• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.467.1-467.1
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• 2014

Quantum dots (QD) solar cells has received considerable attention due to their potential of improving the overall conversion efficiency by harvesting excess energy via multiple excitons generation (MEG). Although there have been many reports which show MEG phenomena by using optical measurement of quantum dots themselves, carrier multiplication in real QD photovoltaic devices has been sparsely reported due to difficulty in dissociation of excitons and charge collection. In this reports, heterojunction QD solar cells composed of PbS QD monolayer on highly crystalline $TiO_2$ thin films were fabricated by using Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique to significantly reduce charge recombination at the interfaces between each QD. The PbS CQDs monolayer was characterized by using UV-vis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The internal quantum efficiency (IQE) for the monolayer QD solar cells was obtained by measurement of external quantum efficiency and determining light absorption efficiency of active layer. Carrier multiplication was observed by measuring IQE greater than 100% over threshold photon energy. Our findings demonstrate that monolayer QD solar cell structure is potentially capable of realizing highly efficient solar cells based on carrier multiplication.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1165-1168
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• 2014

We prepared dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with enhanced energy conversion efficiency using open-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays with a $TiO_2$ scattering layer. As compared to closed-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays, the energy conversion efficiency of the open-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays was increased from 5.63% to 5.92%, which is an enhancement of 5.15%. With the $TiO_2$ scattering layer, the energy conversion efficiency was increased from 5.92% to 6.53%, which is an enhancement of 10.30%. After treating the open-ended $TiO_2$ nanotube arrays with $TiCl_4$, the energy conversion efficiency was increased from 6.53% to 6.89%, a 5.51% enhancement, which is attributed to improved light harvesting and increased dye adsorption.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.463-463
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• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have generated a strong interest in the development of solid-state devices owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Effort has been devoted to the study of electrolytes that allow light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. Several attempts have been made to substitute the liquid electrolyte in the original solar cells by using (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis (N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9-9'-spirobi-fluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) that act as hole conductor [1]. Although efficiencies above 3% have been reached by several groups, here the major challenging is limited photoelectrode thickness ($2{\mu}m$), which is very low due to electron diffusion length (Ln) for spiro-OMeTAD ($4.4{\mu}m$) [2]. In principle, the $TiO_2$ layer can be thicker than had been thought previously. This has important implications for the design of high-efficiency solid-state DSSCs. In the present study, we have fabricated 3-D Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) by growing tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowire (NWs) arrays via a vapor transport method [3] and mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP)-based photoelectrodes were prepared using doctor blade method. Finally optimized light-harvesting solid-state DSSCs is made using 3-D TCO where electron life time is controlled the recombination rate through fast charge collection and also ITO NWs length can be controlled in the range of over $2{\mu}m$ and has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Structural analyses by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the ITO NWs formed single crystal oriented [100] direction. Also to compare the charge collection properties of conventional NPs based solid-state DSSCs with ITO NWs based solid-state DSSCs, we have studied intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and transient open circuit voltages. As a result, above $4{\mu}m$ thick ITO NWs based photoelectrodes with Z907 dye shown the best performing device, exhibiting a short-circuit current density of 7.21 mA cm-2 under simulated solar emission of 100 mW cm-2 associated with an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.80 %. Finally, we achieved the efficiency of 7.5% by applying a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite sensitizer.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.279-282
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• 2011

Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC); an alternate energy source harvester has gained some attractive features such as high-energy conversion efficiency low production cost. Dye-sensitizer is a basic component of DSSC, which affecting the performance of the energy conversion efficiency. Current research has been focusing on development of high efficiency, metal-free dye-sensitizers, which would be more environmental friendly. We had successfully explored synthetic route to 6,6'-(1,2,5-oxadiazole-3,4-diyl)dipyridine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (3A) which has been used as organic sensitizer. Investigation of light conversion efficiency (${\eta}$) of the compound uses standard measurement condition (one sun simulated irradiation, AM 1.5, 100 mW/$cm^2$) showed that it could reach 1.00% ($J_{SC}=2.63\;mAcm^{-2}$, $V_{OC}$=0.64 V and FF=0.59). Under the same conditions, the ruthenium complex (N719) gave the conversion efficiency as high as 4.02%($J_{SC}=10.50\;mAcm^{-2}$, $V_{OC}$=0.67V and FF=0.57).

