• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.688-688
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• 2013

Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films have attracted a lot of attention as a cheap transparent conducting oxide (TCO) material that can replace the expensive Sn-doped In2O3. In particular, AZO thin films are widely used as a window layer of chalcogenide-based thin film solar cells such as Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS). Mostly important requirements for the window layer material of the thin film solar cells are the high transparency and the low sheet resistance, because they influence the light absorption by the activelayer and the electron collection from the active layer, respectively. In this study, we prepared the AZO thin films by RF magnetron sputtering using a ZnO/Al2O3 (98：2wt%) ceramic target, and the effect of the sputtering condition such as the working pressure, RF power, and the working distance on the optical, electrical, and crystallographic properties of the AZO thin films was investigated. The AZO thin films with optimized properties were used as a window layer of CZTS thin film solar cells. The CZTS active layers were prepared by the electrochemical deposition and the subsequent sulfurization process, which is also one of the cost-effective synthetic approaches. In addition, the solar cell properties of the CZTS thin film solar cells, such as the photocurrent density-voltage (J-V) characteristics and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) were investigated.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 1999

Thermally evaporated ZnTe films were investigated as a back contact material for CdS/CdTe solar cells. Two deposition methods, coevaporation and double-layer methods, were used for Cu doping in ZnTe films. ZnTe layers (0.2$\mu\textrm{m}$ thick) were deposited either on glass or on CdS/CdTe substrates without intentional heating of the substrates. Post-deposition annealing was performed at 200,300 and $400^{\circ}C$ for 3,6 and 9 minutes, respectively. Band gap of 2.2eV was measured for both undoped and doped films and a slight change in the shape of absorption spectra was observed in Cu-doped samples after annealing at $400^{\circ}C$. The resistivity of as-deposited ZnTe decreased from 10\ulcorner~10\ulcornerΩcm down to 10\ulcornerΩcm as Cu concentration increased from 0 to 14 at.%. There was not a noticeable change in less of annealing temperature up to $300^{\circ}C$ whereas films annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ revealed hexagonal (101) orientations as well. Some of Cu-doped ZnTe revealed x-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks related with Cu\ulcornerTe(x=1.75~2). Grain growth was observed from about 20nm in as-deposited films to 50nm after annealing at $400^{\circ}C$ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cu distribution in ZnTe films was not uniform according to Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) measurements.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.374-382
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• 2004

The concern of the antioxidant micronutrient status in normal healthy people, including antioxidant trace minerals such as Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and Se is focused since systemic oxidation is involved in various chronic diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the concentration of trace minerals (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) which are considered as potential antioxidant minerals in plasma, red blood cells (RBCs) and urine in normal healthy Korean subjects. The 760 subjects (male 341, female 419; mean age 54.2 $\pm$ 18.9) were recruited from the rural, urban and metropolitan city in South Korea. Dietary intake was evaluated using 24-hours recall for general major nutrient intake assessment. The trace elements (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) concentrations in plasma, RBCs, and urine were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer (ICP) and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Cu and Zn levels in plasma, RBCs and urine in normal healthy South Koreans were within the normal range of those mineral levels, but Mn and Fe levels were higher compared to the normal range of those mineral levels. None of the selected trace mineral levels in plasma and RBC's was lower than the normal range value. The results showed that Zn and Cu levels in plasma and RBC's in Korean were within the normal range, and plasma and urinary Mn and Fe levels were higher than the normal reference values. Potential antioxidant trace mineral (Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe) levels in Koreans are within or a bit higher than the normal range.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2016

The structural, electrical properties of Ga doped MgZnO transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films by ratio-frequency(RF) magnetron sputtering were investigated. Ga doped MgZnO TCO films were deposited on the sapphire substrates at $200^{\circ}C$ varying growth thickness 200 to 600 nm. The optical properties of Ga doped MgZnO TCO films were showed above 85% transmittance from 300 to 1000 nm region. In addition, the current density ($J_{SC}$) of $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cells was improved by using the MgZnO:Ga films of 500 nm thickness because of outstanding electrical properties. The $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ solar cells with MgZnO:Ga transparent conducing layer yielded an efficiency of 9.8% with current density ($31.8mA/cm^2$), open circuit voltage (540.2 V) and fill factor (62.2) under AM 1.5 illumination.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.152-153
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• 2006

