• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.2497-2502
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• 2014

The 5 wt.% Ga-doped zinc oxide (GZO) thin films were fabricated on PES substrates with various RF power 50~80 W by using RF magnetron sputtering in order to investigate the optical and electrical properties of GZO thin films. The XRD measurement showed that GZO thin films exhibit c-axis orientation. At a RF power of 70W, the GZO thin film showed the highest (002) diffraction peak with a Full-Width-Half-Maximum (FWHM) of $0.44^{\circ}$. AFM analysis showed that the lowest surface roughness (0.20 nm) was obtained for the GZO thin film fabricated at 70 W of RF power. The electrical property indicated that the minimum resistivity ($6.93{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$) and maximum carrier concentration ($7.04{\times}10^{20}cm^{-3}$) and hall mobility ($12.70cm^2/Vs$) were obtained in the GZO thin film fabricated at 70W of RF power. The optical transmittance in the visible region was higher than 80 %, regardless of RF power. The optical band-gap showed the slight blue-shift with increased in carrier concentration which can be explained by the Burstein-Moss effect.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.887-892
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• 2019

In this study, after 20nm-thick $SiO_2$ thin film was deposited by PECVD method on the PES substrate, which is known to have the highest heat resistance among plastic substrates, as a buffer layer, ITZO thin films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering method to investigate the electrical and optical properties according to the working pressure. The ITZO thin film deposited at the working pressure of 3mTorr showed the best electrical properties with a resistivity of $8.02{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}-cm$ and a sheet resistance of $50.13{\Omega}/sq.$. The average transmittance in the visible region (400-800nm) of all ITZO films was over 80% regardless of working pressure. The Figure of merit showed the largest value of $23.90{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}^{-1}$ in the ITZO thin film deposited at 3mTorr. This study found that ITZO thin films are very promising materials to replace ITO thin films in next-generation flexible display devices.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

In the current era of the global mobile smart device revolution, electronic devices are required in all spaces that people interact with. The establishment of the internet of things (IoT) among smart devices has been recognized as a crucial objective to advance towards creating a comfortable and sustainable future society. In-mold electronic (IME) processes have gained significant industrial significance due to their ability to utilize conventional high-volume methods, which involve printing functional inks on 2D substrates, thermoforming them into 3D shapes, and injection-molded, manufacturing low-cost, lightweight, and functional components or devices. In this article, we provide an overview of IME and its latest advances in application. We review biomimetic nanomaterials for constructing self-supporting biosensor electronic materials on the body, energy storage devices, self-powered devices, and bio-monitoring technology from the perspective of in-mold electronic devices. We anticipate that IME device technology will play a critical role in establishing a human-machine interface (HMI) by converging with the rapidly growing flexible printed electronics technology, which is an integral component of the fourth industrial revolution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.100-101
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• 2012

