• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2012년도 제42회 동계 정기 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.478-478
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• 2012

Recently, there are many researches in order to increase the deposition rate (D/R) and improve film uniformity and quality in the deposition of microcrystalline silicon thin film. These two factors are the most important issues in the fabrication of the thin film solar cell, and for the purpose of that, several process conditions, including the large area electrode (more than 1.1 X 1.3 (m2)), higher pressure (1 ~ 10 (Torr)), and very high frequency regime (VHF, 40 ~ 100 (MHz)), have been needed. But, in the case of large-area capacitively coupled discharges (CCP) driven at frequencies higher than the usual RF (13.56 (MHz)) frequency, the standing wave and skin effects should be the critical problems for obtaining the good plasma uniformity, and the ion damage on the thin film layer due to the high voltage between the substrate and the bulk plasma might cause the defects which degrade the film quality. In this study, we will propose the new concept of the large-area multi-electrode (a new multi-electrode concept for the large-area plasma source), which consists of a series of electrodes and grounds arranged by turns. The experimental results with this new electrode showed the processing performances of high D/R (1 ~ 2 (nm/sec)), controllable crystallinity (~70% and controllable), and good uniformity (less than 10%) at the conditions of the relatively high frequency of 40 MHz in the large-area electrode of 280 X 540 mm2. And, we also observed the SEM images of the deposited thin film at the conditions of peeling, normal microcrystalline, and powder formation, and discussed the mechanisms of the crystal formation and voids generation in the film in order to try the enhancement of the film quality compared to the cases of normal VHF capacitive discharges. Also, we will discuss the relation between the processing parameters (including gap length between electrode and substrate, operating pressure) and the processing results (D/R and crystallinity) with the process condition map for ${\mu}c$-Si:H formation at a fixed input power and gas flow rate. Finally, we will discuss the potential of the multi-electrode of the 3.5G-class large-area plasma processing (650 X 550 (mm2) to the possibility of the expansion of the new electrode concept to 8G class large-area plasma processing and the additional issues in order to improve the process efficiency.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.80-85
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• 2024

Purpose of higher conversion efficiencies, thin-film silicon solar cells based on amorphous silicon have been developed with a multiple-stack structure to fully utilize the absorption spectrum. Microcrystalline silicon (µc-Si) is commonly used in the bottom cell of such tandem junction solar cells, offering improved conversion efficiencies. However, the requirement for a thicker absorption layer to generate sufficient photocurrent presents challenges, primarily due to the lower absorption coefficient of µc-Si, resulting in longer deposition times and greater material thickness. To address these limitations, we propose the development of inorganic-organic hybrid solar cells by integrating a-Si tandem with solution-processed organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), using low-bandgap semiconducting polymers. The OPVs have garnered significant attention as promising candidates for next-generation photovoltaic technology. As part of this effort, we have optimized the a-Si tandem cell by exploring different materials for a tunnel recombination layer and high quality intrinsic layers. The hybrid approach combines the advantages of both inorganic and organic materials, potentially offering a pathway towards more efficient and cost-effective solar cell solutions.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2013년도 제44회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.230-230
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• 2013

In amorphous or microcrystalline thin-film silicon solar cells, p-i-n structure is used instead of p/n junction structure as in wafer-based Si solar cells. Hence, these p-i-n structured solar cells inevitably consist of many interfaces and the cell efficiency critically depends on the effective control of these interfaces. In this study, in-situ plasma treatment process of the interfaces was developed to improve the efficiency of a-Si:H solar cell. The p-i-n cell was deposited using a single-chamber VHF-PECVD system, which was driven by a pulsed-RF generator at 80 MHz. In order to solve the cross-contamination problem of p-i layer, high RF power was applied without supplying SiH4 gas after p-layer deposition, which effectively cleaned B contamination inside chamber wall from p-layer deposition. In addition to the p-i interface control, various interface control techniques such as thin layer of TiO2 deposition to prevent H2 plasma reduction of FTO layer, multiple applications of thin i-layer deposition and H2 plasma treatment, H2 plasma treatment of i-layer prior to n-layer deposition, etc. were developed. In order to reduce the reflection at the air-glass interface, anti-reflective SiO2 coating was also adopted. The initial solar cell efficiency over 11% could be achieved for test cell area of 0.2 $cm^2$.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제9권10호
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• pp.1006-1011
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• 1999

$SiH_4$, $CH_4$, $B_2H_6$ 혼합기체를 이용하여 플라즈마 화학증착법으로 탄화실리콘 (a-SiC:H) 박막을 증착하였다. 증착중에 혼합기체중의$CH_4$농도 ($CH_4/CH_4+SiH_4$)를 변화시켜 얻은 박막의 물성을 SEM, XRD, Raman 분광법, FTIR, XPS, 광흡수도와 광전도도 분석을 통하여 살펴보았다. $SiH_4$기체만 이용하여 증착한 Si:H 박막은 비정질상태를 나타내었으나, $CH_4$가 첨가됨에 따라 실리콘 박막의 Si-$\textrm{H}_{n}$(n은 정수) 결합기가 Si-$\textrm{C}_{n}\textrm{H}_{m}$ (n,m은 정수) 형태의 결합기로 변화되었으며, 박막내 수소함량은 $CH_4$농도가 0~0.8의 범위에서 증가함에 따라 30~45% 범위에서 증가하였다. 반응기체중의 $CH_4$농도의 증가에 따라 박막 내의 탄소 농도가 증가함을 확인하였으며, 이에 따라 막의 전기비저항과 광학적밴드갭 역시 증가하였다.

• 한국표면공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국표면공학회 2009년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.98-98
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• 2009

Hydrogenated nano-, microcrystalline silicon 박막(nc-, ${\mu}c-Si:H$)은 박막 트랜지스터 및 실리콘 박막형 태양전지등에 널리 쓰이고 있다. 이러한 결정화 실리콘 박막을 내장형 안테나를 사용하여 고밀도 플라즈마를 발생시킬 수 있는 장치를 통하여 증착 후 열처리 공정이 없는 방법을 사용하여 박막을 제작하였다. 특히, 증착시 기판에 바이어스를 함께 인가하므로 증착된 박막의 결정화에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구를 하였다. 기판에 인가된 바이어스가 60W일 때 가장 높은 결정화율을 보이는 것을 알 수 있었다.