• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.352-357
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• 2009

The InAs multi-quantum dots (MQDs) solar cell and InGaAs multi-quantum wells (MQWs) solar cell to cover 1.1 eV and 1.3 eV were designed by 1D poisson, respectively. The MQDs and MQWs of 5, 10, 15 layers were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The photo luminescence results showed that the 5 period stacked MQDs have the highest intensity at around 1.1 eV with 57.6 meV full width at half maximum (FWHM). Also we can observe 10 period stacked MQWs peak position which has highest intensity at 1.31 eV with 12.37 meV FWHM. The density and size of QDs were observed by reflection high energy electron diffraction pattern and atomic force microscope. Futhermore, AlGaAs/GaAs sandwiched tunnel junctions were modified according to the width of GaAs layer on p-type GaAs substrates. The structures with GaAs width of 30 nm and 50 nm have backward diode characteristics. In contrast, tunnel diode characteristics were observed in the 20 nm of that of sample.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2010

We demonstrate the hybrid polymer-quantum dot based multi-functional device (Organic bistable devices, Light-emitting diode, and Photovoltaic cell) with a single active-layer structure consisting of CdSe/ZnS semiconductor quantum-dots (QDs) dispersed in a poly N-vinylcarbazole (PVK) and 1,3,5-tirs- (N-phenylbenzimidazol-2-yl) benzene (TPBi) fabricated on indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/glass substrate by using a simple spin coating technique. The multi-functionality of the device as Organic bistable device (OBD), Light Emitting Diode (LED), and Photovoltaic cell can be successfully achieved by adding an electron transport layer (ETL) TPBi to OBD for attaining the functions of LED and Photovoltaic cell in which the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of TPBi is positioned at the energy level between the conduction band of CdSe/ZnS and LiF/Al electrode (band-gap engineering). Through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study, the active layer of the device has a p-i-n structure of a consolidated core-shell structure in which semiconductor QDs are uniformly and isotropically adsorbed on the surface of a p-type polymer core and the n-type small molecular organic materials surround the semiconductor QDs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.306-307
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• 2011

Franz Keldysh Oscillation (FKO)은 p-n 접합 구조의 공핍층(depletion zone)에서 전기장(electric field)에 의해 발생되며, Photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopy를 통하여 관측된다. InAs/GaAs 양자점 태양전지(Quantum Dot Solar Cells, QDSCs)에서 PR 신호에 대한 Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)을 통하여 FKO 주파수들을 관측할 수 있고, 각각의 FKO 주파수들은 태양전지 구조에 대응하는 표면 및 내부전기장(internal electric field) 들로 분류할 수 있다. InAs/GaAs 양자점 태양전지에서 AlGaAs potential barrier의 두께에 따른 내부전기장의 변화를 조사하기 위해, GaAs-matrix에 8주기의 InAs 양자점 층이 삽입된 태양전지를 molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) 방법으로 성장하였다. 양자점의 크기는 2.0 monolayer (ML)이며, 각 양자점 층은 1.6 nm에서 6.0 nm의 AlGaAs potential barrier들로 분리되어 있다. 또한 양자점 층의 위치에 따라 내부전기장 변화를 조사하기 위해, p-i-n 구조에서 양자점 층이 공핍층 내에 위치한 경우와 p+-n-n+ 구조에서 양자점 층이 공핍 층으로부터 멀리 떨어진 n-base 영역에 삽입하여 실험결과를 비교분석하였다. PR 실험결과로부터, p-i-n 구조에서 InAs 양자점 태양전지의 내부전기장 변화는 potential barrier 두께에 따라 다소 복잡한 변화를 보였으며, 이는 양자점 층이 공핍층 내에 위치함으로써 격자 불일치(lattice mismatch)로 발생된 응력(strain)의 영향으로 설명할 수 있다. 이러한 결과들을 각각의 태양전지 구조에서 표면 및 내부전기장에 대해 계산된 값들에 근거하여, p+-n-n+ 구조에서 양자점 층이 공핍 층으로부터 멀리 떨어진 영역에 삽입된 경우의 결과와 비교해 보면 내부전기장의 변화는 더욱 분명해진다. 즉, 양자점 층의 potential barrier의 두께를 조절하거나, 양자점 층의 위치를 변화시킴으로써 양자점 태양전지의 내부전기장을 조작할 수 있으며, 이는 PR 실험을 통해 FKO를 관측함으로써 확인할 수 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.658-658
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• 2013

