• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2011

In this study, the effects of an annealed buffer layer with different thickness on heterojunction diodes based on the ZnO/ZnO/p-Si(111) systems were reported. The effects of an annealed buffer layer with different thickness on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) films on p-Si(111) were also studied. Before zinc oxide (ZnO) deposition, different thicknesses of ZnO buffer layer, 10 nm, 30 nm, 50 nm and 70 nm, were grown on p-Si(111) substrates using a radio-frequency sputtering system; samples were subsequently annealed at $700^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes in $N_2$ in a horizontal thermal furnace. Zinc oxide (ZnO) films with a width of 280nm were also deposited using a radio-frequency sputtering system on the annealed ZnO/p-Si (111) substrates at room temperature; samples were subsequently annealed at $700^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes in $N_2$. In this experiment, the structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films were studied by XRD (X-ray diffraction), and room temperature PL (photoluminescence) measurements, respectively. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics were measured with a semiconductor parameter analyzer. The thermal tensile stress was found to decrease with increasing buffer layer thickness. Among the ZnO/ZnO/p-Si(111) diodes fabricated in this study, the sample that was formed with the condition of a 50 nm thick ZnO buffer layer showed a strong c-axis preferred orientation and I-V characteristics suitable for a heterojunction diode.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.128-132
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• 2021

Advances in screen printing technology have been led to development of high efficiency silicon solar cells. As a post PERx structure, an n-type wafer-based rear side TOPCon structure has been actively researched for further open-circuit voltage (Voc) improvement. In the case of the metal contact of the TOPCon structure, the poly-Si thickness is very important because the passivation of the substrate will be degraded when the metal paste penetrates until substrate. However, the thin poly-Si layer has advantages in terms of current density due to reduction of parasitic absorption. Therefore, poly-Si thickness and firing temperature must be considered to optimize the metal contact of the TOPCon structure. In this paper, we varied poly-Si thickness and firing peak temperature to evaluate metal induced recombination (Jom) and contact resistivity. Jom was evaluated by using PL imaging technique which does not require both side metal contact. As a results, we realized that the SiN_x deposition conditions can affect the metal contact of the TOPCon structure.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.75-83
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• 2021

The tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) structure got more consideration for development of high performance solar cells by the introduction of a tunnel oxide layer between the substrate and poly-Si is best for attaining interface passivation. The quality of passivation of the tunnel oxide layer clearly depends on the bond of SiO in the tunnel oxide layer, which is affected by the subsequent annealing and the tunnel oxide layer was formed in the suboxide region (SiO, Si₂O, Si₂O₃) at the interface with the substrate. In the suboxide region, an oxygen-rich bond is formed as a result of subsequent annealing that also improves the quality of passivation. To control the surface morphology, annealing profile, and acceleration rate, an oxide tunnel junction structure with a passivation characteristic of 700 mV or more (V_oc) on a p-type wafer could achieved. The quality of passivation of samples subjected to RTP annealing at temperatures above 900℃ declined rapidly. To improve the quality of passivation of the tunnel oxide layer, the physical properties and thermal stability of the thin layer must be considered. TOPCon silicon solar cell has a boron diffused front emitter, a tunnel-SiO_x/n⁺-poly-Si/SiN_x:H structure at the rear side, and screen-printed electrodes on both sides. The saturation currents J_o of this structure on polished surface is 1.3 fA/cm² and for textured silicon surfaces is 3.7 fA/cm² before printing the silver contacts. After printing the Ag contacts, the J_o of this structure increases to 50.7 fA/cm² on textured silicon surfaces, which is still manageably less for metal contacts. This structure was applied to TOPCon solar cells, resulting in a median efficiency of 23.91%, and a highest efficiency of 24.58%, independently. The conversion efficiency of interdigitated back-contact solar cells has reached up to 26% by enhancing the optoelectrical properties for both-sides-contacted of the cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.224-225
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• 2009

Aluminium nitride thin film was deposited on Au electrode and Si substrate by radio frequency sputtering system. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was utilized to identify the AlN phase, and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was used to obtain the images of surface morphology and roughness value of AlN thin film. The result of XRD and AFM measurement showed that the AlN thin film has strong c-axs orientation and smooth surface. In order to investigate piezoelectric response and polarization properties along to the direction of electric field, PFM (Piezoresponse Force Microscope) system was used, and the images of piezoelectric response due to switching of polarization was observed by PFM.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

