• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 1999.07a
• /
• pp.29-29
• /
• 1999

The synthesis of layered structures on the nanometer scale has become essential for continued improvements in the operation of various electronic and magnetic devices. Abrupt metal-metal interfaces are desired for applications ranging from metallization in semiconductor devices to fabrication of magnetoresistive tunnel junctions for read heads on magnetic disk drives. In particular, characterizing the interface structure between various transition metals (TM) and aluminum is desirable. We have used the techniques of MeV ion backscattering and channeling (HEIS), x-ray photoemission (ZPS), x-ray photoelectron diffraction(XPD), low-energy ion scattering (LEIS), and low-energy electron diffraction(LEED), together with computer simulations using embedded atom potentials, to study solid-solid interface structure for thin films of Ni, Fe, Co, Pd, Ti, and Ag on Al(001), Al(110) and Al(111) surfaces. Considerations of lattice matching, surface energies, or compound formation energies alone do not adequately predict our result, We find that those metals with metallic radii smaller than Al(e.g. Ni, Fe, Co, Pd) tend to form alloys at the TM-Al interface, while those atoms with larger atomic radii(e.g. Ti, Ag) form epitaxial overlayers. Thus we are led to consider models in which the strain energy associated with alloy formation becomes a kinetic barrier to alloying. Furthermore, we observe the formation of metastable fcc Ti up to a critical thickness of 5 monolayers on Al(001) and Al(110). For Ag films we observe arbitrarily thick epitaxial growth exceeding 30 monolayers with some Al alloying at the interface, possible driven by interface strain relief. Typical examples of these interface structures will be discussed.

• Journal of Magnetics
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.98-102
• /
• 2003

Microstructure and magnetic transport phenomina in rf sputtered AIN/CO type ten- layered discontinuous films of nanoscaled [AIN(3 nm)/Co(t nm)]…$_10$ with t$_Co$=1.0∼2.0 nm have been investigated. The microstructure and tunneling magnetic resistance of the samples are strongly dependent on the thickness of Co layer, Negative tunneling magneto-resistance due to the spin-dependent transport has been observed along the current-in-plane configuration in the samples having the Co layers below 1.6 nm thick. When the thickness of Co layer was less than 1.2 nm, randomly oriented granular Co particles were completely isolated and embedded in amorphous AIN matrix, and the films showed the superparamagnetic behavior with a high MR value of ${\Delta}p/p_0$=1.8%. As t$_Co$ increases, a transition from the regime of co-existence of superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic behaviors to ferromagnetic behavior was observed. funneling barrier called “decay length far tunneling” fur the films haying the thickness of Co layer from 1.4 to 1.6 nm was measured to be ranged from 0.004 to 0.021 ${\AA}$$^{-1}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2011.02a
• /
• pp.133-133
• /
• 2011

최근 나노입자를 이용한 비휘발성 메모리 소자의 제작에 대한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 특히, 실리사이드 계열의 나노입자를 적용한 소자는 일함수가 크지만 실리콘 내의확산 문제를 가지고 있는 금속 나노입자와 달리 현 실리콘 기반의 반도체 공정 적용이 용이한 잇 점을 가지고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 실리사이드 계열의 화합물 중에서 4.63 eV인 Vanadium Silicide ($V_3$Si) 박막을 열처리 과정을 통하여 수 nm 크기의 나노입자로 제작하였다. 소자의 제작은 p-Si기판에 5 nm 두께의 $SiO_2$ 터널층을 dry oxidation 방법으로 성장시킨 후 $V_3$Si 금속박막을 RF magnetron sputtering system을 이용하여 3~5 nm 두께로 tunnel barrier위에 증착시켰다. Rapid thermal annealing법으로 질소 분위기에서 $1000^{\circ}C$의 온도로 30초 동안 열처리하여 $V_3$Si 나노 입자를 형성 하였으며. 20 nm 두께의 $SiO_2$ 컨트롤 산화막층을 ultra-high vacuum magnetron sputtering을 이용하여 증착하였다. 마지막으로 thermal evaporation system을 통하여 Al 전극을 직경 200, 두께 200nm로 증착하였다. 제작된 구조는 metal-oxide-semiconductor구조를 가지는 나노 부유 게이트 커패시터 이며, 제작된 시편은 transmission electron microscopy을 이용하여 $V_3$Si 나노입자의 크기와 균일성을 확인했다. 소자의 전기적인 측정은 E4980A capacitor parameter analyzer와 Agilent 81104A apulse pattern generator system을 이용한 전기용량-전압 측정을 통해 전하저장 효과를 분석하였다.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
• /
• v.9 no.7
• /
• pp.708-718
• /
• 1996