The plasma damage free and room temperature processedthin film deposition technology is essential for realization of various next generation organic microelectronic devices such as flexible AMOLED display, flexible OLED lighting, and organic photovoltaic cells because characteristics of fragile organic materials in the plasma process and low glass transition temperatures (Tg) of polymer substrate. In case of directly deposition of metal oxide thin films (including transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS)) on the organic layers, plasma damages against to the organic materials is fatal. This damage is believed to be originated mainly from high energy energetic particles during the sputtering process such as negative oxygen ions, reflected neutrals by reflection of plasma background gas at the target surface, sputtered atoms, bulk plasma ions, and secondary electrons. To solve this problem, we developed the NBAS (Neutral Beam Assisted Sputtering) process as a plasma damage free and room temperature processed sputtering technology. As a result, electro-optical properties of NBAS processed ITO thin film showed resistivity of $4.0{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}m$ and high transmittance (>90% at 550 nm) with nano- crystalline structure at room temperature process. Furthermore, in the experiment result of directly deposition of TCO top anode on the inverted structure OLED cell, it is verified that NBAS TCO deposition process does not damages to the underlying organic layers. In case of deposition of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin film on the plastic polymer substrate, the room temperature processed sputtering coating of high quality TCO thin film is required. During the sputtering process with higher density plasma, the energetic particles contribute self supplying of activation & crystallization energy without any additional heating and post-annealing and forminga high quality TCO thin film. However, negative oxygen ions which generated from sputteringtarget surface by electron attachment are accelerated to high energy by induced cathode self-bias. Thus the high energy negative oxygen ions can lead to critical physical bombardment damages to forming oxide thin film and this effect does not recover in room temperature process without post thermal annealing. To salve the inherent limitation of plasma sputtering, we have been developed the Magnetic Field Shielded Sputtering (MFSS) process as the high quality oxide thin film deposition process at room temperature. The MFSS process is effectively eliminate or suppress the negative oxygen ions bombardment damage by the plasma limiter which composed permanent magnet array. As a result, electro-optical properties of MFSS processed ITO thin film (resistivity $3.9{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$, transmittance 95% at 550 nm) have approachedthose of a high temperature DC magnetron sputtering (DMS) ITO thin film were. Also, AOS (a-IGZO) TFTs fabricated by MFSS process without higher temperature post annealing showed very comparable electrical performance with those by DMS process with $400^{\circ}C$ post annealing. They are important to note that the bombardment of a negative oxygen ion which is accelerated by dc self-bias during rf sputtering could degrade the electrical performance of ITO electrodes and a-IGZO TFTs. Finally, we found that reduction of damage from the high energy negative oxygen ions bombardment drives improvement of crystalline structure in the ITO thin film and suppression of the sub-gab states in a-IGZO semiconductor thin film. For realization of organic flexible electronic devices based on plastic substrates, gas barrier coatings are required to prevent the permeation of water and oxygen because organic materials are highly susceptible to water and oxygen. In particular, high efficiency flexible AMOLEDs needs an extremely low water vapor transition rate (WVTR) of $1{\times}10^{-6}gm^{-2}day^{-1}$. The key factor in high quality inorganic gas barrier formation for achieving the very low WVTR required (under ${\sim}10^{-6}gm^{-2}day^{-1}$) is the suppression of nano-sized defect sites and gas diffusion pathways among the grain boundaries. For formation of high quality single inorganic gas barrier layer, we developed high density nano-structured Al2O3 single gas barrier layer usinga NBAS process. The NBAS process can continuously change crystalline structures from an amorphous phase to a nano- crystalline phase with various grain sizes in a single inorganic thin film. As a result, the water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ gas barrier film have improved order of magnitude compared with that of conventional $Al_2O_3$ layers made by the RF magnetron sputteringprocess under the same sputtering conditions; the WVTR of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ gas barrier film was about $5{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2/day$ by just single layer.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.267-271
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• 2009

Multicomponent transparent conducting oxide films were deposited on glass substrates at 150 by dual magnetron sputtering of AZO and ITO targets. In the case of mixing a limited amount of ITO (10W), resistivity of TCO films was significantly increased compared to the AZO film; from $3.5{\times}10^{-3}$ to $9.7{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$. Deterioration of the electrical conductivity is attributed to the decreases in carrier concentration and Hall mobility. Improvement of the conductivity could be obtained for the films prepared with ITO powers larger than 40 W. The lowest resistivity ($\rho$) of $7.3{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ was achieved when ITO power was 100 W. Effects of $H_2$ incorporation on the electrical and optical properties of AZO-ITO films were investigated in this work. Addition of small amount of hydrogen resulted in the increase of carrier concentration and the improvement of electrical conductivity. It is apparent that the roughness of AZO-ITO films decreases dramatically after the transition of microstructure from polycrystalline to amorphous phase, which gives practical advantages such as an excellent uniformity of surface and a high etching rate. AZO-ITO films grown at sputtering ambient with hydrogen gas are expected to be applicable to optoelectronic devices such as organic light emitting diodes and flexible displays due to their sufficient electrical and structural properties.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2014

