• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2015

In this study, $Si_3N_4$/SnZnO/AZO/Ag/Ti/ITO multi-layer film were prepared on glass substrate by DC/RF magnetron sputtering method. To prevent interfacial reaction between Ag and ITO layer, Ti buffer layer was inserted. Optical properties and sheet resistance were studied depending on laminating times of each multi-layered film especially in visible ray. The simulation program, EMP (essential macleod program), was adopted and compared with experimental data to expect the experimental result. It was found out that the transmittance of the first stacked $Si_3N_4$/SnZnO/AZO/Ag/Ti/ITO multi-layer film was more than 90%. However, with increasing stacking times, the optical properties of $Si_3N_4$/SnZnO/AZO/Ag/Ti/ITO multi-layer film get worse. Consequently, Ti layer is good for oxidation barrier, but too many uses of this layer may have an adverse effect to optical properties of TCO film.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2017

ZnO, ZnO: Cu, Ga, and ZnO: Cu, Ga, Ag thin films were obtained by oxidization of ZnS and ZnS: Cu, Ga films deposited onto glass substrates by electron-beam evaporation from ZnS and ZnS: Cu, Ga targets and from ZnS: Cu, Ga film additionally doped with Ag by the closed space sublimation technique at atmospheric pressure. The film thickness was about $1{\mu}m$. The oxidation was carried out at $600-650^{\circ}C$ in air or in an atmosphere containing water vapor. Structural characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films were measured at 30-300 K using the excitation wavelengths of 337, 405 and 457.9 nm. As-deposited ZnS and ZnS: Cu, Ga films had cubic structure. The oxidation of the doped films in air or in water vapors led to complete ZnO phase transition. XRD and AFM studies showed that the grain sizes of oxidized films at wet annealing were larger than of the films after dry annealing. As-deposited doped and undoped ZnS thin films did not emit PL. Shape and intensity of the PL emission depended on doping and oxidation conditions. Emission intensity of the films annealed in water vapors was higher than of the films annealed in the air. PL of ZnO: Cu, Ga films excited by 337 nm wavelength exhibits UV (380 nm) and green emission (500 nm). PL spectra at 300 and 30 K excited by 457.9 and 405 nm wavelengths consisted of two bands - the green band at 500 nm and the red band at 650 nm. Location and intensities ratio depended on the preparation conditions.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.285-289
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• 2015

We prepared silver Schottky contacts to O-polar and nonpolar m-plane bulk ZnO wafers. Then, by considering various transport models, we performed a comparative analysis of the current transport properties of Ag/bulk ZnO Schottky diodes, which were measured at 300, 200, and 100 K. The fitting of the forward bias current-voltage (I-V) characteristics revealed that the tunneling current is dominant as the transport component in both the samples. Compared to thermionic emission (TE), a stronger contribution of tunneling current was observed at low temperature. The reverse bias I-V characteristics were well fitted with the thermionic field emission (TFE) in both the samples. The presence of acceptor-like adsorbates, such as O₂ and H₂O, modulated the surface conductive state of ZnO, thereby affecting the tunneling effect. The degree of activation/passivation of acceptor-like adsorbates might be different in both the samples owing to their different surface morphologies and surface defects (e.g., oxygen vacancies).

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.110-114
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• 2014

We propose a low temperature sol-gel ZnO/Ag nanowire composite thin film to fulfill low temperature and low cost requirements, which are essential criteria in future flexible electronic devices. In this proposed thin film, Ag nanowire plays the role of electrical conduction, and sol-gel ZnO provides a structural medium with a high visible transmittance. Low temperature restriction in the sol-gel fabrication process prevents sufficient oxidation of Zn acetate precursors, which were solved by a post-coating treatment with ultraviolet light irradiation. Composite thin film formation was performed by spin coating methods with a mixed precursor solution or in a sequential manner. We obtained an average visible transmittance larger than 85% and a sheet resistance smaller than $50{\Omega}/sq$. After optimization in a fabricated composite transparent conductive thin film with the thickness around 100 nm. Similar experimental demonstration in a flexible substrate (polyethyleneterephthalate) was successful, which implies a promising application opportunity of this technology.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2022

Adsorption tower systems based on activated carbon adsorption towers have mainly been employed to reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major cause of air pollution. However, the activated carbon currently used in these systems has a short lifespan and thus requires frequent replacement. An approach to overcome this shortcoming could be to develop metal oxide photocatalysis-activated carbon composites capable of degrading VOCs by simultaneously utilizing photocatalytic activation and powerful adsorption by activated carbon. TiO₂ has primarily been used as a metal oxide photocatalyst, but it has low economic efficiency due to its high cost. In this study, ZnO particles were synthesized as a photocatalyst due to their relatively low cost. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were deposited on the ZnO surface to compensate for the photocatalytic deactivation that arises from the wide band gap of ZnO. A microfluidic process was used to synthesize ZnO particles and Ag NPs in separate reactors and the solutions were continuously supplied with a pack bed reactor loaded with activated carbon powder. This microfluidic-assisted pack bed reactor efficiently prepared a Ag-ZnO-activated carbon composite for VOC removal. Analysis confirmed that Ag-ZnO photocatalytic particles were successfully deposited on the surface of the activated carbon. Conducting a toluene gasbag test and adsorption breakpoint test demonstrated that the composite had a more efficient removal performance than pure activated carbon. The process proposed in this study efficiently produces photocatalysis-activated carbon composites and may offer the potential for scalable production of VOC removal composites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.461.1-461.1
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• 2014