The microstructure and electrical properties of the nonlinear ZnO varistor with A1$_{2}$ $O_{3}$ additions is investigated. The variation of nonlinear behavior with A1$_{2}$ $O_{3}$ additions is indicated from J-E and C-V measurement to be a result of the change of the interface defects density $N_{t}$ at the grain boundaries and the donor concentration $N_{d}$ in the ZnO grains. The optimum composition which has the nonlinear coefficients of -57 was observed in the sample with 0.005wt% A1$_{2}$ $O_{3}$ additions. The conduction mechanism at the pre-breakdown region is consistent with a Schottky thermal emission process obeying a relation given by $J^{\var}$exp[-(.psi.-.betha. $E^{1}$2/)kT] and the conduction process at the breakdown region follows a Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism of the form $J^{\var}$exp(-.gamma./E).

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.61-66
• /
• 1999

The Spin-dependent tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect was observed in $NiFe/Al_2O_3$/Co thin films. The samples were prepared by magnetron sputtering in a system with a base pressure of $3\times10^{-6}$Torr. the insulating $Al_2O_3$layer was prepared by r.f. plasma oxydation method of a metallic Al layer. The ferromagnetic and insulating layers were deposited through metallic masks to produce the cross pattern form. The junction has an active area of $0.3\times0.3\textrm{mm}^2$ and the $Al_2O_3$layer is deposited through a circular mask with a diameter of 1mm. It is very important that insulating layer is formed very thinly and uniformly in tunneling junction. The ferromagnetic layer was fabricated in optimum conditions and the surface of that was very flat, which was observed by AFM. Tunneling junction was confirmed through nonlinear I-V curve. $NiFe/Al_2O_3$/Co junction was observed for magnetization behavior and magnetoresistance property and magnetoresistance property is dependent on magnetization behavior and magnetoresistance property and magnetoresistance property is dependent on magnetization behavior of t재 ferromagnetic layer. The maximum magnetoresistance ratio was about 6.5%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.1511-1518
• /
• 2021

In most countries, the thermal criteria for the engineered barrier system (EBS) is set to below 100 ℃ due to the possible illitization in the buffer, which will likely be detrimental to the performance and safety of the repository. On the other hand, if the thermal criteria for the EBS increases, the disposal density and the cost-effectiveness for the high-level radioactive wastes will dramatically increase. Thus, fundamentals on the thermal behavior of the buffer under the elevated temperatures is of crucial importance. Yet, the behaviors at the elevated temperatures of the bentonite under groundwater-saturated conditions have not been reported to-date. Here, we have developed an in-situ synchrotron-based method for the thermal behavior study of the buffer under the elevated temperatures (25-250 ℃), investigated dspacings of the montmorillonite in the Korean bentonite (i.e., Ca-type) at dry and KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) groundwater-saturated conditions (KJ-ii-dry and KJ-ii-wet), and compared the behaviors with that of MX-80 (i.e., Na-type, MX-80-wet). The hydration states analyzed show tri-, bi-, and mono-hydrated at 25, 120, and 250 ℃, respectively for KJ-ii-wet, whereas tri-, mono-, and de-hydrated at 25, 150, and 250 ℃, respectively for MX-80-wet. The Korean bentonite starts losing the interlayered water at lower temperatures; however, holds them better at higher temperatures as compared with MX-80.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.269-285
• /
• 2014