High-efficiency in $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cells were usually achieved on soda-lime glass substrates due to Na incorporation that reduces deep-level defects. However, this supply of sodium from sodalime glass to CIGS through Mo back electrode could be limited at low deposition temperature. Na content could be more precisely controlled by supplying Na from known amount of an outside source. For the purpose, an $Na_2S$ layer was deposited on Mo electrode prior to CIGS film deposition and supplied to CIGS during CIGS film. With the $Na_2S$ underlayer a more uniform component distribution was possible at $350^{\circ}C$ and efficiency was improved compared to the cell without $Na_2S$ layer. With more precise control of bulk and surface component profile, CIGS film can be deposited at low temperature and could be useful for flexible CIGS solar cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.121-125
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• 2015

GZO single layer, Ni buffered GZO(GZO/Ni), Ni intermediated GZO (GZO/Ni/GZO) and Ni capped GZO (Ni/GZO) films were prepared on poly-carbonate (PC) substrates by RF and DC magnetron sputtering without intentional substrate heating and then the influence of the Ni (2 nm thick) thin film on the optical, electrical and structural properties of GZO films were investigated. As deposited GZO single layer films show the optical transmittance of 81.3% in the visible wavelength region and a resistivity of $1.0{\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}cm$, while GZO/Ni/GZO trilayer films show a lower resistivity of $6.4{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}cm$ and an optical transmittance of 74.5% in this study. Based on the figure of merit, it can be concluded that the intermediated Ni thin film effectively enhances the opto-electrical performance of GZO films for use as transparent conducting oxides in flexible display applications.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.19-23
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• 2018

In this study, the feasibility of Al-based transparent electrodes for optoelectronic devices was investigated. Al thin films having thickness in the range of 3-12 nm were deposited on glass substrates, and sheet resistance was measured for films thicker than 7 nm and the values continue to decrease with increasing film thickness. The grain size in the films was found to increase with increasing grain size. 85% visible light transmittance was measured at the thickness of 3 nm, and decreased to 50% and 60% when the film thickness reaches 4 nm and 5 nm, respectively. The results of this study can be used in the applications of oxide/metal/oxide type transparent electrodes.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Large-area two-dimensional (2D) materials synthesized by chemical vapor deposition on donor substrates are promising functional materials for conductors, semiconductors, and insulators in flexible and transparent devices. In most cases, 2D materials should be transferred from a donor substrate to a target substrate; however, 2D materials are prone to damage during the transfer process. The damages to 2D materials during transfer are caused by contamination, tearing, and chemical doping. For the commercialization of 2D materials, a damage-free, large-area, and productive transfer process is needed. However, a transfer process that meets all three requirements has yet to be developed. In this paper, we review the recent progress in the development of transfer processes for 2D materials, and discuss the principles, advantages, and limitations of each process. The future prospects of transfer processes are also discussed. To simplify the discussion, the transfer processes are classified into four categories: wet transfer, dry transfer, mechanical transfer, and electro-chemical transfer. Finally, the "roll-to-roll" and "roll-to-plate" dry transfer process is proposed as the most promising method for the commercialization of 2D materials. Moreover, for successful dry transfer of 2D materials, it is necessary to clearly understand the adhesion properties, viscoelastic behaviors, and mechanical deformation of the transfer film used as a medium in the transfer process.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1028-1032
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• 2009

In this study, the influences of silicon-based gas barrier films fabricated by using a facing target sputtering(FTS) system on the gas permeability for flexible displays have been investigated. Under these optimum conditions on the $SiO_x$ film with oxygen concentration($O_2/Ar+O_2$) of 3.3% and the $SiO_xN_y$ film with nitrogen concentration($N_2/Ar+O_2+N_2$) of 30% deposited by the FTS system, it was found that the films were grown about 4 times higher deposition rate than that of the conventional sputtering system and showed high transmittance about 85% in the visible light range. Particularly, the polyethylene naphthalate(PEN) substrates with the $SiO_x$ and/or $SiO_xN_y$ films showed the enhanced properties of decreased water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) over $10^{-1}\;g/m^2{\cdot}day$ compared with the PEN substrate without any gas barrier films, which was due to high packing density in the Si-based films with high plasma density by FTS process and/or the denser chemical structure of Si-N bond in the $SiO_xN_y$ film.