• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.4063-4068
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• 2012

Oxide substrates in semiconductor-sensitized solar cells (SSSCs) have a great impact on their performance. $TiO_2$ has long been utilized as an oxide substrate, and other alternatives such as ZnO and $SnO_2$ have also been explored due to their superior physical properties over $TiO_2$. In the development of high-performance SSSCs, it is of significant importance to understand the effect of oxides on the electron injection and charge recombination as these two are major factors in dictating solar cell performance. In addition, elucidating the relationship between these two critical processes and solar cell performance in each oxide is critical in building up the basic foundation of SSSCs. In this study, ultrafast pump-probe laser spectroscopy and open-circuit decay analysis were conducted to examine the characteristics of three representative oxides ($TiO_2$, ZnO, and $SnO_2$) in terms of electron injection kinetics and charge recombination, and the implication of results is discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.442-443
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• 2009

We prepared and characterized particle based CIGS thin film using a thermal evaporator. CIGS powder were obtained at $240^{\circ}C$ for 6 hours from the reaction of $CuCl_2$, $InCl_3$, $GaCl_3$, Se powder in solvent. The CIGS thin film deposited on a sodalime glass. The CIGS thin film were identified to have a typical chalcopyrite tetragonal structure by using UV/Vis-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction(XRD), Auger Electron Spectroscopy(AES), Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.3383-3386
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• 2012

SnS thin films were deposited on glasses through metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method at relatively mild conditions, using bis(3-mercapto-1-propanethiolato) tin(II) precursor without toxic $H_2S$ gas. The MOCVD process was carried out in the temperature range of $300-400^{\circ}C$ and the average grain size in fabricated SnS films was about 500 nm. The optical band gap of the SnS film was about 1.3 eV which is in optimal range for harvesting solar radiation energy. The precursor and SnS films were characterized through infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, DIP-EI mass spectroscopy, elemental analyses, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopic analyses.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.106.2-106.2
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• 2011

다층 박막 구조로 이루어진 CdS/CdTe 태양전지의 경우, 각각의 박막이 다양한 제조 공정을 거치면서 물성특성의 변화를 겪게 된다. 각각의 박막이 고온의 열처리 공정과, $CdCl_2$ 용액 처리 및 후면 산화막 제거 공정 등을 거치게 되면서 겪게 되는 물성 변화 분석을 살펴보고자 한다. 각각의 박막 제조 방식은 일반적으로 사용되는 방식으로, CdS의 경우는 용액성장법(Chemical Bath Deposition, CBD), CdTe의 경우는 근접승화법(Closed Space Sublimaition, CSS)을 사용했으며, X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) 등을 이용하여 분석하였다. 각각의 셀 제조 공정을 거치면서 CdS, CdTe 박막들은 결정, 광 특성, 성분 변화를 보였다.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.203-214
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• 2017

In this study we present the reaction mechanism of $Cu_2ZnSnSe_4$ (CZTSe) nanoparticles synthesized by microwave-assisted chemical synthesis. We performed reactions every 10 minutes in order to identify different phases during quaternary CZTSe formation. The powder samples were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that in the first minutes copper phases are predominant, then copper and tin secondary phases react to form ternary phase. The quaternary phase is formed at 50 minutes while ternary and secondary phases are consumed. At 60 minutes pure quaternary CZTSe phase is present. After 60 minutes the quaternary phase decomposes in the previous ternary and secondary phases, which indicates that 60 minutes is ideal reaction time. The EDS analysis of pure quaternary nanocrystals (CZTSe) showed stoichiometric relations similar to the reported research in the literature, which falls in the range of Cu/(Zn+Sn): 0.8-1.0, Zn/Sn: 1.0-1.20. In conclusion, the evolution pathway of CZTSe synthesized by this novel method is similar to other synthesis methods reported before. Nanoparticles synthesized in this study present desirable properties in order to use them in solar cell and photoelectrochemical cell applications.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.461-471
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• 2013

