An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.

Semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof

Micromachining technology was used to prepare chemical analysis systems on glass chips (1 centimeter by 2 centimeters or larger) that utilize electroosmotic pumping to drive fluid flow and electrophoretic separation to distinguish sample components. Capillaries 1 to 10 centimeters long etched in the glass (cross section, 10 micrometers by 30 micrometers) allow for capillary electrophoresis-based separations of amino acids with up to 75,000 theoretical plates in about 15 seconds, and separations of about 600 plates can be effected within 4 seconds. Sample treatment steps within a manifold of intersecting capillaries were demonstrated for a simple sample dilution process. Manipulation of the applied voltages controlled the directions of fluid flow within the manifold. The principles demonstrated in this study can be used to develop a miniaturized system for sample handling and separation with no moving parts.

Micromachining a miniaturized capillary electrophoresis-based chemical analysis system on a chip

Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.

Touch screen liquid crystal display

The scalable and sustainable manufacture of thick electrode films with high energy and power densities is critical for the large-scale storage of electrochemical energy for application in transportation and stationary electric grids. Two-dimensional nanomaterials have become the predominant choice of electrode material in the pursuit of high energy and power densities owing to their large surface-area-to-volume ratios and lack of solid-state diffusion1,2. However, traditional electrode fabrication methods often lead to restacking of two-dimensional nanomaterials, which limits ion transport in thick films and results in systems in which the electrochemical performance is highly dependent on the thickness of the film1-4. Strategies for facilitating ion transport-such as increasing the interlayer spacing by intercalation5-8 or introducing film porosity by designing nanoarchitectures9,10-result in materials with low volumetric energy storage as well as complex and lengthy ion transport paths that impede performance at high charge-discharge rates. Vertical alignment of two-dimensional flakes enables directional ion transport that can lead to thickness-independent electrochemical performances in thick films11-13. However, so far only limited success11,12 has been reported, and the mitigation of performance losses remains a major challenge when working with films of two-dimensional nanomaterials with thicknesses that are near to or exceed the industrial standard of 100 micrometres. Here we demonstrate electrochemical energy storage that is independent of film thickness for vertically aligned two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti3C2T x ), a material from the MXene family (two-dimensional carbides and nitrides of transition metals (M), where X stands for carbon or nitrogen). The vertical alignment was achieved by mechanical shearing of a discotic lamellar liquid-crystal phase of Ti3C2T x . The resulting electrode films show excellent performance that is nearly independent of film thickness up to 200 micrometres, which makes them highly attractive for energy storage applications. Furthermore, the self-assembly approach presented here is scalable and can be extended to other systems that involve directional transport, such as catalysis and filtration.

Thickness-independent capacitance of vertically aligned liquid-crystalline MXenes.

Our understanding of the fundamental structure and bonding of graphene oxide (GO) as well as the scope of its utility have grown tremendously over the past decade. As a result, the pace of research efforts directed toward this carbon material continues to increase. Contemporary application now intersects a variety of disciplines and includes heterogeneous catalysis, flow reactor technologies, biomedicine and biotechnology, polymer composites, energy storage, and chemical sensors. Advances in these areas have been buoyed by improvements in the methods used to synthesize and characterize GO, as well as functionalized derivatives thereof. While the diverse uses of GO have been reviewed previously, herein we provide an overview of some of the most recent and significant developments in the field. A brief overview of GO's synthesis and characterization is also provided as well as several recently proposed structural models. The inherent reactivity of GO is described in the context of catalysis, and the utilization of GO's reactive oxygen groups and carbon framework to prepare functionalized derivatives is also discussed. Finally, we provide an outlook of potential areas where GO, its derivatives, and related materials may be expected to find utility or opportunity for further growth and study.