The new approach to buffer layer design for CIGS solar cells that permitted to reduce the buffer absorption losses in the short wavelength range and to overcome the disadvantages inherent to Cd-free CIGS solar cells was proposed. A chemical bath deposition method has been used to produce a high duality buffer layer that comprises thin film of CdS and Zn-based film. The double layer was grown on either ITO or CIGS substrates and its morphological, structural and optical properties were characterized. The Zn-based film was described as the ternary compound $ZnS_x(OH)_y$. The composition of the $ZnS_x(OH)_y$ layer was not uniform throughout its thickness. $ZnS_x(OH)_y$/CdS/substrate region was a highly intermixed region with gradually changing composition. The short wavelength cut-off of double layer was shifted to shorter wavelength (400nm) compared to that (520 nm) for the standard CdS by optimization of the double buffer design. The results show the way to improve the light energy collection efficiency of the nearly cadmium-free CIGS-based solar cells.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.242-247
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• 2013

The most widely utilized commercial, aluminum-casting alloys are based on an aluminum-silicon system due to its excellent casting, and good mechanical, properties. Unfortunately, these Al-Si based alloys are inherently poor energy conductors; compared to pure aluminum, because of their high silicon content. This means that they are not suitable for applications demanding high eletrical or thermal conductivity. Therefore, efforts are currently being made to develop new, highly-conductive aluminum-casting alloys containing no silicon. In this research, a number of properties; including potential for castability, were investigated for a number of Al-Fe-Zn-Cu alloys with varying Cu content. As the copper content was increased, the tensile strength of Al-Fe-Zn-Cu alloy tended to increase gradually, while the electrical conductivity was slightly reduced. Fluidity was found to be lower in high-Cu alloys, and susceptibility to hot-cracking was generally high in all the alloys investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.256-256
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• 2010

투명전극부터 디스플레이 산업에 이르기까지 광범위하게 응용되어지고 있고 개발되어지고 있는 투명전도산화물(TCO)은 ZnO, In2O3, SnO2 등을 기본으로 하는 n-type 재료가 대부분이다. 그러나 투명전도 산화물을 이용한 light emitting diode(LED), 투명한 태양전지, p-형 TFT와 같은 투명전자소자의 개발을 위해서는 p-type 소재가 필수적이다. p-type TCO 소재는 비교적 연구 개발 실적이 매우 부진한 실정이었다. 1997년 넓은 밴드갭을 가지는 ABO2(delafossite) 산화물이 p-type으로서 안정적이라는 것을 보고함에 따라 이에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 현재 ABO2 형태를 가진 Delafossite구조 산화물이 가장 유망한 p-type 투명전도체 소재로 거론되고 있다. Delafossite 구조가 p-type 투명전도체에 적합한 결정구조인 이유는 밴드갭이 넓고 공유결합에 유리하기 때문이다. Delafossite구조는 상온에서 2종류의 polytype(상온에서 Rhombohedaral구조와 hexagonal 구조)이 존재하며 이들은 각각 3R 및 2H의 결정 구조를 가지고 있다. ABO2의 delafossite구조에서 Cu+의 배열은 c-축을 따라 Cu-O-Cr-O-Cu의 연속적인 층 구조로서 2차원연결로 보여 진다. 보고된 Cu- base delafossite구조를 가지는 재료들은 CuAlO2, CuGaO2, CuInO2 등 여러가지가 있다. 본 연구에서는 PLD를 이용하여 c-plane 사파이어 기판위에 성장된 delafossite구조인 CuCrO2박막의 특성을 알아보았다. p-type 특성을 위하여 CuCrO2에 Zn를 첨가하였으며 그에 따른 구조적 전기적 특성을 조사하였다. 성장온도와 산소분압을 $500{\sim}700^{\circ}C$, 0~10mTorr로 변화시켜 특성을 연구하였다. 성장온도 $700^{\circ}C$, 산소분압 10mTorr에서 c-plane 사파이어 기판위에 c-축 배향의 에피성장된 CuCrO2:Zn 박막을 얻을 수 있었다. Mg를 도핑함에 따른 p-type 특성보다 현저히 떨어지는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 동일한 조건임에도 특정한 이차상의 존재를 통해 도핑된 Zn의 위치를 추측할 수 있었다. 온도와 분압에 따른 결정성과 표면상태를 SEM을 통해서 확인하였다.

