• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.354-360
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• 2009

This paper reports the oxidation mechanism of epitaxial Ni thin films grown on GaN/sapphire(0001) substrates, investigated by real-time x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. At the initial stage of oxidation process, a thin NiO layer with a thickness of ${\sim}50\;{\AA}$ was formed on top of the Ni films. The growth of such NiO layer was saturated and then served as a passive oxide layer for the further oxidation process. For the second oxidation stage, host Ni atoms diffused out to the surfaces of initially formed NiO layer through the defects running vertically to form NiO grains, while the sites that were occupied by host Ni, became voids. The crystallographic properties of resultant NiO films, such as grain size and mosaic distribution, rely highly on the oxidation temperatures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.397-397
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• 2013

The electrical, electronic, optical properties and the local structure of Nickel Oxide (NiO) thin film have been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (REELS), UV-spectrometer,Hall Effect measurement and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The XPS results show that the Ni 2p spectra for all films consist of $Ni2p_{3/2}$ at around 854.5 eV which indicate the presence of Ni-O bond from NiO phase and for the annealed film at temperature above $200^{\circ}C$ shows the coexist Ni oxide and Ni metal phase. The REELS spectra showed that the band gaps of the NiO thin films were abruptly decreased with increasing temperature. The values of the band gaps are consistent with the optical band gaps estimated by UV-Spectrometer. The optical transmittance spectra shows that the transparency of NiO thin films in the visible light region was deteriorated with higher temperature due to existence of $Ni^0$. Hall Effect measurement suggest that the NiO thin films prepared at relatively low temperatures (RT and $100^{\circ}C$) are suitable for fabricating p-type semiconductor which showed that the best properties was achieved at $100^{\circ}C$, such as a low resistivity of $7.49{\Omega}.cm$. It can be concluded that the annealing process plays a crucial role in converting from p type to n type semiconductor which leads to reducing electrical resistivity of NiO thin films. Furthermore, the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectrum at the Ni K-edge was used to address the local structure of NiO thin films. It was found that the thermal treatments increase the order in the vicinity of Ni atom and lead the NiO thin films to bunsenite crystal structure. Moreover, EXAFS spectra show in increasing of coordination number for the first Ni-O shell and the bond distance of Ni-O with the increase of substrate temperature.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2005

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2004

Nickel oxide (NiO) thin films were deposited on Si(100) substrates at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering from a NiO target. The effects of plasma gas and RF power on the crystallographic orientation and surface morphology of the NiO films were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to characterize the deposited film. It was found that the type of plasma gases affected the crystallographic orientation, deposition rate, surface morphology, and crystallinity of NiO films. Highly crystalline NiO films with (100) orientation were obtained when it was deposited under Ar atmosphere. On the other hand, (l11)-oriented NiO films with poor crystallinity were deposited in $O_2$. Also, the increase in RF power resulted in not only higher deposition rate, larger grain size, and rougher surface but also higher crystallinity of NiO films.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.205-206
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• 2011

Cu thin films for electromagnetic wave shielding were prepared on PET film and Ni-coated PET film by using Dry and Wet coating method, such as evaporation method, DC sputtering method and copper sulfate($CuSO_4$). After that, Zn thin film and Ni thin film were prepared onto the Cu thin films by using evaporation dry process and Ni electro plating wet process as a finishing treatment, respectively. The result of conductivity test and corrosion resistance test revealed Cu thin films which were formed with bigger grain size and high Cu composition rate have superior properties. Zn thin film by dry evaporation process and Ni thin film by wet electro plating process on Cu thin films were largely contributed to corrosion resistance. However, Ni thin film by wet process made conductivity of all specimen worse, the other hand, Zn thin film by dry process made it better to improve condictivity of specimens just prepared by dry process.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2001.07c
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• pp.1399-1401
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• 2001

