• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2016

In recent years, the on-resistance, power loss and cell density of Si power devices have not exhibited significant improvements, and performance is approaching the material limits. GaN is considered an attractive material for future high-power applications because of the wide band-gap, large breakdown field, high electron mobility, high switching speed and low on-resistance. Here we report on the Ohmic contact resistance and reverse-bias characteristics of AlGaN/GaN Schottky barrier diodes with and without annealing. Annealing in oxygen at $500^{\circ}C$ resulted in an increase in the breakdown voltage from 641 to 1,172 V for devices with an anode-cathode separation of $20{\mu}m$. However, these annealing conditions also resulted in an increase in the contact resistance of $0.183{\Omega}-mm$, which is attributed to oxidation of the metal contacts. Auger electron spectroscopy revealed diffusion of oxygen and Au into the AlGaN and GaN layers following annealing. The improved reverse-bias characteristics following annealing in oxygen are attributed to passivation of dangling bonds and plasma damage due to interactions between oxygen and GaN/AlGaN. Thermal annealing is therefore useful during the fabrication of high-voltage GaN devices, but the effects on the Ohmic contact resistance should be considered.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2016

Background: For positron emission tomography (PET) application, cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) has been investigated by several institutes to replace detectors from a conventional system using photomultipliers or Silicon-photomultipliers (SiPMs). The spatial and energy resolution in using CZT can be superior to current scintillator-based state-of-the-art PET detectors. CZT has been under development for several years at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) to provide a high performance gamma ray detection, which needs a single crystallinity, a good uniformity, a high stopping power, and a wide band gap. Materials and Methods: Before applying our own grown CZT detectors in the prototype PET system, we investigated preliminary research with a developed discrete type data acquisition (DAQ) system for coincident events at 128 anode pixels and two common cathodes of two CZT detectors from Redlen. Each detector has a $19.4{\times}19.4{\times}6mm^3$ volume size with a 2.2 mm anode pixel pitch. Discrete amplifiers consist of a preamplifier with a gain of $8mV{\cdot}fC^{-1}$ and noise of 55 equivalent noise charge (ENC), a $CR-RC^4$ shaping amplifier with a $5{\mu}s$ peak time, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) driver. The DAQ system has 65 mega-sample per second flash ADC, a self and external trigger, and a USB 3.0 interface. Results and Discussion: Characteristics such as the current-to-voltage curve, energy resolution, and electron mobility life-time products for CZT detectors are investigated. In addition, preliminary results of gamma ray imaging using 511 keV of a $^{22}Na$ gamma ray source were obtained. Conclusion: In this study, the DAQ system with a CZT radiation sensor was successfully developed and a PET image was acquired by two sets of the developed DAQ system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2001

YMnO$_3$ films are excellent gate dielectric materials of ferroelectric random access memories (FRAMs) with MFSFET (metal -ferroelectric-semiconductor field effect transistor) structure because YMnO$_3$ films can be deposited directly on Si substrate and have a relatively low permittivity. Although the patterning of YMnO$_3$ thin films is the requisite for the fabrication of FRAMs, the etch mechanism of YMnO$_3$ thin films has not been reported. In this study, YMnO$_3$thin films were etched with Cl$_2$/Ar gas chemistries in inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The maximum etch rate of YMnO$_3$ film is 285$\AA$/min under Cl$_2$/(Cl$_2$+Ar) of 1.0, RF power of 600 W, dc-bias voltage of -200V, chamber pressure of 15 mTorr and substrate temperature of $25^{\circ}C$. The selectivities of YMnO$_3$ over CeO$_2$ and $Y_2$O$_3$ are 2.85, 1.72, respectively. The selectivities of YMnO$_3$ over PR and Pt are quite low. Chemical reaction in surface of the etched YMnO$_3$ thin films was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) surface of the selected YMnO$_3$ thin films was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The etch profile was also investigated by scaning electron microscopy(SEM)

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.577-584
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• 2015

A photovoltaic (PV) system generates electricity by installing a solar energy array; therefore, the photovoltaic system can be easily exposed to external factors, which include environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and radiation. These factors-as well as shading, in particular-lead to power degradation. When there is an output loss in the solar cell of a PV module package, the output loss is partly controlled by the bypass diode. As solar cells become highly efficient, the characteristics of series resistance and parallel resistance improve, and the characteristics of reverse voltage change. A bypass diode is connected in parallel to the string that is connected in series to the PV module. Ideally, the bypass diode operates when the voltage is -0.6[V] around. This study examines the bypass diode operating time for different types of crystalline solar cells. It compares the reverse voltage characteristics between the single solar cell and polycrystalline solar cell. Special modules were produced for the experiment. The shading rate of the solar cell in the specially made solar energy module was raised by 5% each time to confirm that the bypass diode was operating. The operation of the bypass diode is affected not only by the reverse voltage but also by the forward bias. This tendency was verified as the number of strings increased.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.301-306
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• 2015

