• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.686-694
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• 2014

A power semiconductor device, usually used as a switch or rectifier, is very significant in the modern power industry. The power semiconductor, in terms of its physical properties, requires a high breakdown voltage to turn off, a low on-state resistance to reduce static loss, and a fast switching speed to reduce dynamic loss. Among those parameters, the breakdown voltage and on-state resistance rely on the doping concentration of the drift region in the power semiconductor, this effect can be more important for a higher voltage device. Although the low doping concentration in the drift region increases the breakdown voltage, the on-state resistance that is increased along with it makes the static loss characteristic deteriorate. On the other hand, although the high doping concentration in the drift region reduces on-state resistance, the breakdown voltage is decreased, which limits the scope of its applications. This addresses the fact that breakdown voltage and on-state resistance are in a trade-off relationship with a parameter of the doping concentration in the drift region. Such a trade-off relationship is a hindrance to the development of power semiconductor devices that have idealistic characteristics. In this study, a novel structure is proposed for the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) device that uses conductivity modulation, which makes it possible to increase the breakdown voltage without changing the on-state resistance through use of a P-floating layer. More specifically in the proposed IGBT structure, a P-floating layer was inserted into the drift region, which results in an alleviation of the trade-off relationship between the on-state resistance and the breakdown voltage. The increase of breakdown voltage in the proposed IGBT structure has been analyzed both theoretically and through simulations, and it is verified through measurement of actual samples.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.165-178
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• 2024

In semiconductor memory device manufacturing, the capability for high aspect ratio contact (HARC) etching determines the density of memory device. Given that there is no standardized definition of "high" in high aspect ratio, it is crucial to continuously monitor recent technology trends to address technological gaps. Not only semiconductor memory manufacturing companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron but also semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies such as Lam Research, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, and SEMES release annual reports on HARC etching technology. Although there is a gap in technological focus between semiconductor mass production environments and various research institutes, the results from these institutes significantly contribute by demonstrating fundamental mechanisms with empirical evidence, often in collaboration with industry researchers. This paper reviews recent studies on HARC etching and the study of dielectric etching in various technologies.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.481-488
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• 2022

The Cu₂ZnSn(S_xSe_1-x)₄ (CZTSSe) absorbers are promising thin film solar cells (TFSCs) materials, to replace existing Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) and CdTe photovoltaic technology. However, the best reported efficiency for a CZTSSe device, of 13.6 %, is still too low for commercial use. Recently, partially replacing the Zn²⁺ element with a Cd²⁺element has attracting attention as one of the promising strategies for improving the photovoltaic characteristics of the CZTSSe TFSCs. Cd²⁺ elements are known to improve the grain size of the CZTSSe absorber thin films and improve optoelectronic properties by suppressing potential defects, causing short-circuit current (J_sc) loss. In this study, the structural, compositional, and morphological characteristics of CZTSSe and CZCTSSe thin films were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), and Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. The FE-SEM images revealed that the grain size improved with increasing Cd²⁺ alloying in the CZTSSe thin films. Moreover, there was a slight decrease in small grain distribution as well as voids near the CZTSSe/Mo interface after Cd²⁺ alloying. The solar cells prepared using the most promising CZTSSe absorber thin films with Cd²⁺ alloying (8 min. 30 sec.) exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.33 %, J_sc of 34.0 mA/cm², and fill factor (FF) of 62.7 %, respectively.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2023

Among the failures of photovoltaic power generation facilities, failures caused by surges account for 20% of the total failure rate, and energy emissions of tens to hundreds [A] during power generation and electrical damage to inverters and connection boards lead to electrical safety accidents. In particular, in the case of lightning, an abnormal voltage is induced in an electric circuit to destroy insulation, and the current flowing at this time causes a fire and acts as a factor that accelerates the deterioration of parts. Due to this action, the problem of electrical safety of solar power generation devices spreading from outside the city center to the inside of the city center such as houses, apartments, and government offices is emerging. Since lightning strikes cause both field-based and conducted electrical interference, this effect increases with increasing cable length or conductor loops. In addition, surge damages not only solar modules, inverters and monitoring devices, but also building facilities, which can eventually cause operational shutdown due to fire of the photovoltaic power generation system and consequent financial loss. Therefore, in this paper, a lightning protection system for solar power generation devices is studied for the purpose of reducing property damage and human casualties due to the increase in fire and electrical safety accidents caused by lightning strikes in photovoltaic power generation systems.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.487-491
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• 2015