Graphene is an attractive material for various device applications due to great electrical properties and chemical properties. However, lack of band gap is significant hurdle of graphene for future electrical device applications. In the past few years, several methods have been attempted to open and tune a band gap of graphene. For example, researchers try to fabricate graphene nanoribbon (GNR) using various templates or unzip the carbon nanotubes itself. However, these methods generate small driving currents or transconductances because of the large amount of scattering source at edge of GNRs. At 2009, Bai et al. introduced graphene nanomesh (GNM) structures which can open the band gap of large area graphene at room temperature with high current. However, this method is complex and only small area is possible. For practical applications, it needs more simple and large scale process. Herein, we introduce a photosensitive graphene device fabrication using CdSe QD coated nano-porous graphene (NPG). In our experiment, NPG was fabricated by thin film anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film as an etching mask. First of all, we transfer the AAO on the graphene. And then, we etch the graphene using O2 reactive ion etching (RIE). Finally, we fabricate graphene device thorough photolithography process. We can control the length of NPG neckwidth from AAO pore widening time and RIE etching time. And we can increase size of NPG as large as 2 $cm^2$. Thin CdSe QD layer was deposited by spin coatingprocess. We carried out NPG structure by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). And device measurements were done by Keithley 4200 SCS with 532 nm laser beam (5 mW) irradiation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.188.1-188.1
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• 2014

Aluminum is widely used as a material for electrode on silicon based devices. Especially, aluminum films are used as backside and front-side electrodes in silicon quantum dot (QD) solar cells. In this point, the diffusion of aluminum is very important for the enhancement of power conversion efficiency by improvement of contact property. Aluminum was deposited on a Si (100) wafer and a Si QD layer by ion beam sputter system with a DC ion gun. The Si QD layer was fabricated by $1100^{\circ}C$ annealing of the $SiO_2/SiO_1$ multilayer film grown by ion beam sputtering deposition. Cs ion beam with a low energy and a grazing incidence angle was used in SIMS depth profiling analysis to obtain high depth resolution. Diffusion behavior of aluminum in the Al/Si and Al/Si QD interfaces was investigated by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) as a function of heat treatment temperature. It was found that aluminum is diffused into Si substrate at $450^{\circ}C$. In this presentation, the effect of heat treatment temperature and Si nitride diffusion barrier on the diffusion of Al will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.441-441
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• 2012

Franz Keldysh Oscillation (FKO)은 p-n 접합 구조의 Photoreflectance (PR) spectra에서 표면 및 계면의 전기장(electric field) 특성을 반영한다. InAs/GaAs 양자점 태양전지(Quantum Dot Solar Cell, QDSC) 구조에서 InAs 양자점 층 전후에 AlGaAs 층을 삽입하여 퍼텐셜 장벽(potential barrier) 두께에 따른 PR spectra 및 GaAs-matrix에서 FKO 주파수 특성을 비교 분석하였다. InAs/GaAs 양자점 태양전지는 p-i-n 구조의 i-GaAs에 2.0 monolayer (ML), 8주기의 InAs 양자점 층을 삽입하여 Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) 방법으로 성장하였다. 각 양자점 층 전후에 두께가 각각 0.0, 1.6, 2.8, 6.0 nm인 AlGaAs 층을 삽입하여 퍼텐셜 장벽 두께에 따른 FKO 주파수 변화를 관측하였다. 또한 태양전지 구조의 전기장 분포를 좀 더 용이하게 관측하기 위해 여기 광의 세기(power intensity)를 충분히 낮추어 Photovoltaic effect에 의한 내부 전기장의 변화를 최소화하여 비교 분석하였다. InAs/GaAs 양자점 태양전지 구조에서 AlGaAs 장벽층이 없는 경우, PR spectra의 Fast Fourier Transform 결과에 반영되는 FKO 주파수 특성은 p-i-n 구조 계면에서 공핍층(depletion region)의 space charge field보다 양자점 층의 내부 전기장에 의한 FKO 주파수가 더 큰 진폭(amplitude)을 보였다. 반면에, AlGaAs 장벽층이 삽입되면 두께가 커짐에 따라 p-i-n 구조 계면의 space charge field에 의해 더 큰 진폭의 FKO 주파수가 관측되었다. 이는 AlGaAs 장벽층이 삽입됨으로써 양자점 층 내 양자 상태 수 및 여기광에 의한 캐리어의 수와 관련이 있음을 확인하였으며, 결과적으로 GaAs-matrix에서 p-i-n 구조 계면의 space charge field에 영향을 미치게 됨을 알 수 있다. 이러한 PR 특성 결과들을 InAs/GaAs 양자점 태양전지의 설계 및 제조에 반영함으로써 양자효율 증대에 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.189-189
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• 2012

