• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.2 no.2 s.6
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• pp.4-8
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• 2006

Reduction of optical losses in crystalline silicon solar cells by surface modification is one of the most important issues of silicon photovoltaics. Porous Si layers on the front surface of textured Si substrates have been investigated with the aim of improving the optical losses of the solar cells, because an anti-reflection coating and a surface passivation can be obtained simultaneously in one process. We have demonstrated the feasibility of a very efficient porous Si AR layer, prepared by a simple, cost effective, electrochemical etching method. Silicon p-type CZ (100) oriented wafers were textured by anisotropic etching in sodium carbonate solution. Then, the porous Si layer were formed by electrochemical etching in HF solutions. After that, the properties of porous Si in terms of morphology, structure and reflectance are summarized. The surface morphology of porous Si layers were investigated using SEM. The formation of a porous Si layer about $0.1{\mu}m$ thick on the textured silicon wafer result in an effective reflectance coefficient Reff lower than 5% in the wavelength region from 400 to 1000nm. Such a surface modification allows improving the Si solar cell characteristics.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.183-186
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• 2006

Reduction of optical losses in crystalline silicon solar cells by surface modification is one of the most important issues of silicon photovoltaics. Porous Si layers on the front surface of textured Si substrates have been investigated with the aim of improving the optical losses of the solar cells, because an anti-reflection coating and a surface passivation can be obtained simultaneously in one process. We have demonstrated the feasibility of a very efficient porous Si AR layer, prepared by a simple, cost effective, electrochemical etching method. Silicon p-type CZ (100) oriented wafers were textured by anisotropic etching in sodium carbonate solution. Then, the porous Si layer were formed by electrochemical etching in HF solutions. After that, the properties of porous Si in terms of morphology, structure and reflectance are summarized. The surface morphology of porous Si layers were investigated using SEM. The formation of a porous Si layer about $0.1{\mu}m$ thick on the textured silicon wafer result in an effective reflectance coefficient $R_{eff}$ lower than 5% in the wavelength region from 400 to 1000nm. Such a surface modification allows improving the Si solar cell characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.320-325
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• 1996

The influences of ZrB$_2$additives to the SiC and pulse width on electrical discharge machining of SiC-ZrB$_2$electroconductive ceramic composites were investigated. IIigher-flexural strength materials show a trend toward smaller crater volumes, leaving a soother surface; the average surface roughness of the SiC-ZrB$_2$15 Vol.% Composite with the flexural strength of 375㎫ was 3.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$,whereas the SiC-ZrB$_2$30 Vol.% composite of 457㎫ was 1.35${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. In the SEM micrographs of the fracture surface of SiC-ZrB$_2$composites, the SiC-ZrB$_2$two phaes are distinct; the white phase is the ZrB$_2$. In the micrograph of the EDM surface, however, these phases are no longer distinct because of thicker recast layer of resolidified-melt-formation droplets present.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.167-167
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• 2015

SiC thin films made by vapor silicon infiltration into porous graphite can be obtained for shorter time than liquid silicon. Si diffusion coefficient is estimated by comparing experiment results with quadratic equation obtained by Fick's second law.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.43-44
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.32-32
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• 2009

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a wide-bandgap semiconductor that has materials properties necessary for the high-power, high-frequency, high-temperature, and radiation-hard condition applications, where silicon devices cannot perform. SiC is also the only compound semiconductor material. on which a silicon oxide layer can be thermally grown, and therefore may fabrication processes used in Si-based technology can be adapted to SiC. So far, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been extensively used to study the surface charges, dielectric constants and electrical potential distribution as well as topography in silicon-based device structures, whereas it has rarely been applied to SiC-based structures. In this work, we investigated that the local oxide growth on SiC under various conditions and demonstrated that an increased (up to ~100 nN) tip loading force (LF) on highly-doped SiC can lead a direct oxide growth (up to few tens of nm) on 4H-SiC. In addition, the surface potential and topography distributions of nano-scale patterned structures on SiC were measured at a nanometer-scale resolution using a scanning kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPM) with a non-contact mode AFM. The measured results were calibrated using a Pt-coated tip. It is assumed that the atomically resolved surface potential difference does not originate from the intrinsic work function of the materials but reflects the local electron density on the surface. It was found that the work function of the nano-scale patterned on SiC was higher than that of original SiC surface. The results confirm the concept of the work function and the barrier heights of oxide structures/SiC structures.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.260-266
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• 2009

The anodic oxidation behaviour of a cast component of AC2A Al alloy with machined surface and ascast surface was investigated in sulfuric acid solution. The anodized specimen showed relatively uniform and thick anodic oxide films on the as-cast surface, while non-uniform and very thin oxide films were formed on the machined surface. Non-anodized as-cast surface was observed to be covered with thick oxide scales and showed a number of second-phase particles containing Si, while non-anodized machined surface showed no oxide scales and relatively very small number of Si particles. Thus, the very limited growth of anodic oxide films on the as-cast surface was attributed to the presence of thick oxide scales and Si-containing second-phase particles on its surface.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.6 no.S1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1997

Efficient Si(100) etching by thermal H atoms at low substrate temperatures has been achieved. Gas-phase etching product $SiH_4$(g) upon H atom bombardment resulting from direct abstraction of $SiH_3$(a) by impinging H atoms was detected with a quadrupole mass spectrometer over the substrate temperature range of 105-408 K Facile depletion of all surface silyl ($SiH_3$) groups the dissociative adsorption product of disilane ($Si_2H_6$) at 105K from Si(100)2$\times$1 by D atoms and continuous regeneration and removal of $SiD_3$(a) were all consumed. These results provide direct evidence for efficient silicon surface etching by thermal hydrogen bombardment at cryogenic temperatures as low as 105K We attribute the high etching efficiency to the formation and stability of $SiH_3$(a) on Si(100) at lowered surface temperatures allowing the $SiH_3$(a) abstraction reaction by additional H atom to produce $SiH_4$((g).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.435-438
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• 2004

MOCVD is one of the major deposition techniques for Cu thin films and Ta-Si-N is one of promising barrier metal candidates for Cu with high thermal stability. Effects of hydrogen plasma pretreatment of the underlying Ta-Si-N film surface on the Cu nucleation in Cu MOCVD were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron emission spectrometry analyses. Cu nucleation in MOCVD is enhanced as the rf-power and the plasma exposure time are increased in the hydrogen plasma pretreatment. The optimal plasma treatment process condition is the rf-power of 40 Wand the plasma exposure time of 2 min. The hydrogen gas flow rate in the hydrogen plasma pretreatment process does not affect Cu nucleation much. The mechanism through which Cu nucleation is enhanced by the hydrogen plasma pretreatment of the Ta-Si-N film surface is that the nitrogen and oxygen atoms at the Ta-Si-N film surface are effectively removed by the plasma treatment. Consequently the chemical composition was changed from Ta-Si-N(O) into Ta-Si at the Ta-Si-N film surface, which is favorable for Cu nucleation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.167-170
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• 2002

The influence of Si surface damage on Ni-silicide with TiN Capping layer and the effect of $H_2$ anneal are characterized. Si surface is intentionally damaged using Ar Sputtering. The sheet resistance of NiSi formed on damaged silicon increased rapidly as Ar sputtering time increased. However, the thermal stability of Ni-Si on the damage silicon was more stable than that on at undamaged Si, which means that damaged region retards the formation of NiSi. It was shown that $H_2$ anneal and TiN capping is highly effective in reducing NiSi sheet resistance.