• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.124-130
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• 2023

Background: When bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are used as switches, their switching characteristics can be deteriorated because the recombination time of the minority carriers is long during turn-off transient. When BJTs operate as low frequency switches, the power dissipation in the on-state is large. However, when BJTs operate as high frequency switches, the power dissipation during switching transients increases rapidly. Materials and Methods: When silicon (Si) BJTs are irradiated by fast neutrons, defects occur in the Si bulk, shortening the lifetime of the minority carriers. Fast neutron irradiation mainly creates displacement damage in the Si bulk rather than a total ionization dose effect. Defects caused by fast neutron irradiation shorten the lifetime of minority carriers of BJTs. Furthermore, these defects change the switching characteristics of BJTs. Results and Discussion: In this study, experimental results on the switching characteristics of a pnp Si BJT before and after fast neutron irradiation are presented. The results show that the switching characteristics are improved by fast neutron irradiation, but power dissipation in the on-state is large when the fast neutrons are irradiated excessively. Conclusion: The switching characteristics of a pnp Si BJT were improved by fast neutron irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.450-453
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• 2012

In crystalline solar cells, the substrate itself constitutes a large portion of the fabrication cost as it is derived from semiconductor ingots grown in costly high temperature processes. Thinner wafer substrates allow some cost saving as more wafers can be sliced from a given ingot, although technological limitations in slicing or sawing of wafers off an ingot, as well as the physical strength of the sliced wafers, put a lower limit on the substrate thickness. Complementary to these economical and techno-physical points of view, a device operation point of view of the substrate thickness would be useful. With this in mind, BC-BJ Si and GaAs solar cells are compared one to one by means of the Medici device simulation, with a particular emphasis on the substrate thickness. Under ideal conditions of 0.6 ${\mu}m$ photons entering the 10 ${\mu}m$-wide BC-BJ solar cells at the normal incident angle (${\theta}=90^{\circ}$), GaAs is about 2.3 times more efficient than Si in terms of peak cell power output: 42.3 $mW{\cdot}cm^{-2}$ vs. 18.2 $mW{\cdot}cm^{-2}$. This strong performance of GaAs, though only under ideal conditions, gives a strong indication that this material could stand competitively against Si, despite its known high material and process costs. Within the limitation of the minority carrier recombination lifetime value of $5{\times}10^{-5}$ sec used in the device simulation, the solar cell power is known to be only weakly dependent on the substrate thickness, particularly under about 100 ${\mu}m$, for both Si and GaAs. Though the optimum substrate thickness is about 100 ${\mu}m$ or less, the reduction in the power output is less than 10% from the peak values even when the substrate thickness is increased to 190 ${\mu}m$. Thus, for crystalline Si and GaAs with a relatively long recombination lifetime, extra efforts to be spent on thinning the substrate should be weighed against the expected actual gain in the solar cell output power.

• 전기의세계
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.53-63
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• 1979

