• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.41-46
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• 2013

Efficient and inexpensive solar cells are necessary for photo-voltaic to be widely adopted for mainstream electricity generation. For this to occur, the recombination losses of charge carriers (i.e. electrons or holes) must be minimized using a surface passivation technique suitable for manufacturing. Recently it has been shown that aluminum oxide thin films are negatively charged dielectrics that provide excellent surface passivation of silicon solar cells to attract positive-charged holes. Especially aluminum oxide thin film is a quite suitable passivation on the rear side of p-type silicon solar cells. This paper, it demonstrate the interfacial microstructure and electrical properties of mono-crystalline silicon surface passivated by $Al_2O_3$ films during firing process as applied for screen-printed solar cells. The first task is a comparison of the interfacial microstructure and chemical bonds of PECVD $Al_2O_3$ and of PEALD $Al_2O_3$ films for the surface passivation of silicon. The second is to study electrical properties of double-stacked layers of PEALD $Al_2O_3$/PECVD SiN films after firing process in the temperature range of $650{\sim}950^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.106-111
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• 2005

Ternary Ti-B-C coatings were synthesized on WC-Co and Si wafers substrates by a PECVD technique using a gaseous mixture of $TiCl_4,\;BCl_3,\;CH_4,\;Ar,\;and\; H_2$. The effects of deposition variables such as substrate temperature, gas ratio, $R_x=[BCl_3/(CH_4+BCl_3)]$ on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-B-C coatings were investigated. From our instrumental analyses, the synthesized Ti-B-C coatings was confirmed to be composites consisting of nanocrystallites TiC, quasi-amorphous TiB2, and amorphous carbon at low boron content, on the contrary, nanocrystallites $TiB_2$, quasi-amorphous TiC, and amorphous carbon at relatively high boron content. The microhardness of the Ti-B-C coatings increased from $\~23 GPa$ of TiC to $\~38 GPa$ of $Ti_{0.33}B_{0.55}C_{0.11}$ coatings with increasing the boron content. The $Ti_{0.33}B_{0.55}C_{0.11}$ coatings showed lower average friction coefficient of 0.45, in addition, it showed relatively better wear behavior compared to other binary coatings of $TiB_2$ and TiC. The microstruture and microhardness value of Ti-B-C coatings were largely depend on the deposition temperature.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.95-99
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• 2005

Quaternary Ti-Cr-Si-N coatings were synthesized onto steel substrates (SKD 11) using a hybrid method of arc ion plating (AIP) and sputtering techniques. For the Syntheses of Ti-Cr-Si-N coatings, the Ti-Cr-N coating process was performed substantially by a multi-cathodic AIP technique rising Cr and Ti targets, and Si was added by sputtering Si target during Ti-Cr-N deposition. In this work, comparative studies on microstructure and evaluation of mechanical properties between Ti-Cr-N and Ti-Cr-Si-N coatings were conducted. As the Si was incorporated into Ti-Cr-N coatings, the Ti-Cr-Si-N coatings showed largely increased hardness value of approximately 42 GPa than one of 28 GPa for Ti-Cr-N coatings. The average friction coefficient of Ti-Cr-N coatings largely decreased from 0.7 to 0.35 with increasing Si content up to 20 at. $\%$. In addition, wear behavior of Ti-Cr-N coatings against steel ball was much improved with Si addition due to the surface smoothening effect and tribe-chemical reaction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.296-296
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• 2007

Ferroelectric neodymium-substituted $Bi_4Ti_3O_{12}$(BTO) thin films have been successfully deposited on Pt/Ti/$SiO_2$/Si substrate by a sol-gel spin-coating process and the effect of crystallization temperature on their microstructure and ferroelectric properties were studied systematically. $Bi(TMHD)_3$, $Nd(TMHD)_3$, $Ti(O^iPr)_4$ were used as the precursors, which were dissolved in 2-methoxyethanol. The thin films were annealed at various temperatures from 600 to $720^{\circ}C$ in oxygen ambient for 1 hr, which was followed by post-annealed for 1 hr after depositing a Pt electrode to enhance the electrical properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the crystallinity and surface morphology of layered perovskite phase, respectively. The crystallinity of the BNT films was improved and the average grain size increased as the crystallization temperature increased from 600 to $720^{\circ}C$ at an interval of $40^{\circ}C$. The polarization values of the films were a monotonous function of the crystallization temperature. The remanent polarization value of the BNT thin films annealed at $720^{\circ}C$ was $24.82\;{\mu}C/cm^2$ at an applied voltage of 5 V.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.287-290
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• 2005

Once hot forgings for automotive parts such as wheel bearing flange to which cyclic asymmetric bending stress is continuously applied are produced, it is necessary to control their microstructure to obtain superior mechanical properties. It is however hard to control the microstructure uniformly because the strength is reduced as coarsening of ferrite grains. To investigate the microstructural alteration according to process variables during hot working, the variation of the ferrite grain size was studied by utilizing of the computer aided servo-hydraulic Gleeble tester which is hot deformation behavior reproduction equipment. In addition, the effect of the ferrite grain size of raw material on the austenite grain behavior of hot forgings was also examined. The rolling contact fatigue resistance of the induction hardened SAE 1055 steel was compared with the occasion of the same condition of SAE52100 bearing steel. As a result, it was confirmed that the ferrite grain sizes of the forgings depend on the heating temperature and cooling start temperature during hot forging and cooling processes. The induction hardened SAE1055 steel showed a superior rolling contact fatigue resistance to the induction hardened SAE52100 steel. The reason is that SAE1055 steel is freer from the material defect such as segregation than the comparative steel.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2019

The effect of various lithium sources such as LiCl, LiOH, and Li-metal on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of granulated $SiO_x$ powders were investigated. Various lithium sources were metallurgically added for a passive pre-lithiation of $SiO_x$ to improve its low initial coulombic efficiency. In spite of using the same amount of Li in various sources, as well as the same process conditions, different lithium silicates were obtained. Moreover, irreversible phases were formed without reduction of $SiO_x$, which might be from additional oxygen incorporation during the process. Accordingly, there were no noticeable electrochemical enhancements. Nevertheless, the $Li_4SiO_4$ phase changes the initial electrochemical reaction, and consequently the relationship between the microstructure and electrochemical properties of metallurgically pre-lithiated $SiO_x$ could provide a guideline for the optimization of the performance of lithium ion batteries.

