• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

In this study, effect of sputtering after plasma nitriding and before PVD coating on the microstucture, microhardness, surface roughness and the adhesion strength of CrN thin films were investigated. Experimental results showed that this sputtering process not only removed surface compound layer which formed during a plasma nitriding process but also induced an alteration of the surface of plasma nitrided substrate in terms of microhardness distribution and surface roughness, which in turn affected the adhesion strength of PVD coatings. After sputtering, microhardness distribution showed general decrease and the surface roughness became increased slightly. The critical shear stress measured from the scratch test on the CrN coatings showed an approximately twice increase in the binding strength through the sputtering prior to the coating and this could be attributed to a complete removal of compound layer from the plasma nitrided surface and to an increase in the surface roughness after sputtering.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.268-275
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• 2006

In this study, effect of sputtering on the plasma-nitriding substrate and before PVD coating on the microstucture, microhardness, surface roughness and the adhesion strength of CrZrN thin films were investigated. Experimental results showed that this sputtering process not only removed surface compound layer which formed during a plasma nitriding process but also induced an alteration of the surface of plasma nitrided substrate in terms of microhardness distribution, surface roughness. This in turn affected the adhesion strength of PVD coatings. After sputtering, microhardness distribution showed general decrease and the surface roughness became increased slightly. The critical shear stress measured from the scratch test on the CrZrN coatings showed an approximately 1.4 times increase in the adhesion strength through the sputtering prior to the coating and this could be attributed to a complete removal of compound layer from the plasma nitrided surface and to an increase in the surface roughness after sputtering.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 2006

We report on plasma damage free-sputtering technologies for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic thin film transistor (OTFT) and flexible displays by using a box cathode sputtering (BCS) method. Specially designed BCS system has two facing targets generating high magnetic fields ideally entering and leaving the targets, perpendicularly. This target geometry allows the formation of high-density plasma between targets and enables us to realize plasma damage free sputtering on organic layer without protection layer against plasma. The OLED with Al cathode prepared by BCS shows electrical and optical characteristics comparable to OLED with thermally evaporated Mg-Ag cathode. It was found that OLED with Al cathode layer prepared by BCS has much lower leakage current density ($1{\times}10^{-5}\;mA/cm^2$ at -6 V) than that $(1{\times}10^{-2}{\sim}-10^0\;mA/cm^2)$ of OLED prepared by conventional DC sputtering system. This indicates that BCS technique is a promising electrode deposition method for substituting conventional thermal evaporation and DC/RF sputtering in fabrication process of organic based optoelectronics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2012

In nitride and oxide film deposition, sputtered metals react with nitrogen or oxygen gas in a vacuum chamber to form metal nitride or oxide films on a substrate. The physical properties of sputtered films (metals, oxides, and nitrides) are strongly influenced by magnetron plasma density during the deposition process. Typical target power densities on the magnetron during the deposition process are ~ (5-30) W/cm2, which gives a relatively low plasma density. The main challenge in reactive sputtering is the ability to generate a stable, arc free discharge at high plasma densities. Arcs occur due to formation of an insulating layer on the target surface caused by the re-deposition effect. One current method of generating an arc free discharge is to use the commercially available Pinnacle Plus+ Pulsed DC plasma generator manufactured by Advanced Energy Inc. This plasma generator uses a positive voltage pulse between negative pulses to attract electrons and discharge the target surface, thus preventing arc formation. However, this method can only generate low density plasma and therefore cannot allow full control of film properties. Also, after long runs ~ (1-3) hours, depends on duty cycle the stability of the reactive process is reduced due to increased probability of arc formation. Between 1995 and 1999, a new way of magnetron sputtering called HIPIMS (highly ionized pulse impulse magnetron sputtering) was developed. The main idea of this approach is to apply short ${\sim}(50-100){\mu}s$ high power pulses with a target power densities during the pulse between ~ (1-3) kW/cm2. These high power pulses generate high-density magnetron plasma that can significantly improve and control film properties. From the beginning, HIPIMS method has been applied to reactive sputtering processes for deposition of conductive and nonconductive films. However, commercially available HIPIMS plasma generators have not been able to create a stable, arc-free discharge in most reactive magnetron sputtering processes. HIPIMS plasma generators have been successfully used in reactive sputtering of nitrides for hard coating applications and for Al2O3 films. But until now there has been no HIPIMS data presented on reactive sputtering in cluster tools for semiconductors and MEMs applications. In this presentation, a new method of generating an arc free discharge for reactive HIPIMS using the new Cyprium plasma generator from Zpulser LLC will be introduced. Data (or evidence) will be presented showing that arc formation in reactive HIPIMS can be controlled without applying a positive voltage pulse between high power pulses. Arc-free reactive HIPIMS processes for sputtering AlN, TiO2, TiN and Si3N4 on the Applied Materials ENDURA 200 mm cluster tool will be presented. A direct comparison of the properties of films sputtered with the Advanced Energy Pinnacle Plus + plasma generator and the Zpulser Cyprium plasma generator will be presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.53-54
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• 2005