An ultra-compact and wideband low noise amplifier (LNA) in a quad flat non-leaded (QFN) package is presented. The LNA monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) is implemented in a $0.25{\mu}m$ GaN IC technology on a Silicon Carbide (SiC) substrate provided by Triquint. A source degeneration inductor and a gate inductor are used to obtain the noise and input matching simultaneously. The resistive feedback and inductor peaking techniques are employed to achieve a wideband characteristic. The LNA chip is mounted in the $3{\times}3-mm^2$ QFN package and measured. The supply voltages for the first and second stages are 14 V and 7 V, respectively, and the total current is 70 mA. The highest gain is 13.5 dB around the mid-band, and -3 dB frequencies are observed at 0.7 and 12 GHz. Input and output return losses ($S_{11}$ and $S_{22}$) of less than -10 dB measure from 1 to 12 GHz; there is an absolute bandwidth of 11 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of 169%. Across the bandwidth, the noise figures (NFs) are between 3 and 5 dB, while the output-referred third-order intercept points (OIP3s) are between 26 and 28 dBm. The overall chip size with all bonding pads is $1.1{\times}0.9mm^2$. To the best of our knowledge, this LNA shows the best figure-of-merit (FoM) compared with other published GaN LNAs with the same gate length.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2007

For more than two decades Nb trilayer ($Nb/Al_2O_3/Nb$) process has been serving as the most stable fabrication process of the Josephson junction integrated circuits. Fast development of semiconductor fabrication technology has been possible with the recent advancement of the fabrication equipments. In this work, we took an advantage of advanced fabrication equipments in developing a superconducting Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) by using Nb trilayers. The ALU is a core element of a computer processor that performs arithmetic and logic operations on the operands in computer instruction words. We used DC magnetron sputtering technique for metal depositions and RF sputtering technique for $SiO_2$ depositions. Various dry etching techniques were used to define the Josephson junction areas and film pattering processes. Our Nb films were stress free and showed the $T{_c}'s$ of about 9 K. To enhance the step coverage of Nb films we used reverse bias powered DC magnetron sputtering technique. The fabricated 1-bit, 2-bit, and 4-bit ALU circuits were tested at a few kilo-hertz clock frequency as well as a few tens giga-hertz clock frequency, respectively. Our 1-bit ALU operated correctly at up to 40 GHz clock frequency, and the 4-bit ALU operated at up to 5 GHz clock frequency.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.274-285
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• 2019

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), which is a material removal process involving chemical surface reactions and mechanical abrasive action, is an essential manufacturing process for obtaining high-quality semiconductor surfaces with ultrahigh precision features. Recent rapid growth in the industries of digital devices and semiconductors has accelerated the demands for processing of various substrate and film materials. In addition, to solve many issues and challenges related to high integration such as micro-defects, non-uniformity, and post-process cleaning, it has become increasingly necessary to approach and understand the processing mechanisms for various substrate materials and abrasive particle behaviors from a tribological point of view. Based on these backgrounds, we review recent CMP R&D trends in this study. We examine experimental and analytical studies with a focus on substrate materials and abrasive particles. For the reduction of micro-scratch generation, understanding the correlation between friction and the generation mechanism by abrasive particle behaviors is critical. Furthermore, the contact stiffness at the wafer-particle (slurry)-pad interface should be carefully considered. Regarding substrate materials, recent research trends and technologies have been introduced that focus on sapphire (${\alpha}$-alumina, $Al_2O_3$), silicon carbide (SiC), and gallium nitride (GaN), which are used for organic light emitting devices. High-speed processing technology that does not generate surface defects should be developed for low-cost production of various substrates. For this purpose, effective methods for reducing and removing surface residues and deformed layers should be explored through tribological approaches. Finally, we present future challenges and issues related to the CMP process from a tribological perspective.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.08a
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• pp.173-173
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• 2010

