• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.128-132
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• 2016

We investigated the effect of Ar ion sputtering on the surface electronic structure of indium tin oxide (ITO) using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS) measurements with increasing Ar ion sputtering time. XPS measurements revealed that surface contamination on ITO was rapidly removed by Ar ion sputtering for 10 s. UPS measurements showed that the work function of ITO increased by 0.2 eV after Ar ion sputtering for 10 s. This increase in work function was attributed to the removal of surface contamination, which formed a positive interface dipole relative to the ITO substrate. However, further Ar ion sputtering did not change the work function of ITO although the surface stoichiometry of ITO did change. Therefore, removing the surface contamination is critical for increasing the work function of ITO, and Ar ion sputtering for a short time (about 10 s) can efficiently remove surface contamination.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2015

Backside Ar ion milling technique for the preparation of cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens, and backside-ion milling combined with focused ion beam (FIB) operation for electron holography were introduced in this paper. The backside Ar ion milling technique offers advantages in preparing cross-sectional specimens having thin, smooth and uniform surfaces with low surface damages. The back-side ion milling combined with the FIB technique could be used to observe the two-dimensional p-n junction profiles in semiconductors with the sample quality sufficient for an electron holography study. These techniques have useful applications for accurate TEM analysis of the microstructure of materials or electronic devices such as arrayed hole patterns, three-dimensional integrated circuits, and also relatively thick layers (> $1{\mu}m$).

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.12 no.S1
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• pp.92-94
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• 2003

The sputtering yield change of an amorphous Si layer on Si(100) was measured quantitatively for 0.5 keV $O_2^{+}$ and $Ar^{+}$ ion bombardment with in suit MEIS. In the case of 0.5 keV $O_2^{+}$ ion bombardment, at the initial stage of sputtering before surface oxidation, the sputtering yield of Si was 1.4 (Si atoms/$O_2^{+}$) and then decreased down to 0.06 at the ion dose of $3\times10^{16}O_2\;^{+}\textrm{/cm}^2$. In the case of 0.5 keV $Ar^{+}$ ion bombardment, the sputtering yield of Si for the surface normal incidence was 0.56 at the ion dose of 2.5 ${\times}$ 10$^{15}$ $Ar^{+}\textrm{cm}^2$, and rapidly saturated to 1.2 at dose of $7.5\times10^{15}Ar^+\textrm{cm}^2$. For the incidence angle of 80 from surface normal, the sputtering yield of Si was saturated to about 1.4 at the initial stage of sputtering. The surface transient effects, caused by change in sputtering yield at the initial stage of sputtering can be negligible when 0.5 keV $Ar^{+}$ ion at extremely grazing angle was used for sputter depth profiling.g.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2015

Ion beam sputtering has been widely used in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) for depth profile or surface cleaning. However, mainly due to severe matrix effects such as surface composition change from its original composition and damage of the surface generated by ion beam bombardment, conventional sputtering skills using mono-atomic primary ions with energy ranging from a few hundred to a thousand volts are not sufficient for the practical surface analysis of next-generation organic/inorganic device materials characterization. Therefore, minimization of the surface matrix effects caused by the ion beam sputtering is one of the key factors in surface analysis. In this work, the electronic structure of a $Ta_2O_5$ thin film on $SiO_2/Si$ (100) after Ar Gas Cluster Ion Beam (GCIB) sputtering was investigated using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and compared with those obtained via mono-atomic Ar ion beam sputtering. The Ar ion sputtering had a great deal of influence on the electronic structure of the oxide thin film. Ar GCIB sputtering without sample rotation also affected the electronic structure of the oxide thin film. However, Ar GCIB sputtering during sample rotation did not exhibit any significant transition of the electronic structure of the $Ta_2O_5$ thin films. Our results showed that Ar GCIB can be useful for potential applications of oxide materials with sample rotation.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.15-19
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• 2007

