Professor Lee Wen-Shi from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Taiwan's National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) stands out as a pioneering figure who has dedicated his career to developing innovative technologies that replace precious metals with more sustainable base metals, aiming to reduce production costs and promote sustainable use of Earth's natural resources. In recognition of his efforts, Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) has honored Lee as an exemplary educator, acknowledging his pivotal role in driving innovations within Taiwan's passive components industry and enhancing its presence in international markets.
Lee's journey began with a significant role at Philips, where he led research and development within the passive components department. In 2000, following the acquisition of the department by Yageo, he transitioned to academia to continue his pioneering work. Over the years, Lee, along with his academic research team, has unveiled four generations of innovative technologies designed to harness aluminum as a sustainable alternative to precious materials in various applications.
The first-generation technology introduced aluminum as a conductive material for chip resistors, offering a cost-effective substitute for the pricier silver. The second-generation technology shifted from copper to aluminum in flexible board conductors, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. In the third generation, the focus was on developing a protective layer technology capable of sintering base metals and alloys in ambient conditions. The fourth-generation innovation led to the creation of multilayer solid-state super-aluminum capacitors, mainly for applications in electric vehicles.
Prestigious honor
MOE sources reveal that in addition to pioneering four generations of innovative technologies for diverse applications, Lee's team has also set up a joint research center in cooperation with Yageo, a leading passive component manufacturer in Taiwan, yielding more than 10 patents annually. His remarkable achievements extend to the integration of 70 companies into the Passive Components Industry Association. These accomplishments have also won him the National Industry Innovation Award presented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, marking Lee as the first professor in the field of electrical engineering at NCKU to receive this prestigious honor.
Lee noted that despite its robust strength, Taiwan's electronics industry remains dependent on material supplies from Japan, the US, and China. To propel the industry into the future, he emphasized the need for substantial investments in forward-looking, long-term research programs, with horizons extending beyond five years regardless of a lower success rate. Lee is confident that with the dedication of his research team, base metals will completely replace precious metals in the long run.
Starting in August 2023, Lee's team embarks on a new research project targeting streamlined processes, cost-effective materials, and exceptional functional characteristics. Their latest endeavor introduces an additive process for manufacturing eco-friendly, carbon-neutral flexible copper conductors. The aim is to produce flexible board antennas by adopting a two-stage, environmentally friendly process. The first stage, referred to as the "additive process," supplants the conventional "subtractive process" involving copper foil pressing exposure and yellow light development, thereby sharply reducing waste generation by up to 80% during manufacturing.
The second stage of the project involves replacing the traditional non-electroplating chemical metal copper plating technology with a more eco-friendly metal copper plating approach. This change further minimizes the environmental footprint of the process, given the new technology's reduced environmental impact.