$Bi_4Ti_3O_{12}$ ($B_4T_3$) is a unique ferroelectric material that has a relatively high dielectric constant, high Curie temperature, high breakdown strength, and large spontaneous polarization. As a result this material has been widely studied for many applications, including nonvolatile ferroelectric random memories, microelectronic mechanical systems, and nonlinear-optical devices. Several reports have appeared on the use of Mn dopants to improve the electrical properties of $B_4T_3$ thin films. Mn ions have frequently been used for this purpose in thin films and multilayer capacitors in situations where intrinsic oxygen vacancies are the major defects. However, no systematic study of the optical properties of $B_4T_3$ films has appeared to date. Here, we report optical data for these films, determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). We also report the effects of thermal annealing and Mn doping on the optical properties. The SE data were analyzed using a multilayer model that is consistent with the original sample structure, specifically surface roughness/$B_4T_3$ film/Pt/Ti/$SiO_2$/c-Si). The data are well described by the Tauc-Lorentz dispersion function, which can therefore be used to model the optical properties of these materials. Parameters for reconstructing the dielectric functions of these films are also reported. The SE data show that thermal annealing crystallizes $B_4T_3$ films, as confirmed by the appearance of $B_4T_3$ peaks in X-ray diffraction patterns. The bandgap of $B_4T_3$ red-shifts with increasing Mn concentration. We interpret this as evidence of the existence deep levels generated by the Mn transition-metal d states. These results will be useful in a number of contexts, including more detailed studies of the optical properties of these materials for engineering high-speed devices.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2008

As micro-system move toward higher speed and miniaturization, requirements for embedding the passive components into printed circuit boards (PCBs) grow consistently. They should be fabricated in smaller size with maintaining and even improving the overall performance. Miniaturization potential steps from the replacement of surface-mount components and the subsequent reduction of the required wiring-board real estate. Among the embedded passive components, capacitors are most widely studied because they are the major components in terms of size and number. Embedding of passive components such as capacitors into polymer-based PCB is becoming an important strategy for electronics miniaturization, device reliability, and manufacturing cost reduction Now days, the dielectric films deposited directly on the polymer substrate are also studied widely. The processing temperature below $200^{\circ}C$ is required for polymer substrates. For a low temperature deposition, bismuth-based pyrochlore materials are known as promising candidate for capacitor $B_2Mg_{2/3}Nb_{4/3}O_7$ ($B_2MN$) multi layers were deposited on Pt/$TiO_2/SiO_2$/Si substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering system at room temperature. The physical and structural properties of them are investigated by SEM, AFM, TEM, XPS. The dielectric properties of MIM structured capacitors were evaluated by impedance analyzer (Agilent HP4194A). The leakage current characteristics of MIM structured capacitor were measured by semiconductor parameter analysis (Agilent HP4145B). 200 nm-thick $B_2MN$ muti layer were deposited at room temperature had capacitance density about $1{\mu}F/cm^2$ at 100kHz, dissipation factor of < 1% and dielectric constant of > 100 at 100kHz.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.412-412
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• 2009

Carbon-based nano materials have a significant effect on various fields such as physics, chemistry and material science. Therefore carbon nano materials have been investigated by many scientists and engineers. Especially, since graphene, 2-dimemsonal carbon nanostructure, was experimentally discovered graphene has been tremendously attracted by both theoretical and experimental groups due to their extraordinary electrical, chemical and mechanical properties. Electrical conductivity of graphene is about ten times to that of silicon-based material and independent of temperature. At the same time silicon-based semiconductors encountered to limitation in size reduction, graphene is a strong candidate substituting for silicon-based semiconductor. But there are many limitations on fabricating large-scale graphene sheets (GS) without any defect and controlling chirality of edges. Many scientists applied micromechanical cleavage method from graphite and a SiC decomposition method to the fabrication of GS. However these methods are on the basic stage and have many drawbacks. Thereupon, our group fabricated GS through Thermo-electrical Pulse Induced Evaporation (TPIE) motivated by arc-discharge and field ion microscopy. This method is based on interaction of electrical pulse evaporation and thermal evaporation and is useful to produce not only graphene but also various carbon-based nanostructures with feeble pulse and at low temperature. On fabricating GS procedure, we could recognize distinguishable conditions (electrical pulse, temperature, etc.) to form a variety of carbon nanostructures. In this presentation, we will show the structural properties of OS by synthesized TPIE. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Optical Microscopy (OM) observations were performed to view structural characteristics such as crystallinity. Moreover, we confirmed number of layers of GS by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy. Also, we used a probe station, in order to measure the electrical properties such as sheet resistance, resistivity, mobility of OS. We believe our method (TPIE) is a powerful bottom-up approach to synthesize and modify carbon-based nanostructures.