• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 2013

We fabricated transparent conductive electrodes with silver (Ag) nanofibers by electrospinning process. Ag nanofibers have high aspect ratio and fused junctions which result in low sheet resistance. Electrospinning is a fast and efficient process to fabricate continuous one-dimensional (1D) nanofibers. Ag/polymer ink were prepared in polymer matrix solution by a sol-gel method. Then, Ag/polymer nanofibers precursors are heated at $200{\sim}500^{\circ}C$ in air for 2 h to eliminate partially the polymers. The topographical features of the Ag nanofibers were characterized by FE-SEM, and the electrical property was analyzed through I-V measurement system. Finally, optical property was measured using UV/VIS spectroscopy. The transparent conductive electrodes with Ag nanofibers exhibited a sheet resistance (Rs) of $250{\Omega}/sq$ at a transparency (T) of 83%. Transparent conductive films, contain the Ag nanofibers as conductive materials, have good electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Therefore, it is expected to be useful for the application of flexible display in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.219-224
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• 2022

CaF₂ single crystal has a large band gap (12 eV), and it is used for optical windows, prisms, and lenses due to its excellent transmittance in a wide wavelength range and low refractive index. Moreover, it is expected to be one of the materials for ultraviolet transmissive laser optical components. CaF₂ belongs to the fluoride compounds and has a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure with three sub-lattices. The representative method for CaF₂ single crystal growth is Czochralski, which method has the advantages of high production efficiency and the ability to make large crystals. In this study, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray rocking curves (XRC) measurement, and chemical etching were performed to analyze the crystallinity and defect density of the CaF₂ single crystals, grown by the Czochralski method. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy systems were used to investigate the optical properties of the CaF₂ crystal. The provability of various applications, including UV application, was systematically investigated with various analysis results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.393-393
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• 2012

Optically active nanostructures such as subwavelength moth-eye antireflective structures or surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active structures have been demonstrated to provide the effective suppression of unwanted reflections as in subwavelength structure (SWS) or effective enhancement of selective signals as in SERS. While various nanopatterning techniques such as photolithography, electron-beam lithography, wafer level nanoimprinting lithography, and interference lithography can be employed to fabricate these nanostructures, roll-to-roll (R2R) nanoimprinting is gaining interests due to its low cost, continuous, and scalable process. R2R nanoimprinting requires a master to produce a stamp that can be wrapped around a quartz roller for repeated nanoimprinting process. Among many possibilities, two different types of mask can be employed to fabricate optically active nanostructures. One is self-assembled Au nanoparticles on Si substrate by depositing Au film with sputtering followed by annealing process. The other is monolayer silica particles dissolved in ethanol spread on the wafer by spin-coating method. The process is optimized by considering the density of Au and silica nano particles, depth and shape of the patterns. The depth of the pattern can be controlled with dry etch process using reactive ion etching (RIE) with the mixture of SF6 and CHF3. The resultant nanostructures are characterized for their reflectance using UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer (Agilent technology, Cary 5000) and for surface morphology using scanning electron microscope (SEM, JEOL JSM-7100F). Once optimized, these optically active nanostructures can be used to replicate with roll-to-roll process or soft lithography for various applications including displays, solar cells, and biosensors.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2020

Single-phased SnS thin films have been prepared by RF magnetron sputtering at various deposition pressures. The effect of deposition pressure on the structural and optical properties of polycrystalline SnS thin films was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectrophotometer. The XRD analysis revealed the orthorhombic structure of the SnS thin films oriented along the (111) plane direction. As the deposition pressure was increased from 5 mTorr to 15 mTorr, the intensity of the peak on the (111) plane increased, and the intensity decreased under the condition of 20 mTorr. The binding energy difference at the Sn 3d_5/2 and S 2p_3/2 core levels was about 324.5 eV, indicating that the SnS thin film was prepared as a pure Sn-S phase. The optical properties of the SnS thin films indicate the presence of direct allowed transitions with corresponding energy band gap in the rang 1.47-1.57 eV.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.316-316
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• 2008

Using an evaporation method, $SiO_2$ was deposited as a buffer layer between a flexible PET substrate and a ITO film deposited by DC magnetron sputtering and electro-optical properties were investigated with thickness variance of $SiO_2$ layers. After coating a $SiO_2$ layer and a ITO film, the ITO/$SiO_2$/PET was heated up to $200^{\circ}C$ and the resistivity and the transmittance were measured by hall effect measurement system and UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy. As a result of depositing a $SiO_2$ buffer layer, the resistivity increased and the transmittance and adhesion property were enhanced than ITO films with no buffer layers and the resistivity was lowered as $SiO_2$ thickness increased from 50 $\AA$ to 100 $\AA$. It was found that the transmittance was independent of annealing temperature variance in $150^{\circ}C{\sim}200^{\circ}C$ and the resistivity decreased as the temperature increased and especially decreasing rate of the resistivity was higher as the buffer layer thickness was thinner. So under optimized depositing of $SiO_2$ buffer layers and post-annealing of ITO/$SiO_2$/PET, ITO films with enhanced adhesion, electro-optical properties can obtained.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.57-62
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• 2012