GaN thin fan were grown by spin coated colloidal GaOOH precursor. Polycrystalline GaNs with crystalline size of $10{\sim}100nm$ were grown on $SiO_2$ substrate. The shape of crystallite above $900^{\circ}C$ had the hexagonal plate and column type. X-ray diffraction patterns for them correspond to those of the hexagonal wurtzite GaN. With increasing droplets. i.e, thickness of deposited layers, XRD intensity increased. PL (photoluminescence) spectrum consisted with an weak near band-edge emission at 3.45 eV and a broad donor-acceptor emission band at 3.32 eV. From the low temperature PL measurement on GaN grown at $800^{\circ}C$ that the shallow donor-acceptor recombination induced emission was more intense than the near band-edge excitonic emission.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.287-291
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• 2008

Reactively magnetron sputtered TiN films were deposited on Si wafers under varying bias voltage and characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Nanoindentation. The films deposited under an Ar + $N_2$ atmosphere exhibited a mixed (200)-(111) orientation with a strong (200) texture, which subsequently changed to a strong (111) texture with increasing bias voltage. The changes in texture and grain size of the TiN thin films are due to one or a combination of factors such as strain energy, surface free energy, surface diffusivity and adatom mobility. The influence of each factor depends on the processing conditions. The average deposition rate and grain size were calculated from FE-SEM images of the films indicating that the deposition rate was lower at the films deposited under bias voltage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.97-100
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• 2001

This paper presents the characteristics of Ta-N thin-film strain gauges as high-temperature strain gauges, which were deposited on Si substrate by DC reactive magnetron sputtering in an argon-nitrogen atmosphere(Ar-(4∼16 %)N$_2$). These films were annealed for 1 hour in 2x10$\^$-6/ Torr vaccum furnace range 500∼1000$^{\circ}C$. The optimized conditions of Ta-N thin-film strain gauges were annealing condition(900$^{\circ}C$, 1 hr.) in 8% N$_2$ gas flow ratio deposition atmosphere. Under optimum conditions, the Ta-N thin-films for strain gauges is obtained a high resistivity, $\rho$=768.93 ${\mu}$Ω cm, a low temperature coefficient of resistance, TCR=-84 ppm/$^{\circ}C$ and a high temporal stability with a good longitudinal gauge factor, GF=4.12.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.1033-1036
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• 2004

Si nanocrystallites thin films on p-type (100) Si substrate have been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition using a Nd:YAG laser. After deposition, samples were annealed at the temperatures of 400 to $800^{\circ}C$. Hydrogen passivation was then performed in the forming gas (95% $N_2$ + 5% $H_2$) for 1 hr. Strong violet-indigo photoluminescence has been observed at room temperature from nitrogen ambient-annealed Si nanocrystallites. The variation of photoluminescence (PL) Properties of Si nanocrystallites thin films has been investigated depending on annealing temperatures with hydrogen passivation. From the results of PL, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements, it is observed that the origin of violet-indigo PL from the nanocrystalline silicon in the silicon oxide film is related to the quantum size effect of Si nanocrystallites and oxygen vacancies in the SiOx(x : 1.6-1.8) matrix affects the emission intensity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.985-988
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• 2004

The carrier lifetime of boron doped Cz silicon samples after light induced degradation could be improved by optimized rapid thermal processing (RTP). The important five different parameters varied in order to investigate which parameter is important for the stable lifetime after light induced degradation, $\tau_d$. The Plateau temperature and the Plateau time influenced on the lifetime after light induced degradation. Especially, the Plateau temperature showed a strong influence on the stable lifetime. The optimal plateau temperature is approximately $900^{\circ}C$ t for a plateau time of 120 s. The stable lifetime increased from $15\mu}s$ to $25.5{\mu}s$. The normalized defect concentration, $N_t^*$, decreased from $0.06{\mu}s^{-1}$ to $0.037{\mu}s^{-1}$ by RTP-process.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.17-24
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• 1986

β'-Sialon with different compositions was synthesized by the carbothermal reduction-nitridation of compacts containing kaolin graphite and silicon or aluminum at temperature of 1300-1450℃ under flowing gas of 90% N2-10% H2 or 20hrs. Quantitative analysis of minerals which were formed in the specimens was carried out by using the calibration curve which has been prepared from X-ray diffraction patterns. The obtained results were as follows : 1. In the formation of β'-Sialon by carbothermal reduction-nutridation of Si-Al-O-C system mixtures at 1400℃ for 20hrs. (2) β'-Sialon as a major mineral and α-Al2O3 as a minor mineral were identified in the specimen which was prepared of kaolin and graphite. (3)α-Al2O3 and 15R as a minor minerals were measured in the specimen which was prepared of kaolin aluminum and graphite. (4) AlN instead of α-Al2O3 and 15R was formed in the compacts that excess graphite(=35 wt%) was added to the mixture of kaolin and aluminium. 2. As the reaction time and temperature were increased the formation of β'-Sialon was increased whereas the phases of mllite SiC and Si2ON2 were decreased gradually.