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) are promising materials for various optoelectronic devices, especially solar cells, because of their tunability of the optical band-gap controlled by adjusting the diameter of NQDs. PbS is a IV-VI semiconductor enabling infrared-absorption and it can be synthesized using solution process methods. A wide choice of the diameter of PbS NQDs is also a benefit to achieve the quantum confinement regime due to its large Bohr exciton radius (20 nm). To exploit these desirable properties, many research groups have intensively studied to apply for the photovoltaic devices. There are several essential requirements to fabricate the efficient NQDs-based solar cell. First of all, highly confined PbS QDs should be synthesized resulting in a narrow peak with a small full width-half maximum value at the first exciton transition observed in UV-Vis absorbance and photoluminescence spectra. In other words, the size-uniformity of NQDs ought to secure under 5%. Second, PbS NQDs should be assembled carefully in order to enhance the electronic coupling between adjacent NQDs by controlling the inter-QDs distance. Finally, appropriate structure for the photovoltaic device is the key issue to extract the photo-generated carriers from light-absorbing layer in solar cell. In this step, workfunction and Fermi energy difference could be precisely considered for Schottky and hetero junction device, respectively. In this presentation, we introduce the strategy to obtain high performance solar cell fabricated using PbS NQDs below the size of the Bohr radius. The PbS NQDs with various diameters were synthesized using methods established by Hines with a few modifications. PbS NQDs solids were assembled using layer-by-layer spin-coating method. Subsequent ligand-exchange was carried out using 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) to reduce inter-NQDs distance. Finally, Schottky junction solar cells were fabricated on ITO-coated glass and 150 nm-thick Al was deposited on the top of PbS NQDs solids as a top electrode using thermal evaporation technique. To evaluate the solar cell performance, current-voltage (I-V) measurement were performed under AM 1.5G solar spectrum at 1 sun intensity. As a result, we could achieve the power conversion efficiency of 3.33% at Schottky junction solar cell. This result indicates that high performance solar cell is successfully fabricated by optimizing the all steps as mentioned above in this work.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.426-426
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• 2012

본 연구에서는 GaAs p-i-n 접합 구조에 InAs 양자점을 삽입한 양자점 태양전지(Quantum Dot Solar Cell; QDSC)의 내부 전기장(internal electric field)을 조사하기 위하여 Photoreflectance (PR) 방법을 이용하였다. QDSC 구조는 GaAs p-i-n 구조의 공핍층 내에 8주기의 InAs 양자점 층을 삽입하였으며 각 양자점 층은 40 nm 두께의 i-GaAs로 분리하였다. InAs/GaAs QDSC는 분자선박막 성장장치(molecular beam epitaxy; MBE)를 이용하여 성장하였다. 이 때 양자점의 형성은 InAs 2.0 ML(monolayer)를 기판온도 $470^{\circ}C$에서 증착하였다. QDSC 구조에서 여기광원의 세기에 따른 전기장의 변화를 조사하였다. 아울러 양자점 층 사이의 i-GaAs 층 내에 6.0 nm의 AlGaAs 퍼텐셜 장벽(potential barrier)을 삽입하여 퍼텐셜 장벽 유무에 따른 전기장 변화를 조사하였다. PR 측정에서 여기광원으로는 633 nm의 He-Ne 레이저를 이용하였으며 여기광의 세기는 $2mW/cm^2$에서 $90mW/cm^2$까지 변화를 주어 여기광세기 의존성실험을 수행하였다. 여기광의 세기가 증가할수록 photovoltaic effect에 의한 내부 전기장의 변화를 관측할 수 있었다. PR 결과로부터 p-i-n 구조의 p-i 영역과 i-n 접합 계면의 junction field를 검출하였다. p-i-n의 i-영역에 양자점을 삽입한 경우 PR 신호에서 Franz-Keldysh oscillation (FKO)의 주파수가 p-i-n 구조와 비교하여 변조됨을 관측하였다. 이러한 FKO 주파수성분은 fast Fourier transform (FFT)을 이용하여 검출하였다. FKO의 주파수 성분들은 고전기장하에서 electron-heavyhole (e-hh)과 electron-lighthole (e-lh) 전이에 의해 나타나는 성분으로 확인되었다.