• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.679-679
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• 2013

태양전지는 계속되는 유가상승과 무소음 무공해의 녹색에너지원이라는 점에서 각광받고 있다. 더욱이 발전단가가 높기 때문에 특히 저가의 다결정 실리콘 태양전지의 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 태양전지의 texturing 공정은 광 포획 효과를 극대화 시킨다. 이에 따라 웨이퍼 표면에 텍스쳐를 형성하여, 광학적 손실을 줄이는데, 일반적으로 alkaline etching (WET) 공정과 reactive ion etching (RIE) 공정이 사용된다. 본 연구에서는 RIE, WET 공정을 사용하여 만든 texturing 구조의 태양전지를 모듈 공정 진행 전 특성평가를 한 후 다시 모듈 공정 후 특성평가를 진행하였다. 특성평가는 태양전지의 전류-전압 곡선을 통해 개방전압, 단락전류, 곡선인자 을 측정하고, 파장에 따른 양자효율 및 반사율을 측정하였다. 또한 태양전지의 전기에너지를 가하여 생성되는 전계발광 현상과 NIR camera를 이용하여 Grain의 Dark Area 및 Micro crack을 검출하였다. 이와 같은 모듈 공정 전/후 특성을 측정하고, 이를 비교 분석하여 BIPV 적용 시 태양전지의 동작특성을 확인하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.461.1-461.1
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• 2014

본 연구진에서는 기존에 Ag2S 양자점을 흡광층으로 활용하여 양자점 감응형 태양전지(QDSC)를 제작, 그 성능과 특징을 분석하여 발표한 바 있다. 기존 연구에서 제작된 Ag2S QDSC는 11 mA/cm2의 비교적 높은 광전류와 260 mV의 비교적 낮은 전압으로 인해 1.2%의 광전환효율 성능을 나타내는 것으로 보고되었다. 추후 연구로 진행된 본 결과에서는, 기존에 Single absorber로 사용된 Ag2S의 한계를 보완하기 위해 CdS를 도입하여 co-sensitization을 활용하였다. CdS는 약 2.3 eV의 밴드갭 에너지를 갖는 물질로, 1.1 eV의 밴드갭을 갖는 Ag2S에 비해 흡광 영역은 좁지만 그만큼 전자-정공 재결합을 억제할 수 있는 장점을 가지고 있다. 또한, 전도층으로 사용한 n-type 물질인 ZnO 나노선과의 밴드구조가 매우 적합하게 조화되어, ZnO/CdS/Ag2S 순서로 이종구조를 접합시켰을 때 세 물질의 Conduction band level과 Valence band level이 순차적으로 연결되는 cascade-shaped 밴드구조를 이루게 된다. 빛을 받아 Ag2S와 CdS에서 생성된 전자는 이 cascade 모양의 conduction band를 따라 순차적으로 ZnO로 잘 전달되게 되어, 효율 향상에 큰 도움을 주었다. 이런 장점들로 인해, CdS-Ag2S co-sensitized QDSC는 Ag2S QDSC에 비해 2배나 향상된 효율인 2.4%를 기록하였으며, 이는 IPCE spectrum 측정 등으로 근거가 뒷받침되었다.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

Quantum dots (QDs) are attractive photosensitizer candidates for application not only in solar cells but also in solar hydrogen generation. For the prepartion of highly efficient QD-sensitized photoelectrodes, it is important to reduce electron recombination at the photoanode/electrolyte interface. Here, we study on the coating condition of ZnS passivation layers on the photoanodes in QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). The ZnS passivation layers are coated by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method, and as the cation precursor, zinc acetate and zinc nitrate are empolyed. Due to the higher pH of cation precursor solution, the ZnS loading is improved when the zinc acetate is used, compared to the zinc nitrate. This improved loading of ZnS leads to the reduced electron recombination at the surface of photoanodes and the enhaced conversion efficiency of QDSCs from 6.07% to 7.45%.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.126-129
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• 2015

Over the last two decades, quantum dot (QD) solar cells have attracted much attention due to the unique properties of QDs, including band gap tunability, slow hot electron cooling, and multiple exiton generation effect. However, most of the QDs employed in photovoltaic devices contain toxic heavy-metals such as cadmium or lead, which may limit the commercial application. Therefore, recently, heavy-metal-free QDs such as Cu-In-S or Cu-In-Se have been developed for application in solar cells. Here, we review the research trends in heavy-metal-free QD solar cells, mainly focusing on Cu-In-Se QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSC).

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.318-321
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• 2007

CdSe nanoparticles were prepared by chemical solution methods using $CdCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ (or $Cd(NO_3)_ 2{\cdot}4H_2O$) and $Na_2SeSO_3$. The characteristics of CdSe nanoparticles were controlled by the react ion time, reaction temperature and reaction method as well as the surfactants. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB) was used as a capping agent to control the chemical reactions in aqueous solution. Polyvinylalcohol(PVA) was used as a templet in sono-chemical method. CdSe nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous solution showed homogeneous size distribution with relatively stable surface. CdSe nanoparticles synthesized in non-aqueous solution containing diethanolamine(DEA) showed the structure transformation from cubic to hexagonal as the reduction temperature increased from 80 to $160^{\circ}C$. Core shell CdSe was synthesized by sono-chemical method. Characteristics of CdSe nanoparticles were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy(TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), x-ray diffraction(XRD), UV-Vis absorption spectra, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR) and photoluminescence spectra spectroscopy(PL). This paper presents simple routes to prepare CdSe nanoparticles for solar cell applications.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2015

