• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.291-294
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• 2015

Recently, ZnO based oxide TFTs used in the flexible and transparent display devices are widely studied. To apply to OLED display switching devices, electrical performance and stability are important issues. In this study, to improve these electrical properties, we fabricated TFTs having Al doped Zinc Oxide (AZO) layer inserted between the gate insulator and ZnO layer. The AZO and ZnO layers are deposited by Atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. I-V transfer characteristics and stability of the suggested devices are investigated under the positive gate bias condition while the channel defects are also analyzed by the photoluminescence spectrum. The TFTs with AZO layer show lower threshold voltage ($V_{th}$) and superior sub-threshold slop. In the case of $V_{th}$ shift after positive gate bias stress, the stability is also better than that of ZnO channel TFTs. This improvement is thought to be caused by the reduced defect density in AZO/ZnO stack devices, which can be confirmed by the photoluminescence spectrum analysis results where the defect related deep level emission of AZO is lower than that of ZnO layer.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2001

$Ga_2O_3$(1 wt%)-doped ZnO(GZO) thin films were grown on ${\alpha}-Al_2O_3$ (0001) by rf magnetron sputtering at $510^{\circ}C$, whose crystal structure was polycrystalline. As-grown GZO thin film shows poor electrical properties and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. To improve these properties, GZO thin films were annealed at 800-$900^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$atmosphere for 3 min. After the rapid thermal annealing(RTA), deep defect-level emission disappears and near-band emission is greatly enhanced. Annealed GZO thin films show very low resisitivity of $2.6\times10^{-4}\Omega$/cm with $3.9\times10^{20}/\textrm{cm}^3$ carrier concentration and exceptionally high mobility of 60 $\textrm{cm}^2$/V.s. These improved physical properties are explained in terms of translation of doped-Ga atoms from interstitial to substitutional site.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2015

CIGS solar cell consisted of various films. In this research, we investigated electrode materials in $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) cells, including Al-doped ZnO (ZnO:Al), intrinsic ZnO (i-ZnO), and Al films. The sputtered ZnO:Al film with a sputtering power at 200W showed the lowest series resistance and highest cell efficiency. The electrical resistivity of the 200-W sputtered ZnO:Al film was $5.2{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ by the rapid thermal annealing at $200^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. The electrical resistivity of i-ZnO was not measurable due to its high resistance. But the optical transmittance was highest with less oxygen supply and high efficiency cell was achieved with $O_2/(Ar+O_2)$ ratio was 1% due to the increase of short-circuit current. No significant change in the cell performance by inserting a Ni layer between Al and ZnO:Al films was observed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2008

We have demonstrated the combinatorial synthesis of a variety of transparent conducting oxides using a combinatorial sputter system. The effects of a wide range of Nb or Zn doping rate on the optical and electrical properties of Indium-tin oxides (ITO) films were investigated. The Nb or Zn doped ITO films were fabricated on glass substrates, using combinatorial sputtering system which yields a linear composition spread of Nb or Zn concentration in ITO films in a controlled manner by co-sputtering two targets of ITO and $Nb_2O_5$ or ITO and ZnO. We have examined the work-function, resistivity, and optical properties of the Nb or Zn-doped ITO films. Furthermore, the effects of Hz plasma treatment on the physical properties of Ga or Zn doped ITO films synthesized by combinatorial sputter system were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.138-138
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• 2009

Al, Ga and In doped ZnO thin film were prepared by faing targets sputtering as a function of oxygen gas contents at R.T. Base pressure was $2{\times}10^{-6}torr$, and working pressure was 1mTorr. The properties of thin films on the electrical and optical properties of the deposited films were investigated by using a four-point probe (Chang-min), a Hall Effect measurement (Ecopia) and an UV/VIS spectrometer (HP). The minimum resistivities of AZO, GZO and IZO thin film were $6.5{times}10^{-4}[{\Omega}-cm],5.5{\times}10^{-4}[{\Omega}-cm]$ and $4.29{\times}10^{-4}[{\Omega}-cm]$. The average transmittance of over 80% was seen in the visible range.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.327-327
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• 2009

