• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.50-50
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• 2008

ZnO has been extensively studied for optoelectronic applications such as blue and ultraviolet (UV) light emitters and detectors, because it has a wide band gap (3.37 eV) anda large exciton binding energy of ~60 meV over GaN (~26 meV). However, the fabrication of the light emitting devices using ZnO homojunctions is suffered from the lack of reproducibility of the p-type ZnO with high hall concentration and mobility. Thus, the ZnO-based p-n heterojunction light emitting diode (LED) using p-Si and p-GaN would be expected to exhibit stable device performance compared to the homojunction LED. The n-ZnO/p-GaN heterostructure is a good candidate for ZnO-based heterojunction LEDs because of their similar physical properties and the reproducibleavailability of p-type GaN. Especially, the reduced lattice mismatch (~1.8 %) and similar crystal structure result in the advantage of acquiring high performance LED devices with low defect density. However, the electroluminescence (EL) of the device using n-ZnO/p-GaN heterojunctions shows the blue and greenish emissions, which are attributed to the emission from the p-GaN and deep-level defects. In this work, the n-ZnO:Ga/p-GaN:Mg heterojunction light emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated at different growth temperatures and carrier concentrations in the n-type region. The effects of the growth temperature and carrier concentration on the electrical and emission properties were investigated. The I-V and the EL results showed that the device performance of the heterostructure LEDs, such as turn-on voltage and true ultraviolet emission, developed through the insertion of a thin intrinsic layer between n-ZnO:Ga and p-GaN:Mg. This observation was attributed to a lowering of the energy barriers for the supply of electrons and holes into intrinsic ZnO, and recombination in the intrinsic ZnO with the absence of deep level emission.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.145-145
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• 2008

High-k materials have been paid much more attention for their characteristics with high permittivity to reduce the leakage current through the scaled gate oxide. Among the high-k materials, $ZrO_2$ is one of the most attractive ones combing such favorable properties as a high dielectric constant (k= 20 ~ 25), wide band gap (5 ~ 7 eV) as well as a close thermal expansion coefficient with Si that results in good thermal stability of the $ZrO_2$/Si structure. During the etching process, plasma etching has been widely used to define fine-line patterns, selectively remove materials over topography, planarize surfaces, and trip photoresist. About the high-k materials etching, the relation between the etch characteristics of high-k dielectric materials and plasma properties is required to be studied more to match standard processing procedure with low damaged removal process. Among several etching techniques, we chose the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for high-density plasma, easy control of ion energy and flux, low ownership and simple structure. And the $BCl_3$ was included in the gas due to the effective extraction of oxygen in the form of $BCl_xO_y$ compounds. During the etching process, the wafer surface temperature is an important parameter, until now, there is less study on temperature parameter. In this study, the etch mechanism of $ZrO_2$ thin film was investigated in function of $Cl_2$ addition to $BCl_3$/Ar gas mixture ratio, RF power and DC-bias power based on substrate temperature increased from $10^{\circ}C$ to $80^{\circ}C$. The variations of relative volume densities for the particles were measured with optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The surface imagination was measured by scanning emission spectroscope (SEM). The chemical state of film was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.493-493
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• 2014

