• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.251-252
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• 2012

Recently, the growing interest in organic microelectronic devices including OLEDs has led to an increasing amount of research into their many potential applications in the area of flexible electronic devices based on plastic substrates. However, these organic devices require a gas barrier coating to prevent the permeation of water and oxygen because organic materials are highly susceptible to water and oxygen. In particular, high efficiency OLEDs require an extremely low Water Vapor Transition Rate (WVTR) of $1{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2$/day. The Key factor in high quality inorganic gas barrier formation for achieving the very low WVTR required ($1{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2$/day) is the suppression of defect sites and gas diffusion pathways between grain boundaries. In this study, we developed an $Al_2O_3$ nano-crystal structure single gas barrier layer using a Neutral Beam Assisted Sputtering (NBAS) process. The NBAS system is based on the conventional RF magnetron sputtering and neutral beam source. The neutral beam source consists of an electron cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma source and metal reflector. The Ar+ ions in the ECR plasma are accelerated in the plasma sheath between the plasma and reflector, which are then neutralized by Auger neutralization. The neutral beam energies were possible to estimate indirectly through previous experiments and binary collision model. The accelerating potential is the sum of the plasma potential and reflector bias. In previous experiments, while adjusting the reflector bias, changes in the plasma density and the plasma potential were not observed. The neutral beam energy is controlled by the metal reflector bias. The NBAS process can continuously change crystalline structures from an amorphous phase to nano-crystal phase of various grain sizes within a single inorganic thin film. These NBAS process effects can lead to the formation of a nano-crystal structure barrier layer which effectively limits gas diffusion through the pathways between grain boundaries. Our results verify the nano-crystal structure of the NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ single gas barrier layer through dielectric constant measurement, break down field measurement, and TEM analysis. Finally, the WVTR of $Al_2O_3$ nano-crystal structure single gas barrier layer was measured to be under $5{\times}10^{-6}g/m^2$/day therefore we can confirm that NBAS processed $Al_2O_3$ nano-crystal structure single gas barrier layer is suitable for OLED application.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.692-698
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• 1991

The reaction path Smoluchowski equation approach developed in a recent work to calculate the rate constant for a diffusive multidimensional barrier crossing process is extended to incorporate the configuration-dependent diffusion matrix. The resulting formalism is then applied to the investigation of stilbene photoisomerization dynamics. Adapting a model two-dimensional potential and a model diffusion matrix proposed by Agmon and Kosloff [J. Phys. Chem.,91 (1987) 1988], we derive an eigenvalue equlation for the relaxation rate constant of the stilbene photoisomerization. This eigenvalue equation is solved numerically by using the finite element method. The advantages and limitations of the present method are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.409-409
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• 2013

최근, 집적 소자의 미세화에 따라 늘어난 배선 신호 지연 및 상호 간섭, 그리고 소비 전력의 증가는 초고집적 소자 성능 개선에 한계를 가져온다. 이에 따라 기존의 알루미늄(Al)/실리콘 절연 산화막은 구리(Cu)/저유전율 박막(low-k)으로 대체되고 있고, 이는 소자 성능 개선에 큰 영향을 미친다. 그러나 Cu는 Si과 low-k 내부로 확산이 빠르게 일어나 소자의 비저항을 높이고, 누설 전류를 일으키는 등 소자의 성능을 저하시킬 수 있는 문제점을 가지고 있다. 이러한 Cu의 확산을 막기 위하여 Ta, TaN 등과 같은 확산방지막에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되어 왔으나, 배선 공정의 집적화와 low-k 대체에 따른 공정 및 신뢰성 문제로 인해 새로운 확산방지막의 개발이 필요하게 되었다. 이를 위해, 본 연구에서는 Cu-V 합금을 사용하여 low-k 기판 위에 확산방지막을 자가 형성 시키는 공정에 대한 연구를 진행하였다. 다양한 low-k 기판에서 열처리조건에 따른 Cu-V 합금의 특성을 확인하기 위해 4-point probe를 통한 비저항 평가와 XRD (X-ray diffraction) 분석이 이뤄졌다. 또한, TEM (transmission electron microscope)을 이용하여 $300^{\circ}C$에서 1 시간 동안 열처리를 거쳐 자가형성된 V-based interlayer가 low-k와 Cu의 계면에서 균일하게 형성된 것을 확인하였다. 형성된 V-based interlayer의 barrier 특성을 평가하고자 Cu-V합금/low-k/Si 구조와 Cu/low-k/Si 구조의 leakage current를 비교 분석하였다. Cu/low-k/Si 구조는 비교적 낮은 온도에서 leakage current가 급격히 증가하는 양상을 보였으나, Cu-V 합금/low-k/Si 구조는 $550^{\circ}C$의 thermal stress 에서도 leakage current의 변화가 거의 없었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 열처리를 통해 자가형성된 V-based interlayer의 Cu/low-k 간 확산방지막으로서 가능성을 검증하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.50-53
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• 2019

