesis Based on Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Fluoride’ and will receive a total of 1 billion won in research funding over the next four years.
– doi.org/10.1002/advs.202519209
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