• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.586-591
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• 2010

Solar cells have been more intensely studied as part of the effort to find alternatives to fossil fuels as power sources. The progression of the first two generations of solar cells has seen a sacrifice of higher efficiency for more economic use of materials. The use of a single junction makes both these types of cells lose power in two major ways: by the non-absorption of incident light of energy below the band gap; and by the dissipation by heat loss of light energy in excess of the band gap. Therefore, multi junction solar cells have been proposed as a solution to this problem. However, the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ generation solar cells have efficiency limits because a photon makes just one electron-hole pair. Fabrication of all-silicon tandem cells using an Si quantum dot superlattice structure (QD SLS) is one possible suggestion. In this study, an $SiO_x$ matrix system was investigated and analyzed for potential use as an all-silicon multi-junction solar cell. Si quantum dots with a super lattice structure (Si QD SLS) were prepared by alternating deposition of Si rich oxide (SRO; $SiO_x$ (x = 0.8, 1.12)) and $SiO_2$ layers using RF magnetron co-sputtering and subsequent annealing at temperatures between 800 and $1,100^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen ambient. Annealing temperatures and times affected the formation of Si QDs in the SRO film. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that nanocrystalline Si QDs started to precipitate after annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for one hour. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images clearly showed SRO/$SiO_2$ SLS and Si QDs formation in each 4, 6, and 8 nm SRO layer after annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for two hours. The systematic investigation of precipitation behavior of Si QDs in $SiO_2$ matrices is presented.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2006

High electron mobility transistors with InAs channels and antimonide barriers were grown on Si and GaAs substrates by means of molecular beam epitaxy. While direct growth of Sb materials on Si substrate generates disordered and coalescences 3-D growth, smooth and mirror-like 2D growth can be repeatedly obtained by inserting AlSb QD layers between them. Room-temperature electron mobilities of over 10,000 $cm^2/V-s$ and 20,000 $cm^2/v-s$ can be routinely obtained on Si and GaAs substrates, respectively, after optimizing the buffer structure as well as maintaining InSb-like interface.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1069-1074
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• 2005

In this work, nano-needle structures ate formed to solve problem, related to low density of quantum dots for nano floating gate memory. Such structures ate fabricated and electrical properties' of MIS devices fabricated on the nano-structures are studied. Nano floating gate memory based on quantum dot technologies Is a promising candidate for future non-volatile memory devices. Nano-structure is fabricated by reactive ion etching using $SF_6$ and $O_2$ gases in parallel RF plasma reactor. Surface morphology was investigated after etching using scanning electron microscopy Uniform and packed deep nano-needle structure is established under optimized condition. Photoluminescence and capacitance-voltage characteristics were measured in $Al/SiO_2/Si$ with nano-needle structure of silicon. we have demonstrated that the nano-needle structure can be applicable to non-volatile memory device with increased charge storage capacity over planar structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.191.2-191.2
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• 2015

Details of carrier dynamics in self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) with a particular attention to nonradiative processes are not only interesting for fundamental physics, but it is also relevant to performance of optoelectronic devices and the exploitation of nanocrystals in practical applications. In general, the possible processes in such systems can be considered as radiative relaxation, carrier transfer between dots of different dimensions, Auger nonradiactive scattering, thermal escape from the dot, and trapping in surface and/or defects states. Authors of recent studies have proposed a mechanism for the carrier dynamics of time-resolved photoluminescence CdTe (a type II-VI QDs) systems. This mechanism involves the activation of phonons mediated by electron-phonon interactions. Confinement of both electrons and holes is strongly dependent on the thermal escape process, which can include multi-longitudinal optical phonon absorption resulting from carriers trapped in QD surface defects. Furthermore, the discrete quantized energies in the QD density of states (1S, 2S, 1P, etc.) arise mainly from ${\delta}$-functions in the QDs, which are related to different orbitals. Multiple discrete transitions between well separated energy states may play a critical role in carrier dynamics at low temperature when the thermal escape processes is not available. The decay time in QD structures slightly increases with temperature due to the redistribution of the QDs into discrete levels. Among II-VI QDs, wide-gap CdZnTe QD structures characterized by large excitonic binding energies are of great interest because of their potential use in optoelectronic devices that operate in the green spectral range. Furthermore, CdZnTe layers have emerged as excellent candidates for possible fabrication of ferroelectric non-volatile flash memory. In this study, we investigated the optical properties of CdZnTe/ZnTe QDs on Si substrate grown using molecular beam epitaxy. Time-resolved and temperature-dependent PL measurements were carried out in order to investigate the temperature-dependent carrier dynamics and the activation energy of CdZnTe/ZnTe QDs on Si substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.436-436
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• 2011

