• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1285-1290
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• 2017

We prepared ITZO thin films with various thicknesses on glass substrates using RF magnetron sputtering and investigated electrical, optical and structural properties of the thin film. Sheet resistance of ITZO thin film showed a decreasing trend on the increase of film thickness, but its resistivity exhibited a substantially constant value of $5.06{\pm}1.23{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}-cm$. Transmittance of ITZO thin film moved to the long-wavelength with the increase of film thickness. Figure of merit in a visible light and an absorption area of P3HT:PCBM organic active layer of the 360nm-thick IZTO thin film was $8.21{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}^{-1}$ and $9.29{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}^{-1}$, respectively. Through XRD and AFM measurements, it was confirmed that all the ITZO thin films have amorphous structure and the surface roughness of films are very smooth in the range of 0.561 to 0.263 nm. In this study, it was found that amorphous ITZO thin film is a very promising material for organic solar cell.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2011

The silicon-germanium (SiGe) alloy, which is compatible with silicon semiconductor technology and has a smaller band gap and a lower thermal conductivity than silicon, has been used to fabricate electronic devices such as transistors, photodetectors, solar cells, and thermoelectric devices. This paper reviews the application of SiGe alloys to electronic devices and related technical issues. Since the SiGe alloy comprises germanium whose band gap is smaller than silicon, its band gap is also smaller than that of silicon irrespective of the ratio of silicon to germanium. This narrow band gap of SiGe enables the base thickness of bipolar transistors to decrease without a loss in current gain so that it is possible to improve the speed of bipolar transistors by adopting the SiGe-base. In addition, the conversion efficiency of solar cells is enhanced by the absorption of long-wavelength light in the SiGe absorption layer. Phonon scattering caused by the irregular distribution of alloying elements induces the lower thermal conductivity of SiGe than those of pure silicon and germanium. Because a thin film layer with a low thermal conductivity suppresses thermal conduction through a thermal sink, the SiGe alloy is considered to be a promising material for silicon-based thermoelectric systems.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.169-179
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• 2024

Colloidal quantum dot (QDs) have emerged as a crucial building block for LEDs due to their size-tunable emission wavelength, narrow spectral line width, and high quantum efficiency. Tremendous efforts have been dedicated to improving the performance of quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) in the past decade, primarily focusing on optimization of device architectures and synthetic procedures for high quality QDs. However, despite these efforts, the commercialization of QLEDs has yet to be realized due to the absence of suitable large-scale patterning technologies for high-resolution devices., This review will focus on the development trends associated with transfer printing, photolithography, and inkjet printing, and aims to provide a brief overview of the fabricated QLED devices. The advancement of various quantum dot patterning methods will lead to the development of not only QLED devices but also solar cells, quantum communication, and quantum computers.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.97-102
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• 2019

Bifacial and semitransparent hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film solar cells in p-i-n configuration were prepared with front and rear transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrodes using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. Fluorine-doped tin oxide and tin-doped indium oxide films were used as front and rear TCO contacts, respectively. Film thickness of intrinsic a-Si:H absorber layers were controlled from 150 nm to 450 nm by changing deposition time. The dependence of performance characteristics of solar cells on the front and rear illumination direction were investigated. For front illumination, gradual increase in the short-circuit current density (J_SC) from 10.59 mA/㎠ to 14.19 mA/㎠ was obtained, whereas slight decreases from 0.83 V to 0.81 V for the open-circuit voltage (V_OC) and from 68.43% to 65.75% for fill factor (FF) were observed. The average optical transmittance in the wavelength region of 380 ~ 780 nm of the solar cells decreased gradually from 22.76% to 15.67% as the absorber thickness was changed from 150 nm to 450 nm. In case of the solar cells under rear illumination condition, the J_SC increased from 10.81 to 12.64 mA/㎠ and the FF deceased from 66.63% to 61.85%, while the V_OC values were maintained at 0.80 V with increasing the absorber thickness from 150 nm to 450 nm. By optimizing the deposition parameters, a high-quality bifacial and semitransparent a-Si:H solar cell with 350 nm-thick i-a-Si:H absorber layer exhibited the conversion efficiencies of 7.69% for front illumination and 6.40% for rear illumination, and average visible optical transmittance of 17.20%.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.309-333
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• 2011

