• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2008

Phase-change random access memory (PRAM) chip cell phase of amorphous state is rapidly changed to crystal state above 160 Celsius degree within several seconds during Infrared (IR) reflow. Thus, on-board programming method is considered for PRAM chip programming. We demonstrated the functional 512Mb PRAM with 90nm technology using several novel core circuits, such as metal-2 line based global row decoding scheme, PN-diode cells based BL discharge (BLDIS) scheme, and PMOS switch based column decoding scheme. The reverse-state standby current of each PRAM cell is near 10 pA range. The total leak current of 512Mb PRAM chip in standby mode on discharging state can be more than 5 mA. Thus in the proposed BLDIS control, all bitlines (BLs) are in floating state in standby mode, then in active mode, the activated BLs are discharged to low level in the early timing of the active period by the short pulse BLDIS control timing operation. In the conventional sense amplifier, the simultaneous switching activation timing operation invokes the large coupling noise between the VSAREF node and the inner amplification nodes of the sense amplifiers. The coupling noise at VSAREF degrades the sensing voltage margin of the conventional sense amplifier. The merit of the proposed sense amplifier is almost removing the coupling noise at VSAREF from sharing with other sense amplifiers.

• Mineral and Industry
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• v.26
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• pp.22-31
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• 2013

KIGAM and MRAM (Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia) performed joint researches on geological survey of Dulaankhaikhan W-Mo occurrences areas in southeastern part of Khangai region. XRD results of tungsten containing quartz vein sample show that tungsten minerals are wolframite, hubnerite and ferberiteore. $WO_3$ grade of samples obtained in Silurian Khotont formation is 0.11-4.43% and that of samples obtained in Permian Delgerkhan complex is 137-3844 ppm. Average total $R_2O_3$ of samples obtained in survey area is 473 ppm which is 2.5 times larger than that of Earth's crust. The highest total $R_2O_3$ is 1326 ppm. Factor analysis results show that two areas of high tungsten contents have similar correlations with tungsten, and therefore we conclude that these two areas have the similar origin of mineralization.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.163-168
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• 2004

We prepared ultra thin film structure of Si(100)/ $SiO_2$(200 nm)/Ta(5 nm)/Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20/(l～15 nm)}$Ta(5 nm) using an inductively coupled plasma(ICP) helicon sputter. Magnetic properties and cross-sectional microstructures were investigated with a superconduction quantum interference device(SQUID) and a transmission electron microscope(TEM), respectively. We report that NiFe films of sub-3 nm thickness show the B$_{bulk}$ = 0 and B$_{surf}$=-3 ${\times}$ 10$^{-7}$(J/$m^2$). Moreover, Curie temperature may be lowered by decreasing thickness. Coercivity become larger as temperature decreased with 0.5 nm - thick Ta/NiFe interface intermixing. Our result implies that effective magnetic properties of magnetoelastic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and coercivity may change abruptly in nano-thick films. Thus we should consider those abrupt changes in designing nano-devices such as MRAM applications.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.103-107
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• 2010

We investigated spin-polarized current switching of Pac-man type II (PM-II) nanoelements in Pac-man shaped nanoscale spin-valves (Co/Cu/Py) using micromagnetic simulations. The effects of slot angle and antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer were simulated to obtain optimum switching in less than 2 ns. At a critical slot angle of $105^{\circ}$, the lowest current density for anti-parallel to parallel (AP-P) switching was observed due to no vortex or antivortex formation during the magnetic reversal process. All other slot angles for AP-P formed a vortex or antivortex during the magnetization reversal process. Additionally, a vortex or anti-vortex formed for all slot angles for parallel to anti-parallel (P-AP) switching. The addition of an AFM layer caused the current density to decrease significantly for AP-P and P-AP at slot angles less than $90^{\circ}$. However, at slot angles greater than $90^{\circ}$, the current density tended to decrease by less amounts or actually increased slightly as shape anisotropy became more dominant. This allowed ultra-fast switching with 5.05 and $5.65{\times}10^8\;A/cm^2$ current densities for AP-P and P-AP, respectively, at a slot angle of $105^{\circ}$.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.68-72
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• 2002

