• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2014

The passivation property of $Al_2O_3$ thin film formed using atomic layer deposition (ALD) for the application of crystalline Si solar cells was investigated using microwave photoconductance decay (${\mu}$-PCD). After post-annealing at $400^{\circ}C$ for 5 min, $Al_2O_3$ thin film exhibited the structural stability having amorphous nature without the interfacial reaction between $Al_2O_3$ and Si. The post-annealing at $400^{\circ}C$ for 5 min led to an increase in the relative effective lifetime of $Al_2O_3$ thin film. This could be associated with the field effective passivation combined with surface passivation of textured Si. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) with $Al_2O_3$ thin film post-annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ for 5 min was carried out to evaluate the negative fixed charge of $Al_2O_3$ thin film. From the relationship between flatband voltage ($V_{FB}$) and equivalent oxide thickness (EOT), which were extracted from C-V characteristics, the negative fixed charge of $Al_2O_3$ thin film was calculated to be $2.5{\times}10^{12}cm^{-2}$, of which value was applicable to the passivation layer of n-type crystalline Si solar cells.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2000

Variables affecting the passivation capability of Cu(Mg) alloy films, which were sputter deposited from a Cu (4.5 at. %) target, have been investigated. The results show that the passivation capability of a Cu(Mg) alloy film is a function of annealing temperature, $O_2$ pressure, and Mg content in the film. Increasing the annealing temperature up to $500^{\circ}C$ favors formation of a dense MgO layer on the surface which has a growth limited thickness of 150 $\AA$. Decreasing the $O_2$ pressure enhances the preferential oxidation of Mg over Cu. Furthermore, increasing the Mg content in the Cu(Mg) film promotes formation of a dense MgO layer. Vacuum pre-annealing was found to be very effective in segregating Mg to the surface, facilitating the passivation capability of the Cu(Mg) alloy film even when the Mg content is low. In the current study, self-aligned MgO layers with low resistivity and an effective passivation capability over the Cu surface, have been obtained by manipulating these factors when Cu(Mg) thin films are annealed.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2014

Different kinds of post-deposition annealing (PDA) by a rapid thermal process (RTP) are used to enhance the field-effect passivation of $Al_2O_3$ film in crystal Si solar cells. To characterize the effects of PDA on $Al_2O_3$ and the interface, metal-insulator semiconductor (MIS) devices were fabricated. The effects of PDA were characterized as functions of RTP temperature from $400{\sim}700^{\circ}C$ and RTP time from 30~120 s. A high temperature PDA can retard the passivation of thin $Al_2O_3$ film in c-Si solar cells. PDA by RTP at $400^{\circ}C$ results in better passivation than a PDA at $400^{\circ}C$ in forming gas ($H_2$ 4% in $N_2$) for 30 minutes. A high thermal budget causes blistering on $Al_2O_3$ film, which degrades its thermal stability and effective lifetime. It is related to the film structure, deposition temperature, thickness of the film, and annealing temperature. RTP shows the possibility of being applied to the PDA of $Al_2O_3$ film. Optimal PDA conditions should be studied for specific $Al_2O_3$ films, considering blistering.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.147-151
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• 2000

This paper presents the electrochemical etch-stop characteristics of single-crystal silicon in a tetramethyl ammonium hyciroxide(TMAH):isopropyl alcohol(IPA):pyrazine solution. Addition of pyrazine to a TMAH:IPA etchant increases the etch-rate of (100) silicon, thus the elapsed time for etch-stop was shortened. The current-voltage(I-V) characteristics of n- and p-type silicon in a TMAH:IPA:pyrazine solution were obtained, respectively. Open circuit potential(OCP) and passivation potential(PP) of n- and p-type silicon, respectively, were obtained and applied potential was selected between n- and p-type silicon PP. The electrochemical etch-stop is applied to the fabrication of 801 microdiaphragms having $20\;{\mu}m$ thickness on a 5-inch silicon wafer. The averge thicknesses of 801 microdiaphragms fabricated on the one wafer were $20.03\;{\mu}m$ and standard deviation was ${\pm}0.26{\mu}m$. The silicon surface of the etch-stopped microdiaphragm was extremely flat without noticeable taper or other nonuniformities. The benefits of the electrochemical etch-stop in a TMAH:IPA:pyrazine solution become apparent when reproducibility in the microdiaphragm thickness for mass production is considered. These results indicate that the electrochemical etch-stop in a TMAH:IPA:pyrazine solution provides a powerful and versatile alternative process for fabricating high-yield silicon microdiaphragms.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.1203-1207
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• 2008

For a large sized, ultra definition (UD) and high refresh rate for motion blur free AMLCD TVs, amorphous IGZO thin film transistor (TFT) are applied and investigated in terms of threshold voltage ($V_{th}$) shift influenced by active layer thickness uniformity, source drain etching technology, heat treatment and passivation condition. Optimizing above parameters, we fabricated the world's largest 15 inch XGA AMLCD successfully.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2000.05b
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• pp.7-12
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• 2000