Recently, spintronic devices with submicron structures are widely investigated to take advantage of their unique micromagnetic properties. In this work, we study the temperature dependence of exchange bias in bilayer anti-dot arrays made by depositing Co (40 nm)/Ni (5 nm) ferromagnetic bilayer on Si substrate to form anti-dot arrays with a diameter $1{\mu}m$. The anti-dot patterning was done only for the upper Co layer, while the Ni underlayer was kept unperforated. The temperature dependences of magnetoresistance (MR) and exchange bias were studied along magnetic easy and hard axes. The in-plane MR measurements were performed using a physical-property measurement system (PPMS ; Quantum Design Inc.) at various temperatures. The standard in-line four-point probe configuration was used for the electrical contacts. As temperature was varied, the MR data were obtained in which in-plane field (H=3 kOe) was applied in the directions along the hard and the easy axes with respect to the lattice plane. The temperature dependences of magnetic anisotropy and exchange bias were also studied along the magnetic easy and hard axes. As temperature decreases, the single peak splits into two peaks. While no exchange bias was observed along the magnetic easy axis, the exchange bias field steadily increased with decreasing temperature along the magnetic hard axis. These results were interpreted in connection with the magnetic anisotropy and the effect of the anti-dots in pinning domain wall motion along the respective direction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2016

Thin films synthesized by plasma processes have been widely applied in a variety of industrial sectors. The structure control of thin film is one of prime factor in most of these applications. It is well known that the structure of this film is closely associated with plasma parameters and species of plasma which are electrons, ions, radical and neutrals in plasma processes. However the precise control of structure by plasma process is still limited due to inherent complexity, reproducibility and control problems in practical implementation of plasma processing. Therefore the study on the fundamental physical properties that govern the plasmas becomes more crucial for molecular scale control of film structure and corresponding properties for new generation nano scale film materials development and application. The thin films are formed through nucleation and growth stages during thin film depostion. Such stages involve adsorption, surface diffusion, chemical binding and other atomic processes at surfaces. This requires identification, determination and quantification of the surface activity of the species in the plasma. Specifically, the ions and neutrals have kinetic energies ranging from ~ thermal up to tens of eV, which are generated by electron impact of the polyatomic precursor, gas phase reaction, and interactions with the substrate and reactor walls. The present work highlights these aspects for the controlled and low-temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapour disposition (PECVD) of Si-based films like crystalline Si (c-Si), Si-quantum dot, and sputtered crystalline C by the design and control of radicals, plasmas and the deposition energy. Additionally, there is growing demand on the low-temperature deposition process with low hydrogen content by PECVD. The deposition temperature can be reduced significantly by utilizing alternative plasma concepts to lower the reaction activation energy. Evolution in this area continues and has recently produced solutions by increasing the plasma excitation frequency from radio frequency to ultra high frequency (UHF) and in the range of microwave. In this sense, the necessity of dedicated experimental studies, diagnostics and computer modelling of process plasmas to quantify the effect of the unique chemistry and structure of the growing film by radical and plasma control is realized. Different low-temperature PECVD processes using RF, UHF, and RF/UHF hybrid plasmas along with magnetron sputtering plasmas are investigated using numerous diagnostics and film analysis tools. The broad outlook of this work also outlines some of the 'Grand Scientific Challenges' to which significant contributions from plasma nanoscience-related research can be foreseen.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2008

Magnetic and crystallographic properties of patterned media fabricated by nanoimprint lithography and Co-Pt electroplating were studied. Thin films of Ru(20 nm)/Ta(5 nm)/$SiO_2$(100 nm) were deposited on Si(100) wafer and then 25 nm hole pattern was fabricated by nanoimprint lithography on substrate. The electroplated Co-Pt nano-dots have the diameter of 35 nm and the height of 27 nm. Magnetic dot patterns of Co-Pt alloy were created using electroplated Co-Pt alloy and then their properties were measured by MFM, SQUID, SEM, TEM and AFM. We observed single domain with perendicular anisotropy for each dot and achieved optimum coercivity of 2900 Oe. These results mean that patterned media fabricated by nanoimprint lithography and electroplating have good properties in view of extending superparamagnetic limit while satisfying the writability requirements with the present write heads.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2001

