• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.181-181
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• 2016

Hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (${\mu}c-Si:H$) films have attracted much attention as materials of the bottom-cells in Si thin film tandem photovoltaics due to their low bandgap and excellent stability against light soaking. However, in PECVD, the source gas $SiH_4$ must be highly diluted by $H_2$, which eventually results in low deposition rate. Moreover, it is known that high-rate ${\mu}c-Si:H$ growth is usually accompanied by a large number of dangling-bond (DB) defects in the resulting films, which act as recombination centers for photoexcited carriers, leading to a deterioration in the device performance. During film deposition, Si nanoparticles generated in $SiH_4$ discharges can be incorporated into films, and such incorporation may have effects on film properties depending on the size, structure, and volume fraction of nanoparticles incorporated into films. Here we report experimental results on the effects of nonoparticles incorporation at the different substrate temperature studied using a multi-hollow discharge plasma CVD method in which such incorporation can be significantly suppressed in upstream region by setting the gas flow velocity high enough to drive nanoparticles toward the downstream region. All experiments were performed with the multi-hollow discharge plasma CVD reactor at RT, 100, and $250^{\circ}C$, respectively. The gas flow rate ratio of $SiH_4$ to $H_2$ was 0.997. The total gas pressure P was kept at 2 Torr. The discharge frequency and power were 60 MHz, 180 W, respectively. Crystallinity Xc of resulting films was evaluated using Raman spectra. The defect densities of the films were measured with electron spin resonance (ESR). The defect density of fims deposited in the downstream region (with nonoparticles) is higher defect density than that in the upstream region (without nanoparticles) at low substrate temperature of RT and $100^{\circ}C$. This result indicates that nanoparticle incorporation can change considerably their film properties depending on the substrate temperature.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.389-393
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• 2008

Nano-sized $TiO_2$-60 wt% SrO composite powders were synthesized by a sol-gel method using titanium isopropoxide and $Sr(OH)_2\;{\cdot}\;8H_2O$ as precursors. 3, -5, -7 wt%Ag spot-coated $TiO_2$-60 wt% SrO composite powders were synthesized by a Ag electroless deposition method using $TiO_2$-60 wt% SrO composite powders calcined at $1050^{\circ}C$, which mainly exhibited the $SrTiO_3$phase. However, a small number of rutile $TiO_2$, $Sr_2TiO_4$ and $SrO_2$ phases were also detected. In the Ag spot-coated powders synthesized by electroless deposition, nano-sized particles about 5-25 nm in diameter adhered to the $TiO_2$-60 wt% SrO composite powders. The photocatalytic activity of Ag spot-coated $TiO_2$-SrO and $TiO_2$-SrO composite powders for degradation of phenol showed that all of $TiO_2$-SrO composite powders were highly active under UV light irradiation. 7 wt%Ag spot-coated $TiO_2$-60wt.%SrO composite powders had a relatively higher photocatalytic activity than did $TiO_2$-SrO composite powders under visible light.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.165-165
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• 2014

In this study, we demonstrated that the soft lithographic patterning processing of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene and rGO sheets as large scale, low cost, high quality and simplicity for future industrial applications. Recently, a previous study has reported that single layer graphene grown via CVD was patterned and transferred to a target surface by controlling the surface energy of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp [1]. Using this approach, the surface of a relief-patterned elastomeric stamp was functionalized with hydrophilic dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) molecules to enhance the surface energy of the stamp and to remove the graphene-based layer from the initial substrate and transfer it to a target surface [2]. Further, we developed a soft lithographic patterning process via surface energy modification for advanced graphene-based flexible devices such as transistors or simple and efficient chemical sensor consisting of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a metallic nanoparticle composite. A flexible graphene-based device on a biocompatible silk fibroin substrate, which is attachable to an arbitrary target surface, was also successfully fabricated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.188-188
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• 2012