The manufacturing cost of thin-film photovoltics can potentially be lowered by minimizing the amount of a semiconductor material used to fabricate devices. Thin-film solar cells are typically only a few micrometers thick, whereas crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafer solar cells are $180{\sim}300\mu}m$ thick. As such, thin-film layers do not fully absorb incident light and their energy conversion efficiency is lower compared with that of c-Si wafer solar cells. Therefore, effective light trapping is required to realize commercially viable thin-film cells, particularly for indirect-band-gap semiconductors such as c-Si. An emerging method for light trapping in thin film solar cells is the use of metallic nanostructures that support surface plasmons. Plasmon-enhanced light absorption is shown to increase the cell photocurrent in many types of solar cells, specifically, in c-Si thin-film solar cells and in poly-Si thin film solar cell. By proper engineering of these structures, light can be concentrated and coupled into a thin semiconductor layer to increase light absorption. In many cases, silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NP) are formed either on the front surface or on the rear surface on the cells. In case of poly-Si thin film solar cells, Ag NPs are formed on the rear surface of the cells due to longer wavelengths are not perfectly absorbed in the active layer on the first path. In our cells, shorter wavelengths typically 300~500 nm are also not effectively absorbed. For this reason, a new concept of plasmonic nanostructure which is NPs formed both the front - and the rear - surface is worth testing. In this simulation Al NPs were located onto glass because Al has much lower parasitic absorption than other metal NPs. In case of Ag NP, it features parasitic absorption in the optical frequency range. On the other hand, Al NP, which is non-resonant metal NP, is characterized with a higher density of conduction electrons, resulting in highly negative dielectric permittivity. It makes them more suitable for the forward scattering configuration. In addition to this, Ag NP is located on the rear surface of the cell. Ag NPs showed good performance enhancement when they are located on the rear surface of our cells. In this simulation, Al NPs are located on glass and Ag NP is located on the rear Si surface. The structure for the simulation is shown in figure 1. Figure 2 shows FDTD-simulated absorption graphs of the proposed and reference structures. In the simulation, the front of the cell has Al NPs with 70 nm radius and 12.5% coverage; and the rear of the cell has Ag NPs with 157 nm in radius and 41.5% coverage. Such a structure shows better light absorption in 300~550 nm than that of the reference cell without any NPs and the structure with Ag NP on rear only. Therefore, it can be expected that enhanced light absorption of the structure with Al NP on front at 300~550 nm can contribute to the photocurrent enhancement.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.259-273
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• 2012

Chalcogenide-based semiconductors, such as $CuInSe_2$, $CuGaSe_2$, Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS), and CdTe have attracted considerable interest as efficient materials in thin film solar cells (TFSCs). Currently, CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have demonstrated the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 11% in module production. However, commercialized CIGS and CdTe TFSCs have some limitations due to the scarcity of In, Ga, and Te and the environmental issues associated with Cd and Se. Recently, kesterite CZTS, which is one of the In- and Ga- free absorber materials, has been attracted considerable attention as a new candidate for use as an absorber material in thin film solar cells. The CZTS-based absorber material has outstanding characteristics such as band gap energy of 1.0 eV to 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient on the order of $10^4cm^{-1}$, and high theoretical conversion efficiency of 32.2% in thin film solar cells. Despite these promising characteristics, research into CZTS-based thin film solar cells is still incomprehensive and related reports are quite few compared to those for CIGS thin film solar cells, which show high efficiency of over 20%. The recent development of kesterite-based CZTS thin film solar cells is summarized in this work. The new challenges for enhanced performance in CZTS thin films are examined and prospective issues are addressed as well.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.339-346
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• 2008

Single-crystal $ZnIn_2S_4$ layers were grown on a thoroughly etched semi-insulating GaAs (100) substrate at $450^{\circ}C$ with a hot wall epitaxy (HWE) system by evaporating a $ZnIn_2S_4$ source at $610^{\circ}C$. The crystalline structures of the single-crystal thin films were investigated via the photoluminescence (PL) and Double-crystal X-ray rocking curve (DCRC). The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $ZnIn_2S_4$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by Varshni's relationship, $E_g(T)=2.9514\;eV-(7.24{\times}10^{-4}\;eV/K)T2/(T＋489K)$. After the as-grown $ZnIn_2S_4$ single-crystal thin films was annealed in Zn-, S-, and In-atmospheres, the origin-of-point defects of the $ZnIn_2S_4$ single-crystal thin films were investigated via the photoluminescence (PL) at 10 K. The native defects of $V_{Zn}$, $V_S$, $Zn_{int}$, and $S_{int}$ obtained from the PL measurements were classified as donor or acceptor types. Additionally, it was concluded that a heat treatment in an S-atmosphere converted $ZnIn_2S_4$ single crystal thin films into optical p-type films. Moreover, it was confirmed that In in $ZnIn_2S_4$/GaAs did not form a native defects, as In in $ZnIn_2S_4$ single-crystal thin films existed in the form of stable bonds.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.805-810
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• 2012

Transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) have wide range of application areas in transparent electrode for display devices, Transparent coating for solar energy heat mirrors, and electromagnetic wave shield. $SnO_2$ is intrinsically an n-type semiconductor due to oxygen deficiencies and has a high energy-band gap more than 3.5 eV. It is known as a transparent conducting oxide because of its low resistivity of $10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ and high transmittance over 90% in visible region. In this study, co-doping effects of Al and Y on the properties of $SnO_2$ were investigated. The addition of Y in $SnO_2$ was tried to create oxygen vacancies that increase the diffusivity of oxygen ions for the densification of $SnO_2$. The addition of Al was expected to increase the electron concentration. Once, we observed solubility limit of $SnO_2$ single-doped with Al and Y. $\{(x/2)Al_2O_3+(x/2)Y_2O_3\}-SnO_2$ was used for the source of Al and Y to prevent the evaporation of $Al_2O_3$ and for the charge compensation. And we observed the valence changes of aluminium oxide because generally reported of valence changes of aluminium oxide in Tin - Aluminium binary system. The electrical properties, solubility limit, densification and microstructure of $SnO_2$ co-doped with Al and Y will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2000

직접천이형 wide band gap(3.4eV) 반도체중의 하나인 GaN를 청색 및 자외선 laser diode, 고출력 전자장비 등으로 응용하기 위해서는 낮은 접합저항을 갖는 Ohmic contact이 선행되어야 한다. 그러나 만족할만한 p-type GaN의 Ohmic contact은 아직 실현되고 있지 못하며, 이는 GaN와 접합 금속과의 구체적인 반응의 연구를 필요로 한다. 본 연구에서 앞서 Pt, Pt, Ni등의 late transition metal을 p-GaN에 접합시킨 결과 이들은 접합 당시 비교적 평탄하나 후열 처리과정에서 비교적 낮은 온도에서 기판과 열팽창계수의 차이로 인하여 평탄성을 잃어버리면서 barrier height가 증가한다는 사실을 확인하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이러한 열적 불안정성을 극복하기 위하여 Ni과 Pd를 차례로 증착하고 가열하면서 interfacial reaction, film morphology, Fermi level의 움직임을 monchromatic XPS(x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) 와 SAM(scanning Auger microscopy) 그리고 ex-situ AFM을 이용하여 밝히고자 하였다. 특히 후열처리에 의한 계면 반응에 수반되는 구성 금속원소 간의 합금현상과 금속 층의 평탄성이 밀접한 관계가 있다는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 합금과정에서 나타나는 금속원소들의 중심 준위의 이동을 체계적으로 규명하기 위해서 Pd1-xNix와 Pd1-xGax 합금들의 표준시료를 arc melting method로 만들어 농도에 따른 금속원소들의 중심 준위의 이동을 측정하여, Pd/Ni/p-GaN 및 Ni/Pd/p-GaN 계에서 열처리 온도에 따른 interfacial reaction을 확인하였다. 그 결과 두 계가 상온에서 nitride 및 alloy를 형성하지 않고 고르게 증착되고, 열처리 온도를 40$0^{\circ}C$에서 $650^{\circ}C$까지 증가시킴에 따라 계면반응의 부산물인 metallic Ga은 증가하고 있으마 nitride는 여전히 형성되지 않는 것을 확인하였다. 증착당시 Ni이 계면에 있는 Pd/Ni/p-GaN의 경우에는 52$0^{\circ}C$까지의 열처리에 의하여 Ni과 Pd가 골고루 섞이고 그 평탄성도 유지되고 barier height의 변화도 없었다. 더 높은 $650^{\circ}C$ 가열에 의해서는 surface free energy가 작은 Ga의 활발한 편석 현상으로 인해 표면은 Ga이 풍부한 Pd-Ga의 합금층으로 덮이고, 동시에 작은 pinhole들이 발생하며 barrier height도 0.3eV 가량 증가하게 된다. 반면에 증착당시 Pd이 계면에 있는 Ni/Pd/p-GaN의 경우에는 40$0^{\circ}C$의 가열까지는 두 금속이 그들 계면에서부터 섞이나, 52$0^{\circ}C$의 가열에 의해 이미 barrier height가 0.2eV 가량 증가하기 시작하였다. 더 높은 $650^{\circ}C$가열에 의해서는 커다란 pinhole, 0.5eV 가량의 barrier height 증가, Pd clustering이 동시에 관찰되었다. 따라서 Ni과 Pd의 일함수는 물론 thermal expansion coefficient가 거의 같으며 surface free energy도 거의 일치한다는 점을 감안하면, 이렇게 뚜렷한 열적 안정성의 차이는 GaN와 contact metal과의 반응시작 온도(disruption onset temperature)의 차이에 기인함을 알 수 있었다. 즉 계면에서의 반응에 의해 편석되는 Ga에 의해 박막의 strain이 이완되면, pinhole 등의 박막결함이 줄어 들고, 이는 계면의 N의 out-diffusion을 방지하여 p-type GaN의 barrier height 증가를 막게 된다.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate dependant on the column depths using various absorbents such as zeolite silica sand, and activated carbon through the column test. In addition, we analyzed electrochemical adsorption behaviors of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate through the quantum mechanical calculation based on density functional theory calculation. Experimental results represent the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen and phosphate are zeolite > activated carbon > silica sand, and activated carbon > zeolite > silica sand, respectively. Zeolite shows high adsorption property for ammonia nitrogen over 90%, regardless of the column depth, while activated carbon exhibits high adsorption property for both ammonia nitrogen and phosphate as the column depth for filter media increases. Theoretical findings using DFT calculation for the adsorption behaviors of adsorbents (activated carbon and silica sand) and nutrients ($PO_4{^{3-}}$, $NH_4{^{+}}$) show that activated carbon represented narrower HOMO-LUMO band gap with high adsorption energy, and even more favorable environment for electron adsorption than silica sand, which leads to the effective removal of nutrients.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.632-639
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• 2021

