• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2019

Carrier selective solar cell structure has allured curiosity of photovoltaic researchers due to the use of wide band gap transition metal oxide (TMO). Distinctive p/n-type character, broad range of work functions (2 to 7 eV) and risk free fabrication of TMO has evolved new concept of heterojunction intrinsic thin layer (HIT) solar cell employing carrier selective layers such as $MoO_x$, $WO_x$, $V_2O_5$ and $TiO_2$ replacing the doped a-Si layers on either front side or back side. The p/n-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layers are deposited by Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), which includes the flammable and toxic boron/phosphorous gas precursors. Due to this, carrier selective TMO is gaining popularity as analternative risk-free material in place of conventional a-Si:H. In this work hole selective materials such as $MoO_x$, $WO_x$ and $V_2O_5$has been investigated. Recently $MoO_x$, $WO_x$ & $V_2O_5$ hetero-structures showed conversion efficiency of 22.5%, 12.6% & 15.7% respectively at temperature below $200^{\circ}C$. In this work a concise review on few important aspects of the hole selective material solar cell such as historical developments, device structure, fabrication, factors effecting cell performance and dependency on temperature has been reported.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
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• v.68 no.11
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• pp.1203-1207
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• 2018

In this study, silica nanowires were formed using silicon oxide films with different oxygen contents, and their microstructure and physical properties were compared with those of silica nanowires formed using Si wafers. The silicon oxide films were fabricated by using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. Silica nanowires were formed by thermally annealing silicon oxide films coated with nickel films as a catalyst. In the case of silicon oxide films having an oxygen content of approximately 50 at.% or less, the formation mechanism, microstructure, and physical properties of the nanowires were not substantially different from those of the silicon wafer. In particular, the uniformity of the thickness showed better behavior in the silicon oxide films. These results imply that silicon oxide films can be used as an alternative for fabricating high-quality silica nanowires at low cost.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.80
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• pp.337-346
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated whether changes in the pumping speed characteristics of dry pumps due to the conduit can be predicted through simulation. The intrinsic pumping speed was measured in the dry pump characteristic evaluation system of the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, and the pumping speed affected by the conduit was measured using the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) equipment of the National NanoFab Center. Change in the pumping speed were predicted using conductance calculation equations and commercial vacuum-system simulation program, VacTran. A comparison of the results from the two approaches showed that the error rate was within ± 6.5%, confirming the reliability of the prediction. The simulation result was compared with the measured effective pumping speed, and it was confirmed that the error rate was within ± 10%, except in a specific part where the error rate was up to ± 40%. It is considered that the high error rate in some areas is as a result of automatically adjusting the rotation speed of the motor according to the power consumption of the inverter. However, a high simulation accuracy was obtained, demonstrating that the pumping speed characteristics can be predicted through simulation. This has potential application in the design of a vacuum system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.162-162
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• 2010

InSb has received great attentions as a promising candidate for the active layer of infrared photodetectors due to the well matched band gap for the detection of $3{\sim}5\;{\mu}m$ infrared (IR) wavelength and high electron mobility (106 cm2/Vs at 77 K). In the fabrication of InSb photodetectors, passivation step to suppress dark currents is the key process and intensive studies were conducted to deposit the high quality passivation layers on InSb. Silicon dioxide (SiO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4) and anodic oxide have been investigated as passivation layers and SiO2 is generally used in recent InSb detector fabrication technology due to its better interface properties than other candidates. However, even in SiO2, indium oxide and antimony oxide formation at SiO2/InSb interface has been a critical problem and these oxides prevent the further improvement of interface properties. Also, the mechanisms for the formation of interface phases are still not fully understood. In this study, we report the quantitative analysis of indium and antimony oxide formation at SiO2/InSb interface during plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition at various growth temperatures and subsequent heat treatments. 30 nm-thick SiO2 layers were deposited on InSb at 120, 160, 200, 240 and $300^{\circ}C$, and analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). With increasing deposition temperature, contents of indium and antimony oxides were also increased due to the enhanced diffusion. In addition, the sample deposited at $120^{\circ}C$ was annealed at $300^{\circ}C$ for 10 and 30 min and the contents of interfacial oxides were analyzed. Compared to as-grown samples, annealed sample showed lower contents of antimony oxide. This result implies that reduction process of antimony oxide to elemental antimony occurred at the interface more actively than as-grown samples.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 1999

