• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.35.1-35.1
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• 2011

New photovoltaic (PV) materials and manufacturing approaches are needed for meeting the demand for lower-cost solar cells. The prototypal thin-film photovoltaic absorbers (CdTe and $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$) can achieve solar conversion efficiencies of up to 20% and are now commercially available, but the presence of toxic (Cd,Se) and expensive elemental components (In, Te) is a real issue as the demand for photovoltaics rapidly increases. To overcome these limitations, there has been substantial interest in developing viable alternative materials, such as $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) is an emerging solar absorber that is structurally similar to CIGS, but contains only earth abundant, non-toxic elements and has a near optimal direct band gap energy of 1.4~1.6 ev and a large absorption coefficient of ${\sim}10^4\;cm^{-1}$. The CZTS absorber layers are grown and investigated by various fabrication methods, such as thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation with a post sulfurization, sputtering, non-vacuum sol-gel, pulsed laser, spray-pyrolysis method and electrodeposition technique. In the present work, we report an alternative method for large area deposition of CZTS thin films that is potentially high throughput and inexpensive when used to produce monolithically integrated solar panel modules. Specifically, we have developed an aqueous chemical approach based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) with a subsequent sulfurization heat treatment. Samples produced by our method were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, absorbance and photoluminescence. The results show that this inexpensive and relatively benign process produces thin films of CZTS exhibiting uniform composition, kesterite crystal structure, and good optical properties. A preliminary solar cell device was fabricated to demonstrate rectifying and photovoltaic behavior.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.684-685
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• 2013

p-형 반도체인 Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS) 광 흡수 층은 이보다 에너지 밴드 간격이 큰 n-형 반도체와 이종 접합을 형성한다. 흡수층과 윈도우층 사이의 결정구조 차이와 밴드갭 에너지 차이를 완화시키기 위해 버퍼층이 필요하다. 버퍼층을 형성하는 물질로 화학적 용액 성장법(Chemical Bath deposition)을 사용한 CdS가 많이 적용되어 왔으나 Cd의 유해성 및 습식 공정으로 인한 연속공정에 대한 어려움이 있다. 따라서 버퍼층을 Cd을 포함하지 않는 ZnS, $In_2S_3$, (Zn, Mg)O 등과 같은 물질로 대체하여 원자층 증착법(Atomic Layer Deposition), 펄스레이져증착법(Pulsed Laser Deposition), 스퍼터링(sputtering) 등과 같은 건식으로 성장시키는 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 $ZnO_{1-x}S_x$ ($0.2{\leq}x{\leq}0.4$)를 반응성 스퍼터링으로 증착하여 큰 밴드갭 에너지와 높은 광투과율를 갖는 버퍼층을 제작하였다. CIGS 박막의 손상을 줄여주기 위하여 RF 파워는 240, 200, 150, 100 W로 변화시켰다. CIGS 태양전지의 I-V 측정 결과, RF 파워가 150 W일 때 10.7%의 가장 높은 변환 효율을 보였고, 150 W 이상에서는 파워가 증가할 때 단락전류는 감소하였으며 개방전압은 다소 증가하였다. 반면 100 W에서 단락전류는 다소 증가하는 것에 반해 개방 전압이 급격히 낮아졌다. 이것은 파워에 따라 결합되는 산소의 양이 다르기 때문으로 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.215-218
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• 2013