In this research, the effects of capacitance to the access time were studied at the junction area of tunneling magnetoresistance when these were used as memory devices. These results were obtained by applying electric signal input and magnetic field was not used. We applied bipolar square waves of 1MHz to the MTJ samples to obtain the results and time constant ($\tau$) calculated by observing wave responses utilizing an oscilloscope. And time constant was compared with junction area. Each part of MTJ sample, such as electrical pad, lead and contact area, was modeled as an electrical equivalent circuit based on experimental results. For the 200㎛$\times$200㎛ cell, junction capacitance was 90 pF. Also, measurement and simulation results were compared, which showed those similarity.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.47-51
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• 2015

To achieve a high tunneling magneto resistance (TMR) of sputtered magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with an MgO barrier, the annealing process is indispensable. The structural and compositional changes as consequences of the annealing greatly affect the spin-dependent transport properties of MTJs. Higher TMR could be obtained for MTJs annealed at higher annealing temperature. The diffusion of Ru, Mn and/or Ta in the MTJs may occur during annealing process, which is known to be detrimental to spin-dependent tunneling effect. The rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process was used for annealing the MTJs with synthetic antiferromagnets. To suppress the diffusion of Mn, Ru and/or Ta in the MTJs, the process time and temperature of RTA were minutely controlled.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.306.2-306.2
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• 2014

전자기기의 휴대성과 이동성이 강조되고 있는 현대사회에서 비휘발성 메모리는 메모리 산업에 있어 매우 매력적인 동시에 커다란 잠재성을 지닌다. 이미 공정의 한계에 부딪힌 Flash 메모리를 대신하여 10nm 이하의 공정이 가능한 상변화 메모리(Phase-Change Memory, PRAM), 스핀 주입 자화 반전 메모리(Spin Transfer Torque-Magnetic RAM, STT-MRAM), 저항 변화 메모리(Resistive Random Access Memory, ReRAM)가 차세대 비휘발성 메모리 후보로서 거론되고 있으며, 그 중에서도 ReRAM은 빠른 속도와 낮은 소비 전력, CMOS 공정 호환성, 그리고 비교적 단순한 3차원 적층 구조의 특성으로 인해 활발히 연구되고 있다. 특히 최근에는 질화물 또는 질소를 도핑한 산화물을 저항변화 물질로 사용하는 ReRAM이 보고되고 있는데, 이들은 동작전압이 낮을 뿐만 아니라 저항 변화(Resistive Switching, RS) 과정에서 일어나는 계면 산화를 방지할 수 있으므로 ReRAM의 저항 변화 재료로서 각광받고 있다. 그러나 Cell 단위의 ReRAM 소자를 Crossbar Array 구조에 적용시켰을 때 주변 Cell과의 저항 상태 차이로 인해 전류가 낮은 저항 상태(LRS)의 Cell로 흘러 의도치 않은 동작을 야기한다. 이와 같이 누설 전류(Leakage Current)로 인한 상호간의 간섭이 일어나는 Cross-talk 현상이 존재하며, 공정의 간소화와 집적도를 유지하면서 이 문제를 해결하는 것은 실용화하기에 앞서 매우 중요한 문제이다. 따라서, 본 논문에서는 Read 동작 시 발생하는 Cell과 Cell 사이의 Cross-talk 문제를 해결하기 위해 자가 정류 특성(Self-Rectifying)을 가지는 실리콘 질화물/알루미늄 질화물 이중층(Si3N4/AlN Bi-layer)으로 구성된 ReRAM 소자 구조를 제안하였으며, Sputtering 방법을 이용하여 제안된 소자를 제작하였다. 전압-전류 특성 실험결과, 제안된 구조에 대한 에너지 밴드 다이어그램 시뮬레이션 결과와 동일하게 Positive Bias 영역에서 자가 정류 특성을 획득하였고, 결과적으로 Read 동작 시 발생하는 Cross-talk 현상을 차단할 수 있는 결과를 확보하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.307-307
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• 2014