${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$ thin films on $Al_2O_3$ substrate were prepared by the oxidation of $Fe_3O_4$ thin films processed by PECVD(Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) technique. The phase transformation of ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$ thin films was mainly controlled by the substrate temperature and oxidation process of $Fe_3O_4$ phase. $Fe_3O_4$ phase was obtained at the deposition temperature of $200{\sim}300^{\circ}C$. $Fe_3O_4$ phase could be transformed into ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$ phase under controlled oxidation at $280{\sim}300^{\circ}C$. $Fe_3O_4$ and ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$ obtained by oxidation of $Fe_3O_4$ phase had the same spinel structure and were coexisted. The oxidized ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$ thin film on $Al_2O_3$ substrate showed a porous island structure.

• 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%.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.619-625
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• 2008

The effects of thermal cycling on residual stresses in both inorganic passivation/insulating layer that is deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and organic thin film that is used as a bonding adhesive are evaluated by 4 point bending method and wafer curvature method. $SiO_2/SiN_x$ and BCB (Benzocyclobutene) are used as inorganic and organic layers, respectively. A model about the effect of thermal cycling on residual stress and bond strength (Strain energy release rate), $G_c$, at the interface between inorganic thin film and organic adhesive is developed. In thermal cycling experiments conducted between $25^{\circ}C$ and either $350^{\circ}C$ or $400^{\circ}C$, $G_c$ at the interface between BCB and PECVD $ SiN_x $ decreases after the first cycle. This trend in $G_c$ agreed well with the prediction based on our model that the increase in residual tensile stress within the $SiN_x$ layer after thermal cycling leads to the decrease in $G_c$. This result is compared with that obtained for the interface between BCB and PECVD $SiO_2$, where the relaxation in residual compressive stress within the $SiO_2$ induces an increase in $G_c$. These opposite trends in $G_cs$ of the structures including either PECVD $ SiN_x $ or PECVD $SiO_2$ are caused by reactions in the hydrogen-bonded chemical structure of the PECVD layers, followed by desorption of water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.274-274
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• 2014

금속칼코게나이드 화합물중 하나인 $MoS_2$는 초저 마찰계수의 금속성 윤활제로 널리 사용되고 있으며 흑연과 비슷한 판상 구조를 지니고 있어 기계적 박리법을 통한 그래핀의 발견 이후 2차원 박막 합성법에 대한 활발한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 최근 다양한 응용이 진행 중인 그래핀의 경우 높은 전자이동도, 기계적 강도, 유연성, 열전도도 등 뛰어난 물리적 특성을 지니고 있으나 zero-bandgap으로 인한 낮은 on/off ratio는 thin film transistor (TFT), 논리회로(logic circuit) 등 반도체 소자 응용에 한계가 있다. 하지만 $MoS_2$는 벌크상태에서 약 1.2 eV의 indirect band-gap을 지닌 반면 단일층의 경우 1.8 eV의 direct-bandgap을 나타내고 있다. 또한 단일층 $MoS_2$를 이용하여 $HfO_2/MoS_2/SiO_2$ 구조의 트랜지스터를 제작하였을 때 $200cm^2/v^{-1}s^{-1}$의 높은 mobility와 $10^8$ 이상의 on/off ratio 나타낸다는 연구가 보고되어 있어 박막형 트랜지스터 응용을 위한 신소재로 주목을 받고 있다. 한편 2차원 $MoS_2$ 박막을 합성하기 위한 대표적인 방법인 기계적 박리법의 경우 고품질의 단일층 $MoS_2$ 성장이 가능하지만 대면적 합성에 한계를 지니고 있으며 화학기상증착법(CVD)의 경우 공정 gas의 분해를 위한 높은 온도가 요구되므로 박막형 투명 트랜지스터 응용을 위한 플라스틱 기판으로의 in-situ 성장이 어렵기 때문에 이를 보완할 수 있는 $MoS_2$ 박막 합성 공정 개발이 필요하다. 특히 Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) 방법은 공정 gas가 전기적 에너지로 분해되어 chamber 내부에서 cold-plasma 형태로 존 재하기 때문에 박막의 저온성장 및 대면적 합성이 가능하며 고진공을 바탕으로 합성 중 발생하는 오염 요소를 효과적으로 제어할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는PECVD를 이용하여 plasma power, 공정압력, 공정 gas의 유량 등 다양한 공정 변수를 조절함으로써 저온, 저압 조건하에서의 $MoS_2$ 박막 성장 가능성을 확인하였으며 전구체로는 Mo 금속과 $H_2S$ gas를 사용하였다. 또한 향후 flexible 소자 응용을 위한 플라스틱 기판의 녹는점을 고려하여 공정 온도는 $300^{\circ}C$ 이하로 설정하였으며 합성된 $MoS_2$ 박막의 두께 및 화학적 구성은 Raman spectroscopy를 이용하여 확인 하였다. 공정온도 $200^{\circ}C$와 $150^{\circ}C$에서 성장한 $MoS_2$ 박막의 Raman peak의 경우 상대적으로 낮은 공정온도로 인하여 Mo와 H2S의 화학적 결합이 감소된 것을 관찰할 수 있었고 $300^{\circ}C$의 경우 약 $26{\sim}27cm^{-1}$의 Raman peak 간격을 통해 5~6층의 $MoS_2$ 박막이 형성 된 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.563-575
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• 2006