Vanadium dioxide ($VO_2$) is an attractive material for smart window applications where the transmittance of light can be automatically modulated from a transparent state to an opaque state at the critical temperature of ${\sim}68^{\circ}C$. Meanwhile, F : $SnO_2$ (F-doped $SnO_2$, FTO) glass is a transparent conductive oxide material that is widely used in solar-energy-related applications because of its excellent optical and electrical properties. Relatively high transmittance and low emissivity have been obtained for FTO-coated glasses. Tunable transmittance corresponding to ambient temperature and low emissivity can be expected from $VO_2$ films deposited onto FTO glasses. In this study, FTO glasses were applied for the deposition of $VO_2$ thin films by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering. $VO_2$ thin films were also deposited on a Pyrex substrate for comparison. To decrease the phase transition temperature of $VO_2$, tungsten-doped $VO_2$ films were also deposited onto FTO glasses. The visible transmittance of $VO_2$/FTO was higher than that of $VO_2$/pyrex due to the increased crystallinity of the $VO_2$ thin film deposited on FTO and decreased interface reflection. Although the solar transmittance modulation of $VO_2$/FTO was lower than that of $VO_2$/pyrex, room temperature solar transmittance of $VO_2$/FTO was lower than that of $VO_2$/pyrex, which is advantageous for reflecting solar heat energy in summer.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.99.1-99.1
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• 2012

The thin-film photovoltaic absorbers (CdTe and $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$) can achieve solar conversion efficiencies of up to 20% and are now commercially available, but the presence of toxic (Cd,Se) and expensive elemental components (In, Te) is a real issue as the demand for photovoltaics rapidly increases. To overcome these limitations, there has been substantial interest in developing viable alternative materials, such as $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) is an emerging solar absorber that is structurally similar to CIGS, but contains only earth abundant, non-toxic elements and has a near optimal direct band gap energy of 1.4 - 1.6 eV and a large absorption coefficient of ~104 $cm^{-1}$. The CZTS absorber layers are grown and investigated by various fabrication methods, such as thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation with a post sulfurization, sputtering, non-vacuum sol-gel, pulsed laser, spray-pyrolysis method and electrodeposition technique. In the present work, we report an alternative aqueous chemical approach based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) method for large area deposition of CZTS thin films. Samples produced by our method were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, absorbance and photoluminescence. The results show that this inexpensive and relatively benign process produces thin films of CZTS exhibiting uniform composition, kesterite crystal structure, and some factors like triethanolamine, ammonia, temperature which strongly affect on the morphology of CZTS film.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.394-394
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• 2011

급속한 산업의 발달은 심각한 환경오염 및 에너지 문제를 가져왔다. 이를 해결하기 위하여 무한한 에너지원인 태양에너지를 원천으로 하는 친환경 정화소재로서의 광촉매(photocatalyst)를 통하여 인류의 에너지를 확보하는 것에 대한 관심이 급격하게 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 현재 광촉매로 가장 많이 사용되는 $TiO_2$의 경우 뛰어난 광활성과 저렴한 가격, 광 안정성, 화학적 안정성을 가짐에도 불구하고, 3.2 eV라는 상대적으로 넓은 band gap을 가지기 때문에 약 386 nm보다 짧은 파장을 갖는 자외선만 흡수할 수 있다. 이로 인한 가시광 응답성의 부재를 해결하기 위해 수십년간 많은 연구가 진행되어 왔다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 ICP assisted pulsed DC reactive magnetron sputtering을 이용하여 $TiO_2$를 기반으로 하면서 가시광영역의 빛을 흡수하여 높은 효율을 얻을 수 있도록 Nitrogen doping, Low band gap semi-conductor sensitization 등의 방법을 사용하여 광촉매를 제작하였다. 시료의 chemical state와 crystallinity를 확인하기 위하여 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy와 X-ray diffraction method를 이용하여 분석을 수행하였으며, 이러한 공정을 통해 제작된 $TiO_2$기반 광촉매의 가시광 응답성을 확인하기 위하여 UV/Vis 스펙트럼을 측정하였다. 또한 물 분해 장치(water splitting device)를 제작하여 수소와 산소 생성시 흐르는 전류를 측정하여 광특성을 평가하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.734-740
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• 2016

