• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.731-739
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• 2014

Aluminum and boron co-doped zinc-oxide(AZOB) powders as transparent conducting oxide(TCO) were prepared by spray pyrolysis at $900^{\circ}C$. The micron-sized AZOB particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis from aqueous precursor solutions for aluminium, boron, and zinc. The micron-sized AZOB particle after the spray pyrloysis underwent post-heat treatment at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours and it was changed fully to nano-sized AZOB particle by ball milling for 24 hours. The size of primary AZOB particle by Debye-Scherrer Equation and surface resistance of AZOB pellet were measured.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2022

We investigated the optical and electrical characteristics of ITO/Ag/ITO (IAI) 3-layer thin films prepared by using RF/DC sputtering. To measure the thickness of all thin film samples, we used scanning electron microscopy. As a function of Ag thickness we characterized the optical transmittance and sheet resistance of the IAI samples by using UV-Visible spectroscopy and Hall measurement system, respectively. While the thickness of both ITO thin films in the 3-layered IAI samples were fixed at 50 nm, we varied Ag layer thickness in the range of 0 nm to 11 nm. The optical transmittance and sheet resistance of the 3-layered IAI thin films were found to vary strongly with the thickness of Ag film in the ITO (50 nm)/Ag(t₀)/ITO (50 nm) thin film. For the best transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrode, we obtained a 3-layered ITO (50 nm)/Ag (t₀ = 8.5 nm)/ITO (50 nm) that showed an avrage optical transmittance, AVT = 90.12% in the visible light region of 380 nm to 780 nm and the sheet resistance, R_□ = 7.24 Ω/□.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.426.1-426.1
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• 2016

We report high work function Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) films as insertion layer as a function of O2 flow rate between transparent conducting oxides (TCO) and hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxide (a-SiOx:H) layer to improve open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF) for high efficiency thin film solar cell. However, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells exhibit poor fill factors due to a Schottky barrier like impedance at the interface between a-SiOx:H windows and TCO. The impedance is caused by an increasing mismatch between the work function of TCO and that of p-type a-SiOx:H. In this study, we report on the silicon thin film solar cell by using as insertion layer of O2 reactive AZO films between TCO and p-type a-SiOx:H. Significant efficiency enhancement was demonstrated by using high work-function layers (4.95 eV at O2=2 sccm) for engineering the work function at the key interfaces to raise FF as well as Voc. Therefore, we can be obtained the conversion efficiency of 7 % at 13mA/cm2 of the current density (Jsc) and 63.35 % of FF.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.789-794
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• 2008

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has been widely studied for its practical applications such as transparent conduction electrodes for flat panel displays and solar cells. Especially, ZnO films show good chemical stability against hydrogen plasma, absence of toxicity, abundance in nature, and then suitable for photovoltaic applications. However, the fabrication process of thin film solar cells require a high substrate temperature and/or post heat treatment. Therefore, the layers have to withstand high temperatures, requiring an excellent stability without degrading their electronic and optical properties. In this paper, we investigated the stability of zinc oxide (ZnO) films doped with aluminum and hydrogen. Doped ZnO films were prepared by r.f. magnetron sputter and followed by heat treatment at different temperatures and for various times.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.267-271
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• 2009

Multicomponent transparent conducting oxide films were deposited on glass substrates at 150 by dual magnetron sputtering of AZO and ITO targets. In the case of mixing a limited amount of ITO (10W), resistivity of TCO films was significantly increased compared to the AZO film; from $3.5{\times}10^{-3}$ to $9.7{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$. Deterioration of the electrical conductivity is attributed to the decreases in carrier concentration and Hall mobility. Improvement of the conductivity could be obtained for the films prepared with ITO powers larger than 40 W. The lowest resistivity ($\rho$) of $7.3{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ was achieved when ITO power was 100 W. Effects of $H_2$ incorporation on the electrical and optical properties of AZO-ITO films were investigated in this work. Addition of small amount of hydrogen resulted in the increase of carrier concentration and the improvement of electrical conductivity. It is apparent that the roughness of AZO-ITO films decreases dramatically after the transition of microstructure from polycrystalline to amorphous phase, which gives practical advantages such as an excellent uniformity of surface and a high etching rate. AZO-ITO films grown at sputtering ambient with hydrogen gas are expected to be applicable to optoelectronic devices such as organic light emitting diodes and flexible displays due to their sufficient electrical and structural properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11b
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• pp.525-528
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• 2001

ZnO:Al thin film can be used as a transparent conducting oxide(TCO) which has low electric resistivity and high optical transmittance for the front electrode of amorphous silicon solar cells and display devices. This study of electrical, crystallographic and optical properties of Al doped ZnO thin films prepared by Facing Targets Sputtering(FTS), where strong internal magnets were contained in target holders to confine the plasma between the targets, is described. Optimal transmittance and resistivity was obtained by controlling flow rate of $O_2$ gas and substrate temperature. When the $O_2$ gas rate of 0.3 and substrate temperature $200^{\circ}C$, ZnO:Al thin film had strongly oriented c-axis and lower resistivity( < $10^{-4}{\Omega}-cm$ ).