We have developed a repeatable process of forming uniform, small-size and high-density self-assembled Si nano-crystals. The Si nano-crystals were fabricated in a conventional LPCVD (low pressure chemical vapor deposition) reactor at $620^{\circ}c$ for 15 sec. The nano-crystals were spherical shaped with about 4.5 nm in diameter and density of $5{\times}l0^{11}/$\textrm{cm}^2$. More uniform dots were fabricated on nitride film than on oxide film. To take advantage of the above-mentioned characteristics of nitride film while keeping the high interface quality between the tunneling dielectrics and the Si substrate, nitride-oxide tunneling dielectrics is proposed in n-channel device. For the first time, the single electron effect at room temperature, which shows a saturation of threshold voltage in a range of gate voltages with a periodicity of ${\Delta}Ｖ_{GS}\;{\approx}\;1.7{\;}V$, corresponding to single and multiple electron storage is reported. The feasibility of p-channel nano-crystal memory with thin oxide in direct tunneling regime is demonstrated. The programming mechanisms of p-channel nano-crystal memory were investigated by charge separation technique. For small gate programming voltage, hole tunneling component from inversion layer is dominant. However, valence band electron tunneling component from the valence band in the nano-crystal becomes dominant for large gate voltage. Finally, the comparison of retention between programmed holes and electrons shows that holes have longer retention time.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2017

The aim is to investigate the spectra responsibilities of QD (Quantum Dot) for the innovation of new dosimetry application for therapeutic Megavoltage X-ray range. The unique electrical and optical properties of QD are expected to make it a good sensing material for dosimeter. This study shows the spectra responsibility of toluene based ZnCd QD and PPO (2.5-diphenyloxazol) mixed liquid scintillator. The QDs of 4 sizes corresponding to an emission wavelength (ZnCdSe/ZnS:$440{\pm}5nm$, ZnCdSeS:470, 500, $570{\pm}5nm$) were utilized. A liquid scintillator for control sample was made of toluene, PPO. The Composition of QD loaded scintillators are about 99 wt% Toluene as solvent, 1 wt% of PPO as primary scintillator and 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 wt% of QDs as solute. For the spectra responsibility of QD scintillation, they were irradiated for 30 second with 6 MV beam from a LINAC ($Infinity^{TM}$, Elekta). With the guidance of 1.0 mm core diameter optical fiber, scintillation spectrums were measured by a compact CCD spectrometer which could measure 200~1,000 nm wavelength range (CCS200, Thorlabs). We measured the spectra responsibilities of QD loaded organic liquid scintillators in two scintillation mechanisms. First was the direct transfer and second was using wave shifter. The emission peaks from the direct transfer were measured to be much smaller luminescent intensity than based on the wavelength shift from the PPO to QDs. The emission peak was shifted from PPO emission wavelength 380 nm to each emission wavelength of loaded QD. In both mechanisms, 500 nm QD loaded samples were observed to radiate in the highest luminescence intensity. We observed the spectra responsibility of QD doped toluene based liquid scintillator in order to innovate QD dosimetry applicator. The liquid scintillator loading 0.2 wt% of 500 nm emission wavelength QD has most superior responsibility at 6 MV photon beam. In this study we observed the spectra responsibilities for therapeutic X-ray range. It would be the first step of innovating new radiation dosimetric methods for radiation treatment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.188.1-188.1
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• 2014

Aluminum is widely used as a material for electrode on silicon based devices. Especially, aluminum films are used as backside and front-side electrodes in silicon quantum dot (QD) solar cells. In this point, the diffusion of aluminum is very important for the enhancement of power conversion efficiency by improvement of contact property. Aluminum was deposited on a Si (100) wafer and a Si QD layer by ion beam sputter system with a DC ion gun. The Si QD layer was fabricated by $1100^{\circ}C$ annealing of the $SiO_2/SiO_1$ multilayer film grown by ion beam sputtering deposition. Cs ion beam with a low energy and a grazing incidence angle was used in SIMS depth profiling analysis to obtain high depth resolution. Diffusion behavior of aluminum in the Al/Si and Al/Si QD interfaces was investigated by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) as a function of heat treatment temperature. It was found that aluminum is diffused into Si substrate at $450^{\circ}C$. In this presentation, the effect of heat treatment temperature and Si nitride diffusion barrier on the diffusion of Al will be discussed.