In spite of the importance of the natural ventilation pressure(NVP) in tunnels for the optimal design of the ventilation system, there have been only few studies on the NVP because its measurement and quantitative analysis are not straightforward. This study aims at quantifying the amount of the NVP with the terrain and meteorological data for the local major tunnels. And ultimately this will lead to developing the guidelines for quantifying and applying NVP for the optimal design of tunnel ventilation system. 22 local tunnels in the major routes are studied for the NVP quantification. NVP derived from the meteorological data is in the range of 20~140 Pa, while NVP estimated from the terrain data ranges from 20 to 200 Pa. Since the jet fan pressure is about 10~15 Pa per unit, the minimum level of NVP expected in the local tunnels is larger than the pressure rise by one unit of the ordinary jet fan. This implies that NVP in local tunnels should be quantified and be taken into consideration for the economic and safe ventilation design. The barometric pressure difference between tunnel portals is found to be the most influential factor, accounting for 61% of the NVP, while the wind pressure acting on the portals and the chimney effects occupy 22% and 17%, respectively.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.104-126
• /
• 2024

Buffer and backfill play an essential role in isolating high-level radioactive waste and retard the migration of leaked radionuclides in deep geological disposal system. A bentonite mixture, which exhibits a swelling property, is considered for buffer and backfill materials, and excessive groundwater inflow from surrounding rock mass may affect stability and efficiency of their role as an engineered barrier. Therefore, stringent quality control as well as in-situ installation management and inflow water constrol for buffer and backfill are required to ensure the safety of deep disposal facilities. In this study, we analyzed the design requirements of buffer and backfill by examining various laboratory tests and a field study of the Steel Tunnel Test at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in Sweden. We introduced how to control the quality of buffer and backfill construction in-field, and also presented how to handle excessive groundwater inflow into disposal caverns, validating the groundwater retention capacity of bentonite pellets and the effectiveness of geotexile use.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.262-279
• /
• 2019

In the engineering barriers of high-level radioactive waste disposal, gases could be generated through a number of processes. If the gas production rate exceeds the gas diffusion rate, the pressure of the gas increases and gases could migrate through the bentonite buffer. Because people and the environment can be exposed to radioactivity, it is very important to clarify gas migration in terms of long-term integrity of the engineered barrier system. In particular, it is necessary to identify the hydro-mechanical mechanism for the dilation flow, which is a very important gas flow phenomenon only in medium containing large amounts of clay materials such as bentonite buffer, and to develop and validate new numerical approach for the quantitative evaluation of the gas migration phenomenon. Therefore, in this study, we developed a two-phase flow model considering the mechanical damage model in order to simulate the gas migration in the engineered barrier system, and validated with 1D gas flow modelling through saturated bentonite under constant volume boundary conditions. As a result of numerical analysis, the rapid increase in pore water pressure, stress, and gas outflow could be simulated when the dilation flow was occurred.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.400-414
• /
• 2021

Under high-level radioactive waste repository conditions, bentonite as an engineered barrier material undergoes thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical processes. We report the applications of X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) imaging technique on the characterization and analysis of bentonite over the past decade to provide a reference of the utilization of this technique and the recent research trends. This overview of the X-ray CT technique applications includes the characterization of the bentonite either in pellets or powder form. X-ray imaging has provided a means to extract grain information at the microscale and identify crack networks responsible for the pellets' heterogeneity. Regarding samples of pellets-powder mixtures under hydration, X-ray CT allowed the identification and monitoring of heterogeneous zones throughout the test. Some results showed how zones with pellets only swell faster compared to others composed of pellets and powder. Moreover, the behavior of fissures between grains and bentonite matrix was observed to change under drying and hydrating conditions, tending to close during the former and open during the latter. The development of specializing software has allowed obtaining strain fields from a sequence of images. In more recent works, X-ray CT technique has served to estimate the dry density, water content, and particle displacement at different testing times. Also, when temperature was added to the hydration process of a sample, CT technology offered a way to observe localized and global density changes over time.