We studied on structure and resistivity, temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of NiCr and NiCr-N thin resistor films prepared by do reactive magnetron sputtering of NiCr target. It is found that while pure NiCr films are polycrystalline, an addition of nitrogen (N2/(Ar+N2) ratios are between 10% and 70%) into the film is changed into amorphous structure and sheet resistance of films is increased. Measurement temperatures of TCR are ratios of $5^{\circ}C$ per 15min from $25^{\circ}C$ to $130^{\circ}C$. TCR for an as-deposited NiCr-N thin film is varied from positive to negative.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.91-91
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• 2012

We aim in synthesizing various functional thin films thinner than ~ 10 nm for environmental applications and photovoltaic devices. Atomic layer deposition is used for synthesizing inorganic thin films with a precise control of the film thickness. Several examples about application of our thin films for removing volatile organic compounds (VOC) will be highlighted, which are summarized in the below. 1) $TiO_2$ thin films prepared by ALD at low temperature ($<100^{\circ}C$) show high adsorption capacity for toluene. In combination with nanostructured templates, $TiO_2$ thin films can be used as building-block of high-performing VOC filter. 2) $TiO_2$ thin films on carbon fibers and nanodiamonds annealed at high temperatures are active for photocatalytic oxidation of VOCs, i.e. photocatalytic filter can be created by atomic layer deposition. 3) NiO can catalyze oxidation of toluene to $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ at $<300^{\circ}C$. $TiO_2$ thin films on NiO can reduce poisoning of NiO surfaces by reaction intermediates below $200^{\circ}C$. We also fabricated inverted organic solar cell based on ZnO electron collecting layers on ITO. $TiO_2$ thin films with a mean diameter less than 3 nm on ZnO can enhance photovoltaic performance by reducing electron-hole recombination on ZnO surfaces.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.355-358
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• 2000

Magnetoresistance changes of NiFe thin films were investigated as a function of deposition temperature. DC magnetron sputtering was employed to fabricate Ta/NiFe(t)/Ta thin films on Si(001) substrates with in-situ field or with no-field. The thickness(t) of NiFe films was a range of 4 to 15nm. Substrate temperature was a range of 30 to 400$^{\circ}C$. MR measurement was carried out as a function of angle $\theta$, between external field and current direction. MR ratio increased with increasing substrate temperature, also, max. MR ratio was observed in samples deposited at 300$^{\circ}C$. With increasing upto 400$^{\circ}C$, MR ratio was rapidly decreased in the case of thinner NiFe films. In non-field deposited NiFe films, both angle $\theta$=0, 90。, there was no significant change in MR curves. However, MR curves of in-situ field deposited NiFe films were different in both angles $\theta$=0 and 90。

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2004

Nickel oxide (NiO) thin films were prepared on Si(100) substrates at room temperature by RF magnetron sputtering using a NiO target. The effects of oxygen flow ratio for the plasma gas on the preferred orientation and surface morphology of the NiO films were investigated. Highly crystalline NiO film with (100) orientation was obtained when it was deposited in pure Ar gas. For NiO film deposited in pure O$_2$ gas, on the other hand, the orientation of the film changed from (100) to (111) and its deposition rate decreased. The origin of the preferred orientation of the films was discussed. NiO films also showed different surface morphologies and roughnesses with the oxygen flow ratio.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.121-121
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• 2003

NiO thin films are very attractive for use as an antiferromagnetic layer, p-type transparent conducting films, in electrochromic devices and functional sensor layer for chemical sensors, due to their excellent chemical stability, as well as optical, electrical and magnetic properties. In addition, (100)- and (111)-oriented NiO films can be used as buffer layers on which to deposit other oriented oxide films, such as c-axis-oriented perovskite-type ferromagnetic films and superconducting films, because of the similarity in symmetry of oxygen ion lattice and lattice constants between the NiO films and the oriented oxide films. Thus, controlling the crystallographic orientation and surface roughness of the NiO films for a buffer layer are very important.