• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.318.1-318.1
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• 2013

Nowadays Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) solar cell is attracting a lot of attention as a strong alternative to CIGS solar cell due to nontoxic and inexpensive constituent elements of CZTS. From various processes for the fabrication of CZTS solar cell, solution-based deposition of CZTS thin films is well-known non-vacuum process and many researchers are focusing on this method because of large-area deposition, high-throughput, and efficient material usage. Typically the solution-based process consists of two steps, coating of precursor solution and annealing of the precursor thin films. Unlike vacuum-based deposition, precursor solution contains unnecessary elements except Cu, Zn, Sn, and S in order to form high quality precursor thin films, and thus the precise control of precursor thin film preparation is essential for achieving high efficient CZTS solar cells. In this work, we have investigated the effect of preparation condition of CZTS precursor thin films on the performance of CZTS solar cells. The composition of CZTS precursor solution was controlled for obtaining optimized chemical composition of CZTS absorber layers for high-efficiency solar cells. Pre-annealing process of the CZTS precursor thin films was also investigated to confirm the effect of thermal treatment on chemical composition and carbon residues of CZTS absorber layers. The change of the morphology of CZTS precursor thin film by the preparation condition was also observed.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.106.1-106.1
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• 2011

The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells have been achieved until almost 20% efficiency by NREL. These solar cells include chemically deposited CdS as buffer layer between CIGS absorber layer and ZnO window layer. Although CIGS solar cells with CdS buffer layer show excellent performance, the short wavelength response of CIGS solar cell is limited by narrow CdS band gap of about 2.42 eV. Taking into consideration the environmental aspect, the toxic Cd element should be replaced by a different material. Among Cd-free candidate materials, the CIGS thin film solar cells with ZnS buffer layer seem to be promising with 17.2%(module by showa shell K.K.), 18.6%(small area by NREL). However, ZnS/CIGS solar cells still show lower performance than CdS/CIGS solar cells. There are several reported reasons to reduce the efficiency of ZnS/CIGS solar cells. Nakada reported ZnS thin film had many defects such as stacking faults, pin-holes, so that crytallinity of ZnS thin film is poor, compared to CdS thin film. Additionally, it was known that the hetero-interface between ZnS and CIGS layer made unfavorable band alignment. The unfavorable band alignment hinders electron transport at the heteo-interface. In this study, we focused on growing defect-free ZnS thin film and for favorable band alignment of ZnS/CIGS, bandgap of ZnS and CIGS, valece band structure of ZnS/CIGS were modified. Finally, we verified the photovoltaic properties of ZnS/CIGS solar cells.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Globally, the interest of renewable energy has become an upsurge. Especially, the solar industry is the one which is getting rapid growth rate. Many of researchers have been undertaking to improve the efficiency of solar cell to accomplish grid parity. The most of research has been concentrated on two methods, one on the selective emitter and the other is on LBSF (Local Back Surface Field) formation. Laser patterning will be needed to eliminate the thin film to form selective emitter and LBSF of solar cell. This paper reports some experimental results in laser patterning process for high-efficiency crystalline solar cell manufacturing. The experimental results indicate that the patterning quality depends on the average power and repetition rate of laser. The experimental results prove that the laser patterning process is an advantageous method to improve the efficiency of solar cell.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.267-268
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.58.1-58.1
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.641-642
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• 2011

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.440-448
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• 2004

In this paper, to make a solar cell of II-Ⅵ ZnTe compound semiconductor, we studied for the property of the transparent electrode(AZO) and Buffer layer(ZnO), and for reducing the energyband gap of optical absorber layer which are most effective on its efficiency. The ZnTe thin film was used the optical absorber layer of solar cell. Zn and Te were deposited using the co-sputtering method. The thin film was sputtered RF power of Zn/50W and Te/30W, respectively and a substrate temperature of foot under Ar atmosphere of 10mTorr. The energy band gap of the thin film was 1.73ev Then the thin film was annealed at $400^{\circ}C$ for 10sec under a vacuum atmosphere. The energy band gap of 1.67eV was achieved and the film composition ratio of Zn and Te was 32% and 68%. At the best condition, the Solar Cell was manufactured and the efficiency of 6.85% (Voc: 0.69V, Jsc: 21.408㎃/$cm^2$, Fill factor (FF): 0.46) was achieved.

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2013

The fabrication method of plasmonic nanodots on silicon substrate has been developed to improve the efficiency of thin film solar cells. Nanoscale metallic nanodots arrays are fabricated by anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template mask which can have different structural parameters by varying anodization conditions. In this paper, the structural parameters of gold nanodots, which can be controlled by the diverse structures of AAO template mask, are investigated to enhance the optical properties of a-Si thin film solar cells. It is found that optical properties of the thin film solar cells are improved by finding optimization values of the structural parameters of the gold nanodot array.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

This research was to understand the current situation and trends of urban design using rapidly growing solar cells at home and abroad, and to understand the positive aspects and implications of urban design proposals using CIGS thin film solar cells, a research project to be conducted based on case analysis. The research method was conducted through a literature study and the case was investigated and analyzed after identifying the present situation and trends of urban design using solar cells from home and abroad. As a result, it was confirmed that urban design using solar cells was steadily increasing, and through visual changes such as harmony with the surrounding environment, indoor and outdoor visualization, and the use of color, urban aesthetic beauty creation was positive. Based on these implications, we will present the expected effects of CIGS thin film solar cells being utilized in urban design, and confirm the direction and significance of the urban design proposal using CIGS thin film solar cells in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.144-144
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• 2012

최근 폴리머를 기판으로 하는 고속 Flexible TFT (Thin film transistor)나 고효율의 박막 태양전지(Thin film solar cell)를 실현시키기 위해 낮은 비저항(resistivity)을 가지며, 높은 홀 속도(carrier hall mobility)와 긴 이동거리를 가지는 다결정 반도체 박막(poly-crystalline semiconductor thin film)을 만들고자 하고 있다. 지금까지 다결정 박막 반도체를 만들기 위해서는 비교적 높은 온도에서 장시간의 열처리가 필요했으며, 이는 폴리머 기판의 문제점을 야기시킬 뿐 아니라 공정시간이 길다는 단점이 있었다. 이에 반도체 박막의 재결정화 온도를 낮추어 주는 metal (Al, Ni, Co, Cu, Ag, Pd, etc.)을 이용하여 결정화시키는 방법(MIC)이 많이 연구되어지고 있지만, 이 또한 재결정화가 이루어진 반도체 박막 안에 잔류 금속(residual metal)이 존재하게 되어 비저항을 높이고, 홀 속도와 이동거리를 감소시키는 단점이 있다. 이에 본 실험은, 종래의 MIC 결정화 방법에서 이용되어진 금속 증착막을 이용하는 대신, HIPIMS (High power impulse magnetron sputtering)와 PIII&D (Plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition) 공정을 복합시킨 방법으로 적은 양의 알루미늄을 이온주입함으로써 재결정화 온도를 낮추었을 뿐 아니라, 잔류하는 금속의 양도 매우 적은 다결정 반도체 박막을 만들 수 있었다. 분석 장비로는 박막의 결정화도를 측정하기 위해 GIXRD (Glazing incident x-ray diffraction analysis)와 Raman 분광분석법을 사용하였고, 잔류하는 금속의 양과 화학적 결합 상태를 알아보기 위해 XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy)를 통한 분석을 하였다. 또한, 표면 상태와 막의 성장 상태를 확인하기 위하여 HRTEM(High resolution transmission electron microscopy)를 통하여 관찰하였다.