In photovoltaic power generation where minority carrier generation via light absorption is competing against minority carrier recombination, the substrate thickness and material quality are interdependent, and appropriate combination of the two variables is important in obtaining the maximum output power generation. Medici, a two-dimensional semiconductor device simulation tool, is used to investigate the interdependency in relation to the maximum power output in front-lit Si solar cells. Qualitatively, the results indicate that a high quality substrate must be thick and that a low quality substrate must be thin in order to achieve the maximum power generation in the respective materials. The dividing point is $70{\mu}m/5{\times}10^{-6}sec$. That is, for materials with a minority carrier recombination lifetime longer than $5{\times}10^{-6}sec$, the substrate must be thicker than $70{\mu}m$, while for materials with a lifetime shorter than $5{\times}10^{-6}sec$, the substrate must be thinner than $70{\mu}m$. In substrate fabrication, the thinner the wafer, the lower the cost of material, but the higher the cost of wafer fabrication. Thus, the optimum thickness/lifetime combinations are defined in this study along with the substrate cost considerations as part of the factors to be considered in material selection.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.1489-1490
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• 2011

The $O_2$ plasma treatment is used as improvement of ITO roughness glass for organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. This study examined the effect of the electrical properties of OLED according to variation of $O_2$ plasma power. In experiment, we found that the electrical characteristics of device are excellent when the power of $O_2$ plasma is 250 W. And when the power of $O_2$ plasma increases over 250 W, the electrical properties were getting worse. $O_2$ plasma treatment not only prevents the diffusion of indium, a metal constituent, to an organic layer but also plays a significant role as improvement of ITO roughness. By considering organic light-emitting diodes treating $O_2$ plasma, it could contribute to the improvement of the efficiency of the device.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2016

This paper was proposed floating island power MOSFET for lowering on state resistance and the proposed device was maintained 600 V breakdown voltage. The electrical field distribution of floating island power MOSFET was dispersed to floating island between P-base and N-drift. Therefore, we designed higher doping concentration of drift region than doping concentration of planar type power MOSFET. And so we obtain the lower on resistance than on resistance of planar type power MOSFET. We needed the higher doping concentration of floating island than doping concentration of drift region and needed width and depth of floating island for formation of floating island region. We obtained the optimal parameters. The depth of floating island was $32{\mu}m$. The doping concentration of floating island was $5{\times}1,012cm^2$. And the width of floating island was $3{\mu}m$. As a result of designing the floating island power MOSFET, we obtained 723 V breakdown voltage and $0.108{\Omega}cm^2$ on resistance. When we compared to planar power MOSFET, the on resistance was lowered 24.5% than its of planar power MOSFET. The proposed device will be used to electrical vehicle and renewable industry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.411-414
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• 2008

In this paper a novel tracking system is described, regarding the influence of shadow between array, aimed at improving the efficiency of PV tracking system. The loss by influence of those shadow can be compensated for by means of control algorithm of the tracking device. The paper suggests a method controlling an altitude for length which is received the shadow influence of PV array. By using an azimuth of current solar position and the length between arrays, the controller of tracking device is able to calculate the length between actual arrays and make a comparison of the shadow length at a specific time with the length between arrays. In the paper, we develop the control algorithm able to minimize the loss caused by the influence of shadow on the PV tracking system, and compared this with conventional output system. The controller has been tested in the laboratory with proposed algorithm and shows excellent performance

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.351-356
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• 2014

The electronic structure at organic-organic interface gives essential information on device performance such as charge transport and mobility. Especially, the molecular orientation of organic material can affect the electronic structure at interface and ultimately the device performance in organic photovoltaics. The molecular orientation is examined by the change in ionization potential (IP) for metal phthalocyanines (MPc, M=Zn, Cu)/fullerene ($C_{60}$) interfaces on ITO by adding the CuI templating layer through ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy measurement. On CuPc/$C_{60}$ bilayer, the addition of CuI templating layer represents the noticeable change in IP, while it hardly affects the electronic structure of ZnPc/$C_{60}$ bilayer. The CuPc molecules on CuI represent relatively lying down orientation with intermolecular ${\pi}-{\pi}$ overlap being aligned in vertical direction. Consequently, in organic photovoltaics consisting of CuPc and $C_{60}$ as donor and acceptor, respectively, the carrier transport along the direction is enhanced by the insertion of CuI templaing layer. In addition, optical absorption in CuPc molecules is increased due to aligned transition matrix elements. Overall the lying down orientation of CuPc on CuI will improve photovoltaic efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.336-336
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• 2011

Over the past decades, organic semiconductors have been investigated intensely for their potential in a wide range of optoelectronic device applications since the organic materials have advantages for very light, flexible and low cost device fabrications. In this study, we fabricated small-molecule organic solar cells (OSCs) based on chloro[subphthalocyaninato]boron(III) (SubPc) as an electron donor and $C_{60}$ as an electron acceptor material. Recently SubPc, a cone-shaped molecule with $14{\pi}$-electrons in its aromatic system, has attracted growing attention in small-molecule OSC applications as an electron-donating material for its greater open-circuit voltage (VOC), extinction coefficient and dielectric constant compared to conventional planar metal phthalocyanines. In spite of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancement of small-molecule OSC using SubPc and $C_{60}$, however, the study on the interface between donor-acceptor heterojunction of this system is limited. In this work, SubPc thin films at various thicknesses were deposited by organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD) and the evolution of surface morphology was observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). We also investigated the influence of film thickness and surface morphology on the PCE of small-molecule OSC devices.