• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.505-513
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• 2011

A magnetic device which enables the application of a strong and uniform magnetic field to thin film during sputtering was designed for controlling the magnetic anisotropy using a three dimensional finite element method, and the effects of the external magnetic field on the magnetic properties of sputtered thin films were investigated. Both the intensity and the uniformity of the magnetic flux density in the sputter zone (50 mm ${\times}$50 mm) was dependent on not only the shape and size of the magnet device but also the magnitude of stray fields from the magnet. For the magnet device in which the distance between two magnets or two pure iron bars was 80-90 mm, the magnetic flux density along the direction normal to the external magnetic field direction was minimum. The two row magnets increased the magnetic flux density and uniformity along the external magnetic field direction. An Fe thin film sputtered using the optimized magnet device showed a higher remanence ratio than that fabricated under no external magnetic field.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.493-497
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• 2011

The basic properties and electrical characteristics of sputtering films deposited with a commercial cast target and spark plasma sintering (SPS) were compared and analyzed. The results, revealed that, the Al film prepared by heating at $60^{\circ}C/min$ (SPS process) showed a specific resistance similar to the commercial cast Al film. In addition, the results of XRD, SIMS and TEM, showed that there was not much difference in the crystal structure and impurities between the two films. Consequently, the SPS Al target was found to have properties quite similar to the commercial one and it is expected to be applied in future research to the metal wiring material for semiconductor/display devices.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2022

ZnO single layer (60 nm thick) and ZnO with Ag interlayer (ZnO/Ag/ZnO; ZAZ) films were deposited on the glass substrates by using radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) magnetron sputter to evaluate the effectiveness of Ag interlayer on the optical visible transmittance and the conductivity of the films. In the ZAZ films, the thickness of ZnO layers was kept at 30 nm, while the Ag thickness was varied as 5, 10, 15 and 20 nm. In X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, ZnO films show the (002) diffraction peak and ZAZ films also show the weak ZnO (002) peak and Ag (111) diffraction peak. As a thickness of Ag interlayer increased to 20 nm, the grain size of the Ag films enlarged to 11.42 nm and the optical band gap also increased from 4.15 to 4.22 eV with carrier concentration increasing from 4.9 to 10.5×10²¹ cm^-3. In figure of merit measurements, the ZAZ films with a 10 nm thick Ag interlayer showed the higher figure of merit of 4.0×10^-3 Ω^-1 than the ZnO single layer and another ZAZ films. From the experimental result, it is assumed that the Ag interlayer enhanced effectively the opto-electrical performance of the ZAZ films.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 2022

We analyzed the effect of post-annealing on lithium phosphate (Li₃PO₄) solid-state thin-film. Li₃PO₄ thin films were deposited by radio frequency (RF) sputtering, with subsequent annealing of the films at 200-400 ℃. SEM imaging of the sample surfaces showed no significant difference in morphology between the annealed and non-annealed samples. XRD analysis indicated that the samples consist of an amorphous-like structure. Post-annealing changes in binding energy were confirmed by XPS analysis, while the leakage current density at -6 V was measured to be about 7.15 times lower in a device that had been annealed at 400 ℃ vs a non-annealed device. It was confirmed that the leakage current decreased with increasing post-annealing temperature.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.274-280
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• 2022

There is a problem that semiconductor probe pin has a short lifespan. In order to solve this problem, Ti having excellent conductivity was doped to tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) having excellent hardness and abrasion resistance. This experiment was planned through the Taguchi robust design to determine the effect of the control factor of the ta-C:Ti coating film. The effect and contribution of control factors such as Unbalanced Magnetron Sputter(UBM) discharge current, arc discharge current, temperature, and bias voltage on ta-C:Ti characteristics were analyzed from the perspective of electrical and mechanical characteristics. The UBM discharge current was set to 4, 6, and 8 A. The main control factor of thickness and resistance is the UBM discharge current, and the thickness increased and the resistance decreased as the current increased. The decrease in resistance is due to the increase in the Ti content of the ta-C:Ti coating film. The arc discharge current was set to 60, 80, and 100 A. The main control factor of hardness and wear is the arc discharge current, and as the current rises, the hardness increases and the wear area decreases. This is due to the increased ta-C content of the ta-C:Ti coating film. Since resistance and wear are important for Probe Pin, the optimal level is set from the perspective of resistance and wear and a confirmation experiment is conducted.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.11-15
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• 2000

This paper presents a process optimization of antireflection (AR) coating on crystalline Si solar cells. Theoretical and experimental investigations were performed on a double-layer AR(DLAR) coating of MgFe$_2$/GeO$_2$. We investigated GeO$_2$ films as an AR layer because they have a proper refractive index of 2.46 and demonstrate the same lattice constant as Si substrate. RF sputter grown GeO$_2$ film showed deposition temperature strong dependence. The GeO$_2$ at 400$\^{C}$ exhibited a strong (111) preferred orientation and the lowest surface roughness of 6.87 $\AA$. Refractive index of MgFe$_2$film was measured as 1.386 for the most of growth temperature. An optimized DLAR coating showed a reflectance as low as 2.04% in the wavelengths ranged from 0.4 ㎛ to 1.1 ㎛. Solar cells with a structure of MgFe$_2$/GeO$_2$/Ag/N$\^$+//p-type Si/P$\^$+//Al were investigated with the without DLAR coatings. We achieved the efficiency of solar cells greater than 15% with 3.12% improvement with DLAR coatings. Further details about MgFe$_2$,GeO$_2$ films, and cell fabrication parameters are presented in this paper.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2022

