• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.417-421
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• 2016

We improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by preparing a working electrode (WE) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by inducing Au thin films with thickness of 0.0 to 5.0 nm, deposited via sputtering. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the blocking layer (BL) of the Au thin films. Micro-Raman measurement was employed to confirm the LSPR effect, and a solar simulator and potentiostat were used to evaluate the photovoltaic properties, including the impedance and the I-V of the DSSC of the Au thin films. The results of the microstructural analysis confirmed that nano-sized Au agglomerates were present at certain thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE reached a value of 5.34% with a 1-nm thick-Au thin film compared to the value of 5.15 % without the Au thin film. This improvement was a result of the increase in the LSPR of the $TiO_2$ layer that resulted from the Au thin film coating. Our results imply that the ECE of a DSSC may be improved by coating with a proper thickness of Au thin film on the BL.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of Au eutectic reaction on Si thin film growth by hot wire chemical vapor deposition. Small SiC and Si nano-particles fabricated through a wet etching process were coated and biased at 50 V on micro-textured Si p-n junction solar cells. Au thin film of 10 nm and a Si thin film of 100 nm were then deposited by an electron beam evaporator and hot wire chemical vapor deposition, respectively. The Si and SiC nano-particles and the Au thin film were structurally embedded in Si thin films. However, the Au thin film grew and eventually protruded from the Si thin film in the form of Au silicide nano-balls. This is attributed to the low eutectic bonding temperature ($363^{\circ}C$) of Au with Si, and the process was performed with a substrate that was pre-heated at a temperature of $450^{\circ}C$ during HWCVD. The nano-balls and structures showed various formations depending on the deposited metals and Si surface. Furthermore, the samples of Au nano-balls showed low reflectance due to surface plasmon and quantum confinement effects in a spectra range of short wavelength spectra range.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.235-240
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• 2010

We investigated the carbon monoxide (CO) gas-sensing properties of nanostructured Al-doped zinc oxide thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots (ZnO/Au thin films). The Al-doped ZnO thin film was deposited onto the structure by rf sputtering, resulting in a gas-sensing element comprising a ZnO-based active layer with an embedded Pt/Ti electrode covered by the self-assembled Au nanodots. Prior to the growth of the active ZnO layer, the Au nanodots were formed via annealing a thin Au layer with a thickness of 2 nm at a moderate temperature of $500^{\circ}C$. It was found that the ZnO/Au nanostructured thin film gas sensors showed a high maximum sensitivity to CO gas at $250^{\circ}C$ and a low CO detection limit of 5 ppm in dry air. Furthermore, the ZnO/Au thin film CO gas sensors exhibited fast response and recovery behaviors. The observed excellent CO gas-sensing properties of the nanostructured ZnO/Au thin films can be ascribed to the Au nanodots, acting as both a nucleation layer for the formation of the ZnO nanostructure and a catalyst in the CO surface reaction. These results suggest that the ZnO thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots are promising for practical high-performance CO gas sensors.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.252-257
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• 2004

Nanometer-sized structures are being applied to many devices including micro/nano electronics, optoelectronics, quantum devices, MEMS/NEMS, biosensors, etc. Especially, the thin film with submicron thickness is a basic structure for fabricating these devices, but its mechanical behaviors are not well understood. The mechanical properties of the thin film are different from those of the bulk structure and are difficult to measure because of its handling inconvenience. Several techniques have been applied to mechanical characterization of the thin film, such as nanoindentation test, micro/nano tensile test, strip bending test, etc. In this study, we focus on the strip bending test because of its high accuracy and moderate specimen preparation efforts, and measure Au thin film, which is a very popular material in micro/nano electronic devices. Au film is deposited on Si substrate by evaporation process, of which thickness is 100nm. Using the strip bending test, we obtain elastic modulus, yield and ultimate tensile strength, and residual stress of Au thin film.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.27-34
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• 2017