The micron-sized indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis from aqueous precursor solution for indium, zinc, and tin and organic additives such as citric acid (CA) and ethylene glycol (EG) were added to aqueous precursor solution for indium, zinc, and tin. The obtained IZTO particles prepared by spray pyrolysis from the aqueous solution without organic additives had spherical and filled morphologies, whereas the IZTO particles obtained with organic additives had more hollow and porous morphologies. The micron-sized IZTO particles with organic additives were changed fully to nano-sized IZTO particles, whereas the micron-sized IZTO particles without organic additives were not changed fully to nano-sized IZTO particle after post-treatment at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours and wet-ball milling for 24 hours. Surface resistances of micron-sized IZTO's before post-heat treatment and wet-ball milling were much higher than those of nano-sized IZTO's after post-heat treatment and wet-ball milling. From IZTO with composition of 80 wt. % $In_2O_3$, 10 wt. % ZnO, and 10 wt. % $SnO_2$ which showed a smallest surface resistance IZTO after post-heat treatment and wet-ball milling, thin films were deposited on glass substrates by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering, and the electrical and optical properties were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.16.1-16.1
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• 2009

We have fabricated solution processed oxide semiconductor active layer for thin film transistors (TFTs). The oxide semiconductor layers were prepared by ink-jet printing the sol-gel precursor solution based on doped-ZnO. Inorganic ZnO-based thin films have drawn significant attention as an active channel layer for TFTs applications alternative to conventional Si-based materials and organic semiconducting materials, due to their wide energy band gap, optical transparency, high mobility, and better stability. However, in spite of such excellent device performances, the fabrication methods of ZnO related oxide active layer involve high cost vacuum processes such as sputtering and pulsed laser deposition. Herein we introduced the ink-jet printing technology to prepare the active layers of oxide semiconductor. Stable sol-gel precursor solutions were obtained by controlling the composition of precursor as well as solvents and stabilizers, and their influences on electrical performance of the transistors were demonstrated by measuring electrical parameters such as off-current, on-current, mobility, and threshold voltage. Microstructure and thermal behavior of the doped ZnO films were investigated by SEM, XRD, and TG/DTA. Furthermore, we studied the influence of the ink-jet printing conditions such as substrate temperature and surface treatment on the microstructure of the ink-jet printed active layers and electrical performance. The mobility value of the device with optimized condition was about 0.1-1.0 $cm^2/Vs$ and the on/off current ratio was about $10^6$. Our investigations demonstrate the feasibility of the ink-jet printed oxide TFTs toward successful application to cost-effective and mass-producible displays.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.151-151
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• 2007

최근에 에피 성장된 ZnO는 UV-LED, 화학적-바이오센서와 투명전도 전극에 많은 관심을 받고 있다. 고 품질의 ZnO는 Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD), Pulsed laser deposition(PLD), molecular beam epitaxy(MBE), 그리고 마그네트론 스퍼터링법에 의해 성장이 이루어지고 있다. 대부분의 ZnO는 사파이어, 싫리콘과 같은 이종 기판 위에 성장되고 있으며, Heteroepitaxy로 성장된 ZnO 박막은 기판과 박막사이의 격자상수, 열팽창계수 차이로 인해 높은 결함 밀도를 보이고 있다. 이러한 문제점은 광전자 소자 응용에 있어 여러 가지 문제점을 야기 시킨다. 이와 같은 문제점을 해결하기 위해 박막과 기판사이에 저온 버퍼층을 사용하거나 같은 물질의 버퍼층을 사용하여 결할 밀도를 감소시키고, 높은 결정성을 가진 ZnO 박막을 성장시킨 결과들이 많이 보고되어지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 마그네트론 스퍼터링 법으로 저온 버퍼층 성장 없이 성장온도 만을 달리 하여 고품질의 ZnO 박막을 성장시켰다. ZnO 박막은 c-sapphire 기판위에 ZnO(99.9999%)의 타겟을 사용하여 $600{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ 온도에서 성장시켰고, 스퍼터링 가스로는 아르곤과 산소를 2:1 비율로 혼합하여 15mtorr의 압력에서 성장하였다. 이렇게 성장시킨 ZnO 박막은 Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High-Resolution X-ray Diffraction (HRXRD), Low-temperature PL, 그리고 Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)로 특성을 분석 하였다. ZnO 박막은 HRXRD (002) 면의 $\omega$-rocking curve운석 결과, $0.083^{\circ}$의 작은 FEHM을 얻었고, (102) 면의 $\varphi$-sacn을 통해 온도가 증가함에 따라 향상된 6-fold을 확인함으로새 에피성장됨을 알 수 있었다. 또한 TEM분석을 통해 $800^{\circ}C$에서 성장된 박막은 $6.7{\times}10^9/cm^2$의 전위밀도를 얻을 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.262.2-262.2
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• 2013