This paper reports the effects of Ar ion beam surface treatment on a $SiO_2$ dielectric layer in organic thin film transistors. We compared the electrical properties of pentacene-based OTFTs, treated by $O_2$ plasma or Ar ion beam treatments and characterized the states of the surface of the dielectric by using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For the sample which received $O_2$ plasma treatment, the mobility increased significantly but the on/off current ratio was found very low. The Ar ion beam-treated sample showed a very high on/off current ratio as well as a moderately improved mobility. XPS data taken from the dielectric surfaces after each of treatments exhibit that the ratio of between Si-O bonds and O-Si-O bonds was much higher in the $O_2$ plasma treated surface than in the Ar ion beam treated surface. We believe that our surface treatment using an inert gas, Ar, carried out an effective surface cleaning while keeping surface damage very low, and also the improved device performances was achieved as a consequence of improved surface condition.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.204-208
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated the ion energy distributions in a chlorine based inductively coupled plasma by quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrostatic ion energy analyzer. Ion energy distributions are presented for various plasma parameters such as $BCl_3/Ar$ gas mixing ratio, RF power, and process pressure. As the $BCl_3/Ar$ gas mixing ratio and process pressure decreases, and RF power increases, the saddle-shaped structures is enhanced. The reason is that there are ionized energy difference between $BCl_3$ and Ar, change of plasma potential, alteration of mean free path. and variety of ion collision in the sheath.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1165-1169
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• 2003

The Ta$_2$O$_{5}$ thin film was deposited on Si-(III) and glass substrate with the change of Ar:O$_2$ gas flow rate in the assist ion gun by the Dual ion-Beam Sputtering (DIBS). As the $O_2$ gas flow of the assist ion gun was decreased, the deposition rate of the thin films decreased. The refractive index was fixed (2.11, at 1550 nm) without regarding to $O_2$ gas flow of the range 3∼12 sccm in assist ion gun. The condition of Ar:O$_2$=3:12 was formatted stoichiometry composition of Ta$_2$O$_{5}$ and the ms roughness was small (0.183 nm).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.26-29
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• 2001

SrBi$_2$Ta$_2$$O_{9}$ thin films were etched at high-density C1$_2$/CF$_{4}$/Ar in inductively coupled plasma system. The etching of SBT thin films in C1$_2$/CF$_{4}$/Ar were chemically assisted reactive ion etching. The maximum etch rate was 1300 $\AA$/min at 900W in Cl$_2$(20)/CF$_4$(20)/Ar(80). As f power increase, radicals (F, Cl) and ion(Ar) increase. The influence of plasma induced damage during etching process was investigated in terms of the surface morphology and th phase of X-ray diffraction. The chemical residue was investigated with secondary ion mass spectrometry.y.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.319-324
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• 2002

It is known that ion-assisted reaction method is effective for the surface modification of polymers. The surface treatment of Spectra fibers using the ion-assisted reaction method was investigated in the present study The Spectra fibers were treated by $Ar^{+}$ / ion irradiation under oxygen environment. The treatment was carried out at different $Ar^{+}$ ion doses. The$ Ar^{+ }$ /ion doses used were $6$\times$10^{15}$ , $1$\times$10^{16}$ , $5$\times$10^{16}$ , $1$\times$10^{17}$ / ions/$\m^2$. Optimal $Ar^{+}$ ion dose in the treatment of Spectra fibers was determined by measuring the tensile strength and modulus of Spectra/vinylester composites as a function of ion dose. It was found that the optimal ion dose was $1$\times$10^{16}$ions/$\m^2$. It was also found from the scanning electron microscope examination that the surface-treatment improved adhesion between fibers and vinylester resin.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 1996

Ion beam assisted crystallization behavior of sol-gel derived $PbTiO_3$ thin films, deposited on bare silicon(100) substrates by spin-casting method, has been investigated. Ar ion bombardment was directly conducted on the spincoated film surface with or without heating the film from room temperature to $300^{\circ}C$. Ion dose was changed from $5{\times}10^{15}$ to $7.5{\times}10^{16}$ $Ar^-/cm^2$. Formation of (110) oriented perovskite phase was obseerved with ion dose above $5{\times}10^{16}\; Ar^+/cm^2$. Crystallization of $PbTiO_3$ thin film could be enhanced with increasing the Air ion dose, or heating the substrate during ion bombardment. Crystallization of the $PbTiO_3$ films by ion bombardment was related to the local heating effect during ion bombardment.