Korea is one of the countries that propel new renewable energy industrialization actively in the context of change in this industrial structure. The previous government declared this kind of industrialization as a national goal in 2004 and the current government also supports this strategy. However, it is necessary to check whether this strategy is proper and effective. The reason is because solar, wind and fuel cells that have attracted public attention as the new growth engines cannot replace main industries yet. This paper tries to analyze the economic effects of new renewable energy industrialization by dividing them into production effect and job creation effect. The result of this analysis shows that solar energy is not effective at all, while wind energy is very effective in both production and job creation. In conclusion, this paper suggests that the government has to propel new renewable energy industrialization after consideration of these kinds of economic effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2000

최근 비정질 SiC 박막은 열과 광안정도면에서 비정질 Si 박막에 비해 우수하며 공정변수들을조절함으로써 비교적 쉽고 다양하게 광학적.전기적 특성을 얻을 수 있고, 낮은 광흡수계수 및 105($\Omega$cm)1 이상의 높은 전도도를 가지고 있어 Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition(PECVD)을 통해 가전자제어 (Valency electron control)가 가능한 비정질 SiC 박막이 제작된 이래 대한 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 결정성이 없는 비정질 물질은 상대적으로 낮은 온도에서 성장이 가능하며, 특히 glow-sidcharge 방식으로 저온에서 성장시킬 수 있음에 따라 유리등과 같은 다른 저렴한 물질을 기판으로 이용, 넓은 면적의 비정질 SiC 박막을 성장시켜 여러 분야의 소자에 응용되고 있다. 비정질 SiC 박막이 넓은 에너지띠 간격을 갖는 물질이라는 점과 화학적 안정성 및 높은 경도, 비정질성에 기인한 대면적 성장의 용이성 등의 장점이외에, 원자의 성분비 변화에 의해 에너지띠 간격(1.7~3.1eV)을 조절할 수 있다는 점은 광전소자의 응용에 큰 잠재성이 있음을 나타낸다. PECVD 방식으로 성장된 비정질 SiC 박막은 태양전지의 Window층이나 발광다이오드, 광센서, 광트랜지스터 등에 응용되어 오고 있다. 본 연구에서는, RF-PECVD(ULVAC CPD-6018) 방법에 의하여 비정질 Si1-xCx 박막을 2.73Torr의 고정된 압력에서 RF 전력(50~300W), 증착온도(150~30$0^{\circ}C$), 주입 가스량 (SiH4:CH4)등의 조건을 다양하게 변화시켜가며 증착된 막의 특성을 평가하였다. 성장된 박막을 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy(XPS), UV-VIS spectrophotometer, Ellipsometry, Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM)등을 이용하여 광학적 밴드갭, 광흡수 계수, Tauc Plot, 그리고 파장대별 빛의 투과도의 변화를 분석하였으며 각 변수가 변화함에 따라 광학적 밴드갭의 변화를 정량적으로 조사함으로써 분자결합상태와 밴드갭과 광 흡수 계수간의상관관계를 규명하였고, 각 변수에 따른 표면의 조도를 확인하였다. 비정질 Si1-xCx 박막을 증착하여 특성을 분석한 결과 성장된 박막의 성장률은 Carbonfid의 증가에 따라 다른 성장특성을 보였고, Silcne(SiH4) 가스량의 감소와 함께 박막의 성장률이 둔화됨을 볼 수 있다. 또한 Silane 가스량이 적어지는 영역에서는 가스량의 감소에 의해 성장속도가 둔화됨을 볼 수 있다. 또한 Silane 가스량이 적어지는 영역에서는 가스량의 감소에 의해 성장속도가 줄어들어 성장률이 Silane가스량에 의해 지배됨을 볼 수 있다. UV-VIS spectrophotometer에 의한 비정질 SiC 박막의 투과도와 파장과의 관계에 있어 유리를 기판으로 사용했으므로 유리의투과도를 감안했으며, 유리에 대한 상대적인 비율 관계로 투과도를 나타냈었다. 또한 비저질 SiC 박막의 흡수계수는 Ellipsometry에 의해 측정된 Δ과 Ψ값을 이용하여 시뮬레이션한 결과로 비정질 SiC 박막의 두께를 이용하여 구하였다. 또한 Tauc Plot을 통해 박막의 optical band gap을 2.6~3.7eV로 조절할 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2003