In this study, polycrystalline silicon thin film useful for the solar cells was fabricated by AIC(Aluminum Induced Crystallization) process. A diffusing barrier for this process is prepared with $Al_2O_3$. For the maximization of the grain size of the polycrystalline silicon, a selective blasting of the $Al_2O_3$ diffusing barrier was conducted before annealing treatment. The heat treatment for the activation of the amorphous-Si (a-Si) layer was carried out with Rapid Thermal Annealing (RTA) process. Crystallization of the a-Si layer was analyzed with XRD. It was confirmed that a-Si was crystallized at $500^{\circ}C$ and the silicon crystal is observed to be formed and the grain size of the polycrystalline silicon was observed to be $15.9{\mu}m$.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.273-278
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• 2016

In order to evaluate the lifespan of high-temperature parts with thermal barrier coating in gas turbines used for power generation, this study was performed on an 80 MW-class gas turbine exceeding 24 k equivalent operating hours. Degradation characteristics were evaluated by analyzing the YSZ (Yttria Stabilized Zirconia) top coat, which serves as the thermal barrier coating layer, the NiCrAlY bond coat, and interface layers. Microstructural analysis of the top, middle, and bottom sections showed that Thermal Growth Oxide (TGO) growth, Cr precipitate growth within the bond coat layer, and formation of diffusion layer occur actively in high-temperature sections. These microstructural changes were consistent with damaged areas of the thermal barrier coating layer observed at the surface of the used blade. The distribution of Cr precipitates within the bond coat layer, in addition to the thickness of TGO, is regarded as a key indicator in the evaluation of degradation characteristics.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.100.1-100.1
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• 2010

고효율 실리콘 양자점 태양전지를 제작하기 위해 Si과 C target을 co-sputtering 방식으로 제조한 SiC matrix를 열처리하여 박막 내에 Si nanocrystal들을 생성하였다. Si nanocrystal의 특성은 다양한 요인에 영향을 받는 데 barrier 물질인 SiC matrix가 가장 큰 영향을 준다. SiC는 900도 이상에서 열처리하는 동안 Si과 C과 SiC으로 재배열 혹은 재결합하는 데 이 때 가장 작은 carbon이 빠르게 diffusion하는 현상에 의해 Si nanocrystal의 성장과 특성에 영향을 주게 된다. 이 현상을 연구하기 위해 stoichiometric SiC/Si-rich SiC/stoichiometric SiC의 3층 구조로 시료를 제작하여 이를 SIMS의 depth profiling을 통하여 열처리 전보다 열처리 후에 Si-rich SiC layer내에 carbon이 약 2~3%정도 증가한 것으로 carbon이 diffusion된 것을 확인하였다. 이 시료를 UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, Raman, GIXRD 등의 다양한 측정을 통하여 carbon diffusion에 의한 Si nanocrystal의 특성변화를 연구하였다.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2017

A finite element analysis is proposed to study the effect of specimen dimensions on lateral diffusion of hydrogen during hydrogen permeation flux measurements. The error of measurement on thick specimens because of 1D diffusion approximation may be as much as 70%. A critical condition for accurate measurements is to designate the area of hydrogen monitoring/exit surface smaller than the area of hydrogen charging/entry surface. For thin to medium thickness specimens (ratio of thickness to specimen radius of 5:10 and below), the charging surface should be maximized and the monitoring surface should be minimized. In case of relatively thick specimens (ratio of thickness to specimen radius above of 5:10), use of a hydrogen-diffusion barrier on the specimen boundaries is recommended. It would completely eliminate lateral losses of hydrogen, but cannot eliminate the deviation towards 2D diffusion near the side edges. In such a case, the charging surface should be maximized and the monitoring surface should be as closer in dimension as the charging surface. A regression analysis was carried out and an analytical relationship between the maximum measurement error and the specimen dimensions is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 1998

TiN has been investigated as a good candidate for a diffusion barrier of Cu. Therefore, in this study, the grain boundary diffusion of Cu in TiN film was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). In general, TiN has a columnar grain structure. In the relatively lower temperature, less than 1/3 of the melting point, it was observed that Cu diffused into TiN mainly along the grain boundaries of TiN. The grain size of TiN was measured by atomic force microscope (AFM). In order to estimate the grain boundary diffusion constants, we used the modified surface accumulation method. The activation energy, $Q_b$ was 0.23 eV, and the diffusivity, $D_{bo}$ was $5.5\times10^{-12{\textrm{cm}^2$/sec.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.78.1-78.1
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.50-50
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• 1994