• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.825-827
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• 2012

In this study, the variation in surface morphology of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) thin films treated with a flow of acetone vapor assisted by nitrogen carrier gas was investigated. The CuPc nanorods with similar dimensions were well dispersed throughout the whole film surfaces after ~20 min. of treatment. However, the electronic absorption spectra only changed slightly, which indicates that molecular stacking was not altered during treatment. This treating method is simple and more advantageous compared to other solvent treating technologies such as mixed solvent spray treatment using organic solvents and water since it requires relatively mild treating conditions and does not need the presence of water.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 2013

The microstructural changes of Fe-20Mn-12Cr-1Cu alloy have been studied during high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) at the range of $1000^{\circ}C{\sim}1150^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas. The mixed microstructure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite of as-received alloy was changed to austenite single phase after HTGN treatment at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer, however the interior region that was not affected nitrogen permeation remained the structure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite. With raising the HTGN treatment temperature, the concentration and permeation depth of nitrogen, which is known as the austenite stabilizing element, were increased. Accordingly, the depth of austenite single phase region was increased. The outmost surface of HTGN treated alloy at $1000^{\circ}C$ appeared Cr nitride. And this was in good agreement with the thermodynamically calculated phase diagram. The grain growth was delayed after HTGN treatment temperature ranges of $1000^{\circ}C{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ due to the grain boundary precipitates. For the HTGN treatment temperature of $1150^{\circ}C$, the fine grain region was shown at the near surface due to the grain boundary precipitates, however, owing to the depletion of grain boundary precipitates, coarse grain was appeared at the depth far from the surface. This depletion may come from the strong affinity between nitrogen and substitutional element of Al and Ti leading the diffusion of these elements from interior to surface. Because of the nitrogen dissolution at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer by HTGN treatment, the surface hardness was increased above 150 Hv compared to the interior region that was consisted with the mixed microstructure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.88-94
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• 2014

The structural, optical and electrical properties of sputter-deposited CIGS films were directly influenced by the sputtering process parameters such as substrate temperature, working pressure, RF power and distance between target and substrate. CIGS thin films deposited by using a quaternary target revealed to be Se deficient due to Se low vapor pressure. This Se deficiency affected the overall stoichiometry of the films, causing the films to be Cu-rich. Current tends to pass through the Cu-Se channels which act as the shunting path increasing the film conductivity. The crystal structure of CIGS thin films depends on the substrate orientation due to the influence of surface morphology, grain size and stress of Mo substrate. The excess of Cu was removed from the CIGS films by KCN treatment, achieving a suitable Cu concentration (referred as Cu-poor) for the fabrication of solar cell. Due to high Cu concentrations on the CIGS film surface induced by Cu-Se phases after CIGS film deposition, KCN treatment proved to be necessary for the fabrication of high efficiency solar cells. Also during KCN treatment, dislocation density and lattice parameter decreased as excess Cu was removed, resulting in increase of bandgap and the decrease of conductivity of CIGS films. It was revealed that Cu-Se secondary phase could be removed by KCN wet etching of CIGS films, allowing the fabrication of high efficiency absorber layer.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2009

The effects of $Ar/O_2$ ion-beam pre-treatment conditions on the interfacial adhesion energy of sputterdeposited Cu thin film to FR-4 substrate were systematically investigated in order to understand the interfacial bonding mechanism for practical application to advanced chip-in-substrate package systems. Measured peel strength increases from $45.8{\pm}5.7g/mm$ to $61.3{\pm}2.4g/mm$ by $Ar/O_2$ ion-beam pre-treatment with anode voltage of 64 V. Interfacial bonding mechanism between sputter-deposited Cu film and FR-4 substrate seems to be dominated by chemical bonding effect rather than mechanical interlocking effect. It is found that chemical bonding intensity between carbon and oxygen at FR-4 surface increases due to $Ar/O_2$ ion-beam pretreatment, which seems to be related to the strong adhesion energy between sputter-deposited Cu film and FR-4 substrate.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.459-464
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• 2012