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.1976-1981
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• 2009

Transparent conducting aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films were deposited on Coming glass substrate using an Gun-type rf magnetron sputtering deposition technology. The AZO thin films were fabricated with an AZO ceramic target (Zn: 98wt.%, $Al_2O_3$: 2wt.%). The AZO thin films were deposited with various growth conditions such as the substrate temperature, oxygen pressure. X -ray diffraction (XRD), UV/visible spectroscope, atomic force microscope (AFM), and Hall effect measurement system were done in order to investigate the properties of the AZO thin films Among the AZO thin films prepared in this study, the one formed at conditions of the substrate temperature $100^{\circ}C$, Ar 50 sccm, $O_2$ 5 sccm and working pressure 5 motor showed the best properties of an electrical resistivity of $1.763{\times}10^{-4}\;[{\Omega}{\cdot}cm]$, a carrier concentration of $1.801{\times}10^{21}\;[cm^{-3}]$, and a carrier mobility of $19.66\;[cm^2/V{\cdot}S]$, which indicates that it could be used as a transparent electrode for thin film transistor and flat panel display applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2010

Photoelectrochemical solar cells such as dye-sensitized cells (DSSCs), which exhibit high performance and are cost-effective, provide an alternative to conventional p-n junction photovoltaic devices. However, the efficiency of such cells plateaus at 11-12%, in contrast to their theoretical value of 33%. Improvements in efficiency can only occur through a fundamental understanding of the underlying physics, materials, and device designs of DSSCs. A photoelectrode consisting of semiconducting oxide nanoparticles and a transparent conducting oxide electrode (TCO) is a key component of DSSC and design of photoelectrode materials is one of promising strategies to improving energy conversion efficiency. We introduce monodisperesed $TiO_2$ nanoparticles prepared by forced hydrolysis method and their superiority as photoelectrode materials was characterized with aids of optical and electrochemical analysis. Multi-layered TCO materials are also introduced and their feasibility for use as photoelectrodes is discussed in terms of optical absorption and charge collecting properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.208-208
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• 2010

Indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO) thin films were studied as a possible alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) films for providing low-cost transparent conducting oxide (TCO) for thin film photovoltaic devices. IZTO films were deposited onto glass substrates at room temperature. A dc/rf magnetron co-sputtering system equipped with a ceramic target of the same composition was used to deposit TCO films. Earlier studies showed that the resistivity value of $In_{0.6}Zn_{0.2}Sn_{0.2}O_{1.5}$ (IZTO20) films could be lowered to approximately $6{\times}10^{-4}ohm{\cdot}cm$ without sacrificing optical transparency and still maintaining amorphous structure through the optimization of process variables. The growth rate was kept at about 8 nm/min while the oxygen-to-argon pressure ratio varied from 0% to 7.5%. As-deposited films were always amorphous and showed strong oxygen pressure dependence of electrical resistivity and electron concentration values. Influence of forming gas anneal (FGA) at medium temperatures was also studied and proven effective in improving electrical properties. In this study, the chemical composition of the targets and the films varied around the $In_{0.6}Zn_{0.2}Sn_{0.2}O_{1.5}$ (IZTO20). It was the main objective of this paper to investigate how off-stoichiometry affected TCO characteristics including electrical resistivity and optical transmission. In addition to the composition effect, we have also studied how film properties changed with processing variables. IZTO thin films have shown their potential as a possible alternative to ITO thin films, in such way that they could be adopted in some applications where currently ITO and IZO thin films are being used. Our experimental results are compared to those obtained for commercial ITO thin films from solar cell application view point.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.50.1-50.1
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• 2009

Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) play an important role in thin-film solar cells in terms of low cost and performance improvement. Al-doped ZnO (AZO) is a very promising material for thin-film solar cellfabrication because of the wide availability of its constituent raw materials and its low cost. In this study, AZO films were prepared by low pressurechemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) using trimethylaluminum (TMA), diethylzinc(DEZ), and water vapor. In order to improve the absorbance of light, atypical surface texturing method is wet etching of front electrode using chemical solution. Alternatively, LPCVD can create a rough surface during deposition. This "self-texturing" is a very useful technique, which can eliminate additional chemical texturing process. The introduction of a TMA doping source has a strong influence on resistivity and the diffusion of light in a wide wavelength range.The haze factor of AZO up to a value of 43 % at 600 nm was achieved without an additional surface texturing process by simple TMA doping. The use of AZO TCO resulted in energy conversion efficiencies of 7.7 % when it was applied to thep-i-n a-Si:H thin film solar cell, which was comparable to commercially available fluorine doped tin oxide ($SnO_2$:F).