A stoichiometric mixture of evaporating materials for $CuGaSe_2$ single crystal thin films was prepared from horizontal electric furnace. Using extrapolation method of X-ray diffraction patterns for the polycrystal $CuGaSe_2$, it was found tetragonal structure whose lattice constant $a_0$ and $c_0$ were $5.615{\AA}$ and $11.025{\AA}$, respectively. To obtain the single crystal thin films, $CuGaSe_2$ mixed crystal was deposited on thoroughly etched semi-insulating GaAs(100) substrate by the hot wall epitaxy (HWE) system. The source and substrate temperatures were $610^{\circ}C$ and $450^{\circ}C$, respectively. The crystalline structure of the single crystal thin films was investigated by the photoluminescence and double crystal X-ray diffraction (DCXD). The carrier density and mobility of $CuGaSe_2$ single crystal thin films measured with Hall effect by van der Pauw method are $5.01\times10^{17}cm^{-3}$ and $245cm^2/V{\cdot}s$ at 293K. respectively. The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $CuGaSe_2$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's relation, $E_g$(T)=1.7998 eV-($8.7489\times10^{-4}$ eV/K)$T^2$/(T+335K). After the as-grown $CuGaSe_2$ single crystal thin films was annealed in Cu-, Se-, and Ga-atmospheres, the origin of point defects of $CuGaSe_2$ single crystal thin films has been investigated by the photoluminescence(PL) at 10 K. The native defects of $V_{CU},\;V_{Se},\;Cu_{int}$ and $Se_{int}$ obtained by PL measurements were classified as a donors or acceptors type. And we concluded that the heat-treatment in the Cu-atmosphere converted $CuGaSe_2$ single crystal thin films to an optical n-type. Also, we confirmed that Ga in $CuGaSe_2$/GaAs did not form the native defects because Ga in $CuGaSe_2$ single crystal thin films existed in the form of stable bonds.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

Functional coatings, such as anti-reflection and self-cleaning, are frequently applied to cover glass for photovoltaic applications. Anti-reflection coatings made of mesoporous silica film have been shown to enhance the light transmittance. $TiO_2$ photocatalyst films are often applied as a self-cleaning coating. In this study, transparent hydrophobic anti-reflective and self-cleaning coatings made of $SiO_2/TiO_2$ thin layers were fabricated on a slide glass substrate by the sol-gel and dip-coating processes. The morphology of the functional coatings was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The optical properties of the functional coatings were investigated using an UV-visible spectrophotometer. Contact angle measurements were performed to confirm the hydrophobicity of the surface. The results showed that the $TiO_2$ films exhibit a high transmittance comparable to that of the bare slide glass substrate. The $TiO_2$ nanoparticles make the film more reflective and lead to a lower transmittance. However, the transmittance of the $SiO_2/TiO_2$ thin layers is 93.5% at 550 nm with a contact angle of $110^{\circ}$, which is higher than that of the bare slide glass (2.0%).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.305-305
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• 2014