• Solar Energy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.43-54
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• 2000

We prepared and characterized $Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$(CIGS) films using a elemental co-evaporation method for absorbing layer of high efficiency thin film solar cells. The CIGS films deposited on a soda-lime glass exhibited low resistivity because of higher carrier concentration. Na was accumulated at the CIGS surface and the 0 and Se were also accumulated at the surface, suggesting that oxidation is a driving force of Na accumulation. The structure of CIGS film was modified or a secondary phase was formed in the Cu-poor CIGS bulk films probably due to the incorporation of Na into Cu vacancy sites. As the Ga/(In+Ga) ratio increased, the diffraction peaks of $Cu(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ films were shifted to larger angle and splitted, and the grain size of $Cu_{0.91}(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ films became smaller. All $Cu_{0.91}(In_{1-x}Ga_x)Se_2$ films showed the p-type conductivity regardless of the Ga/(In+Ga) ratio. Ag/n-ZnO/i-ZnO/CdS/$Cu_{0.91}(In_{0.7}Ga_{0.3})Se_2$/Mo solar cells were fabricated. The currently best efficiency in this study was 14.48% for $0.18cm^2$ area ($V_{oc}=581.5mV,\;J_{sc}=34.88mA$, F.F=0.714).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.259-273
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• 2012

Chalcogenide-based semiconductors, such as $CuInSe_2$, $CuGaSe_2$, Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS), and CdTe have attracted considerable interest as efficient materials in thin film solar cells (TFSCs). Currently, CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have demonstrated the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 11% in module production. However, commercialized CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have some limitations due to the scarcity of In, Ga, and Te and the environmental issues associated with Cd and Se. Recently, kesterite CZTS, which is one of the In- and Ga- free absorber materials, has been attracted considerable attention as a new candidate for use as an absorber material in thin film solar cells. The CZTS-based absorber material has outstanding characteristics such as band gap energy of 1.0 eV to 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient on the order of $10^4cm^{-1}$, and high theoretical conversion efficiency of 32.2% in thin film solar cells. Despite these promising characteristics, research into CZTS-based thin film solar cells is still incomprehensive and related reports are quite few compared to those for CIGS thin film solar cells, which show high efficiency of over 20%. The recent development of kesterite-based CZTS thin film solar cells is summarized in this work. The new challenges for enhanced performance in CZTS thin films are examined and prospective issues are addressed as well.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.553-558
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• 2019

$Cu_2ZnSn(S,Se)_4(CZTSSe)$ thin film solar cells areone of the most promising candidates for photovoltaic devices due to their earth-abundant composition, high absorption coefficient and appropriate band gap. The sputtering process is the main challenge to achieving high efficiency of CZTSSe solar cells for industrialization. In this study, we fabricated CZTSSe absorbers on Mo coated soda lime glass using different pressures during the annealing process. As an environmental strategy, the annealing process is performed with S and Se powder, without any toxic $H_2Se$ and/or $H_2S$ gases. Because CZTSSe thin films have a very narrow stable phase region, it is important to control the condition of the annealing process to achieve high efficiency of the solar cell. To identify the effect of process pressure during the sulfo-selenization, we experiment with varying initial pressure from 600 Torr to 800 Torr. We fabricate a CZTSSe thin film solar cell with 8.24 % efficiency, with 435 mV for open circuit voltage($V_{OC}$) and $36.98mA/cm^2$ for short circuit current density($J_{SC}$), under a highest process pressure of 800 Torr.