Metrology and Inspection Research

The Kim research group is dedicated to the research, development, and application of novel metrology and inspection science for advanced and multifunctional nanomaterials. Our work has the potential to impact a broad spectrum of manufacturing products and in-situ analysis, ranging from microchips to the synthesis of low-dimensional nanomaterials such as quantum dots, TMDCs, and nanowires. Metrology and Inspection (MI) has been increasingly important for nine major processes of semiconducting device fabrication. MI plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and reliability of the semiconductor devices being manufactured. Advanced measurement and inspection technologies are employed at various stages to monitor and control critical parameters, thereby enabling the production of high-performance, high-density semiconductor devices. We have developed hyperspectral phase microscopy (HPM) as an advancement of phase shift interferometry (PSI). Our focus on metrology and inspection integrates a variety of multidisciplinary sciences and technologies, with a strong emphasis on semiconductor device physics, as well as photonics, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, and quantum mechanics.

Hyperspectral Imaging Research

Hyperspectral imaging merges spatial and spectral information to enhance our understanding of the world. The field of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) includes a variety of techniques that allow for imaging objects from the nanoscale to the remote sensing scale. Our multidisciplinary research is pioneering new applications of spectral imaging to study fundamental studies and various applications.

Hyper-personalization and hyper-customization with consumer electronics for human’s daily life have been increasingly emphasized. To expedite this necessity, developing suitable sensors and evaluation methodology is the key issue. With the aid of machine-learning (ML) based statistical analysis, versatility in its functions and performance of the traditional sensors have been greatly achieved in the literatures. In particular, ambiguous quantities regarding human motions, touch feelings and etc. have been measured in the literatures. Still, appropriate solutions for human’s everyday interest regarding food inspection, healthcare, beauty care and etc still have long way to go for the level of daily life base consumer electronics.

-      Spectral Barcode for Drug Classification by Smartphone

  Nature Communications (2023) 

   -      Hyperspectral Image Sensor for Machine Vision

Hyperspectral imaging technique has been demonstrated as possible use of machine vision for consumer electronics such as smartphone and refrigerator. Meat Freshness for Refrigerator and smartphone is one of the examples.

     -      Polychromatic Vision for Smart Farming

Artificial vision with finely resolved polychromatic artificial cone cells can be demonstrated surpassing human vision using visible multispectral camera. This provides insights on designing novel bio-inspired vision system by understanding animal vision in nature.