• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.222-227
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• 2016

Tin oxides have been studied for various applications such as gas detecting materials, transparent electrodes, transparent devices, and solar cells. p-type SnO is a promising transparent oxide semiconductor because of its high optical transparency and excellent electrical properties. In this study, we fabricated p-type SnO thin film using rf magnetron sputtering with an SnO/Sn composite target; we examined the effects of various oxygen flow rates on the SnO thin films. We fundamentally investigated the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the p-type SnO thin films utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV/Vis spectrometry, and Hall Effect measurement. A p-type SnO thin film of $P_{O2}=3%$ was obtained with > 80% transmittance, carrier concentration of $1.12{\times}10^{18}cm^{-3}$, and mobility of $1.18cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$. With increasing of the oxygen partial pressure, electrical conductivity transition from p-type to n-type was observed in the SnO crystal structure.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1996

Transparent conducting $SnO_2$-based thin films have been coated on float substrates such as fused quartz, and ceramic fiber cloths such as the Nexel and E-glass cloth from tin alkoxides by the sol-gel technique. Also, thin films of alternating layers of $SnO_2$ and $SiO_2$ have been fabricated by dip coating. The sheet resistance and average visible transmittance of the films were investigated in the aspect of the applications as transparent electrodes such as liquid crystal displays, photo-detectors and solar cells. The Nextel and E-glass cloths coated with antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) had sheet resistance of as low as $20 \;ohm/{\Box}$ and $120ohm/\;{\Box}$, respectively. The promotion effects of additives as $La_2O_3$ and Pt on the ethanol gas sensing properties of the films were investigated in the aspects of the applications as an alcohol sensor and a breath alcohol checker. Possible evidence of quantum well effects in the oxide multilayers of $SnO_2$ and $SiO_2$ was investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.297-297
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• 2010

Transparent conductive Oxide (TCO) is an essential material in the various optoelectronic applications as a transparent electrode, such as solar cells, flat panel displays and organic light emitting diodes. Currently, Indium tin oxide (ITO) is commonly used in industry due to its low electrical resistivity, high transmittance and high adhesion to substrate. However, ITO is expensive and should be prepared at high temperature, which makes it hard to use ITO in flexible devices. In this regard, Ga-doped ZnO is expected as an ideal candidate for replacing ITO.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.394-394
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• 2007

Transparent conductive films can serve as a critical component in displays, solar cells, lasers, optical communication devices, and solid state lighting. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based transparent conductive films are fabricated on glass and polymer substrates. CNTs typically exist in form of quasi-crystalline bundles or highly entangled bundles containing tens of individual nanotubes. To achieve full potential, CNTs must be dispersed in a solvent or other organic media. CNTs are acid treated with nitric acid then the stable dispersion of CNTs in polar solvent such as alcohols, DMF, etc. is achieved by sonication. The solubility of CNTs correlates well with the area ratio of the D and G bands from Raman spectrum. Thin films are formed from well dispersed CNT solutions using spray coating method. CNT thin films exhibit a sheet resistance ($R_s$) of nearby $10^3\;{\Omega}/sq$ with a transmittance of around 80% on the visible light range, which is attributed by excellent dispersion and interaction among CNTs, solvents and polymeric binders.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2018

Transparent conductive thin films (TCFs) are essential materials for solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes, and display panels. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is one of the most widely used commercial materials to create TCFs'; however, new materials that can possibly replace ITO at a lower cost and/or those possessing mechanical flexibility are urgently needed. Silver nanowire (AgNW) is one of those promising materials, as it is less expensive and possesses superior mechanical flexibility as compared to ITO. We used AgNW and sol-gel ZnO to fabricate composite thin films by spray coating. We propose two spray-coating methods: the 'metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)/AgNW' method and the Mixture method. These two methods are expected to be commercialized for high-quality and low-cost products, respectively.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.97-102
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• 2019

