• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.132-132
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• 2008

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an attractive material for high-power, high-temperature, and high-frequency applications. So far, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been extensively used to study the surface charges, dielectric constants and electrical potential distribution as well as topography in silicon-based device structures, whereas it has rarely been applied to SiC-based structures. In this work, the surface potential and topography distributions SiC with different doping levels were measured at a nanometer-scale resolution using a scanning kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPM) with a non-contact mode AFM. The measured results were calibrated using a Pt-coated tip and a metal defined electrical contacts of Au onto SiC. It is assumed that the atomically resolved surface potential difference does not originate from the intrinsic work function of the materials but reflects the local electron density on the surface. It was found that the work function of the Au deposited on SiC surface was higher than that of original SiC surface. The dependence of the surface potential on the doping levels in SiC, as well as the variation of surface potential with respect to the schottky barrier height has been investigated. The results confirm the concept of the work function and the barrier heights of metal/SiC structures.

• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1496-1506
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• 2018

Organic/inorganic ultraviolet photodetector was fabricated using thermal evaporation technique. Organic/inorganic heterojunction based on thermally evaporated copper (II) acetylacetonate thin film of thickness 200 nm deposited on an n-type silicon substrate is introduced. I-V characteristics of the fabricated heterojunction were investigated under UV illumination of intensity $65mW/cm^2$. The diode parameters such as ideality factor, n, barrier height, ${\Phi}_B$, and reverse saturation current, $I_s$, were determined using thermionic emission theory. The series resistance of the fabricated diode was determined using modified Nord's method. The estimated values of series resistance and barrier height of the diode were about $0.33K{\Omega}$ and 0.72 eV, respectively. The fabricated photodetector exhibited a responsivity and specific detectivity about 9 mA/W and $4.6{\times}10^9$ Jones, respectively. The response behavior of the fabricated photodetector was analyzed through ON-OFF switching behavior. The estimated values of rise and fall time of the present architecture under UV illumination were about 199 ms and 154 ms, respectively. Finally, enhancing the photoresponsivity of the fabricated photodetector, post-deposition plasma treatment process was employed. A remarkable modification of the device performance was noticed as a result of plasma treatment. These modifications are representative in a decrease of series resistance and an increase of photoresponsivity and specific detectivity. The process of plasma treatment achieved an increment of external quantum efficiency from 5.53% to 8.34% at -3.5 V under UV illumination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.426.1-426.1
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• 2016

We report high work function Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) films as insertion layer as a function of O2 flow rate between transparent conducting oxides (TCO) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxide (a-SiOx:H) layer to improve open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF) for high efficiency thin film solar cell. However, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells exhibit poor fill factors due to a Schottky barrier like impedance at the interface between a-SiOx:H windows and TCO. The impedance is caused by an increasing mismatch between the work function of TCO and that of p-type a-SiOx:H. In this study, we report on the silicon thin film solar cell by using as insertion layer of O2 reactive AZO films between TCO and p-type a-SiOx:H. Significant efficiency enhancement was demonstrated by using high work-function layers (4.95 eV at O2=2 sccm) for engineering the work function at the key interfaces to raise FF as well as Voc. Therefore, we can be obtained the conversion efficiency of 7 % at 13mA/cm2 of the current density (Jsc) and 63.35 % of FF.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.875-879
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• 2010

In this study, we have characterized the roles of $Cr_2O_3$ on the sintering and electrical properties of ZnO. The densification and grain growth of Cr-doped ZnO (ZCr) system was mainly influenced by Cr contents. In the beginning of sintering, the densification of ZnO was retarded as reducing the Zni concentration in ZnO lattice with Cr doping. And the densification and grain growth of ZnO was more retarded due to a formation of spinel phase with increasing the Cr contents. ZCr system revealed varistor behavior with nonlinear coefficient $\alpha$ of 3~23 depending on the sintering temperature, implying double Schottky barrier formation on the grain boundary of ZnO. Especially the best varistor characteristics should be developed with 0.1~0.5 at% Cr contents and under $1100^{\circ}C$ in ZCr systems.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.60-65
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• 1998

Deposition conditions, surface morphology, and electrical properties of polyamic acid alkylamine salts (PAAS) Langmuir-Blodgett(LB) films have been investigated through a study of surface pressure-area $\pi$-A isotherms, AFM (atomic force microscopy), and current-voltage characteristics. To obtain the optimum conditions of film deposition, the $\pi$-A isotherms were examined by varying temperature, barrier moving speed, dipping speed, spreading amount of solution etc. The Z-type LB films were made at the surface pressure of 5 mN m-1 and 25 mN m-1 for the AFM study; the former surface pressure forms the gas phase and the latter one forms the solid phase. The LB film made in the gas phase show domains with a size of about 200 A diameter and 70 A height. However, the LB films made in the solid phase show a very smooth surface with 2 A surface roughness. In the current-voltage characteristics measured along the perpendicular direction of the films, ohmic conduction has been observed below 105 V cm-1 and the calculated electrical conductivity is about 10-13 S cm-1. Nonohmic conduction has been observed above = 10-11 V cm and the conduction mechanism can be explained by the Schottky effect.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.1125-1128
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• 2002