Graphene, with its unique physical and structural properties, has recently become a proving ground for various physical phenomena, and is a promising candidate for a variety of electronic device and flexible display applications. Compared to indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, which have a typical sheet resistance of ${\sim}60{\Omega}$/sq and ~85% transmittance in the visible range, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesized graphene electrodes have a higher transmittance in the visible to IR region and are more robust under bending. Nevertheless, the lowest sheet resistance of the currently available CVD graphene electrodes is higher than that of ITO. In this study, we report a creative strategy, irradiation of microwave at room temperature under vacuum, for obtaining size-homogeneous gold nano-particle doping on graphene. The gold nano-particlization promoted by microwave irradiation was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy elemental mapping. These results clearly revealed that gold nanoparticle with ${\geq}30$ nm in mean size were decorated along the surface of the graphene after microwave irradiation. The fabrication high-performance transparent conducting film with optimized doping condition showed a sheet resistance of ${\geq}100{\Omega}$/sq. at ~90% transmittance. This approach advances the numerous applications of graphene films as transparent conducting electrodes.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 2021

This work presents a contrasting behavior of formic acid oxidation (FAO) on the Pt and Bi deposits on different Pt substrates. Using irreversible adsorption method, Bi and Pt were sequentially deposited on Pt electrodes of nanoparticle (Pt NP) and disk (Pt disk). The deposited layers of Bi and Pt on the Pt substrates were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. The electrochemical behaviors and FAO enhancements of Pt NP and Pt disk with deposited Bi only (i.e., Bi/Pt NP and Bi/Pt disk), were similar to each other. However, additional deposition of Pt on Bi/Pt NP and Bi/Pt disk (i.e., Pt/Bi/Pt NP and Pt/Bi/Pt disk) changed the electrochemical behavior and FAO activity in different ways depending on the shapes of the Pt substrates. With Pt/Bi/Pt NP, the hydrogen adsorption was suppressed and the surface oxidation of Pt was enhanced; while with Pt/Bi/Pt disk, the opposite behavior was observed. This difference was interpreted as a stronger interaction between the deposited Bi and Pt on Pt NP than that on Pt disk. The FAO performance on Pt/Bi/Pt NP is much better than that on Pt/Bi/Pt disk, most likely due to the difference in the interaction between the deposited Pt and Bi depending on the shapes of Pt substrates. In designing FAO electrochemical catalysts using Pt and Bi, the shape of a Pt substrate was concluded to be critically considered.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.636-636
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• 2013

Since first discovery of strong Raman spectrum of molecules adsorbed on rough noble metal, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been widely used for detection of molecules with low concentration. Surface plasmons at noble metal can enhance Raman spectrum and using Au nanostructures as substrates of SERS has advantages due to it has chemical stability and biocompatibility. However, the photoluminescence (PL) background from Au remains a problem because of obtaining molecular vibration information. Recently, graphene, two-dimensional atomic layer of carbon atoms, is also well known as PL quenchers for electronic and vibrational excitation. In this study, we observed SERS of single layer graphene on or under monolayer of Au nanoparticles (NPs). Single layer graphene is grown by chemical vapor deposition and transferred onto or under the monolayer of Au NPs by using PMMA transfer method. Monolayer of Au NPs prepared using Langmuir-Blodgett method on or under graphene surface provides closed and well-packed monolayer of Au NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy (WItec, 532 nm) were performed in order to confirm effects of Au NPs on enhanced Raman spectrum. Highly enhanced Raman signal of graphene by Au NPs were observed due to many hot-spots at gap of closed well-packed Au NPs. The results showed that single layer graphene provides larger SERS effects compared to multilayer graphene and the enhancement of the G band was larger than that of 2D band. Moreover, we confirm the appearance of D band in this study that is not clear in normal Raman spectrum. In our study, D band appearance is ascribed to the SERS effect resulted from defects induced graphene on Au NPs. Monolayer film of Au NPs under the graphene provided more highly enhanced graphene Raman signal compared to that on the graphene. The Au NPs-graphene SERS substrate can be possibly applied to biochemical sensing applications requiring highly sensitive and selective assays.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2011

We investigated the properties of artificial pinning centers of YBCO multilayer films in which $Y_2O_3$ and ZnO nanoparticles are uniformly introduced by using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. $Y_2O_3$ and ZnO nanoparticles were deposited on top of YBCO buffer layer and the density of nanoparticles was controlled by varying the number of nanoparticle layers. YBCO superconducting layers with total thickness of 250 nm were deposited on top of $Y_2O_3$ and ZnO nanoparticles. Based on analyses of the surface morphology, the transition temperature $T_c$, and the critical current density $J_c$, we discussed the difference between the two kinds of nanoparticles as flux pinning centers.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1193-1198
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• 2000