We report on plasma damage free-sputtering technologies for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic thin rim transistor (OTFT) and flexible displays by using a box cathode sputtering (BCS) method. Specially designed BCS system has two facing targets generating high magnetic fields ideally entering and leaving the targets, perpendicularly. This target geometry allows the formation of high-density plasma between targets and enables us to realize plasma damage free sputtering on organic layer without protection layer against plasma. The OLED with top cathode prepared by BCS shows electrical and optical characteristics comparable to OLED with thermally evaporated Mg-Ag cathode. It was found that TOLED with ITO or IZO top cathode layer prepared by BCS has much lower leakage current density ($1\times10^{-5}$ mA/cm2 at -6V) than that ($1\times10^{-1}\sim10^{\circ}mA/cm^2$)of OLED prepared by conventional DC sputtering system. This indicates that BCS technique is a promising electrode deposition method for substituting conventional thermal evaporation and dc/rf sputtering in fabrication process of organic based optoelectronics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.312-312
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• 2013

GaN based light emitting diodes (LEDs) are important devices that are being used extensively in our daily life. For example, these devices are used in traffic light lamps, outdoor full-color displays and backlight of liquid crystal display panels. To realize high-brightness GaN based LEDs for solid-state lighting applications, the development of p-type ohmic electrodes that have low contact resistivity, high optical transmittance and high refractive index is essential. To this effect, indiumtin oxide (ITO) have been investigated for LEDs. Among the transparent electrodes for LEDs, ITO has been one of the promising electrodes on p-GaN layers owing to its excellent properties in optical, electrical conductivity, substrate adhesion, hardness, and chemical inertness. Sputtering and e-beam evaporation techniques are the most commonly used deposition methods. Commonly, ITO films on p-GaN by sputtering have better transmittance and resistivity than ITO films on p-GaN by e-bam evaporation. However, ITO films on p-GaN by sputtering have higher specific contact resistance, it has been demonstrated that this is due to possible plasma damage on the p-GaN in the sputtering process. In this paper, we have investigated the advanced sputtering using plasma damage-free p-electrode. Prepared the ITO films on the GaN based LEDs by e-beam evaporation, normal sputtering and advanced sputtering. The ITO films on GaN based LEDs by sputtering showed better transmittance and sheets resistance than ITO films on the GaN based LEDs by e-beam evaporation. Finally, fabricated of GaN based LEDs by using advanced sputtering. And compared the electrical properties (measurement by using C-TLM) and structural properties (HR-TEM and FE-SEM) of ITO films on GaN based LEDs produced by e-beam evaporation, normal sputtering and advanced sputtering. As a result, It is expected to form plasma damage free-electrode, and better light output power and break down voltage than LEDs by e-beam evaporation and normal sputter.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2020

