Institute of Lighting and Energy Photonics

Features

The research field of the LEP Institute is classified into two subfields: solid-state lighting material and device development and photoelectric conversion material technology which are further divided into three domains. The three featured research domains are:

1. High-efficiency energy-saving lighting technologies;

2. High-efficiency solar cell and material technologies;

3. Novel optoelectronic materials and advanced component technologies.

The characteristic research laboratories in the LEP Institute include: Advanced Lighting Laboratory(Hsin-Chieh Yu, CM436), Semiconductor Lighting Laboratory(Cheng-Huang Kuo, CM435), Organic Optoelectronic Materials Laboratory(Sheng-Hsiung Yang, CM418), Organic and Nano Electron Devices & Materials Laboratory(Chien-Wen Hsieh, CM416), Flexible Device Laboratory(Hai-Ching Su, CM415), Laser Technology Laboratory(Yu-Pin Lan, CM314), Intelligent Signal and Information Processing Laboratory(Shiow-Jyu Lin, CM540), Integrated Circuit Design Laboratory(Chih-Wen Lu, CM535).

The LEP Institute develops high-efficiency energy-saving solid-state lighting and high-efficiency display technologies, such as the research of LED and OLED device processing technologies and materials at the initial stage. Professor Kuo of the LEP Institute, professors of the Department of Optoelectronics and the research team of National Cheng Kung University have jointly conducted several research collaboration projects including National Energy Projects, Science and Technology Park R&D Advancement Projects, and Low-Carbon Green Energy Integrated Industry-University Cooperation Projects. Later, several professors focused on novel research topics such as the development of perovskite-related materials, solar cells and advanced light-emitting diodes. In Academic Year 105, Professor Huang joined the College of Photonics to establish a Green Energy and Optoelectronic Cross-Field Technology Research Center and increased the diversity of research topics such as hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and hydrogen energy application technology development. In Academic Year 107 foreign Professor Choi was recruited to open the characteristic research field of nano-energy materials. Currently the LEP Institute is also actively investing in micro LEDs and quantum dots LEDs (QLEDs) related technologies in order to lay out the next-generation display technology and prepare early the needs of the mainstream industry.

As for the curriculum design, the Lighting and Energy Photonics Program offers about six advanced courses and seven applied photonics courses each academic year in addition to the common (or college-wide) required core courses of Electro-Optics, Optical Electronics, and Photonics Laboratory. These courses are provided for the students in the graduate program and also for those from the other institutes.

Current Status

The LEP Institute was founded in Academic Year 98 (2009). The ultimate mission is to train the students to become competent professionals at the level of the Master’s degree and beyond, who specialize in lighting and energy photonics and semiconductor fabrication, for the R&D human resources highly demanded by the current and future semiconductor industry and relevant industry and academia.

The LEP Institute aims to excel by the following strategies:

1. To foster young talents with a strong basic and applied science background in lighting and energy photonics and semiconductor fabrication technologies, the graduate students are provided with solid training through the common core courses (i.e., Electro-Optics, Optical Electronics, and Photonics Laboratory) as well as two course branches—advanced and applied courses. Many opportunities are also available for the students enrolled in the program to obtain interdisciplinary photonics education in order for them to become photonics professionals and leaders in the future with a global vision.

2. The LEP Institute is dedicated to promote the collaboration with industry, establish core technology of lighting and energy photonics and semiconductor associated technologies, and nurture R&D elite highly needed for the lighting and energy photonics and semiconductor associated industries.

3. Green energy development is one of our national key industries. Recently, the hardware construction of the nearby research institutions such as Taiwan CAR Lab, Sha-Lun Green Energy Technology Demonstration Site of Industry Technology Research Institute, Southern Region Campus of Academia Sinica, and National Green Energy Technology Joint Research Center has been gradually established. Based on the research theme fit with nearby research institutions and the purpose of research and development of advanced optoelectronic materials technology and talent cultivation, the LEP Institute allows students to establish basic knowledge of materials science and optoelectronic physics. It also concurrently provides a variety of professional courses in the application of optoelectronic technology for students to elect and build their own expertise.