The preparation of nanocrystalline hematite, ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$, paricles and their surface coating with silica layers are described. The hematite particles with the size of 30~60 nm are firstly prepared by thermal decomposition of trinuclear acetate-hydroxo iron (III) nitrate complex, $[Fe_3$(OCOCH_3)_7$OH${\cdot}$2H_2O]NO_3$, at $400^{\circ}C$. Subsequently the hematite surfaces are coated with siliva layers by a controlled hydrolysis and condensation reaction of TEOS with varying the TEOS concentration and pH. Monodispersed and spherical $SiO_2-coatedFe_2O_3$ particles with the average particle diameter of ~90 nm and extremely narrow size distribution can be obtained at the pH of 11 and the TEOS concentration of 0.68M, which are found to be the optimum conditions in the present study in achieving the homogeneous deposition of silica layers on hematite surfaces. Diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectra reveal that the characteristic optical reflectance of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ particles is preserved almost constant even after coating the surfaces, suggesting that the $SiO_2$ layers can be regarded as protecting layers without degrading the optical properties of hematite particles.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.6.2-6.2
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• 2009

Nanostructured materials arecurrently receiving much attention because of their unique structural andphysical properties. Research has been stimulated by the envisagedapplications for this new class of materials in electronics, optics, catalysisand magnetic storage since the properties derived from nanometer-scalematerials are not present in either isolated molecules or micrometer-scalesolids. This study presents the experimental results derived fromthe various functional materials processed in nano-scale using pulsed laserablation, since those materials exhibit new physical phenomena caused by thereduction dimensionality. This presentation consists of three mainparts to consider in pulsed laser ablation (PLA) technique; first nanocrystallinefilms, second, nanocolloidal particles in liquid, and third, nanocoating fororganic/inorganic hybridization. Firstly, nanocrystalline films weresynthesized by pulsed laser deposition at various Ar gas pressures withoutsubstrate heating and/or post annealing treatments. From the controlof processng parameters, nanocystalline films of complex oxides and non-oxidematerials have been successfully fabricated. The excellentcapability of pulsed laser ablation for reactive deposition and its ability totransfer the original stoichiometry of the bulk target to the deposited filmsmakes it suitable for the fabrication of various functionalmaterials. Then, pulsed laser ablation in liquid has attracted muchattention as a new technique to prepare nanocolloidal particles. Inthis work, we represent a novel synthetic approach to directly producehighly-dispersed fluorescent colloidal nanoparticles using the PLA from ceramicbulk target in liquid phase without any surfactant. Furthermore, novel methodbased on simultaneous motion tracking of several individual nanoparticles isproposed for the convenient determination of nanoparticle sizedistributions. Finally, we report that the GaAs nanocrystals issynthesized successfully on the surface of PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate)microspheres by modified PLD technique using a particle fluidizationunit. The characteristics of the laser deposited GaAs nanocrytalswere then investigated. It should be noted that this is the first successfultrial to apply the PLD process nanocrystals on spherical polymermatrices. The present process is found to be a promising method fororganic/inorganic hybridization.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.345-350
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• 2018

Nanomaterials have considerable potential to solve several key challenges in various electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells. However, the use of nanoparticles in high-temperature devices like solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is considered problematic because the nanostructured surface typically prepared by deposition techniques may easily coarsen and thus deactivate, especially when used in high-temperature redox conditions. Herein we report the synthesis of a self-regenerated Pd metal nanoparticle on the perovskite oxide anode surface for SOFCs that exhibit self-recovery from their degradation in redox cycle and $CH_4$ fuel running. Using Pd-doped perovskite, $La(Sr)Fe(Mn,Pd)O_3$, as an anode, fairly high maximum power densities of 0.5 and $0.2cm^{-2}$ were achieved at 1,073 K in $H_2$ and $CH_4$ respectively, despite using thick electrolyte support-type cell. Long-term stability was also examined in $CH_4$ and the redox cycle, when the anode is exposed to air. The cell with Pd-doped perovskite anode had high tolerance against re-oxidation and recovered the behavior of anodic performance from catalytic degradation. This recovery of power density can be explained by the surface segregation of Pd nanoparticles, which are self-recovered via re-oxidation and reduction. In addition, self-recovery of the anode by oxidation treatment was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).