Tantalum pentoxide (Ta$_2$O$\sub$5/) is a candidate for use in metal-insulator-metal diode in switching devices for active-matrix liquid-crystal displays. The MIM diode with very low threshold voltage and perfect symmetry was fabricated. High quality Ta$_2$O$\sub$5/ thin films were obtained by using an anodizing method. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope observations, auger electron spectroscopy, ellipsometry measurements, and electrical measurements, such as current - voltage(I-V) measurements were performed to investigate Ta$_2$O$\sub$5/ films and their reliability and indicated that the obtained TaOx thin films were reliable Ta$_2$O$\sub$5/ films for the applications. Furthermore, in this paper, we discuss the effects of top-electrode metals and annealing conditions. The conduction mechanism of the leakage current and the symmetry characteristics related to the Schottky emission and Poole-Frankel effect are also discussed using the results of electrical measurements and conduction barrier theory.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2003

Direct evidence on the incorporation of high concentration of oxygen into undoped AlGaN layers for the AlGaN/GaN heterostuctures is provided by scanning photoemission microscopy using synchrotron radiation. In-situ annealing at $1000^{\circ}C$ resulted in a significant increase in the oxygen concentration at the AlGaN surface due to the predominant formation of Al-O bonds. The oxygen incorporation into the AlGaN layers resulting from the high reactivity of Al to oxygen can enhance the tunneling-assisted transport of electrons at the metal/AlGaN interface, leading to the reduction of the Schottky barrier height and the increase of the sheet carrier concentration near the AlGaN/GaN interface.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1270-1271
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• 2008

Effects of thin ZnO/Mg interlayers on electrical and optical properties between p-GaN and ITO were characterized for its application to GaN-LEDs. The ZnO and Mg layers were deposited to have various thicknesses (1${\sim}$6nm for ZnO and 1${\sim}$2nm for Mg) by sputtering. After RTA process, the atomic migration between Mg and ZnO and the formation of Ga vacancy were observed from SIMS depth profile, resulting in the increase of hole concentration and the reduction of band bending at the surface region of p-GaN. The sample using ZnO(2nm)/Mg(2nm) interlayer produced the lowest contact resistance with SBH(Schottky barrier height) of 0.576 eV and the transmittance higher than 83% at a wavelength of 460nm when annealed at 500$^{\circ}C$ for 3min in air ambient.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.338.2-338.2
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• 2014

투명반도체산화물은 우수한 광학적, 전기적 특성을 가지고 있기 때문에 차세대 박막트랜지스터의 채널층으로 각광을 받고 있다. 특히, 그 중에서도 a-IGZO를 이용한 TFT는 높은 가시광선 투과율(>80%)과 큰 전하이동도(>10 cm2/Vs) 를 갖는 등 좋은 광학적, 전기적 특성을 갖기 때문에 많은 연구가 이루어졌다. 여러 연구들에 의하면, a-IGZO TFT는 소스/드레인의 전극으로 어떤 물질을 사용하는지에 따라서 동작특성에 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있다. 일반적으로, a-IGZO 박막은 n형 반도체로써 일함수가 작은 금속과는 ohmic contact를 형성하고, 일함수가 큰 금속과는 Schottky barrier를 형성한다고 알려져 있다. 이와 관련된 대부분의 이전의 연구들에서는 각각의 전극물질에 따라 전기적인 특성변화에 초점을 맞춰서 연구하였다. 본 연구에서는 일함수가 작은 Ag와 일함수가 큰 Au를 a-IGZO의 박막 위에 얇게 증착하면서 이에 따른 고분해능 광전자분광(high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) 정보의 변화를 분석함으로써, 금속의 증착에 따른 금속층과 a-IGZO 표면 및 계면에서의 화학적 상태의 변화를 연구하였다. Au 4f, Ag 3d는 metallic property를 나타내기 이전까지는 lower binding energy(BE) 쪽으로 shift하였으며, In 3d 또한 lower BE 성분이 크게 증가하였다. O 1s, Ga 3d, Zn 3d들은 상대적으로 적은 변화를 나타내었는데, 이는 Ag, Au가 In과 상대적으로 더 많이 상호작용한다는 것을 의미한다. 본 발표에서는 이들 core level의 정보들과, 가전자대의 분광정보, 그리고 band bending의 정보가 제시될 것이며, 이 정보들은 metal 증착에 따른 contact 특성을 이해하는데 기여할 것으로 기대한다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.351.2-351.2
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• 2014

Indium tin oxide (ITO) has a lot of variations of its properties because it is basically in an amorphous state. Therefore, the differences in composition ratio of ITO can result in alteration of electrical properties. Normally, ITO is considered as transparent conductive oxide (TCO), possessing excellent properties for the optical and electrical devices. Quantitatively, TCO has transparency over 80 percent within the range of 380nm to 780nm, which is visible light although its specific resistance is less than $10-3{\Omega}/cm$. Thus, the solar cell is the best example for which ITO has perfectly matching profile. In addition, when ITO is used as transparent conductive electrode, this material essentially has to have a proper work function with contact materials. For instance, heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar cell could have both front ITO and backside ITO. Because each side of ITO films has different type of contact materials, p-type amorphous silicon and n-type amorphous silicon, work function of ITO has to be modified to transport carrier with low built-in potential and Schottky barrier, and approximately requires variation from 3 eV to 5 eV. In this study, we examine the change of work function for different sputtering conditions using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Structure of ITO films was investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical transmittance of the films was evaluated by using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer