• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.564-568
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• 2003

The etching of Au thin films have been performed in an inductively coupled CF$_4$/Cl$_2$/Ar plasma. The etch rates were measured as CF$_4$ contents added from 0 to 30 % to Cl$_2$/Ar plasma, of which gas mixing ratio was fixed at 20%. Other parameters were fixed at an rf power of 700 W, a dc bias voltage of 150 V, a chamber pressure of 15 mTorr, and a substrate temperature of 3$0^{\circ}C$. The highest etch rate of the Au thin film was 3700 $\AA$m/min at a 10% additive CF$_4$ into Cl$_2$/Ar plasma. The surface reaction of the etched Au thin films was investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. XPS analysis indicated that Au reacted with Cl and formed Au-Cl, which is hard to remove on the surface because of its high melting point. The etching products could be sputtered by Ar ion bombardment.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.383-393
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• 2008

The etching mechanism of $ZrO_2$ thin films and etch selectivity over some materials in both $BCl_3$/Ar and $BCl_3/CHF_3$/Ar plasmas are investigated using a combination of experimental and modeling methods. To obtain the data on plasma composition and fluxes of active species, global (0-dimensional) plasma models are developed with Langmuir probe diagnostics data. In $BCl_3$/Ar plasma, changes in gas mixing ratio result in non-linear changes of both densities and fluxes for Cl, $BCl_2$, and ${BCl_2}^+$. In this work, it is shown that the non-monotonic behavior of the $ZrO_2$ etch rate as a function of the $BCl_3$/Ar mixing ratio could be related to the ion-assisted etch mechanism and the ion-flux-limited etch regime. The addition of up to 33% $CHF_3$ to the $BCl_3$-rich $BCl_3$Ar plasma does not influence the $ZrO_2$ etch rate, but it non-monotonically changes the etch rates of both Si and $SiO_2$. The last effect can probably be associated with the corresponding behavior of the F atom density.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2004

To evaluate the effect of plasma cleaning on the soldering reliability the plasma cleaning using Ar-10vol%$H_2$ gas was applied on a UBM(Under Bump Metallization). The UBM consisted of Au/ Cu/ Ni/ Al layers which were deposited on a Si-wafer with 20 nm/ 4 $\mu\textrm{m}$/ 4 $\mu\textrm{m}$/ 0.4 $\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness respectively. Sn-3.5%Ag, Sn-3.5%Ag-0.7%Cu and Sn-37%Pb solder balls sized of 500 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter were used. Solder balls on the UBM were plasma reflowed under Ar-10%$H_2$ plasma (with or without plasma cleaning). They were compared with air reflowed solder balls with flux. The spreading ratios of plasma reflowed solder with plasma cleaning was 20-40% higher than that of plasma reflowed solder without plasma cleaning. The shear strength of plasma reflowed solder with plasma cleaning was about 58-65MPa. It showed 60-80% higher than that of plasma reflowed solder without plasma cleaning and 15-35% higher than that of air reflowed solder. Thus it was believed that plasma cleaning for the UBM using Ar-10vol%$H_2$ gas was considerably effective for the improvement of the strength of solder ball.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.308-312
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• 2012

Argon-plasma jet (Ar-PJ) is generated by ionizing Ar gas, and the resulting Ar-PJ consists of a mixture of neutral particles, positive ions, negative electrons, and various reactive species. Although Ar-PJ has been used in various biomedical applications, little is known about the biological effects on cells located near the plasma-exposed region. Here, we investigated the effects of the Ar-PJ on actin cytoskeleton of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) in response to indirect as well as direct exposure to Ar-PJ. This Ar-PJ was generated at 500 mL/min of flow rate and 100 V electric power by our device mainly consisting of electrodes, dielectrics, and a high-voltage power supply. Because actin cytoskeleton is the key cellular machinery involved in cellular movement and is implicated in regulation of cancer metastasis and thus resulting in a highly desirable cancer therapeutic target, we examined the actin filament architectures in Ar-PJ-treated MEFs by staining with an actin-specific phalloidin labeled with fluorescent dye. Interestingly, the Ar-PJ treatment causes destabilization of actin filament architectures in the regions indirectly exposed to Ar-PJ, but no differences in MEFs treated with Ar gas alone and in untreated cell control, indicating that this phenomenon is a specific cellular response against Ar-PJ in the live cells, which are indirectly exposed to Ar-PJ. Collectively, our study raises the possibility that Ar-PJ may have potential as anti-cancer drug effect through direct destabilization of the actin cytoskeleton.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.475-475
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• 2010

We have generated Ar plasma in dense plasma focus device with coaxial electrodes for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and investigated an emitted visible light for electro-optical plasma diagnostics. We have applied an input voltage 4.5 kV to the capacitor bank of 1.53 uF and the diode chamber has been filled with Ar gas of pressure 8 mTorr. The inner surface of the cylindrical cathode has been attatched by an acetal insulator. Also, the anode made of tin metal. If we assumed that the focused plasma regions satisfy the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions, the electron temperature and density of the coaxial plasma focus could be obtained by Stark broadening of optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The Lorentzian profile for emission lines of Ar I of 426.629 nm and Ar II of 487.99 nm were measured with a visible monochromator. And the electron density has been estimated by FWHM (Full Width Half Maximum) of its profile. To find the exact value of FWHM, we observed the instrument line broadening of the monochromator with a Hg-Ar reference lamp. The electron temperature has been calculated using the two relative electron density ratios of the Stark profiles. In case of electron density, it has been observed by the Stark broadening method. This experiment result shows the temporal behavior of the electron temperature and density characteristics for the focused plasma. The EUV emission signal whose wavelength is about 6 ~ 16 nm has been detected by using a photo-detector (AXUV-100 Zr/C, IRD). The result compared the electron temperature and density with the temporal EUV signal. The electron density and temperature were observed to be $10^{16}\;cm^{-3}$ and 20 ~ 30 eV, respectively.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2008

