Aika Kobayashi, a graduate of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, received The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ) Award for Encouragement of Women's Activities in Electrical Science and Engineering

Ms. Aika Kobayashi (KASAHARA Takashi Laboratory), a graduate of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, received The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ) Women in Electrical Science Activity Encouragement Award. This award is given to an outstanding student who has mastered electrical engineering from among the student members who graduated from undergraduate schools in the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Section.

Ms. Kobayashi is currently enrolled in Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

◆Name of Award
Award for Encouragement of Women's Activities in Electrical Engineering

Name of the awarding society
The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan

Date of Award
　March 31, 2023

Research Activities
Dr. Kobayashi's research focuses on improving the brightness and efficiency of solution-based electrochemiluminescence (hereafter referred to as ECL*) devices.
ECL is a luminescence phenomenon based on redox reactions of organic semiconductor molecules.
During my undergraduate days, I investigated the deposition of metal oxide nanoparticles on the cathode using micro-droplet coating technology in order to promote electron injection into organic semiconductor molecules.
As a result, we observed ECL emission of ruthenium complexes from the prototype device and gave an oral presentation at a domestic academic conference in March 2023.
*Electrogenerated chemiluminescence

Improvement of this research and its application to society
The ECL device is a self-luminous device with an extremely simple structure, consisting only of a luminescent solution sandwiched between two electrodes (anode and cathode).
However, compared to other self-luminescent devices in practical use (LEDs, organic EL, etc.), ECL devices are inferior in performance, and improvements in performance have been sought.
By developing a technology to make ECL devices emit light with high luminance and efficiency, it is expected that new forms of display devices using the fluidity of the solution will be applied.
The KASAHARA Takashi Laboratory of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is conducting research on ECL from the viewpoints of both device fabrication and material development.