In this paper, it was attempted to form a titanium (Ti: Titanium) thin film using the atmospheric pressure plasma process technology for the conductor, which is the main component of the optical sensor. The atmospheric plasma equipment was remodeled. A 4-inch Ti target for sputter was etched using CF4 gas, and the by-product was coated on a glass sample. These by-products were formed up to about 2 cm, and could be divided into 15 areas according to color. Surface shape and constituent elements were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), respectively. Electrical properties using 4-point probe equipment were also measured. If the process is performed by positioning the sample at about 4.5 mm to 5 mm from the target, a uniform Ti thin film will be deposited. However, it was found that the thin film contained a significant amount of fluorine, which greatly affects the electrical properties of the thin film. Therefore, additional experiments and studies should be performed to remove or minimize fluorine during deposition.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.13 no.spc2
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• pp.328-331
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• 2012

With the recent development of super-precision optical instruments, camera modules for devices, such as portable terminals and digital camera lenses, are increasingly being used. Since an optical lens is usually produced by high-temperature compression molding methods using tungsten carbide (WC) alloy molding cores, it is necessary to develop and study technology for super-precision processing of molding cores and coatings for the core surface. In this study, Rhenium-Iridium (Re-Ir) thin films were deposited onto a WC molding core using a sputtering system. The Re-Ir thin films were prepared by a multi-target sputtering technique, using iridium, rhenium, and chromium as the sources. Argon and nitrogen were introduced through an inlet into the chamber to be the plasma and reactive gases. The Re-Ir thin films were prepared with targets having a composition ratio of 30 : 70, and the Re-Ir thin films were formed with a 240 nm thickness. Re-Ir thin films on WC molding core were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and Ra (the arithmetical average surface roughness). Also, adhesion strength and coefficient friction of Re-Ir thin films were examined. The Re-Ir coating technique has received intensive attention in the coating processes field because of promising features, such as hardness, high elasticity, abrasion resistance and mechanical stability that result from the process. Re-Ir coating technique has also been applied widely in industrial and biomedical applications. In this study, WC molding core was manufactured, using high-performance precision machining and the effects of the Re-Ir coating on the surface roughness.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.81
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• pp.867-875
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• 2022

This paper explored the effect of deposition conditions on the characteristics of copper oxide (CuO_x) thin films prepared by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction exhibited that CuO with n-type conductivity was the main composition regardless of the DC magnetron sputtering power whereas the phase transition from n-type CuO to p-type Cu₂O was observed with decreasing the oxygen pressure (OP) from 40 to 20%. The optical band gap ranges of 1.6-1.9 eV, which are characteristic of n-type CuO, were determined for samples prepared with OPs of 30-40% while the optical band gap of 2.3 eV, which is characteristic of p-type Cu₂O, was measured for samples prepared with an OP of 20%. In addition, only Cu⁺ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) peak at the ~932.6 eV position exists in the films deposited with an OP of 20%, whereas only Cu²⁺ XPS peaks at ~934.2 eV and in the range of 940-945 eV are observed in the films deposited with an OP of 40%. Furthermore, as a result of XPS depth profile analysis, it was confirmed that the composition ratio of the sample prepared at an OP of 20% was Cu₂O, whereas the composition ratio of the sample prepared at an OP of 40% was CuO. These suggest that the CuO_x thin films could be constantly converted from n-type CuO to p-type Cu₂O by decreasing the oxygen partial pressure. Thin film transistors with Cu₂O deposited at 20% OP revealed p-type characteristics such as onset voltage (V_ON) of -3 V, saturated hole mobility of 8 cm²/Vs at V_GS = -28 V, subthreshold swing of 0.86 V/decade at V_GS-V_ON = -0.5 V, and on/off ratio of 1.14 × 10³.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.368-370
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• 2013