We investigated cleaning effects using $NH_4OH$ solution on the surface of Cu film. A 20 nm Cu film was deposited on Ti / p-Si (100) by sputter deposition and was exposed to air for growth of the native Cu oxide. In order to remove the Cu native oxide, an $NH_4OH$ cleaning process with and without TS-40A pre-treatment was carried out. After the $NH_4OH$ cleaning without TS-40A pretreatment, the sheet resistance Rs of the Cu film and the surface morphology changed slightly(${\Delta}Rs:{\sim}10m{\Omega}/sq.$). On the other hand, after $NH_4OH$ cleaning with TS-40A pretreatment, the Rs of the Cu film changed abruptly (${\Delta}Rs:till{\sim}700m{\Omega}/sq.$); in addition, cracks showed on the surface of the Cu film. According to XPS results, Si ingredient was detected on the surface of all Cu films pretreated with TS-40A. This Si ingredient(a kind of silicate) may result from the TS-40A solution, because sodium metasilicate is included in TS-40A as an alkaline degreasing agent. Finally, we found that the $NH_4OH$ cleaning process without pretreatment using an alkaline cleanser containing a silicate ingredient is more useful at removing Cu oxides on Cu film. In addition, we found that in the $NH_4OH$ cleaning process, an alkaline cleanser like Metex TS-40A, containing sodium metasilicate, can cause cracks on the surface of Cu film.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.58-58
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• 2003

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 2015

The rate capability and low-temperature characteristics of graphite electrode are investigated after surface treatment with copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) or phthalocyanine (Pc). Uniform coating layers comprising amorphous carbon or copper are generated after the treatment. The rate performance of graphite electrodes is enhanced by the surface treatment, which is more prominent with CuPc. The resistance of the graphite electrode estimated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and pulse resistance measurement is the smallest for the CuPc-treated graphite. It is likely that the amorphous carbon layer formed by the decomposition of Pc facilitates $Li^+$ diffusion and the metallic copper derived from CuPc improves the electrical conductivity of the graphite electrode.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.335-341
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• 2012

Recently, the demand for the miniaturization of printed circuit boards has been increasing, as electronic devices have been sharply downsized. Conventional multi-layered PCBs are limited in terms their use with higher packaging densities. Therefore, a build-up process has been adopted as a new multi-layered PCB manufacturing process. In this process, via-holes are used to connect each conductive layer. After the connection of the interlayers created by electro copper plating, the via-holes are filled with a conductive paste. In this study, a desmear treatment, electroless plating and electroplating were carried out to investigate the optimum processing conditions for Cu via filling on a PCB. The desmear treatment involved swelling, etching, reduction, and an acid dip. A seed layer was formed on the via surface by electroless Cu plating. For Cu via filling, the electroplating of Cu from an acid sulfate bath containing typical additives such as PEG(polyethylene glycol), chloride ions, bis-(3-sodiumsulfopropyl disulfide) (SPS), and Janus Green B(JGB) was carried out. The desmear treatment clearly removes laser drilling residue and improves the surface roughness, which is necessary to ensure good adhesion of the Cu. A homogeneous and thick Cu seed layer was deposited on the samples after the desmear treatment. The 2,2'-Dipyridyl additive significantly improves the seed layer quality. SPS, PEG, and JGB additives are necessary to ensure defect-free bottom-up super filling.

• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.619-625
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• 1995

Polycrystalline CdTe thin film has been studied for photovoltaic application due to the 1.45 eV band gap energy ideal for solar energy conversion and high absorption coefficient. The formation of low resistance contact to p-CdTe is difficult because of large work function(>5.5eV). Common methods for ohmic contact to p-CdTe are to form a p+ region under the contact by in-diffusion of contact material to reduce the barrier height and modify a p-CdTe surface layer using chemical treatment. In this study, the surface chemical treatment of p CdTe was carried out by H$\_$3/PO$\_$4/+HNO$\_$3/ or K$\_$2/Cr$\_$2/O$\_$7/+H$\_$2/SO$\_$4/ solution to provide a Te-rich surface. And various thin film contact materials such as Cu, Au, and Cu/Au were deposited by E-beam evaporation to form ohmic contact to p-CdTe. After the metallization, post annealing was performed by oven heat treatment at 150.deg. C or by RTA(Rapid Thermal Annealing) at 250-350.deg. C. Surface chemical treatments of p-CdTe thin film improved metal/p-CdTe interface properties and post heat treatment resulted in low contact resistivity to p-CdTe.Of the various contact metal, Cu/Au and Cu show low contact resistance after oven and RTA post-heat treatments, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.112-119
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evaluation of process yield performed by using Sn & Cu treatment on the surface to optimize process condition for Lead-free solder application. The materials which are used for the New Surface Treatment study are Semi-Dulling plating for high speed Sn/Cu alloy of Soft Alloy GTC-33 Pb free known as "UEMURA Method" and plating substrate is alloy 42.Especially in lead-free plating process, it is important to control plating thickness and Copper composition than Sn/Pb plating. Evaluated and controlled plating thickness $12{\pm}3um$, Copper composition $2{\pm}1%$, plating particle and visual inspection. The optimization of these parameters and condition makes it makes possible to apply Sn/Cu Lead-free solder from Sn/Pb alloy.