Bifacial and semitransparent hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film solar cells in p-i-n configuration were prepared with front and rear transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrodes using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. Fluorine-doped tin oxide and tin-doped indium oxide films were used as front and rear TCO contacts, respectively. Film thickness of intrinsic a-Si:H absorber layers were controlled from 150 nm to 450 nm by changing deposition time. The dependence of performance characteristics of solar cells on the front and rear illumination direction were investigated. For front illumination, gradual increase in the short-circuit current density (J_SC) from 10.59 mA/㎠ to 14.19 mA/㎠ was obtained, whereas slight decreases from 0.83 V to 0.81 V for the open-circuit voltage (V_OC) and from 68.43% to 65.75% for fill factor (FF) were observed. The average optical transmittance in the wavelength region of 380 ~ 780 nm of the solar cells decreased gradually from 22.76% to 15.67% as the absorber thickness was changed from 150 nm to 450 nm. In case of the solar cells under rear illumination condition, the J_SC increased from 10.81 to 12.64 mA/㎠ and the FF deceased from 66.63% to 61.85%, while the V_OC values were maintained at 0.80 V with increasing the absorber thickness from 150 nm to 450 nm. By optimizing the deposition parameters, a high-quality bifacial and semitransparent a-Si:H solar cell with 350 nm-thick i-a-Si:H absorber layer exhibited the conversion efficiencies of 7.69% for front illumination and 6.40% for rear illumination, and average visible optical transmittance of 17.20%.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2017

In this paper, (Ga,Al):ZnO layers were deposited by sputtering to evaluate the device performance according to the thickness of the layer. As the thickness increased, low transmittance was observed, but the electrical resistance was improved. On the other hand, the highest efficiency was recorded at 400 nm device than a 500 nm of it. Therefore, since the critical thickness exists, it is necessary to set an adequate TCO layer thickness in consideration of the characteristics of the underlying film and the device.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.07a
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• pp.463-466
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• 2001

This detailed study of electrical, crystallographic and optical properties in Al doped ZnO thin films prepared by Facing Targets Sputtering(FTS), where strong internal magnets were contained in target holders to confine the plasma between the targets is described. Optimal transmittance and resistivity was obtained by controlling flow ratio of O$_2$gas. When the O$_2$ gas ratio of 0.25 and substrate temperature R.T., ZnO:Al thin film deposited had strongly oriented c-axis and the lower resistivity ( <10$\^$-4/ $\Omega$cm). The optical transmittance was above 80% in visible range.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.221-221
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• 2012

Small-molecule organic photovoltaic cells have recently attracted growing attention due to their potential for the low-cost fabrication of flexible and lightweight solar modules. The PVP/Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by the reaction of poly vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silver nitrate at $150^{\circ}C$. In the reaction, the size of the nanoparticles was controlled by relative mole fractions between PVP and Ag. The PVP/Ag nanoparticles with various sizes were then spin coated on the patterned ITO glass prior to the deposition of the PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer. The scattering of the incident light caused by these incorporated nanoparticles resulted in an increase in the path length of the light through the active layer and hence the enhancement of the light absorption. This scattering effect increased as the size of the nanoparticles increased, but it was offset by the decrease in total transmittance caused by the non-transparent nanoparticles. As a result, the maximum power conversion efficiency, 0.96% which was the value enhanced by 14% compared to the cell without incorporation of nanoparticles, was obtained when the mole fraction of PVP:Ag was 24:1 and the size of the nanoparticles was 20~40 nm.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.312-316
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• 2013

In this study, short-circuit preventive layer (blocking layer) was deposited between conductive transparent electrode and porous $TiO_2$ film in the DSSCs. As blocking layer, we selected the metal-oxide such as $TiO_2$, $Nb_2O_5$ and ZnO. The sheet resistance with each different blocking layers were 18 ${\Omega}/sq.$ for the $TiO_2$, 10 ${\Omega}/sq.$ for the $Nb_2O_5$ and 8 ${\Omega}/sq.$ for the ZnO, while the RMS (Root Mean Square) roughness value of DSSCs were 39.61 nm for the $TiO_2$, 41.84 nm for the $Nb_2O_5$ and 36.14 nm for the ZnO respectively. From the results of photocurrent-voltage curves, a sputtered $Nb_2O_5$ blocking layer showed higher performance on 2.64% of photo-electrochemical properties. The maximum of conversion efficiency which was achieved under 1 sun irradiation by depositing the blocking layer increased up to 0.56%.