투명 전극은 전기전도도를 갖는 동시에 가시광선을 투과하는 소재를 말하며, 구체적으로는 빛의 파장이 400~700 nm 영역대의 가시광선을 80% 이상 투과하며 전기전도도가 비저항으로 $10^{-3}{\Omega}cm$이하이거나 면저항이 $10^3{\Omega}$/${\Box}$소재를 의미한다. 투명 전극은 전기전도도에 따라 사용되는 용도가 다양하다. LCD, PDP, OLED 와 같은 평판디스플레이 및 3D 디스플레이의 투명전극으로 사용되는 핵심재료일 뿐만 아니라 터치스크린, 투명필름, 대전방지막, 열반사막, EMI 방지막, 태양전지 분야에 광범위하게 이용되고 있다. 일반적으로, 투명전극 박막에 가장 많이 사용되고 있는 소재는 ITO (indium tin oxide)이나, 주성분인 In의 사용량 증가로 상용 ITO 타겟 가격이 급등하고 있음으며, 고가의 ITO 타겟을 대체하기 위한 저가의 투명전극 소재 개발이 절대적으로 요구되며, 신규 소재 개발을 통한 기술력 우위 선점이 필수적으로 요구되는 상황이다. 본 연구에서는 기존에 디스플레이 분야에서 널리 활용되는 고가의 ITO를 대체하기 위한 다성분 금속산화물 투명전극 스퍼터링 타겟 제조기술을 개발하기 위한 연구로서, Metal이 첨가된 In-Ga-Zn-O기반의 3성분계 투명도전성 소재를 조성설계, 고밀도 균질 타겟 제조 및 투명전극 박막을 형성하는 연구를 실시하였다. 고체산화물 산화인듐(In2O3)분말, 산화갈륨(Ga2O3) 분말그리고 산화아연(ZnO)분말과 Metal을 몰비로 칭량한 후 분말을 폴리에틸렌제 포트에 넣고 에탄올을 충분히 채운 후 지르코니아(ZrO2) 볼(ball)을 이용하여 24 h 동안 볼 밀링(ball milling) 방법으로 혼합한 뒤, $120^{\circ}C$의 플레이트위에서 마그네틱 바로 stirring하면서 건조하였다. 이 분말을 건조기에서 완전히 건조한 후 알루미나 유발을 이용해서 pulverizing한 후 sieving기를 이용하여 분말의 조립화를 하였다. 이 분말을 금형에 넣고 300 kg/$cm^2$의 압력으로 press하여 성형한 뒤 대기중에서 소결하였다 소결을 위한 승온 온도는 $10^{\circ}C$/min이었고 소결은 $1,450^{\circ}C$에서 6 h 동안 하였다. IGZO target의 조성 비율은 1:1:12 (mol%)를 사용하였으며, 첨가한 Metal은 Boron (B), Germanium (Ge), Barium (Ba)을 사용하여 타겟을 제작하였다. M-IGZO 박막은RF magnetron Sputter를 이용하여 증착하였으며, 앞선 실험에서 제작한 타겟을 사용하여 M-IGZO박막을 투명전극으로 사용하기 위한 각각의 특성을 파악하였다. 모든 박막은 상온에서 증착을 하였으며, 증착된 박막두께를 측정하기 위해 ${\alpha}$-step IQ를 사용하였고, 광학적 특성을 분석하기 위해 UV-Visible spectrophotometer 로 투과율을 측정하였다. 그리고 전기적 특성을 측정하기 위해 Hall effect measurement 및 4-probe를 사용하였으며, 결정성 분석을 위하여 XRD를 이용하여 분석하였다. 표1은 M-IGZO타겟을 사용하여 증착시간에 따른 면저항 특성을 나타내었다. Ge, B, Ba이 첨가된 IGZO 박막은 증착시간이 증가할수록 면저항이 낮아짐을 알 수 있었다. 또한, Ge이 첨가된 IGZO 박막이 다른 금속이 첨가된 IGZO 박막의 면저항보다 현저히 낮음을 알 수 있었다. Fig. 1(a), (b), (c)는 각 타겟을 동일한 조건으로 증착을 하여 광학적특성을 나타내는 그래프이다. GZO 박막의 광학적 특성을 보면 가시광 영역에서 평균 투과율은 모두 80% 이상으로 우수한 광투과 특성을 보여 투명전자소자로 사용가능하다. 특히, 자외선 영역을 모두 차단하는 UV cut 능력이 우수함을 알 수 있었다. 따라서, 금속이 첨가된 IGZO 박막을 태양전지용 투명전극으로 사용할 경우, 자외선에 의하여 수명이 단축되는 현상을 줄여줄 수 있음을 기대할 수 있으며 내구성 향상에 크게 기여할 것으로 보인다. Fig. 2는 Ge=0, 0.5, 5%인 IGZO 투명전극을 총 40회 반복하여 증착을 실시한 후 각각의 면저항을 측정한 결과이다. 실험결과에 따르면 Ge가 0%, 5%인 IGZO 투명전극은 증착을 거듭할수록 면저항이 증가하는 결과를 나타내었으며, 0.5%인 IGZO 투명전극은 점차 안정화되어가는 결과를 나타내었다. 따라서 안정화 되었을 때 평균 면저항은 26ohm/sq.로 나타났으며, 광투과율은 Fig. 3과 같이 가시광영역에서 평균 80%이상의 결과를 보였으며, 550 nm에서는 86.36%의 우수한 특성을 나타내었다. 본 연구에서는 Metal이 첨가된 In-Ga-Zn-O기반의 3성분계 투명도전성 소재 target을 제작하여 RF magnetron sputter로 박막을 형성한 후 특성을 비교하였다. M-IGZO target 중 Ge (0.5%)을 첨가한 IGZO 타겟을 사용한 투명전극이 가장 우수한 특성을 보였으며, 제작된 M-target의 In 비율이 30% 정도로 기존의 ITO (90%) 대비하여 투명전극 제작 단가를 절감할 수 있다.