• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2010

Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) have recently attracted considerable interest for use in photovoltaics. Band gaps of NQDs can be tuned over a considerable range by varying the particle size thereby allowing enhance absorption of solar spectrum. NQDs, synthesized using colloidal routes, are solution processable and promise for a large-area fabrication. Recent advancements in multiple-exciton generation in NQD solutions have afforded possible efficiency improvements. Various architectures have attempted to utilize the NQDs in photovoltaics, such as NQD-sensitized solar cell, NQD-bulk-heterojuction solar cell and etc. Here we have fabricated CdSe NQDs with the band gap of 1.8 eV to 2.1 eV on thin-layers of p-type organic crystallites (1.61 eV) to realize a donor-acceptor type heterojuction solar cell. Simple structure as it was, we could control the interface of electrode-p-layer, and n-p-layer and monitor the following efficiency changes. Specifically, surface molecules adsorbed on the NQDs were critical to enhance the carrier transfer among the n-layer where we could verify by measuring the photo-response from the NQD layers only. Further modifying the annealing temperature after the deposition of NQDs on p-layers allowed higher conversion efficiencies in the device.

• 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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• 2015.08a
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• pp.146-146
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• 2015

We report the enhanced performance of poly(N-vinylcarbozole) (PVK)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)-based quantum-dot light-emitting diodes by inserting the polyaniline:poly (p-styrenesulfonic acid) (PANI:PSS) interlayer. The QD-LED with PANI:PSS interlayer exhibited a higher luminance and luminous current efficiency than that without PANI:PSS. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy results exhibited different electronic energy alignments of QD-LEDs with/without the PANI:PSS interlayer. By inserting the PANI:PSS interlayer, the hole-injection barrier at the QD layer/PVK interface was reduced from 1.45 to 1.23 eV via the energy level down-shift of the PVK layer. The reduced barrier height alleviated the interface carrier charging responsible for the deterioration of the current and luminance efficiency. This suggests that the insertion of PANI:PSS interlayer in QD-LEDs contributed to (i) increase the p-type conductivity and (ii) reduce the hole barrier height of QDs/PVK, which are critical factors leading to improve the efficiency of QD-LEDs.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2022

Quantum dots (QDs) are attractive photosensitizer candidates for application not only in solar cells but also in solar hydrogen generation. For the prepartion of highly efficient QD-sensitized photoelectrodes, it is important to reduce electron recombination at the photoanode/electrolyte interface. Here, we study on the coating condition of ZnS passivation layers on the photoanodes in QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). The ZnS passivation layers are coated by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method, and as the cation precursor, zinc acetate and zinc nitrate are empolyed. Due to the higher pH of cation precursor solution, the ZnS loading is improved when the zinc acetate is used, compared to the zinc nitrate. This improved loading of ZnS leads to the reduced electron recombination at the surface of photoanodes and the enhaced conversion efficiency of QDSCs from 6.07% to 7.45%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.207-207
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• 2012

Si quantum dot (QD) imbedded in a $SiO_2$ matrix is a promising material for the next generation optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells and light emission diodes (LEDs). However, low conductivity of the Si quantum dot layer is a great hindrance for the performance of the Si QD-based optoelectronic devices. The effective doping of the Si QDs by semiconducting elements is one of the most important factors for the improvement of conductivity. High dielectric constant of the matrix material $SiO_2$ is an additional source of the low conductivity. Active doping of B was observed in nanometer silicon layers confined in $SiO_2$ layers by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profiling analysis and confirmed by Hall effect measurements. The uniformly distributed boron atoms in the B-doped silicon layers of $[SiO_2(8nm)/B-doped\;Si(10nm)]_5$ films turned out to be segregated into the $Si/SiO_2$ interfaces and the Si bulk, forming a distinct bimodal distribution by annealing at high temperature. B atoms in the Si layers were found to preferentially substitute inactive three-fold Si atoms in the grain boundaries and then substitute the four-fold Si atoms to achieve electrically active doping. As a result, active doping of B is initiated at high doping concentrations above $1.1{\times}10^{20}atoms/cm^3$ and high active doping of $3{\times}10^{20}atoms/cm^3$ could be achieved. The active doping in ultra-thin Si layers were implemented to silicon quantum dots (QDs) to realize a Si QD solar cell. A high energy conversion efficiency of 13.4% was realized from a p-type Si QD solar cell with B concentration of $4{\times}1^{20}atoms/cm^3$. We will present the diffusion behaviors of the various dopants in silicon nanostructures and the performance of the Si quantum dot solar cell with the optimized structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.146-147
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• 2012