ZnO는 광학적 및 전기적 성질의 여러 가지 장점 때문에 메모리, 나노발전기, 트랜지스터, 태양전지, 광탐지기 및 레이저와 같은 전자소자 및 광소자로 여러 분야에서 다양하게 사용되고 있다. Al이 도핑된 ZnO 나노결정체를 전기화학적 증착법을 이용하여 형성하고, 형성시간의 변화에 따른 구조적 및 광학적 성질을 관찰했다. ITO로 코팅된 유리 기판에 전기화학증착법을 이용해 Al 도핑된 ZnO를 성장시켰다. Sputtering, pulsed laser vapor deposition, 화학기상증착, atomic layer epitaxy, 전자빔증발법 등으로 Al 도핑된 ZnO 나노구조를 형성할 수 있지만, 본 연구에서는 간단한 공정과정, 저온증착, 고속, 저가의 특성 등으로 경제적인 면에서 효율적인 전기화학증착법을 이용했다. 반복실험을 통하여 Al의 도핑 농도는 Zn와 Al의 비율이 98:2이 되도록, ITO 양극과 Pt 음극의 전위차가 -2.25 V가 되도록 실험조건을 고정했고, 성장시간을 각각 1분, 5분, 10분으로 변화하였다. 주사전자현미경 사진을 보면 Al 도핑된 ZnO는 성장 시간이 증가함에 따라 나노구조의 직경이 커지는 것을 알 수 있다. 광루미네센스 측정 결과는 산소 공핍의 증가로 보이는 500~600 nm대의 파장에서 나타난 피크의 위치가 에너지가 큰 쪽으로 증가했다. 위 결과로부터 성장 시간에 따른 Al 도핑된 ZnO의 구조적 및 광학적 특성변화를 관찰했고, 이 연구 결과는 Al 도핑된 ZnO 나노구조 기반 전자소자 및 광소자에 응용 가능성을 보여주고 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.340-340
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• 2002

In an effort to develop alternative single buffer layer technology for YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-{\delta}}$ (YBCO) coated conductors, we have investigated both LaMnO$_3$, (LMO) and La$_2$Zr$_2$O$_{7}$ (LZO) as potential buffer layers. High-quality LMO films were grown directly on textured Ni and Ni-W (3%) substrates using rf magnetron sputtering. Highly textured LZO buffers were grown on textured Ni substrates using sol-gel alkoxide processing route. YBCO films were then grown on both LMO and LZO buffers using pulsed laser deposition. Detailed X-ray studies have shown that YBCO films were grown on both LMO and LZO layers with a single epitaxial orientation. A high J$_{c}$ of over 1 MA/cm$^2$ at 77 K and self-field was obtained on YBCO films grown on both LMO-buffered Ni or Ni-W substrates, and also on LZO-buffered Ni substrates. We have identified LaMnO$_3$ as a good diffusion barrier layer for Ni and it also provides a good template for growing high current density YBCO films. Similarly we have also demonstrated the growth of high J$_{c}$ YBCO films on all solution buffers. We will discuss in detail about our buffer deposition processes. processes.s.s.s.s.