• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.982-987
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• 2011

In this study, $Ge_8Se_{(2+x)}Te_{(6-x)}$ thin film amorphous-to-crystalline phase-change rate was evaluated in using a nano-pulse scanner. The focused laser beam with a diameter <10 ${\mu}m$ was illuminated in the power (P) and pulse duration (t) ranges of 1-31 mW and 10-460 ns, respectively, with subsequent detection of the responsive signals reflected from the film surface. We also evaluated the material characteristics, such as optical absorption and energy gap, crystalline phases, and sheet resistance of as-deposited and annealed films. The result of experiments showed that the thermal stability of the Ge-Se-Te film is largely improved by adding Se.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

In this paper, we report the changes of electrical, structural and optical characteristics in $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin films according to an increase of Si content. The Si-doped $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin films were prepared by rf-magnetron co-sputtering method. Isothermal annealing was carried out at $N_2$ atmosphere. The crystallization speed (v) of amorphous thin films was evaluated by detecting the reflection response signals using a nano-pulse scanner (wavelength = 658 nm) with illumination power of 1~17 mW and pulse duration of 10~460 ns. Structural phase changes were evaluated by XRD, and the optical transmittance was measured in the wavelength range of 300~3000 nm using UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer. The sheet resistance (RS) of the thin films was measured using 4 point probe. Conclusivlely, the v-value decreased with an increase of Si content, while the RS-values of both crystalline and amorphous phases were increased. In particular, fcc-to-hexagonal transition was suppressed by the added Si atoms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.419-420
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• 2008

In this work, we report several experimental data capable of evaluating the phase transition characteristics of (InTe)x(GeTe)y (x = 0.1, 0.3, y =1) pseudo-binary thin films. (InTe)x(GeTe)y phase change thin films have been prepared by thermal evaporator. The crystallization characteristics of amorphous (InTe)x(GeTe)y thin films were investigated by using nano-pulse scanner with 658 nm laser diode (power : 1~17 mW, pulse duration : 10~460 ns) and XRD measurement. It was found that the crystalline speed of In-Ge-Te thin films are faster than $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$[1] and also the crystalline temperature is higher. Changes in the optical transmittance of as-deposited and annealed films were measured using a UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometer and four-point probe was used to measure the sheeresistance of InGeTe films annealed at different temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2010

The crystallization speed (v) of amorphous (InTe)$_x$(GeTe) (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) films and their thermal, optical and electrical behaviors have been investigated using nano-pulse scanner (wavelength = 658 nm, laser beam diameter < 2 ${\mu}m$), X-ray diffraction (XRD), 4-point probe and UV-vis-IR spectrophotometer. These results were compared with those of $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ (GST) film, comprehensively utilized for phase-change random access memory (PRAM). Both v-value and thermal stability of (InTe)$_{0.1}$(GeTe) and (InTe)$_{0.3}$(GeTe) films could be enhanced in comparison with those of the GST. Contrarily, the v-value in the (InTe)$_{0.5}$(GeTe) film was so drastically deteriorated that we could not quantitatively evaluate it. This deterioration is thought because amorphous (InTe)$_{0.5}$(GeTe) film has relatively high reflectance, resulting in too low absorption to cause the crystallization. Conclusively, it could be thought that a proper compositional (InTe)$_x$(GeTe) films (e.g., x < 0.3) may be good candidates with both high crystallization speed and thermal stability for PRAM application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.70-70
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• 2009

Si 도핑한 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ 박막은 비정질상에서의 열적 안정성증가, fcc에서 hex상으로의 상전이 억제, 활성화 에너지 증가 등의 특성을 보인다. 본 연구에서는 Si 도핑에 의한 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ 박막의 전기적 그리고 구조적인 특성에 관한 실험을 진행하였다. 실험에 사용된 Si 도핑 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ 박막은 Si 기판 위에 radio frequency power supply를 사용해 Si과 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ 타겟을 co-sputtering하여 증착하였다. Si의 sputtering 파워를 달리하여 실리콘의 농도를 다르게 증착 하였고 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)를 사용하여 박막의 Si 농도를 측정하였다. 증착된 박막은 질소 분위기 하에서 $5\;^{\circ}C$/min으로 열처리 하여 여러 온도와 Si 농도에서의 박막의 특성을 측정하였다. 열처리 전, 후의 박막은 X-ray diffraction (XRD) 분석을 통하여 각각의 온도에서의 구조적 특성을 분석하였다. 열처리 온도에 따르는 필름의 전기적 특성 파악을 위해서 four-point probe를 이용하여 박막의 면저항을 측정하였고 그 값은 3 회 이상 측정하여 평균값을 사용하였다. Nano-pulse scanner를 사용하여 다양한 파워범위와 펄스폭 범위에서의 박막의 상변화에 따른 반사도 차이를 측정하여 각 조성에서의 비정질-결정질상 변화속도를 분석하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.585-593
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• 2008