Cold rolled steel sheet for automotive was treated by Ar/$O_2$ atmospheric pressure plasma to improve the adhesive bonding strength. Through the contact angle test and calculation of surface free energy for cold rolled steel sheet, the changes of surface properties were investigated before and after plasma treatment. The contact angle was decreased and surface free energy was increased after plasma treatment. And the change of surface roughness and morphology were observed by AFM(Atomic Force Microscope). The surface roughness of steel sheet was slightly changed. Based on Taguchi method, single lap shear test was performed to investigate the effect of experimental parameter such as plasma power, treatment time and flow rate of $O_2$ gas. Results shows that the bonding strength of steel sheet treated in Ar/$O_2$ atmospheric pressure plasma was improved about 20% compared with untreated sheet.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.279-281
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• 1997

The properties of Platinum dry etching were investigated in MICP(Magnetized Inductively Coupled Plasma). The problem with Platinum etching is the redeposition of sputtered Platinum on the sidewall. Because of the redeposits on the sidewall, the etching of patterned Platinum structure produce feature sizes that exceed the original dimension of the PR size and the etch profile has needle-like shape.[1] Generally, $Cl_2$ plasma is used for the fence-free etching.[1][2][3] The main object of this study was to investigate a new process technology for the fence-free Pt etching. Platinum was etched with Ar plasma at the cryogenic temperature and with Ar/$SF_6$ plasma at room temperature. In cryogenic etching, the height of fence was reduced to 20% at $-190^{\circ}C$ compared with that of room temp., but the etch profile was not fence-free. In Ar/$SF_6$ Plasma, chemical reaction took part in etching process. The trend of properties of Ar/$SF_6$ Plasma etching is similar to that of $Cl_2$ Plasma etching. Fence-free etching was possible, but PR selectivity was very low. A new gas chemistry for fence-free Platinum etching was proposed in this study.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.52-56
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• 2008

Carbon nanotube films were fabricated by the catalytic CVD method. Plasma processed time effects on the field emission property were studied. The atomic structure was observed by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface composition changes were observed on the plasma processed CNT films. The O1s/C1s signal ratio and the Fls/Cls signal ratio changed from 1.1 % to 24.65 % and from 0 % to 3.1 % with plasma process time, respectively. We could guess it from these results that the Ar plasma process could change the surface composition effectively. In the case of the original-CNT film, no carbon shift was observed. In the case of the Ar plasma processed CNT films, however the oxygen related carbon shifts were observed. This oxygen related carbon shift at higher binding energy implies the increment of amount of the oxygen. It's possible that the increment of these bonds between carbon and oxygen results in the improvement of field emission performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2003

MgO layer는 POP 패빌 내 유전증을 이온의 스퍼터링으로부터 보호하여 주며, 또한 높은 이차 전자 밤출 계수의 특성을 가지고 있어 구동 및 유지 전압을 낮춰 주는 역할을 한다. 그러나. MgO layer는 $H_20,{\;}CO_2,{\;}N_2,{\;}0_2$ 그리고 $H_2$와 같은 불순물 들을 쉽게 를착하는 단점이 있어, PDP의 특성 및 수명 단축에 영향을 줄 수 있다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 atmospheric pressure plasma cleaning 과 low pressure i inductively coupled plasma (ICP) cleaning 처리에 의하여, 보호층으로 사용이 되는 MgO layer의 outgassing 특성을 조사하고자 한다. plasma cleaning에 의한 MgO layer 표면의 roughness와 불순물의 변화를 알아보기 위 하여 atomic force microscopy(AFM)과 x-ray p photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)를 이용하여 측정 하였다. 또한, outgassing의 특성을 분석하기 위하여 MgO layer를 $400^{\circ}C$ 까지 온도를 가하여 온도에 따른 outgassing의 특성을 quadrupole mass spectrometer(QMS)를 이용하여 알아보았다. atmospheric pressure plasma cleaning 에서는 $He/O_2/Ar/N_2$의 gas를 사용하였으며, low pressure ICP cleaning 에 서는 Ar의 gas를 사용하였다. atmospheric pressure plasma cleaning는 low pressure ICP C cleaning과 비교해 더 낮은 outgassing을 관잘 할 수 있었으나. MgO 표면의 roughness는 low pressure ICP cleaning 후 더 낮은 것을 알 수 있었다. 또한 $He/O_2/Ar/N_2$의 gas를 사용 한 atmospheric pressure plasma cleaning 과 $Ar/O_2$의 gas를 사용한 ICP cleaning에서 이 차전자방출계수(SEEC)가 약 1.5~2.5배 증가된 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics D
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• v.36D no.5
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• pp.29-35
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• 1999

Inductively coupled plsama etching of platinum thin film was studied using $O_2$ addition to $Cl_2$/Ar gas plasma. In this study, Pt etching mechanism was investigated with Ar/$Cl_2$ /$O_2$ gas plasma by using XPS and QMS. Ion current density was measured with Ar/$Cl_2$ /$O_2$ gas plasma by using single Langmuir probe. It was confirmed by using QMS and single Langmuir probe that Cl and Ar species rapidly decreased and ion current density was also decreased with increasing $O_2$ gas ratios. These results implied that the decrease of Pt etch rate is due to the decrease of reactive species ans ion current density with increasing $O_2$ gas mixing ratios. A maximum etch rate of 150nm/min and the oxide selectivity of 2.5 were obtained at Ar/$Cl_2$ /$O_2$ flow rate of 50 seem, RF power of 600 W, dc bias voltage of 125 V, and the total pressure of 10 mTorr.