• Metals and materials international
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1315-1326
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• 2018

In this work, ultrasonic vibration (UV) and rheo-squeeze casting was first applied on the Mg alloy reinforced with long period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure. The semisolid slurry of Mg-Zn-Y alloy was prepared by UV and processed by rheosqueeze casting in succession. The effects of UV, Zr addition and squeeze pressure on microstructure of semisolid Mg-Zn-Y alloy were studied. The results revealed that the synergic effect of UV and Zr addition generated a finer microstructure than either one alone when preparing the slurries. Rheo-squeeze casting could significantly refine the LPSO structure and ${\alpha}-Mg$ matrix in $Mg_{96.9}Zn_1Y_2Zr_{0.1}$ alloy without changing the phase compositions or the type of LPSO structure. When the squeeze pressure increased from 0 to 400 MPa, the block LPSO structure was completely eliminated and the average thickness of LPSO structure decreased from 9.8 to $4.3{\mu}m$. Under 400 MPa squeeze pressure, the tensile strength and elongation of the rheocast $Mg_{96.9}Zn_1Y_2Zr_{0.1}$ alloy reached the maximum values, which were 234 MPa and 17.6%, respectively, due to its fine ${\alpha}-Mg$ matrix (${\alpha}1-Mg$ and ${\alpha}2-Mg$ grains) and LPSO structure.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.497-504
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• 2019

In this study, the correlation between microstructure and Charpy impact properties of FCAW(Flux cored arc welding) HAZ(Heat affected zone) of thick steel plates for offshore platforms was investigated. The 1/4 thickness(1/4t) location HAZ specimen had a higher volume fraction of bainite and finer grain size of acicular ferrite than those of the 1/2 thickness (1/2t) location HAZ specimen because of the post heat effect during the continuous FCAW process. The Charpy impact energy at $-20^{\circ}C$ of the 1/4t location HAZ specimen was lower than that of the 1/2t location HAZ specimen because of the high volume fraction of coarse bainite. The Charpy impact energy at -40 and $-60^{\circ}C$ of the 1/2t location HAZ specimen were higher than those of the 1/2t location HAZ specimen because the ductile fracture occurred in the fine acicular ferrite and martensite regions. In the ductile fracture mode, the deformed regions were observed in fine acicular ferrite and martensite regions. In the brittle fracture mode, long crack propagation path was observed in bainite regions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.211-220
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• 2019

In this study, three kinds of bainitic steel plates are manufactured by varying the chemical compositions and their microstructures are analyzed. Tensile and Charpy impact tests are performed at room and low temperature to investigate the correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties. In addition, heat affected zone (HAZ) specimens are fabricated by a simulation of welding processes, and the HAZ microstructure is analyzed. The base steel that has the lowest carbon equivalent has the highest volume fraction of acicular ferrite and the lowest volume fraction of secondary phases, so the strength is the lowest and the elongation is the highest. The Mo steel has a higher volume fraction of granular bainite and more secondary phases than the base steel, so the strength is high and the elongation is low. The CrNi steel has the highest volume fraction of the secondary phases, so the strength is the highest and elongation is the lowest. The tensile properties of the steels, namely, strength and elongation, have a linear correlation with the volume fraction of secondary phases. The Mo steel has the lowest Charpy impact energy at $-80^{\circ}C$ because of coarse granular bainite. In the Base-HAZ and Mo-HAZ specimens, the hardness increases as the volume fraction of martensite-austenite constituents increases. In the CrNi-HAZ specimen, however, hardness increases as the volume fraction of martensite and bainitic ferrite increases.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2009

The heat-affected zone (HAZ) of SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel, which has higher Ni and Cr contents than SA508 Gr.3 Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel, was investigated on the microstructure and mechanical properties. The HAZ was categorized into seven characteristic zones (CGCG, FGCG, ICCG, SCCG, FGFG, ICIC and SCSC-HAZ) according to the peak temperature from the thermal cycle experienced during multi-pass welding. Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) was conducted in the temperature range of $550{\sim}610^{\circ}C$ for 30 hours to evaluate the effect of PWHT conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties. Before PWHT, CGHAZ and FGFGHAZ showed high yield strength (YS) ranging from 1000 to 1250 MPa, while YS of SCSCHAZ decreased from 607 MPa (observed for base metal) to 501 MPa. The Charpy impact energies of sub-HAZs fell below 100J at $-29^{\circ}C$, except in the SCSCHAZ. By applying PWHT to sub-HAZ specimens, YS decreased as the PWHT temperature increased. In the case of CGHAZs and FGFGHAZ heat-treated at $610^{\circ}C$, YS dropped drastically to the range of 654~686 MPa. From the Charpy impact test, the upper-shelf energy (USE) increased to approximately 250J and Index temperature ($T_{68J}$) decreased below $-50^{\circ}C$. Specifically, in FGFG, ICIC and SCSC-HAZ, $T_{68J}$ was below -110, which was lower than the case of base metal.