This paper presents the electrochemical etch-stop characteristics of single-crystal silicon in a tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide(TMAH):isopropyl alcohol(IPA):pyrazine solution. Addition of pyrazine to a TMAH:IPA etchant increases the etch-rate of (100) silicon, thus the elapsed time for etch-stop was shortened. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of n- and p-type silicon in a TMAH:IPA:pyrazine solution were obtained, respectively. Open circuit potential(OCP) and passivation potential(PP) of n- and p-type silicon, respectively, were obtained and applied potential was selected between n- and p-type silicon PP. The electrochemical etch-stop is applied to the fabrication of 801 microdiaphragms having $20{\mu}m$ thickness on a 5-inch silicon wafer. The averge thicknesses of 801 microdiaphragms fabricated on the one wafer were $20.03{\mu}m$ and standard deviation was ${\pm}0.26{\mu}m$. The silicon surface of the etch-stopped microdiaphragm was extremely flat without noticeable taper or other nonuniformities. The benefits of the electrochemical etch-stop in a TMAH:IPA:pyrazine solution become apparent when reproducibility in the microdiaphragm thickness for mass production is considered. These results indicate that the electrochemical etch-stop in a TMAH:IPA:pyrazine solution provides a powerful and versatile alternative process for fabricating high-yield silicon microdiaphragms.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2001

In this paper, the authors present the fabrication of high-yield Si thin-membranes by electrochemical etch-stop in tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH): isopropyl alcohol (IPA):pyrazine solutions. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of n- and p-type Si in TMAH:IPA;pyrazine solutions were analysed, repsectively. Open circuit potential (OCP)and passivation potential (PP) of n- and p-type Si, respectively, were obtained and applied potential was selected between n- and p-type Si PPs. The electrochemical etch-stop method was applied to the fabrication of 801 micro-membranes with 20.0 $\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness on a 5" Si wafer. The average thickness of fabricated 801 micro-membranes on one wafer 20.03$\mu\textrm{m}$ and the standard deviation was ${\pm}$0.26$\mu\textrm{m}$. The Si surface of the etch-stopped micro-membranes was extremely flat with no noticeable taper or nonuniformity. The results indicate that use of the electrochemical etch-stop method for the etching of Si in TMAH:IPA;pyrazine solutions provides a powerful and versatile alternative process for fabricating high-yield Si micro-membranes.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.156-159
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• 2011

SiNx:H films have been widely used for anti-reflection coatings and passivation for crystalline silicon solar cells. In this study, SiNx:H films were deposited using high frequency (13.56 MHz) direct plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, and the optical and passivation properties were investigated. The radio frequency power, the spacing between the showerhead and wafer, the $NH_3/SiH_4$ ratio, the total gas flow, and the $N_2$ gas flow were changed over certain ranges for the film deposition. The thickness uniformity, the refractive index, and the minority carrier lifetime were then measured in order to study the properties of the film. The optimal deposition conditions for application to crystalline Si solar cells are determined from the results of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics D
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• v.34D no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 1997

The surface properties after plasma etching of TiW alloy using the chemistries of BCl$_{3}$ and SF$_{6}$ gases with varying mixing ratio have been investigated using XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectrocopy). The elements existed on the etched sampled have been extracted with BCL$_{3}$/SF$_{6}$ ratio and their chemical binding states have also been analysed. It was confirmed that the thickness of native oxide formed on the TiW films is thinner than 10nm by using Ar sputtering. At the same time, the roughness of etched surface has been esamnied using AFM (atomic force microscopy). on the basis of the basis of this results, the relations between the caanges of oxygen contents detected by XPS and the rouhness of etched surface have been discussed. And the etch rate and etched profile of Tiw films have been examined and the changes of the etch rate and etched prfile have been discussed with XPS results. From XPS results, the role of passivation layer consisted of Ti-S compound with XPS results. From XPS results, the role of passivation layer consisted of Ti-S compound has been proposed. Ti-S compound seems to make a role of passivation layer that surpresses Ti-O formation.ion.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.391-399
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• 1974

Corrosion and passivation of metallic cobalt was studied by means of electrochemical experiments including potentiostatic and galvanostatic measurements and cyclic voltammograms. The mechanisms of active dissolution and passivation of cobalt at the metal/borate buffer solution interface are deduced from the Tafel slope, pH dependence of the Flade potential, and dissolution kinetic data. Hydroxyl group adsorbed on cobalt surface seems to participate in surface oxidation and formation of the passive layer. The growth kinetic data as measured by the current density suggests a mechanism in which the growth of the passive layer is determined by field-assisted transport of ions through the layer. Thickness of the passive layer was estimated by coulometry to be about 10${\AA}$ at the lowest passive potential and to grow gradually with anodic potential to about 20${\AA}$.