To foster international collaboration and research exchange, the Center for Plasma and Thin Film Technologies (CPTFT) at Ming Chi University of Technology (MCUT) hosted two students, SungHo Lee and Seohyun Park, from the Renewable Energy Laboratory of Pusan National University (PNU), Korea, for a three-week academic exchange in January 2025.

Their visit focused on two key research areas: optimization of microwave plasma systems in liquid, and argon plasma modification of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for surface defect engineering.

In the area of microwave plasma, the PNU team introduced their self-developed system designed for carbon synthesis and metal oxide treatment. Although the current system operates only at the liquid surface due to the absence of a tuner, initial tests at MCUT on bubble formation and discharge behavior provided valuable insights for future scale-up and system improvements.

The main research project, led by Seohyun Park, aimed to enhance oxygen vacancy formation in YSZ ceramics using argon plasma via dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and jet plasma systems. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed a moderate increase in oxygen vacancies in DBD-treated samples and a significant increase in jet-treated ones, indicating that plasma treatment can enhance ionic conductivity in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrolytes.

Notably, the DBD plasma reactor used in the study was independently designed and fabricated by the PNU team and formally donated to CPTFT to support future joint research efforts.

This academic exchange not only yielded meaningful technical outcomes in the fields of plasma and material science but also promoted cultural understanding and long-lasting international friendships. CPTFT will continue to expand global partnerships and academic collaborations to strengthen MCUT’s international presence in advanced material research.

中文：電漿與薄膜科技中心邀請韓國釜山大學學生來台進行電漿應用研究與學術交流
This article is simultaneously published in the 26th edition of the SDGs E-paper.