For deposition technology using plasma, it plays an important role in improving film deposited with high ionization rate through high density plasma. Various deposition methods such as high-power impulse magnetron sputtering and ion-beam sputtering have been developed for physical vapor deposition technology and are still being studied. In this study, it is intended to control plasma using inductive coupled plasma (ICP) antennas and use properties to improve the properties of Hafnium nitride (HfN) films using ICP assisted magnetron sputtering (ICPMS). HfN film deposited using ICPMS showed a finer grain sizes, denser microstructure and better mechanical properties as ICP power increases. The best mechanical properties such as nanoindentation hardness of 47 GPa and Young's modulus of 401 GPa was obtained from HfN film deposited using ICPMS at ICP power of 200 W.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2014

A real-time monitoring of immersed antenna type inductively coupled plasma (ICP) was done with a homemade 2 dimensional voltage probe array to check the uniformity of the plasma. Measured voltage values with a high impedance voltmeter are close to the floating potential of the plasma. As the substrate carrier was moving into a magnetron sputtering plasma diffusive from a $125mm{\times}625mm$ size cathode, measured results showed reliably separation of plasma into the upper and lower empty space over the carrier. Infra red thermal imaging camera was used to observe the cross corner effect in situ without eroding a target to the end of the usage. 3 dimensional particle trace model was used to analyze the magnetron discharge's behavior.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.179.1-179.1
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• 2013

Cylindrical Rotating Magnetron Sputtering Cathode (이하 Rotary Cathode)는 기존에 사용 되던 rectangular type 보다 Target 사용 효율이 높다는 큰 이점을 가지고 있다. 높은 Target 사용 효율은 비용 절감 효과와 직접적으로 관련 된다. 이번 연구는 3D Plasma simulation(PIC-MCC)을 통한 Target 사용 효율 80% 이상의 Rotary Cathode 개발을 목적으로 한다. Plasma simulation에 External Magnetic fields를 접목하여 Electron의 이동 궤적을 제어하였고, 생성된 Ion (Ar+)의 밀도 및 속도로 Plasma의 안정성과 Erosion 계산 구간을 선정 하였다. Target Erosion Profile은 Sputtering yield Data와 Target에 충돌한 Ion 정보를 사용하여 산출 하였으며, Sputtered Particles의 Deposition Profile은 계산된 Target Erosion Profile과 The cosine law of emission을 이용하여 계산 하였다. 실험 조건은 Plasma simulation의 초기조건 바탕으로 하여 2G size의 ITO Target을 대상으로 실험 하였다. 비 Erosion 영역 최소화하기 위해 Magnet Length를 변경하여 제작 적용 하였다. Simulation 계산 시간의 제약으로 인하여 simulation에서 생성된 최대 이온 밀도는 일반적으로 알려진 값 보다 적게 계산 되었지만, Simulation으로 예측한 Erosion Profile 및 Deposition Profile은 실험 값과 유사한 형태를 나타났으며, 실험 결과는 Target 사용 효율 80%이상의 결과를 보였다.

• Journal of Information Display
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.5-10
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• 2007

Twin target sputtering (TTS) system with a configuration of vertically parallel facing Al targets and a substrate holder perpendicular to the Al target plane has been designed to realize a direct Al cathode sputtering on organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The TTS system has a linear twin target gun with ladder type magnet array for effective and uniform confinement of high density plasma. It is shown that OLEDs with Al cathode deposited by the TTS show a relatvely lower leakage current density $({\sim}1{\times}10^{-5}mA/cm^2)$ at reverse bias of -6V, compared to that ($1{\times}10^{-2}{\sim}10^{-3}$ $mA/cm^2$ at -6V) of OLEDs with Al cathodes grown by conventional DC magnetron sputtering. In addition, it was found that Al cathode films prepared by TTS were amorphous structure with nanocrystallines due to low substrate temperature. This demonstrates that there is no plasma damage caused by the bombardment of energetic particles. This indicates that the TTS system with ladder type magnet array could be useful plasma damage free deposition technique for direct Al cathode sputtering on OLEDs or flexible OLEDs.