Use of low bandgap polymers is the most suitable way to harvest a broader spectrum of solar radiations for solar cells. But, still there is lack of most efficient low bandgap polymer. In order to solve this problem, we have synthesised a new low bandgap polymer and investigated its interaction with the ILs to enhance its conductivity. ILs may undergo almost unlimited structural variations; these structural variations have attracted extensive attention in polymer studies. In addition to this, UV-Vis spectroscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy results have revealed that all studied ILs (tributylmethylammonium methyl sulfate [$N_{1444}$][$MeSO_4$] from ammonium family) and 1-methylimidazolium chloride ([MIM]Cl, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Bmim]Cl from imidazolium family) has potential to interact with polymer. Further, protic ILs shows enhanced conductivity than aprotic ILs with low bandgap polymer. This study provides the combined effect of low bandgap polymer and ILs that may generate many theoretical and experimental opportunities.

• Solar Energy
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 1995

The tungsten oxide thin films were prepared on $s_i$ wafer by using an electron-beam evaporation technique. Thickness and structure of tungsten oxide film degraded in various electrolytes were analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. Thickness of $WO_3$ film was the most dissolved in 1M $H_2SO_4$ electrolytye. We have confirmed that the degradation of this films was accelerated by $H_2O$ in electrolytes. But the electronic structure of film degraded by electrolyte contained of glycerol was not changed as comparision with as-deposited film. The degradation may be attributed to a change of thickness and the surface morphology of the film.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.377-389
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• 2022

The current global energy supply depends heavily on fossil fuels. This makes technology such as direct water splitting from harvesting solar energy in photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems potentially attractive due to its a promising route for environmentally benign hydrogen production. In this study, undoped and nickel-doped molybdenum oxide photoanodes (called photoanodes S₁ and S₂ respectively) were synthesized through electrodeposition by applying -1.377 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl) for 3 hours on an FTO-coated glass substrate immersed in molibdatecitrate aqueous solutions at pH 9. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for microstructural and compositional characterizations of the photoanodes. In addition, the optical and photoelectrochemical characterizations of these photoanodes were performed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, and linear scanning voltammetry (LSV) respectively. The results showed that all the photoanodes produced exhibit conductivity and catalytic properties that make them attractive for water splitting application in a photoelectrochemical cell. In this context, the photoanode S₂ exhibited better photocatalytic activity than the photoanode S₁. In addition, photoanode S₂ had the lowest optical band-gap energy value (2.58 eV), which would allow better utilization of the solar spectrum.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.3043-3047
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• 2012

To investigate the scattering layer effect of a $TiO_2$ multilayer in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), we designed a new DSSC system, assembled with a CdS-$TiO_2$ scattering layer electrode. A high-magnification SEM image exhibited hollyhock-like particles with a width of 1.5-2.0 ${\mu}m$ that were aggregated into 10-nm clumps in a hexagonal petal shape. The efficiency was higher in the DSSC assembled with a CdS-$TiO_2$ scattering layer than in the DSSC assembled with $TiO_2$-only layers, due to the decreased resistance in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The short-circuit current density ($J_{sc}$) was increased by approximately 7.26% and the open-circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$) by 2.44% over the 1.0 wt % CdS-$TiO_2$ composite scattering layer and the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) in the maximum peak was also enhanced by about 5.0%, compared to the DSSC assembled without the CdS-$TiO_2$scattering layer.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.238-242
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• 2005

The Pt counter electrode of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) plays a role in helping redox reaction of iodine ions in electrolyte, also, transferring electrons into electrolyte. In this case, it is expected that characteristics of Pt electrodes strongly depend on fabrication process and its surface condition. In this study, Pt electrodes were prepared by a electro-deposition and a RF magnetron sputtering. Electrochemical behavior of Pt electrodes was compared using cyclic-voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Surface morphology of Pt electrodes was investigated by FE-SEM and AFM. I-V characteristics of DSSC were measured and discussed in association with the surface properties of counter electrode. As a result, electrochemical properties of electro-deposited Pt electrode were superior to that of sputtered Pt electrode. This is likely that enlarged area of surface in electro-deposited Pt electrode in comparison with the case of sputtered Pt electrode playa role in enhancing such electrochemical properties.