본 연구진에서는 기존에 Ag2S 양자점을 흡광층으로 활용하여 양자점 감응형 태양전지(QDSC)를 제작, 그 성능과 특징을 분석하여 발표한 바 있다. 기존 연구에서 제작된 Ag2S QDSC는 11 mA/cm2의 비교적 높은 광전류와 260 mV의 비교적 낮은 전압으로 인해 1.2%의 광전환효율 성능을 나타내는 것으로 보고되었다. 추후 연구로 진행된 본 결과에서는, 기존에 Single absorber로 사용된 Ag2S의 한계를 보완하기 위해 CdS를 도입하여 co-sensitization을 활용하였다. CdS는 약 2.3 eV의 밴드갭 에너지를 갖는 물질로, 1.1 eV의 밴드갭을 갖는 Ag2S에 비해 흡광 영역은 좁지만 그만큼 전자-정공 재결합을 억제할 수 있는 장점을 가지고 있다. 또한, 전도층으로 사용한 n-type 물질인 ZnO 나노선과의 밴드구조가 매우 적합하게 조화되어, ZnO/CdS/Ag2S 순서로 이종구조를 접합시켰을 때 세 물질의 Conduction band level과 Valence band level이 순차적으로 연결되는 cascade-shaped 밴드구조를 이루게 된다. 빛을 받아 Ag2S와 CdS에서 생성된 전자는 이 cascade 모양의 conduction band를 따라 순차적으로 ZnO로 잘 전달되게 되어, 효율 향상에 큰 도움을 주었다. 이런 장점들로 인해, CdS-Ag2S co-sensitized QDSC는 Ag2S QDSC에 비해 2배나 향상된 효율인 2.4%를 기록하였으며, 이는 IPCE spectrum 측정 등으로 근거가 뒷받침되었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Ceranic Society Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.132.2-132
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• 2000

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.640-645
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• 2010

This paper describes the power generating property of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods on a flexible polyethersulfone (PES) substrate. The piezoelectric currents generated by the ZnO nanorods were measured when bending the ZnO nanorod by using I-AFM, and the measured piezoelectric currents ranged from 60 to 100 pA. When the PtIr coated tip bends a ZnO nanorod, piezoelectrical asymmetric potential is created on the nanorod surface. The Schottky barrier at the ZnO-metal interface accumulates elecntrons and then release very quickly generating the currents when the tip moves from tensile to compressed part of ZnO nanorod. These ZnO nanorods were grown almost vertically with the length of 300-500 nm and the diameter of 30-60 nm on the Ag/Ti/PES substrate at $90^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours by hydrothermal method. The metal-semiconductor interface property was evaluated by using a HP 4145B Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer and the piezoelectric effect of the ZnO nanorods were evaluated by using an I-AFM. From the measured I-V characteristics, it was observed that ZnO-Ag and ZnO-Au metal-semiconductor interfaces showed an ohmic and a Schottky contact characteristics, respectively. ANSYS finite element simulation was performed in order to understand the power generation mechanism of the ZnO nanorods under applied external stress theoretically.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.12
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• pp.2014-2018
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• 2016

Transparent, conductive electrode films, showing the particular characteristics of good conductivity and high transparency, are of considerable research interest because of their potential for use in opto-electronic applications, such as smart window, photovoltaic cells and flat panel displays. Multilayer transparent electrodes, having a much lower electrical resistance than widely-used transparent conducting oxide electrodes, were prepared by using RF/DC magnetron sputtering system. The multilayer structure consisted of three layers, [NiInZnO(NIZO)/Ag/NIZO]. The optical and electrical properties of the multilayered NIZO/Ag/NIZO structure were investigated in relation to the thickness of each layer. The optical and electrical characteristics of multilayer structures have been investigated as a function of the Ag and NIZO film thickness. High-quality transparent conductive films have been obtained, with sheet resistance of $9.8{\Omega}/sq$ for Ag film thickness of 8 nm. Also the multilayer films of inserted Ag 8 nm thickness showed a high optical transmittance above 93% in the visible range. The electrical and optical properties of the new multilayer films were mainly dependent on the thickness of Ag insertion layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.340.1-340.1
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• 2014

본 실험에서는 Ag두께 변화에 따른 투과율과 Energy bandgap의 변화를 알아보기 위해 RF Sputter장비와 Evaporator장비를 사용하여 IGZO, ZnO, AZO OMO 구조로 Low-e 코팅된 Glass를 제작하였다. $3cm{\times}3cm$의 Corning1737 유리기판에 RF Sputtering 방식으로 Oxide layer를 증착 하였고 Evaporator장비로는 Metal layer인 Ag막을 증착하였다. Oxide layer 증착 시 RF Sputter장비의 조건은 $3.0{\times}10^{-6}Torr$이하로 하였으며, 증착압력은 $6.0{\times}10^{-3}Torr$, 증착온도는 실온으로 고정하였다. Metal layer 증착 시 Evaporator장비의 조건은 $5.0{\times}10^{-6}Torr$이하, 전압은 0.3 V, Rotate 2 rpm으로 고정하였다. 실험 변수로는 Ag 두께를 5,7,9,11,13 nm로 변화를 주어 실험을 진행하였다. 투과도 측정 장비를 사용하여 각 샘플을 측정한 결과 IGZO의 경우 가시광영역의 평균 투과율이 80% 이상이며 Ag두께가 5nm일 때부터 자외선 영역의 빛을 차단하여 low-e 특성을 나타내었다. 이는 산화물인 IGZO가 결정질인 AZO, ZnO 보다 낮은 표면거칠기를 가지기 때문이다. Ag 두께에 따른 각 물질의 Optical energy bandgap 분석결과 Ag 두께가 증가할수록 IGZO는 4.65~4.5 eV, AZO는 4.6~4.4 eV, ZnO는 4.55~4.45 eV로 Energy bandgap은 감소하였다. AFM장비를 이용하여 각 샘플의 표면 Roughness 측정 결과 Ag 두께가 증가할수록 표면거칠기도 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다.