In this work, we report several experimental data capable of evaluating the phase transformation characteristics of GeSbTe pseudobinary thin films comprehensively utilized as phase change materials. The phase transformation of the GeSbTe thin films was confirmed by XRD measurement from amorphous to hexagonal structure via fee structure except for $Ge_8Sb_2Te_{11}$. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectra analysis revealed to weaken Ge-Te bond for $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ and to strengthen the bonds of all elements for $Ge_8Sb_2Te_{11}$ during the amorphous to crystalline transition. The values of optical energy gap $(E_{OP})$ were around 0.71 and 0.50 eV and the slopes of absorption in extended region (B) were ${\sim}5.1{\times}10^5$ and ${\sim}10{\times}10^5cm^{-1}{\cdot}V^{-1}$ for the amorphous and fcc-crystalline structures, respectively. Finally, the kinetics of amorphous-to-crystalline phase change on the GeSbTe films was characterized using a nano-pulse scanner with 658-nm laser diode (power; $1{\sim}17$ mW, pulse duration; $10{\sim}460$ ns).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2009

In this work, we report that crystallization speed as well as the electrical and optical properties about the N-doped $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin films. The 200-nm-thick N-doped $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin film was deposited on p-type (100) Si and glass substrate by RF reactive sputtering at room temperature. The amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation of N-doped $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin films investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Changes in the optical transmittance of as-deposited and annealed films were measured using a UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometer and four-point probe was used to measure the sheet resistance of N-doped $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin films annealed at different temperature. In addition, the surface morphology and roughness of the films were observed by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The crystalline speed of amorphous N-doped $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ films were measured by using nano-pulse scanner with 658 nm laser diode (power : 1~17 mW, pulse duration: 10~460 ns). It was found that the crystalline speed of thin films are decreased by adding N and the crystalline temperature is higher. This means that N-dopant in $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin film plays a role to suppress amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.103-103
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• 2009

본 논문에서는 기존의 GST(GeSbTe=2:2:5)와 비교하여 상변화 재료로서의 Ga 도핑된 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$의 가능성을 확인하고자 하였다. 실험에 사용된 Ga 도핑된 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ 박막은 전통적 melt-quenching 방법에 의해 비정질로 제작된 벌크를 Thermal evaporation을 통하여 Si(100) 및 유리 (coming glass, 7059) 기판 위에 200nm의 두께로 증착하여 제작하였다. 각 박막의 상변화 특성은 여러 온도에서 열처리된 박막을 X-ray diffraction (XRD) 측정을 통하여 확인하였다. 각 조성 박막의 비정질-결정질 상변화속도 비교를 위하여 나노-펄스 스캐너 (nano-pulse scanner)를 사용하여 power; 1~17mW, pulse duration; 10~460ns 범위에서 박막의 상변화에 따른 반사도 차이를 측정 분석하였다. Ga의 도핑농도에 따른 전기적 특성 차이를 확인하기 위하여 4-point probe를 이용하여 박막의 면 저항을 측정하였고 또한 hall 측정을 통하여 박막의 흘 계수, 흘 농도 및 이동도를 확인하고 Ga가 상전이에 미치는 영향에 대하여 분석하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.629-637
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• 2008

We report several experimental data capable of evaluating the amorphous-to-crystalline (a-c) phase transformation in $(Ag)_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1) thin films prepared by a thermal evaporation. The isothermal a-c structural phase changes were evaluated by XRD, and the optical transmittance was measured in the wavelength range of $800{\sim}3000$ nm using a UV-vis-IR spectrophotometer. A speed of the a-c transition was evaluated by detecting the reflection response signals using a nano-pulse scanner with 658 nm laser diode (power P = $1{\sim}17$ mW, pulse duration t = $10{\sim}460$ ns). The surface morphology and roughness of the films were imaged by AFM. It was found that the crystallization speed was so enhanced with an increase of Ag content. While the sheet resistance of c-phase $(Ag)_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ was similar to that of c-phase $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ (i.e., $R_c{\sim}10{\Omega}/{\square}$), the sheet resistance of a-phase $(Ag)_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ was found to be lager than that of a-phase $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$, $R_a{\sim}5{\times}10^6{\Omega}{/\square}$. For example, the ratios of $R_a/R_c$ for $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ and $(Ag)_{0.1}(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{0.9}$ were approximately $5{\times}10^5$ and $5{\times}10^6$, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2008

In the paper, we report several experimental data capable of evaluating the phase transformation characteristics of $Ag_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ (x =0, 0.05, 0.1) thin films. The $Ag_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ phase change thin films have been prepared by thermal evaporation. The crystallization characteristics of amorphous$Ag_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ thin films were investigated by using nano-pulse scanner with 658 nm laser diode (power; 1~17 mW, pulse duration; 10~460 ns) and XRD measurement. It was found that the more Ag is doped, the more crystallization speed was 50 improved. In comparision with $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ thin film, the sheet resistance$(R_{amor})$ of the amorphous $Ag_x(Ge_2Sb_2Te_5)_{1-x}$ thin films were found to be lager than that of $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ film($R_{amor}$ $\sim10^7\Omega/\square$ and $R_{cryst}$ 10 $\Omega/\square$). That is, the ratio of $R_{amor}/R_{cryst}$ was evaluates to be $\sim10^6$ This is very helpful to writing current reduction of phase-change random acess memory.