Interface recombination velocity in $Al_{x}$G $a_{1-x}$ As-GaAs and $Al_{0.85}$, G $a_{0.15}$ As-GaA $s_{1-y}$S $b_{y}$ heterojunction systems is studied as a function of lattice mismatch. The results are applied to the design of highly efficient III-V heterojunction solar cells. A horizontal liquid-phase epitaxial growth system was used to prepare p-p-p and p-p-n $Al_{x}$G $a_{1-x}$ As-GaA $s_{1-y}$S $b_{y}$-A $l_{x}$G $a_{1-x}$ As double heterojunction test samples with specified values of x and y. Samples were grown at each composition, with different GaAs and GaAs Sb layer thicknesses. A method was developed to obtain the lattice mismatch and lattice constants in mixed single crystals grown on (100) and (111)B oriented GaAs substrates. In the AlGaAs system, elastic lattice deformation with effective Poisson ratios .mu.$_{eff}$ (100=0.312 and .mu.$_{eff}$ (111B) =0.190 was observed. The lattice constant $a_{0}$ (A $l_{x}$G $a_{1-x}$ As)=5.6532+0.0084x.angs. was obtained at 300K which is in good Agreement with Vegard's law. In the GaAsSb system, although elastic lattice deformation was observed in (111) B-oriented crystals, misfit dislocations reduced the Poisson ratio to zero in (100)-oriented samples. When $a_{0}$ (GaSb)=6.0959 .angs. was assumed at 300K, both (100) and (111)B oriented GaAsSb layers deviated only slightly from Vegard's law. Both (100) and (111)B zero-mismatch $Al_{0.85}$ G $a_{0.15}$As-GaA $s_{1-y}$S $b_{y}$ layers were grown from melts with a weight ratio of $W_{sb}$ / $W_{Ga}$ =0.13 and a growth temperature of 840 to 820 .deg.C. The corresponding Sb compositions were y=0.015 and 0.024 on (100) and (111)B orientations, respectively. This occurs because of a fortuitous in the Sb distribution coefficient with orientation. Interface recombination velocity was estimated from the dependence of the effective minority carrier lifetime on double-heterojunction spacing, using either optical phase-shift or electroluminescence timedecay techniques. The recombination velocity at a (100) interface was reduced from (2 to 3)*10$^{4}$ for y=0 to (6 to 7)*10$^{3}$ cm/sec for lattice-matched $Al_{0.85}$G $a_{0.15}$As-GaA $s_{0.985}$S $b_{0.015}$ Although this reduction is slightly less than that expected from the exponential relationship between interface recombination velocity and lattice mismatch as found in the AlGaAs-GaAs system, solar cells constructed from such a combination of materials should have an excellent spectral response to photons with energies over the full range from 1.4 to 2.6 eV. Similar measurements on a (111) B oriented lattice-matched heterojunction produced some-what larger interface recombination velocities.ities.ities.s.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.308-309
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• 2016

Reducing surface recombination is a critical factor for high efficiency silicon solar cells. The passivation process is for reducing dangling bonds which are carrier. Tunnel oxide layer is one of main issues to achieve a good passivation between silicon wafer and emitter layer. Many research use wet-chemical oxidation or thermally grown which the highest conversion efficiencies have been reported so far. In this study, we deposit ultra-thin tunnel oxide layer by PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition) using $N_2O$ plasma. Both side deposit tunnel oxide layer in different RF-power and phosphorus doped a-Si:H layer. After deposit, samples are annealed at $850^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour in $N_2$ gas atmosphere. After annealing, samples are measured lifetime and implied Voc (iVoc) by QSSPC (Quasi-Steady-State Photo Conductance). After measure, samples are annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ for 30 minute in $Ar/H_2$ gas atmosphere and then measure again lifetime and implied VOC. The lifetime is increase after all process also implied VOC. The highest results are lifetime $762{\mu}s$, implied Voc 733 mV at RF-power 200 W. The results of C-V measurement shows that Dit is increase when RF-power increase. Using this optimized tunnel oxide layer is attributed to increase iVoc. As a consequence, the cell efficiency is increased such as tunnel mechanism based solar cell application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.142-145
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• 2004

In this work, we have investigated the application of rapid thermal processing (RTP) and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) for surface passivation. Rapid thermal oxidation (RTO) has sufficiently low surface recombination velocities (SRV) $S_{eff}$ in spite of a thin oxides and short process time. The effective lifetime is increasing with an increase of the oxide thickness. In the same oxide thickness, The effective lifetime is independent on the process temperature and time. $S_{eff,max}$ is exponentially decreased with increasing oxide thickness. $S_{eff,max}$ can be reduced to 200 cm/s with only 10 nm oxide thickness. On the other hand, three different types of SiN are reviewed. SiN1 layer has a thickness of about 72 nm and a refractive index of 2.8. Also, The SiN1 has a high passivation quality. The effective lifetime and SRV of 1 $\Omega$ cm Float zone (FZ) silicon deposited with SiN1 is about 800 s and under 10 cm/s, respectively. The SiN2 is optimized for the use as an antireflection layer since a refractive index of 2.3. The SiN3 is almost amorphous silicon caused by less contents of N2 from total process. The effective lifetime on the FZ 1 ${\Omega}cm$ is over 1000 ${\mu}s$.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