양자점(Quantum dots)은 3차원적 운반자 구속과 낮은 전류와 높은 온도에서 작동하는 나노 크기의 전기적, 광학적 소자로 응용이 적합하기 때문에 그 특성을 이용한 단전자 트랜지스터, 적외선 검출기, 레이저, LED, 태양전지 등 반도체 소자로의 응용연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 특히 양자점의 낮은 임계전류밀도와 높은 차동 이득(differential gain), 그리고 고온에서 작동이 용이하여 양자점 레이저로 활용되고 있다. 이러한 분야에 양자점을 응용하기 위해서는 양자점의 운반자 동역학을 이해하고 양자점의 모양, 크기, 크기 분포와 같은 특성 조절이 필요하다. 또한 기존의 연구들은 III-V족 화합물 반도체 양자점에 대한 연구가 대부분이며, II-VI족으로 구성된 연구가 미흡한 상황이기 때문에 II-VI족 화합물 반도체 양자점에 대한 많은 연구가 필요한 상황이다. II-VI 족 화합물 반도체 양자점은 기존의 III-V 족 양자점보다 더 큰 엑시톤 결합에너지(exciton binding energy)를 가지고 있으며, 이러한 특성을 가지는 II-VI 족 화합물 반도체 양자점 중에서도 CdTe 양자점은 높은 엑시톤 결합에너지와 녹색 스펙트럼 영역을 필요로 하는 광학적 장치들에 응용 가능성이 높기 때문에 더욱 주목받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 분자 선속 에피 성장법(Molecular Beam Epitaxy; MBE)과 원자 층 교대 성장법(Atomic Layer Epitaxy; ALE)으로 CdTe/ZnTe 나노구조에서 ZnTe 완충층의 두께에 따른 운반자 동역학 및 광학적 특성을 연구 하였다. 저온 광루미네센스 측정(Photoluminescence; PL) 을 통하여 ZnTe 완충층 두께가 증가할수록 양자점의 광루미네센스 피크가 낮은 에너지로 이동함을 알 수 있었는데, 이는 ZnTe 완충층의 두께가 증가할수록 ZnTe 완충층과 CdTe 양자점의 격자 불일치(lattice mismatch)로 인한 구조 변형력이 감소하고 이에 따라 CdTe 양자점으로 가해지는 변형(Strain)이 감소하여 CdTe 양자점의 크기가 증가했기 때문이다. 그리고 ZnTe 완충층의 두께가 증가할수록 PL 세기가 증가함을 알 수 있었는데, 이는 ZnTe 완충층의 두께가 증가할수록 양자 구속 효과로부터 electronic state와 conduction band edge 사이의 에너지 차이의 증가 때문이다. 또한 시분해 광루미네센스 측정 결과 ZnTe의 두께가 증가할수록 양자점의 소멸 시간이 더 길게 측정되었는데, 이는 더 큰 양자점 일수록 엑시톤 오실레이터 강도가 감소하기 때문에 더 긴 소멸 시간을 나타내는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 결과적으로 본 연구는 ZnTe 두께 변화를 통해 양자점의 에너지 밴드를 제어할 수 있으며, 양자점의 효율 향상을 할 수 있는 좋은 방법임을 제시하고 있다.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 2012

CdS thin films have been widely used as a buffer layer of CIGS semiconductor solar cells to reduce the lattice mismatch between transparent electrode and absorber layer. In order to prepare the CdS films with high transparency and low resistivity, they were deposited by varying Cd concentration with the constant S concentration in the solution using chemical bath deposition method. They were analyzed in terms of structural, optical and electrical properties of CdS films according to the $[S^{2-}]/[Cd^{2+}]$ ratio. In the case of Cd concentration higher than S concectration, CdS thin films were formed mainly by cluster- by-cluster formation due to the homogeneous reaction between Cd and S in the solution. Therefore the grain size increased and the transmittance decreased. On the other hand, in the case of Cd concentration lower than S concentration, CdS films were formed by heterogeneous reaction on the substrate rather than in the solution. The CdS films have the grains with the uniform circular shape of a few hundreds ${\AA}$. As the Cd concentration increased in the solution, the $[S^{2-}]/[Cd^{2+}]$ ratio decreased and the resistivity decreased by the increase in the carrier concentration due to the formation S vacancy by the excess Cd.