Harnessing the chemistry of graphene oxide

The sensitive response of the nematic graphene oxide (GO) phase to external stimuli makes this phase attractive for extending the applicability of GO and reduced GO to solution processes and electro-optic devices. However, contrary to expectations, the alignment of nematic GO has been difficult to control through the application of electric fields or surface treatments. Here, we show that when interflake interactions are sufficiently weak, both the degree of microscopic ordering and the direction of macroscopic alignment of GO liquid crystals (LCs) can be readily controlled by applying low electric fields. We also show that the large polarizability anisotropy of GO and Onsager excluded-volume effect cooperatively give rise to Kerr coefficients that are about three orders of magnitude larger than the maximum value obtained so far in molecular LCs. The extremely large Kerr coefficient allowed us to fabricate electro-optic devices with macroscopic electrodes, as well as well-aligned, defect-free GO over wide areas.

Electro-optical switching of graphene oxide liquid crystals with an extremely large Kerr coefficient

A black matrix and a color filter are formed on a substrate, a indium-tin-oxide (ITO) common electrode are deposited thereon and then protrusion pattern made of sensitive material such as photoresist are formed on the common electrode with 3 to 20 micron width. A vertical alignment layer is coated thereon to complete a color filter substrate. After a thin film transistor (TFT) and a passivation film are formed on the other substrate, ITO is deposited on the passivation film and patterned to form a pixel electrode which contains open areas with 3 to 20 micron width. Then, a vertical alignment layer is coated to complete a TFT substrate. Two substrates are assembled in the manner that the apertures and the protrusion patterns are arranged on shifts and liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy is injected between the substrates. Each Polarizer is attached at the outer surfaces of the LCD substrates. Compensation films may be attached between the polarizer and the substrate.

Liquid crystal displays having multi-domains and a manufacturing method thereof

In 2001, Dozov predicted that twist-bend nematic phase can be spontaneously formed when K33   2, and this phase has recently been discovered in bimesogens. To verify Dozov's hypothesis, we have measured precisely the temperature dependence of the elastic constants of CB7CB in the entire temperature range of nematic phase and in twist-bend nematic phase close to the transition temperature by combing the Freedericksz threshold methods for a twist nematic and an in-plane switching cells. Anomalous changes in K22 and K33 are observed across the phase transition. The elasticity estimated via extrapolation of the data in the high temperature region of the nematic phase seems to fully satisfy Dozov's hypothesis although the elasticity data in the vicinity of the phase transition exhibit opposite trends. This can be explained by the general nature of a hierarchical system where the macroscopic elasticity is governed mostly by the distortion of a higher level structure.

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Hierarchical elasticity of bimesogenic liquid crystals with twist-bend nematic phase

Facile alignment control of graphene oxide (GO) particles in aqueous dispersions is a highly useful technique for various potential applications. Aqueous GO dispersions were recently reported to have an extremely large Kerr coefficient, which may provide a valuable pathway to the alignment control of GO particles. We investigated the electro-optic responses of GO dispersions in various ionic solutes and with varying ionic concentrations. We found that the addition of NaOH actually improved the electro-optic sensitivity of the GO dispersion, while other ionic additives resulted in desensitization. We experimentally and theoretically elucidated the underlying mechanism of the phenomena. The mechanism is closely related to the acidic nature of the GO dispersion, which is neutralized by the addition of NaOH. The addition of ionic solutes caused only a mild change in the surface conductivity of GO particles, but it brought about a large variation in the bulk solvent conductivity. The electro-optical sensitivit...

Electro-optical Characteristics of Aqueous Graphene Oxide Dispersion Depending on Ion Concentration

A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixel areas. At least one pair of first and second protrusions is formed at each pixel area. A pixel electrode is formed at each pixel area. The pixel electrode has an opening pattern exposing the first protrusion while covering the second protrusion. A second substrate faces the first substrate. A common electrode is formed at the second substrate. Alternatively, the opening pattern and the protrusions may be formed in parallel.

Jang-Kun Song

Papers

Electro-optical switching of graphene oxide liquid crystals with an extremely large Kerr coefficient

Liquid crystal displays having multi-domains and a manufacturing method thereof

Hierarchical elasticity of bimesogenic liquid crystals with twist-bend nematic phase

Electro-optical Characteristics of Aqueous Graphene Oxide Dispersion Depending on Ion Concentration

Liquid crystal display wherein pixel electrode having openings and protrusions in the same substrate