We investigated green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes with stepwise doping to improve efficiency roll-off and operational lifetime by efficient distribution of triplet excitons. The host material which was 4,4,N,N'-dicarbazolebiphenyl (CBP) of bipolar characteristic that can control the carrier in emitting layer (EML). When the EML devided into four parts with different doping concentration, each devices shows various efficiency roll-off and lifetime enhancement. The distribution of the carrier and excitons in the EML can be confirmed by using stepwise doping structure. The properties of device C exhibited luminous efficiency of 51.10 cd/A, external quantum efficiency of 14.88%, respectively. Lifetime has increased 73.70% compared to the reference device.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2018

Continuous efforts are being made to improve the efficiency of Si solar cells, which is the prevailing technology at this time. As opposed to the standard front-lit solar cell design, the back-lit design suffers no shading loss because all the metal electrodes are placed on one side close to the pn junction, which is referred to as the front side, and the incoming light enters the denuded back side. In this study, a systematic comparison between the two designs was conducted by means of computer simulation. Medici, a two-dimensional semiconductor device simulation tool, was utilized for this purpose. The $0.6{\mu}m$ wavelength, the peak value for the AM-1.5 illumination, was chosen for the incident photons, and the minority-carrier recombination lifetime (${\tau}$), a key indicator of the Si substrate quality, was the main variable in the simulation on a p-type $150{\mu}m$ thick Si substrate. Qualitatively, minority-carrier recombination affected the short circuit current (Isc) but not the opencircuit voltage (Voc). The latter was most affected by series resistance associated with the electrode locations. Quantitatively, when ${\tau}{\leq}500{\mu}s$, the simulation yielded the solar cell power outputs of $20.7mW{\cdot}cm^{-2}$ and $18.6mW{\cdot}cm^{-2}$, respectively, for the front-lit and back-lit cells, a reasonable 10 % difference. However, when ${\tau}$ < $500{\mu}s$, the difference was 20 % or more, making the back-lit design less than competitive. We concluded that the back-lit design, despite its inherent benefits, is not suitable for a broad range of Si solar cells but may only be applicable in the high-end cells where float-zone (FZ) or magnetic Czochralski (MCZ) Si crystals of the highest quality are used as the substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.404-404
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• 2016