In this research, fluorine doping was performed to enhance the photocatalytic activities of WO₃ which were measured using methylene blue dye. WO_3-xF_x photocatalyts were prepared by a vaper phase fluorination during a sintering for preparing WO₃ photocatalysts from a WCl₆ precursor. The bandgap energy of WO₃ photocatalysts decreased from 2.95 eV to 2.54 eV, and the oxygen vacancies site increased by about 55% after fluorine doping. In addition, the initial degradation efficiency of methylene blue showed that the fluorine doped sample showed a 6-fold increase in photocatalytic activities from 10% to 60% compared to that of the untreated sample. It is believed that fluorine is doped to reduce the band gap of photocatalysts, enabling the catalytic activity with low energy, and that oxygen vacancies-generated surface defects increase the visible light absorption region of WO₃ photocatalysts, thereby increasing photocatalytic activity. In this study, it was confirmed that fluorine-doped WO_3-xF_x photocatalysts with an excellent photocatalytic activity can be manufactured easily using a one-step vaper phase fluorination that does not require a post-treatment process.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated a method of growing single crystal 𝛽-Ga₂O₃ thin films on a c-plane sapphire substrate using MOCVD. We confirmed the optimal growth conditions to increase the crystallinity of the 𝛽-Ga₂O₃ thin film and confirmed the effect of the ratio between O₂ and Ga precursors on crystal growth on the crystallinity of the thin film. The growth temperature range was 600~1100℃, and crystallinity was analyzed when the O₂/TMGa ratio was 800~6000. As a result, the highest crystallinity thin film was obtained when the molar ratio between precursors was 2400 at 1100℃. The surface of the thin film was observed with a FE-SEM and XRD ω-scan of the thin film, the FWHM was found to be 1.17° and 1.43° at the and (${\bar{2}}01$) and (${\bar{4}}02$) diffraction peaks. The optical band gap energy obtained was 4.78 ~ 4.88 eV, and the films showed a transmittance of over 80% in the near-ultraviolet and visible light regions.