Ti(C,N) films are synthesized by pulsed DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PEMOCVD) using metal-organic compounds of tetrakis diethylamide titanium at $200-300^{\circ}C$. To compare plasma parameter, in this study, $H_2$ and $He/H_2$ gases are used as carrier gas. The effect of $N_2\;and\;NH_3$ gases as reactive gas is also evaluated in reduction of C content of the films. Radical formation and ionization behaviors in plasma are analyzed in-situ by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) at various pulsed bias voltages and gas species. He and $H_2$ mixture is very effective in enhancing ionization of radicals, especially for the $N_2$. Ammonia $(NH_3)$ gas also highly reduces the formation of CN radical, thereby decreasing C content of Ti(C, N) films in a great deal. The microhardness of film is obtained to be $1,250\;Hk_{0.01}\;to\;1,760\;Hk_{0.01}$ depending on gas species and bias voltage. Higher hardness can be obtained under the conditions of $H_2\;and\;N_2$ gases as well as bias voltage of 600 V. Hf(C, N) films were also obtained by pulsed DC PEMOCYB from tetrakis diethyl-amide hafnium and $N_2/He-H_2$ mixture. The depositions were carried out at temperature of below $300^{\circ}C$, total chamber pressure of 1 Torr and varying the deposition parameters. Influences of the nitrogen contents in the plasma decreased the growth rate and attributed to amorphous components, to the high carbon content of the film. In XRD analysis the domain lattice plain was (111) direction and the maximum microhardness was observed to be $2,460\;Hk_{0.025}$ for a Hf(C,N) film grown under -600 V and 0.1 flow rate of nitrogen. The optical emission spectra measured during PEMOCVD processes of Hf(C, N) film growth were also discussed. $N_2,\;N_2^+$, H, He, CH, CN radicals and metal species(Hf) were detected and CH, CN radicals that make an important role of total PEMOCVD process increased carbon content.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2013

Lowering surface reflectance of Si wafers by texturization is one of the most important processes for improving the efficiency of Si solar cells. This paper presents the results on the effect of texturing using acidic solution mixtures containing the catalytic agents to moderate etching rates on the surface morphology of mc-Si wafer as well as on the performance parameters of solar cell. It was found that the treatment of contaminated crystalline silicon wafer with $HNO_3-H_2O_2-H_2O$ solution before the texturing helps the removal of organic contaminants due to its oxidizing properties and thereby allows the formation of nucleation centers for texturing. This treatment combined with the use of a catalytic agent such as phosphoric acid improved the effects of the texturing effects. This reduced the reflectance of the surface, thereby increased the short circuit current and the conversion efficiency of the solar cell. Employing this technique, we were able to fabricate mc-Si solar cell of 16.4% conversion efficiency with anti-reflective (AR) coating of silicon nitride film using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and Si wafers can be texturized in a short time.