InP 기판위에 자발성장법으로 성장된 InAs 양자점은 $1.55{\mu}m$ 영역에서 발진하는 양자점 반도체 레이저 다이오드 및 광 증폭기를 제작할 수 있기 때문에 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 광통신 대역의 $1.55{\mu}m$ 반도체 레이저 다이오드 및 광 증폭기 분야에서 InAs/InP 양자점이 많은 관심을 받고 있으나, InAs/GaAs 양자점에 비해 제작이 어려운 단점을 가지고 있다. InAs/InP 양자점은 InAs/GaAs 양자점에 비해 격자 불일치가 작아 양자점의 크기가 크고 특히 As 계 박막과 P 계박막의 계면에서 V 족 원소 교환 반응으로 계면 특성 저하가 발생하여 성장이 까다롭다. As 과 P 간의 교환반응은 성장온도와 V/III 에 의해 크게 영향을 받는 것으로 보고되었다. 그러나, P계 InGaAsP 박막 위에 InAs 성장 시 발생하는 As/P 교환반응에 대한 연구는 매우 적다. 본 연구에서는 InGaAsP 박막 위에 InAs 양자점 성장 시 GI (growth interruption)에 의한 As/P 교환반응이 InAs 양자점의 형상 및 광학적 특성에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다. 시료는 수직형 저압 Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD)를 이용하여 $520^{\circ}C$의 온도에서 성장하였다. 그림1(a) 구조의 양자점은 InP (100) 기판위에 InP buffer layer를 성장한 후 InP와 격자상수가 일치하는 $1.1{\mu}m$ 파장의 InGaAsP barrier를 50 nm 성장하였다. 그 후 As 분위기 하에서 다양한 GI 시간을 주었고 그 위에 InAs 양자점을 성장하였다. 양자점 성장 후 InGaAsP barrier를 50 nm, InP capping layer를 50 nm 성장하였다. AFM측정을 위해 InP capping layer 위에 동일한 GI 조건의 InAs/InGaAsP 양자점을 성장하였고 양자점 성장 후 As분위기 하에 온도를 내려주었다. 그림1(b) 구조의 양자점은 그림1(a) 와 모든 조건은 동일하나 InAs 양자점과 InGaAsP barrier 사이에 GaAs 2ML를 삽입한 구조이다. 양자점 형상 특성 평가는 Atomic force microscopy를 이용하였으며, 광특성 분석은 Photoluminescence를 이용하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.297-297
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• 2010

Precise control of the position and density of doping elements at the nanoscale is becoming a central issue for realizing state-of-the-art silicon-based optoelectronic devices. As dimensions are scaled down to take benefits from the quantum confinement effect, however, the presence of interfaces and the nature of materials adjacent to silicon turn out to be important and govern the physical properties. Utilization of visible light is a promising method to overcome the efficiency limit of the crystalline Si solar cells. Si quantum dots (QDs) have been proposed as an emission source of visible light, which is based on the quantum confinement effect. Light emission in the visible wavelength has been reported by controlling the size and density of Si QDs embedded within various types of insulating matrix. For the realization of all-Si QD solar cells with homojunctions, it is prerequisite not only to optimize the impurity doping for both p- and n-type Si QDs, but also to construct p-n homojunctions between them. In this study, XPS and SIMS were used for the development of p-type and n-type Si quantum dot solar cells. The stoichiometry of SiOx layers were controlled by in-situ XPS analysis and the concentration of B and P by SIMS for the activated doping in Si nano structures. Especially, it has been experimentally evidenced that boron atoms in silicon nanostructures confined in SiO2 matrix can segregate into the Si/$SiO_2$ interfaces and the Si bulk forming a distinct bimodal spatial distribution. By performing quantitative analysis and theoretical modelling, it has been found that boron incorporated into the four-fold Si crystal lattice can have electrical activity. Based on these findings, p-type Si quantum dot solar cell with the energy-conversion efficiency of 10.2% was realized from a [B-doped $SiO_{1.2}$(2 nm)/$SiO_2(2\;nm)]^{25}$ superlattice film with a B doping level of $4.0{\times}10^{20}\;atoms/cm^2$.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

In this study $TiO_2$/reduced graphene oxide ($TiO_2/rGO$) bipyramid with tunable nanostructure was fabricated by two-step solvothermal process and subsequent heat-treatment in air. The as-synthesized anatase $TiO_2$ nanocrystals possessed morphological bipyramid with exposed dominantly by (101) facets. Polyethylenimine was utilized during the combination of $TiO_2$ and graphene oxide (GO) to tune the surface charge, hindering the restack of graphene during solvothermal process and resulting in 1 to 5 layers of rGO wrapped on $TiO_2$ surface. After a further calcination, a portion of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with a diameter about 2 nm were produced owing to the oxidizing and cutting of rGO on $TiO_2$. The as-prepared $TiO_2/rGO$ hybrid showed a highly photocatalytic activity, which is about 3.2 and 7.7 times enhancement for photodegradation of methyl orange with compared to pure $TiO_2$ and P25, respectively. We assume that the improvement of photocatalysis is attributed to the chemical bonding between rGO/CQDs and $TiO_2$ that accelerates photogenerated electron-hole pair separation, as well as enhances light harvest.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.402-409
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• 2016

Thin films of lead sulfide colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) of 2.8 nm in diameter are fabricated and their surfaces are passivated by 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) ligand or hybrid type ($MPA+CdCl_2$) ligand, respectively. The changes in valence band electronic structure and atomic composition of each PbS CQD film upon post-treatment such as air, N2 annealing or UV/Ozone have been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy. The air annealing makes the CQD fermi level to move toward the valence band leading to "p-type doping" regardless of ligand type. The UV/Ozone post-treatment generates $Pb(OH)_2$, $PbSO_x$ and PbO on both CQD surfaces. But the amount of the PbO has been reduced in hybrid type ligand case, especially. That is probably because the extra Pb cations in (111) surface are additionally passivated by $Cl_2$ ligand, which limits the reaction between the Pb cation and ozone.

• 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.