태양전지 제작 시 표면에 피라미드 구조를 형성하면 입사되는 광의 흡수를 높여 광 생성 전류의 향상에 기여한다. 일반적인 KOH를 이용한 습식 표면조직화 공정은 평균 10%의 반사율을 보였으며, 유도 결합 플라즈마를 이용한 RIE 공정은 평균 5.4%의 더 낮은 반사율을 보였다. 그러나 RIE 공정을 이용한 표면조직화는 낮은 반사율과 서브 마이크론 크기의 표면 구조를 만들 수 있지만 플라즈마 조사에 의한 표면 손상이 많이 발생하게 된다. 이러한 표면 손상은 태양전지 제작 시 표면에서 높은 재결합 영역으로 작용하게 되어 포화 전류(saturation currents, $J_0$)를 증가시키고 캐리어 수명(carrier lifetime, ${\tau}$)을 낮추는 결함 요소로 작용한다. 이러한 플라즈마에 의한 표면 손상을 제거하기 위해 HF, HNO3, DI-water를 이용하여 DRE(Damage Remove Etching) 공정을 진행하였다. DRE 공정은 HF : DI-water 솔루션과 HNO3 : HF : DI-water 솔루션의 두 가지 공정을 이용하여 공정 시간을 가변하며 진행하였다. 포화전류($J_0$), 캐리어 수명(${\tau}$), 벌크 캐리어 수명(Bulk ${\tau}$)을 비교를 하기위해 KOH, RIE, RIE + DRE 공정을 진행한 세 가지 샘플로 실험을 진행하였다. DRE 공정을 적용할 경우 공정 시간이 지날수록 반사도가 높아지는 경향을 보였지만, 두 번째의 최적화된 솔루션 공정에서 $2.36E-13A/cm^2$, $42{\mu}s$의 $J_0$, Bulk ${\tau}$값과 가장 높은 $26.4{\mu}s$의 ${\tau}$를 얻을 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 오제 재결합(auger recombination)이 가장 많이 발생하는 지역인 표면과 불균일한 도핑 영역에서 DRE 공정을 통해 나아진 표면 특성과 균일한 도핑 프로파일을 형성하게 되어 재결합 영역과 $J_0$가 감소 된 것으로 판단된다. 높아진 반사도의 경우 $SiN_x$를 이용한 반사방지막을 통해 표면 반사율을 1% 이내로 내릴 수 있어 보완이 가능하였다. 본 연구에서는 RIE 공정 중 플라즈마에 의해 발생하는 표면 손상 제거를 통하여 캐리어 라이프 타임의 향상된 조건을 찾기 위한 연구를 진행하였으며, 기존 RIE 공정에 비해 반사도의 상승은 있지만 플라즈마로 인한 표면 손상을 제거하여 오제 재결합에 의한 발생하는 $J_0$를 낮출 수 있었고 높은 ${\tau}$값인 $26.4{\mu}s$의 결과를 얻어 추후 태양전지 제작에 향상된 효율을 기대할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.581-586
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• 1998

We investigated the effect of mechanical back side damage in Czochralski grown silicon wafer. The intensity of mechanical damage was evaluated by minority carrier recombination lifetime by laser excitation/microwave reflection photoconductivity decay method, degree of X-ray diffuse scattering, X-ray section topography, and wet oxidation/preferential etching methods. The data indicate that the higher the mechanical damage intensity, the lower the minority carrier lifetime, and the magnitude of diffuse scattering and X-ray excess intensity increased proportionally, and it was at Grade 1:Grade 2:Grade 3=1:7:18.4 that the normalized relative quantization ratio of excess intensity in damaged wafer was calculated, which are normalized to the excess intensity from sample Grade 1.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.122.2-122.2
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• 2011

결정질 태양전지 제작에서, passavtion은 표면의 반사도를 줄여주는 반사 방지막의 역할과 표면의 dangling bond를 감소시켜, 표면 재결합 속도를 줄이고 minority carrier lifetime을 증가하는 데 큰 영향을 미친다. 그렇기 때문에 저가형 고효율 태양전지 제작에서 우수한 특성을 가지는 passivation막은 매우 중요한 이슈이다. 본 연구에서는 LBC(local back contact) 구조를 가지는 단결정 태양전지 후면에, 기존의 Full Al-BSF의 passivation 막을 SiNx와 ONO passivation 막으로 각각 대체하여, LBC 구조에서 더 적합한 passivation 막을 찾고자 하였다. SiNx와 ONO passivation 막은 단결정 LBC 구조 태양전지 후면에 각각 형성되었고 $800^{\circ}C$, 20 sec 조건으로 소성되었다. 실험결과는 minority carrier lifetime과 surface recombination velocity로 관찰하였다. 그 결과, SiNx passivation 막의 표면 재결합 속도는 29.7cm/s이고, ONO passivation 막의 표면 재결합 속도는 24.5cm/s로, Full Al-BSF 표면 재결합 속도 750cm/s에 비해 더 적합한 passivation 막으로 확인할 수 있었다. 결과적으로 SiNx,ONO passivation 막이 Full Al-BSF보다 전극에 수집되는 캐리어의 양이 많아짐에 따라 효율향상을 가져올 수 있을 것이다.