dong won kang is a South Korean academic and researcher whose work focuses on Energy Materials, Solar Cells, and Advanced Photovoltaic Devices. He is associated with Chung-Ang University in Seoul, where his research explores how new materials and device designs can make Solar Energy technologies more efficient, stable, transparent, and useful in everyday settings. His major interests include Perovskite Solar Cells, Silicon-Based Energy Conversion, Thin-Film Photovoltaics, Tandem Solar Cells, and Optoelectronic Devices.
What makes Dong-Won Kang’s academic profile particularly interesting is the practical direction of his research. Modern Solar Technology is no longer concerned only with putting conventional panels on rooftops. Researchers are exploring transparent windows that generate electricity, Tandem Solar Cells that capture a broader range of sunlight, and alternative materials that could reduce environmental concerns. Kang’s published research addresses several of these challenges. As of 2026, he continues to contribute to active research on next-generation Perovskite and Tandem Photovoltaics.
Who Is Dong-Won Kang?
Dong-Won Kang is a Professor and Energy Technology researcher at Chung-Ang University. His academic work lies at the intersection of Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Renewable Energy, and Semiconductor Device Technology. Rather than concentrating on a single type of Solar Cell, his research considers different materials and device structures that may improve how sunlight is converted into electrical energy.
He is also connected with the Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory, commonly known as AEDL. The laboratory studies Energy Conversion Materials and Devices, including Perovskite, Silicon, CIGS, and Organic Photovoltaic technologies. Kang’s research record also covers Photodetectors, LEDs, Photo-TFTs, and related Optoelectronic Devices. This broad research base helps explain why his work frequently combines knowledge from Materials Engineering, Electronics, Chemistry, and Energy Science.
Quick Bio Information
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dong-Won Kang |
| Korean Name | 강동원 |
| Profession | Professor And Researcher |
| Current Institution | Chung-Ang University |
| Location | Seoul, South Korea |
| Academic Field | Energy Systems Engineering |
| Laboratory | Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory |
| Laboratory Abbreviation | AEDL |
| Undergraduate University | Seoul National University |
| Bachelor’s Field | Electrical Engineering |
| Bachelor’s Degree Year | 2007 |
| Doctoral University | Seoul National University |
| Doctoral Field | Electrical Engineering And Computer Science |
| Ph.D. Year | 2013 |
| Postdoctoral Institution | Tokyo Institute Of Technology |
| Earlier Faculty Institution | Cheongju University |
| Major Research Area | Energy Materials And Devices |
| Key Technology | Perovskite Solar Cells |
| Additional Research | Silicon And Thin-Film Photovoltaics |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4818-8108 |
Dong-Won Kang’s Education
Kang built his academic foundation at Seoul National University, one of South Korea’s major research universities. He completed a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2007. Electrical Engineering provided a useful foundation for his later work because Solar Cells are semiconductor devices in which the movement and collection of electrical charge are central to performance.
He remained at Seoul National University for doctoral study and completed a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 2013. His later career shows how this engineering background developed into specialized work involving Semiconductor Materials, Photovoltaic Devices, Interfaces, Electrodes, and Energy Conversion. His education therefore connects directly with the scientific problems that appear throughout his publication record.
Postdoctoral Research In Japan
Following his doctorate, Kang continued his research career internationally. From 2013 to 2015, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. This stage came between his doctoral studies and his first faculty position.
Postdoctoral research is an important period for many academic scientists because it allows them to deepen their technical expertise while gaining experience in a different research environment. In Kang’s case, the period also added an international dimension to an academic path that had begun in South Korea. His later publications demonstrate a strong collaborative approach involving researchers across institutions and different areas of Materials and Energy Science.
Academic Career At Cheongju University
In 2015, Dong-Won Kang moved into a faculty position at Cheongju University, where his academic profile records him as an Assistant Professor in Solar And Energy Engineering until 2018. This represented an important shift from working as a Postdoctoral Researcher to developing a career as an independent university academic.
The Solar And Energy Engineering setting closely matched the direction his research was taking. It allowed him to work on problems involving Solar-Energy Conversion and emerging Photovoltaic Materials while also participating in university teaching and academic research. His experience at Cheongju University helped establish the foundation for his subsequent work at Chung-Ang University.
Career At Chung-Ang University
Kang joined Chung-Ang University in 2018. His laboratory profile records his progression from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and, as of March 2026, Professor in the School of Energy Systems Engineering. This progression reflects a sustained academic career built around Energy Materials and Device Research.
His affiliation with Chung-Ang University is visible across his scientific publications, including recent studies published in major peer-reviewed journals. His role also extends beyond producing individual papers. As a laboratory leader and corresponding author, he participates in guiding research projects, collaborating with other universities, and helping develop new approaches to Energy Conversion Technology.
Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory
An important part of Kang’s academic work is the Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory at Chung-Ang University. The laboratory focuses on the materials and device structures needed for efficient Energy Conversion. Its research includes Perovskite, Amorphous Silicon, CIGS, and Organic Solar Cells, along with related technologies.
The laboratory’s approach is important because improving a Solar Cell involves more than finding a material that absorbs sunlight. Researchers must also understand how electrical charges move through different layers, how interfaces affect energy loss, how electrodes collect charge, and how the complete device behaves over long periods. These connected problems are clearly visible throughout Kang’s published research.
Perovskite Solar Cell Research
Perovskite Solar Cells form one of the strongest themes in Dong-Won Kang’s research. Perovskites are attractive for Photovoltaic Research because their optical and electronic properties can be adjusted through material composition. They can also be incorporated into thin films and Tandem Solar Cell structures.
However, high laboratory efficiency alone is not enough. Perovskite devices must also deal with challenges involving stability, defects, interfaces, moisture, and long-term reproducibility. Kang’s research addresses several of these problems. His work examines not simply whether a Perovskite Solar Cell can generate electricity, but how its material chemistry and device architecture can be engineered to achieve more reliable performance.
Semitransparent Solar Cell Research
One notable area of Kang’s work involves Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells. A 2022 study for which he was a corresponding author investigated Top Electrode Engineering using gallium- and titanium-doped indium oxide. The researchers reported a Power Conversion Efficiency of 17.90%, with a certified value of 17.53%, while maintaining an Average Visible Transmittance of 21.9%.
The study also demonstrated a four-terminal Perovskite-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell with 23.35% efficiency. Importantly, the Semitransparent Cells retained more than 96% of their initial efficiency after 1,864 hours in ambient air without encapsulation. This work illustrates an important part of Kang’s research philosophy: transparency, efficiency, and stability need to be considered together when designing Solar Devices.
Lead-Free And Tin-Based Perovskite Research
Another important direction is the search for alternatives to conventional Lead-Based Perovskites. In 2025, Kang was a corresponding author on research into Lead-Free, Tin-Based All-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells. The researchers used Dimethylammonium modification to create a Wide-Bandgap Tin Perovskite without depending on additional bromine.
The reported Semitransparent Tin-Based Cell reached 10.37% efficiency, while the four-terminal Tandem Device achieved a combined 15.02%. The significance goes beyond those numbers. Tin-Based Perovskites are being investigated partly because of concerns surrounding lead, but they introduce their own difficulties, particularly oxidation and stability. Research that improves their material quality therefore contributes to a broader search for more environmentally considerate Photovoltaic Technologies.
Transparent Solar Windows And Tandem Devices
Kang’s research has also moved toward Solar Devices that could potentially become part of buildings. A study first published in late 2025 and appearing in Advanced Materials investigated a Visibly Transparent Monolithic Perovskite/Organic Tandem Solar Cell. Kang was among the corresponding authors.
The Tandem Device reached a Power Conversion Efficiency of 10.91% while maintaining an Average Visible Transmittance of 55.39%. Its reported Light-Utilization Efficiency was 6.04%. This balance is important because a Solar Window must perform two jobs: allow substantial visible light to pass through while still generating useful electrical power. The research offers a fresh perspective on Photovoltaics by treating transparency as an important design goal rather than simply maximizing electricity generation.
Improving Stability And Reproducibility
Long-term reliability remains one of the biggest questions surrounding emerging Solar Materials. Kang’s recent work shows growing attention to this issue. Research published for 2026 investigated Wide-Bandgap Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells under changing humidity and seasonal conditions.
The study used a hydrophobic Proton-Locking Interface Engineering strategy involving S-Benzyl-L-Cysteine. The optimized devices reached 11.50% efficiency, while the researchers examined 279 devices fabricated monthly over 11 months. The study reported retention of more than 80% of average performance across those changing conditions. This is valuable because real manufacturing requires devices to be reproducible outside narrowly controlled laboratory conditions.
Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Perovskites In 2026
Kang’s 2026 research also reaches into Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Perovskites, materials that are particularly relevant to advanced Tandem and Triple-Junction Solar Cells. A study published in Advanced Functional Materials in March 2026 used an In-Situ Solution Complexation strategy to improve the surface properties of a 2.0 eV Perovskite.
The resulting single-junction device achieved 15.7% Power Conversion Efficiency and an Open-Circuit Voltage of 1.41 V. When the Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Top Cell was combined with a 1.5 eV Perovskite Bottom Cell, the Monolithic All-Perovskite Tandem Device reached 24.2% efficiency. The broader goal is particularly interesting: such materials could eventually contribute to Perovskite/Perovskite/Silicon Triple-Junction architectures designed to capture sunlight more effectively.