정보화 시대로 접어들면서 동일한 공간에 더 많은 정보를 저장할 수 있고, 보다 빠른 동작이 가능한 비휘발성 메모리 소자에 대한 요구가 증가하고 있다. 하지만, 최근 비휘발성 메모리 소자 관련 연구보고에 따르면, 메모리 소자의 소형화 및 직접화 측면에서, 전하 저장을 기반으로 하는 기존의 Floating-Gate(FG) Flash 메모리는 20 nm 이하 공정에서 한계가 예측 되고 있다. 따라서, 이러한 FG Flash 메모리의 한계를 해결하기 위해, 기존에 FET 기반의 FG Flash 구조와 같은 3 terminal이 아닌, Diode와 같은 2 terminal로 동작이 가능한 ReRAM, PRAM, STT-MRAM, PoRAM 등 저항변화를 기반으로 하는 다양한 종류의 차세대 메모리 소자가 연구되고 있다. 그 중, 저항 변화 메모리(ReRAM)는 CMOS 공정 호환성, 3D 직접도, 낮은 소비전력과 빠른 동작 속도 등의 우수한 동작 특성을 가져 차세대 비휘발성 메모리로 주목을 받고 있다. 또한, 상하부 전극의 2 terminal 만으로 소자 구동이 가능하기 때문에 Passive Crossbar-Array(CBA)로 적용하여 플래시 메모리를 대체할 수 있는 유력한 차세대 메모리 소자이다. 하지만, 이를 현실화하기 위해서는 Passive CBA 구조에서 발생할 수 있는 Read Disturb 현상, 즉 Word-Line과 Bit-Line을 통해 선택된 소자를 제외하고 주변의 다른 소자를 통해 흐르는 Sneak Leakage Current(SLC)를 차단하여 소자의 메모리 State를 정확히 sensing하기 위한 연구가 선행 되어야 한다. 따라서, 현재 이러한 이슈를 해결하기 위해서, 많은 연구 그룹에서 Diodes, Threshold Switches와 같은 ReRAM에 Selector 소자를 추가하는 방법, 또는 Self-Rectifying 특성 및 CRS 특성을 보이는 ReRAM 구조를 제안 하여 SLC를 차단하고자 하는 연구가 시도 되고 있지만, 아직까지 기초연구 단계로서 아이디어에 대한 가능성 정도만 보고되고 있는 현실 이다. 이에 본 논문은 Passive CBA구조에서 발생하는 SLC를 해결하기 위한 새로운 아이디어로써, 본 연구 그룹에서 선행 연구로 확보된 안정적인 저항변화 물질인 SiN를 정류 특성을 가지는 n-Si/Ti 기반의 Schottky Diode와 결합함으로써 기존의 CBA 메모리의 Read 동작에서 발생하는 SLC를 차단 할 수 있는 1SD-1R 구조의 메모리 구조를 제작 하였으며, 본 연구 결과 기존에 문제가 되었던 SLC를 차단 할 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.370.1-370.1
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• 2014

Giant magnetoresistance (GMR), tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), and magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) are currently active areas of research. Magnetite, Fe3O4, is predicted to possess as half-metallic nature, ~100% spin polarization (P), and has a high Curie temperature (TC~850 K). On the other hand, Spinel ferrite CoFe2O4 has been widely studies for various applications such as magnetorestrictive sensors, microwave devices, biomolecular drug delivery, and electronic devices, due to its large magnetocrystalline anisotropy, chemical stability, and unique nonlinear spin-wave properties. Here we have investigated the magneto-transport properties of epitaxial CoxFe3-xO4 thin films. The epitaxial CoxFe3-xO4 (x=0; 0.4; 0.6; 1) thin films were successfully grown on MgO (100) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The quality of the films during growth was monitored by reflection high electron energy diffraction (RHEED). From temperature dependent resistivity measurement, we observed that the Werwey transition (1st order metal-insulator transition) temperature increased with increasing x and the resistivity of film also increased with the increasing x up to $1.6{\Omega}-cm$ for x=1. The magnetoresistance (MR) was measured with magnetic field applied perpendicular to film. A negative transverse MR was disappeared with x=0.6 and 1. Anomalous Hall data will be discussed.

• Journal of KIISE
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2015

Recently, computer systems have encountered difficulties in making further progress due to the technical limitations of DRAM based main memory technologies. This has motivated the development of next generation memory technologies that have high density and non-volatility. However, these new memory technologies also have their own intrinsic limitations, making it difficult for them to currently be used as main memory. In order to overcome these problems, we propose a hybrid main memory system, namely HyMN, which utilizes the merits of next generation memory technologies by combining two types of memory: Write-Affable RAM(WAM) and Read-Affable RAM(ReAM). In so doing, we analyze the appropriate WAM size for HyMN, at which we can avoid the performance degradation. Further, we show that the execution time performance of HyMN, which provides an additional benefit of durability against unexpected blackouts, is almost comparable to legacy DRAM systems under normal operations.