ZnO with a large band gap (~3.37 eV) and exciton binding energy (~60 meV), is suitable for optoelectronic applications such as ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) and detectors. However, the ZnO-based p-n homojunction is not readily available because it is difficult to fabricate reproducible p-type ZnO with high hall concentration and mobility. In order to solve this problem, there have been numerous attempts to develop p-n heterojunction LEDs with ZnO as the n-type layer. The n-ZnO/p-GaN heterostructure is a good candidate for ZnO-based heterojunction LEDs because of their similar physical properties and the reproducible availability of p-type GaN. Especially, the reduced lattice mismatch (~1.8 %) and similar crystal structure result in the advantage of acquiring high performance LED devices. In particular, a number of ZnO films show UV band-edge emission with visible deep-level emission, which is originated from point defects such as oxygen vacancy, oxygen interstitial, zinc interstitial[1]. Thus, defect-related peak positions can be controlled by variation of growth or annealing conditions. In this work, the undoped ZnO film was grown on the p-GaN:Mg film using RF magnetron sputtering method. The undoped ZnO/p-GaN:Mg heterojunctions were annealed in a horizontal tube furnace. The annealing process was performed at $800^{\circ}C$ during 30 to 90 min in air ambient to observe the variation of the defect states in the ZnO film. Photoluminescence measurements were performed in order to confirm the deep-level position of the ZnO film. As a result, the deep-level emission showed orange-red color in the as-deposited film, while the defect-related peak positions of annealed films were shifted to greenish side as increasing annealing time. Furthermore, the electrical resistivity of the ZnO film was decreased after annealing process. The I-V characteristic of the LEDs showed nonlinear and rectifying behavior. The room-temperature electroluminescence (EL) was observed under forward bias. The EL showed a weak white and strong yellowish emission colors (~575 nm) in the undoped ZnO/p-GaN:Mg heterojunctions before and after annealing process, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.259-259
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• 2011

염료감응형 태양전지(Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells:DSSC)는 환경 친화적이며, 저가의 공정에 대한 가능성으로 기존의 고가의 결정질 실리콘 태양전지의 경제적인 대안으로 각광을 받고 있다. 최근 염료감응형 태양전지는 투명 전도성 산화막(Transparent Conducting Oxide : TCO)으로 사용되는 Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO)가 증착된 유리기판 위에 주로 제작된다. FTO는 낮은 비저항과 가시광선 영역에서 높은 투과도를 가지는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성을 갖지만, 비교적 공정이 까다로운 Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)법으로 제조하며, 전체 공정비용의 60%를 차지하는 높은 생산단가로 인해 현재 FTO를 대체할 재료개발 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 그 중 ZnO (Zinc Oxide)는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 비교적 저렴한 가격으로 새로운 TCO로써 주목받고 있다. ZnO는 넓은 energy band gap (3.4 [eV])의 육방정계 울자이트(hexagonal wurtzite) 결정 구조를 가지는II-VI족 n형 반도체 물질이며, III족 금속원소인 Al, Ga 및 In 등의 불순물을 첨가하면 TCO로서 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 안정성을 나타낸다. 이들 물질중 $Zn^{2+}$ (0.060 nm)의 이온반경과 유사한 $Ga^{2+}$0.062 nm) 이온이 ZnO의 격자반경을 최소화 시킬 수 있다는 장점으로 최근 주목 받고 있다. 하지만 Ga-doped ZnO (GZO)의 경우 DSC에 사용되는 루테늄 계열의 산성 염료 하에 장시간 두면 표면이 파괴되는 문제가 발생하며, $TiO_2$ paste를 Printing 후 열처리하는 과정에서도 박막의 파괴가 발생할 수 있다. 이를 방지하기 위해 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 GZO 투명전극 위에 증착하였다. 또한, $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 적용한 GZO 박막을 전면전극으로 이용하여 DSC를 제작하여 효율을 확인하였다. 2wt%의 $Ga_2O_3$가 도핑된 ZnO 박막은 20mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)에 의해 성장되었고, $TiO_2$박막은 Ti 금속을 타겟으로 이용하여 30mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 증착되었다. Scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)을 이용한 박막 분석 결과 $TiO_2$가 증착된 GZO 박막의 경우 표면 파괴가 일어나지 않았다. Solar Simulator을 이용하여 I-V특성 측정결과 상용 FTO를 사용한 DSC 수준의 효율을 나타내었다. 이에 따라 Pulsed Laser Deposition을 이용해 제작된 GZO 기판은 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 이용하여 표면 파괴를 방지할 수 있었으며, 이는 향후 염료감응형 태양전지의 투명전극에 적용 가능 할 것으로 판단된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.688-688
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• 2013

Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films have attracted a lot of attention as a cheap transparent conducting oxide (TCO) material that can replace the expensive Sn-doped In2O3. In particular, AZO thin films are widely used as a window layer of chalcogenide-based thin film solar cells such as Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS). Mostly important requirements for the window layer material of the thin film solar cells are the high transparency and the low sheet resistance, because they influence the light absorption by the activelayer and the electron collection from the active layer, respectively. In this study, we prepared the AZO thin films by RF magnetron sputtering using a ZnO/Al2O3 (98：2wt%) ceramic target, and the effect of the sputtering condition such as the working pressure, RF power, and the working distance on the optical, electrical, and crystallographic properties of the AZO thin films was investigated. The AZO thin films with optimized properties were used as a window layer of CZTS thin film solar cells. The CZTS active layers were prepared by the electrochemical deposition and the subsequent sulfurization process, which is also one of the cost-effective synthetic approaches. In addition, the solar cell properties of the CZTS thin film solar cells, such as the photocurrent density-voltage (J-V) characteristics and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.72-72
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• 2011

Recently, Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-structures have been received attractive attention because of their outstanding optical and electrical properties. It might be a promising material considered for applications to photonic and electronic devices such as ultraviolet light emitting diode, thin film transistor, and gas sensors. ZnO nano-structures can be typically synthesized by the VLS growth mode and self-assembly. In the VLS growth mode using various growth techniques, the noble metal catalysts such as Au and Sn were used. However, the growth of ZnO nano-structures on nano-crystalline Au seeds using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering might be explained by the profile coating, i.e. the ZnO nano-structures were a morphological replica of Au seeds. Ga doped ZnO (ZnO:Ga) nano-structures using this concept were synthesized and characterized by XRD, AFM, SEM, and TEM. We found that surface morphology is drastically changed from initial islands to later sun-flower typed nano-structures. We will present the structural evolution of ZnO:Ga nano-structures with increasing the film thickness.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.27.1-27.1
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• 2009

In recent years, ZnO nanostructures have drawn considerable attentions for the development of futuristic electronic devices due to their superior structural and optical properties. As the growth of ZnO nanowires by MOCVD is a bottom-up technique, the nature of substrates has a vital role for the dimension and alignment of the nanowires. However, in the pursuit of next generation ZnO based nanodevices, it would be highly preferred if well-ordered ZnO nanowires could be obtained on various substrates like sapphire, silicon, glass etc. Vertically aligned nanowires were grown on A and C-plane sapphire substrates, where as nanopencils were obtained on R-plane sapphire substrates. In addition, C-axis oriented vertical nanowires were also found using an interfacial layer(aluminum nitride film) on silicon substrates. On the other hand, long nanowires were found on Ga-doped ZnO film on glass substrates. Structural and optical properties of the ZnO nanowires on various substrates were also investigated.