Recent Research And Scientific Direction
Kang’s publication record remains active in 2026. Research published in September 2026 also lists him among the authors of work on Methylammonium-Free Tin-Lead Perovskite Solar Cells using Sinapic Acid, a bio-derived compound, as an additive. The reported devices achieved 23.2% efficiency and retained more than 90% of their performance after 5,200 hours under the study’s reported testing conditions.
Taken together, these recent projects reveal a clear direction. Kang’s work increasingly connects efficiency with Stability, Material Chemistry, Interface Engineering, Transparency, and Environmental Considerations. Instead of treating each challenge separately, the research attempts to improve several properties at the same time.
Publications And Research Collaboration
Scientific research in Advanced Photovoltaics is highly collaborative, and Kang’s publication record demonstrates this clearly. His studies include researchers from Chung-Ang University and other institutions, bringing together expertise in Energy Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Semiconductor Technology.
His recurring role as a Corresponding Author is particularly relevant when understanding his academic profile. A corresponding author commonly handles important aspects of communication surrounding a research paper and often has a senior or supervisory role in the project, although exact responsibilities differ by study. Kang’s presence in this role across multiple Solar-Energy publications shows his continuing involvement in directing and coordinating research.
Why Dong-Won Kang’s Research Matters
Dong-Won Kang’s work matters because the future of Solar Energy depends on more than simply improving a single efficiency record. Photovoltaic Technologies must become stable, reproducible, practical, and adaptable to different applications. A highly efficient material has limited value if it degrades quickly, cannot be manufactured consistently, or cannot work within the device architecture required for a particular application.
His research addresses these connected challenges through Perovskite Chemistry, Transparent Electrodes, Tandem Structures, Lead-Free Materials, Interface Engineering, and device stability. The possibility of Solar Windows is especially interesting because it demonstrates how future Photovoltaics might become part of surfaces that currently serve no electricity-generating purpose. Tandem and Triple-Junction concepts similarly show how researchers are attempting to capture more of the Solar Spectrum.
Final Thoughts
Dong-Won Kang has developed an academic career centered on Energy Conversion Materials and next-generation Photovoltaic Devices. From his Electrical Engineering education at Seoul National University and Postdoctoral Research in Japan to faculty positions at Cheongju University and Chung-Ang University, his career shows a consistent focus on advanced Energy Technology.
By 2026, his research covers Perovskite Solar Cells, Tin-Based Photovoltaics, Semitransparent Devices, Tandem Solar Cells, Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Materials, and Transparent Solar technologies. Perhaps the most useful way to understand his work is not through one individual efficiency figure, but through the broader problem he and his collaborators are addressing: how to turn promising Solar Materials into efficient, stable, and increasingly practical Energy Devices.
FAQs About Dong-Won Kang
Who Is Dong-Won Kang?
Dong-Won Kang is a South Korean Professor and researcher associated with Chung-Ang University in Seoul. His research focuses mainly on Energy Conversion Materials, Perovskite Solar Cells, Photovoltaic Devices, and related Semiconductor and Optoelectronic Technologies.
Where Does Dong-Won Kang Work?
As of 2026, Dong-Won Kang is affiliated with the School of Energy Systems Engineering at Chung-Ang University in Seoul, South Korea. He is also associated with the university’s Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory.
What Did Dong-Won Kang Study?
Kang earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Seoul National University in 2007. He later completed a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the same university in 2013.
What Does Dong-Won Kang Research?
His major research interests include Perovskite Solar Cells, Silicon-Based Energy Conversion, Thin-Film Photovoltaics, Tandem Solar Cells, Transparent Solar Devices, and related Optoelectronic Technologies. His recent work also includes Tin-Based and Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Perovskites.
What Is The Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory?
The Advanced Energy Devices Laboratory, or AEDL, is a research laboratory at Chung-Ang University associated with Kang. Its work centers on Energy Materials and Devices, including several types of Thin-Film and Emerging Solar Cell technologies.
Has Dong-Won Kang Worked On Transparent Solar Cells?
Yes. His publication record includes Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells and Visibly Transparent Perovskite/Organic Tandem Devices. This research is relevant to concepts such as electricity-generating windows and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics.
What Is Dong-Won Kang’s Recent Research Focus?
His 2025–2026 publications show strong interest in improving Perovskite efficiency, stability, reproducibility, transparency, and material design. Recent projects include Tin-Based Perovskites, Ultra-Wide-Bandgap Solar Cells, Transparent Tandem Devices, and advanced Interface Engineering.
Why Is Dong-Won Kang’s Work Important For Solar Energy?
His work addresses several barriers facing next-generation Solar Cells, particularly Stability, Efficiency, Transparency, Material Safety, and Tandem Device Design. Solving these problems could help emerging Photovoltaic Technologies move closer to practical applications in buildings and other Energy Systems.
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