CdS-QD particles are a nano-sized semiconducting crystal that emits light. Their optical properties show great potential in many areas of applications such as disease-diagnostic reagents, optical technologies, media industries and solar cells. The wavelength of emitting light depends on the particle size and thus the quality control of CdS-QD particle requires accurate determination of the size distribution. In this study, CdS-QD particles were synthesized by a simple ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation method. As a particle stabilizer polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were added. In order to determine the size and size distribution of the CdS-QD particles, sedimentation field-flow fractionation (SdFFF) was employed. Effects of carious parameters including the the flow rate, external field strength, and field programming conditions were investigated to optimize SdFFF for analysis of CdS-QD particles. The Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis show the primary single particle size was ~4 nm, TEM images indicate that the primarty particles were aggregated to form secondary particles having the mean size of about 159 nm. As the concentration of the stabilizer increases, the particle size tends to decrease. Mean size determined by SdFFF, TEM, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were 126, 159, and 152 nm, respectively. Results showed SdFFF may become a useful tool for determination of the size and its distribution of various types of inorganic particles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.135.2-135.2
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• 2014

Photon conversion technology for thin film solar cells is reviewed. The high-energy photons which are hardly absorbed in solar cells can be transformed the low energy photon by the photon conversion process such as down conversion or down shift, which can improve the solar cell efficiency over the material limit. CdSe-based quantum dot materials commonly used in LED can be used as the photon conversion layer for Si thin film solar cells. The photon conversion structure of CdSe-based quantum dot for Si thin film solar cells will be presented and the pros and cons for the Si thin film solar cells integrated with the photon conversion layers will be discussed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2019

Quantum dots (QDs) are an attractive material for application in solar energy conversion devices because of their unique properties including facile band-gap tuning, a high-absorption coefficient, low-cost processing, and the potential multiple exciton generation effect. Recently, highly efficient quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) have been developed based on CdSe, PbS, CdS, and Cu-In-Se QDs. However, for the commercialization and wide application of these QDSCs, replacing the conventional rigid glass substrates with flexible substrates is required. Here, we demonstrate flexible CISe QDSCs based on vertically aligned $TiO_2$ nanotube (NT) electrodes. The highly uniform $TiO_2$ NT electrodes are prepared by two-step anodic oxidation. Using these flexible photoanodes and semi-transparent Pt counter electrodes, we fabricate the QDSCs and examine their photovoltaic properties. In particular, photovoltaic performances are optimized by controlling the nanostructure of $TiO_2$ NT electrodes.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

Anodic oxidized $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays are promising materials for application in photoelectrochemical solar cells as the photoanode, because of their attractive properties including slow electron recombination rate, superior light scattering, and smooth electrolyte diffusion. However, because of the opacity of these nanotube electrodes, the back-side illumination is inevitable for the application in solar cells. Therefore, for the fabrication of solar cells with the anodic oxidized nanotube electrodes, it is required to develop efficient and transparent counter electrodes. Here, we demonstrate quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) based on the nanotube photoanode and transparent counter electrodes. The transparent counter electrodes based on Pt electrocatalysts were prepared by a simple thermal decomposition methods. The photovoltaic performances of QDSCs with nanotube photoanode were tested and optimized depending on the concentration of Pt precursor solutions for the preparation of counter electrodes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.210.1-210.1
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• 2013

ZnO는 태양전지의 투명전극 및 윈도우 물질로 그 동안 광범위하게 사용되어 왔다. 하지만 태양광의 효율 증가를 위하여서는 가시광 영역뿐만 아니라 자외선 및 적외선 영역을 이용할 필요가 있다. 또한 금속 산화물 반도체 나노 입자는 크기를 조절하여 흡수하는 태양광의 파장 영역을 조절할 수 있고 이를 이용하여 이종구조를 사지는 고효율의 태양전지를 구현할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 3.4 eV의 에너지 밴드갭을 가지는 ZnO박막내에 밴드갭을 조절 할 수 있는 금속 산화물 나노입자를 삽입하여 광학적, 전기적 특성을 연구하였다. ZnO 박막을 증착하기 전 유리 및 사파이어 기판에 스퍼터를 사용하여 Pt금속전극을 형성한 이후, ZnO 박막을 $1{\times}10^{-10}$ Torr의 기본 진공도를 유지하는 초고진공 스퍼터를 사용하여 100 nm 두께로 증착 하였다. 금속 산화물 나노 입자를 제작 하기 위하여, ZnO 박막에 열증착 장비(thermal evaporator)를 사용하여 In 나노 입자를 10 nm 이하의 크기로 제작 하였다. 그 상부에 초고진공 스퍼터 와 열증착 장비를 사용하여 ZnO 박막 및 In 나노 입자를 순차적으로 증착하여 수백 nm 두께의 ZnO 박막을 제작한다. ZnO 박막 내부에 형성된 In 양자점은 ZnO 증착공정 중에 산화되어 $In_2O_3$ 의 산화물 나노 입자로 형성되며, 내부의 구조는 투과전자 현미경을 사용하여 확인 하였다. 제작된 금속 산화물 나노입자가 포함된 ZnO 박막의 광학적 특성을 photoluminescence, UV-Vis spectroscopy, ellipsometry를 통하여 확인 하였으며, solar simulator와 전류-전압 특정 장비를 사용하여 전기적 특성을 분석 하였다.