We investigated the feasibility of parylene F usage as an intermediate layer between a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate and an Au thin-film interconnect as well as the swelling effect of PDMS substrate on the stretchable deformability of an Au thin film. The 150-nm-thick Au film, which was sputtered on a PDMS substrate without a parylene F layer, exhibited an initial resistance of $11.7{\Omega}$ and an overflow of its resistance at a tensile strain of 12.5%. On the other hand, the Au film, which was formed with a 150-nm-thick parylene F layer, revealed an much improved resistance characteristics: $1.21{\Omega}$ as its initial resistance and $246{\Omega}$ at its 30% elongation state. With swelling of PDMS substrate, the resistance of an Au film substantially decreased to $14.4{\Omega}$ at 30% tensile strain.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.475-480
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• 2003

Nanocomposite of Au doped ZrO$_2$ films was prepared, which could be used as non-linear optic materials, selective absorption and transmission films. After heat treatment of prepared thin film by dip-coating method, the characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS Spectrometer, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Film thickness was about 150 nm, the Au particle size was 15~35 nm. The thin film had a smooth surface roughness about 1.06 nm. Nonlinearity optics was found that films showed absorption peak at 600~650 nm visible region by plasma resonance of Au metal particles.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.433-438
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• 2007

We fabricated thin films of Au and Ta/Au with thicknesses of 30 nm and 5 nm/30nm, respectively on Si(100) or Si(111) substrates using a dc magnetron sputtering system. Grain sizes, roughness and conductivity for Au thin films are measured as a function of the annealing temperatures. We observed that the grain size of samples enlarged and the surface became rougher with increasing annealing temperature. The grain size and roughness were improved in the structure of Si/Ta/Au than Si/Au. Furthermore, the Si(100) substrate was more effective for decreasing the resistance for Ta/Au system than Si(111) substrate. We confirm that by inserting a Ta buffer layer in Si(100)/Au, surface roughness was reduced and by adjusting the annealing temperature the grain size were enlarged. Consequently, the Au thin-film has improved conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.922-925
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• 2012

Single crystalline Au nanowires were successfully synthesized in a tube-type furnace. The Au nanowires were grown by vapor phase synthesis technique using solid-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism on substrates of corning glass and Si wafer. Prior to Au nanowire synthesis, Au thin film served as both catalyst and source for Au nanowire was prepared by sputtering process. Average length of the grown Au nanowires was approximately 1 ${\mu}m$ on both the corning glass and Si wafer substrates, while the diameter and the density of which were dependent on the thickness of the Au thin film. To induce a super-saturated states for the Au particle catalyst and Au molecules during the Au nanowire synthesis, thickness of the Au catalyst thin film was fixed to 10 nm or 20 nm. Additionally, synthesis of the Au nanowires was carried out without introducing carrier gas in the tube furnace, and synthesis temperature was varied to investigate the temperature effect on the resulting Au nanowire characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1197-1201
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• 2003

Thin film on SiO$_2$ glass was synthesized by a dip-coating method from the ZrO$_2$ sol which had dispersed nanosize Au particle under ambient atmosphere. After heat treatment of the prepared thin film, the characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS spectrometer, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was found that ZrO$_2$ thin film with 100 nm thickness was crystallized to tetragonal phase at 50$0^{\circ}C$. The size of dispersed Au particle was 15∼40nm and the film had a smooth surface with a roughness of 0.84 nm. The film showed nonlinearity characteristics with absorption peaks at 630∼670nm visible region because of the plasma resonance of Au metallic particles.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2004.06b
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• pp.383-386
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• 2004

The one of important requisites for fabricating molecular electronic device is the single crystal direction of bottom substrate nowadays. [1,2]. We obtain the optimum SAM result when the Au crystal is <111> structure for Self-Assembled molecular. To get the <111> crystal Au, we generally repeat heating and cooling course after evaporating Au [3]. However, we can fabricate <111> crystal Av thin film except post treatment because we simultaneously evaporate and anneal using Effusion Cell. In this paper, we study on thin film growth of <111> crystal Au as bottom electrode which is essential for Self-Assembled molecular by Effusion Cell and analyze crystal structure, thickness, surface conductivity and so on as each process condition.