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.364-368
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• 2013

Vibrational energy harvester based on piezoelectricity has been expected to be the dominant energy harvesting technology due to the advantages of high conversion efficiency, light weight and small size, night operation, etc. Its commercialization is just around the corner but the integration with power management electronics should be solved in advance. In this paper, therefore, fully-integrated design environment for piezoelectric energy harvesting systems is presented to assist co-design with the power management electronics. The proposed design environment is capable of analyzing the energy harvester including the package-induced damping effects and simulating the device and its power management electronics simultaneously. When the developed design environment was applied to the fabricated device, the simulated resonant frequency matched well with the experimental result with a difference of 2.97% only. Also, the complex transient response was completed in short simulation time of 3,001 seconds including the displacement distribution over the device geometry. Furthermore, a full-bridge power management circuit was modeled and simulated with the energy harvester simultaneously. Therefore the proposed, fully-integrated design environment is accurate and fast enough for the contribution on successful commercialization of piezoelectric energy harvester.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2023

Tin perovskite solar cells have attracted a lot of attention due to their potential to address the toxicity of lead, which is the biggest barrier to commercialization of perovskite solar cells. Unlike other lead-free perovskite, tin perovskite have a direct bandgap, which is suitable for use as light harvesting, and relatively good stability, which has led to a lot of attention. Since the first tin perovskite solar cell was reported in 2014, it has achieved an impressive power conversion efficiency of 14.81%. However, this efficiency is still low compared to that of lead perovskite solar cells, and the stability of tin perovskite solar cells is also an issue that needs to be addressed. In this review, we will discuss the basic properties of the tin atom in comparison to the lead atom, and then discuss the crystal structure, phase transition, and basic properties of tin perovskite. We will then discuss the advantages, applications, challenges, and strategies of tin perovskite, In particular, we will focus on how to prevent the oxidation of tin, which is arguably the biggest challenge for using tin perovskite solar cells. At the end, we summarize the key factors that need to be addressed for higher efficiency and stability, emphasizing what is needed to commercialize tin perovskite solar cells.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2017

Recently, three-dimensional (3D) light harvesting structures are highly attracted because of their high light harvesting capacity and charge collection efficiencies. In this study, we have fabricated $Cu_2ZnSn(S_xSe_{1-x})_4$ based 3D thin film solar cells on PR patterned Molybdenum (Mo) substrates using photolithography technique. Specifically, Mo patterns were deposited on PR patterned Mo substrates by sputtering and the thin Cu-Zn-Sn stacked layer was deposited over this Mo patterns by sputtering technique. The stacked Zn-Sn-Cu precursor thin films were sulfo-selenized to form CZTSSe pattern. Finally, CZTSSe absorbers were coated with thin CdS layer using chemical bath deposition and ZnO window layer was deposited over CZTSSe/CdS using DC sputtering technique. Fabricated 3-D solar cells were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to study their structural, compositional and morphological properties, respectively. The 3% efficiency is achieved for this kind of solar cell. Further efforts will be carried out to improve the performance of solar cell through various optimizations.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.495-504
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• 2021

Energy Harvesting is a technology that can convert wasted energy such as vibration, heat, light, electromagnetic energy, etc. into usable electrical energy. Among them, vibration-based piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) has high energy conversion efficiency with a small volume; thus, it is expected to be used in various autonomous powering devices, such as implantable medical devices, wearable devices, and energy harvesting from road or automobiles. In this study, wasted vibration energy in an automobile is converted into electrical energy by high-power piezoelectric materials, and the generated electrical energy is found to be an auxiliary power source for the operation of wireless sensor nodes, LEDs, etc. inside an automobile. In order to properly install the PEH in an automobile, vibration characteristics includes frequency and amplitude at several positions in the automobile is monitored initially and the cantilever structured PEH was designed accordingly. The harvesting properties of fabricated PEH is characterized and installed into the engine part of the automobile, where the vibration amplitude is stable and strong. The feasibility of PEH is confirmed by operating electric components (LEDs) that can be used in practice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.35-38
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• 2018

This paper describes a low-power MPPT interface for DC-type energy harvesting sources. The proposed circuit consists of an MPPT controller, a bias generator, and a voltage detector. The MPPT controller consists of an MPG (MPPT Pulse Generator) with a schmitt trigger, a logic gate operating according to energy type (light, heat), and a sample/hold circuit. The bias generator is designed by employing a beta multiplier structure, and the voltage detector is implemented using a bulk-driven comparator and a two-stage buffer. The proposed circuit is designed with $0.35{\mu}m$ CMOS process. The simulation results show that the designed circuit consumes less than 100nA of current at an input voltage of less than 3V and the maximum power efficiency is 99.7%. The chip area of the designed circuit is $1151{\mu}m{\times}940{\mu}m$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.163.1-163.1
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• 2016

Lead halide perovskites CH3NH3PbX3 (X=Cl, Br, I) have received great interest in the past few years because of their excellent photoelectronic properties as well as their low-cost solution process. Their theoretical efficiency limit of the solar cell devices was predicted around 31% by a detailed balance model for the reason that exceptional light-harvesting and superior carrier transport properties. Additionally, these excellent properties contribute to the applications of optoelectronic devices such as LASERs, LEDs, and photodetectors. Since these devices are mainly using perovskite thin film, one of the most important factor to decide the efficiency of these applications is the quality of the film. Even though, optoelectrical devices are composed of polycrystalline thin film in general, not a single crystalline form which has longer carrier diffusion length and lower trap density. For these reasons, monodomain perovskite thin films have potential to elicit an optimized device efficiency. In this study, we analyzed the crystallography of the in-plane aligned perovskite thin film by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Also the basic optic properties of perovskites were checked using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrum. From this work, the perovskite which is aligned in all directions both of out-of-plane and in-plane was fabricated and analyzed.