In this report, we demonstrate that the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance mode can be suppressed when the nanorods were in dumbbell shape. The seed nanorods were synthesized by electrochemical deposition of metals into the pores of anodic aluminum oxide templates. The dumbbell-like nanorods were grown from seed Au-Ni-Au nanorods by a rate-controlled seed-mediated growth strategy. The selective deposition of Au atoms onto Au blocks of Au-Ni-Au nanorods produced larger diameter of Au nanorods with bumpy surface resulting in dumbbell-like nanorods. The morphology of nanorods depended on the reduction rate of $AuCl_4^-$, slow rate producing smooth surface of Au nanorods, but high reduction rate producing bumpy surface morphology. Through systematic investigation into the UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, we found that the multiple localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) modes were available from single-component Au nanorods. And, their LSPR modes of Au NRs with bumpy surface, compared to the smooth seed Au NRs, were red-shifted, which was obviously attributed to the increased electron oscillation pathways. While the longitudinal LSPR modes of smoothly grown Au NRs were blue-shifted except for a dipole transverse LSPR mode, which can be interpreted by decreased aspect ratio. In addition, dumbbell-like nanorods showed an almost disappeared longitudinal LSPR mode. It reflects that the plasmonic properties can be engineered using complex nanorods structure.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2015

We prepared 8 samples of non-silver and silver-added master alloys containing silicon to confirm the existence of nickel-silicides. We then prepared products made of 14K and 18K white gold by using the prepared master alloys containing 0.25, 0.35, and 0.50 wt% silicon to check for nickel release. We then employed the EN 1811 testing standard to investigate the nickel release of the white gold products, and we also confirmed the color of the white gold products with an UV-VIS-NIR-color meter. We observed $NiSi_x$ residue in all master alloys containing more than 0.50 wt% Si with EDS-nitric acid etching. For the white gold products, we could not confirm the existence of $NiSi_x$ through XRD after aqua-regia etching. In the EN 1811 test, only the white gold products with 0.25 wt% silicon master alloys successfully passed the nickel release regulations. Moreover, we confirmed that our white gold products showed excellent Lab indices as compared to those of commercial white gold ones, and the silver-added master alloys offered a larger L index. Our results indicate that employing 0.25 wt% silicon master alloys might be suitable for white gold products without nickel-silicide defects and nickel release problems.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.278-288
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• 2010

High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) treatment can significantly change the color of diamonds. We studied the variation of the optical properties according to the nitrogen arrangement in natural brown diamonds of various types (type IaAB, type IaB, type IaA > B, type IaA < B, IaA = B) after HPHT treatment. The diamonds with different arrangements of nitrogen were annealed at temperatures in the range $1700-1800^{\circ}C$ under a stabilizing pressure of 5 GPa. HPHT treated samples were analyzed using UV-Vis-NIR, FT-IR, and PL spectroscopy. The absorption and luminescence spectra were measured to compare the variations of nitrogen arrangement in the natural brown diamonds before and after HPHT treatment. After HPHT treatment, the brown coloration in all types of diamonds was reduced and a decrease in the peaks related to the A-aggregate of nitrogen was more predominant than the B-aggregate. Furthermore, the peaks related to N3 (415.4 nm), H4 (496.4 nm), and platelet decreased and the peaks related to H3 (503.2 nm) and G-band increased after HPHT treatment. In conclusion, spectroscopic analysis of natural brown diamonds after HPHT treatment showed that a yellow color was produced by absorption in the H3 centers and a green color was generated by interaction between absorptions of the H3 and H2 centers.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.381-385
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• 2017

In order to replace 14K white gold alloys, the properties of 5K white gold alloys (Au20-Ag80) were investigated by changing the contents of In (0.0-10.0 wt%). Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to determine the precise content of alloys. Properties of the alloys such as hardness, melting point, color difference, and corrosion resistance were determined using Vickers Hardness test, TGA-DTA, UV-VIS-NIR-colorimetry, and salt-spray tests, respectively. Wetting angle analysis was performed to determine the wettability of the alloys on plaster. The results of the EDS analysis confirmed that the Au-Ag-In alloys had been fabricated with the intended composition. The results of the Vickers hardness test revealed that each Au-Ag-In alloy had higher mechanical hardness than that of 14K white gold. TGA-DTA analysis showed that the melting point decreased with an increase in the In content. In particular, the alloy containing 10.0 wt% In showed a lower melting temperature (> $70^{\circ}C$) than the other alloys, which implied that alloys containing 10.0 wt% In can be used as soldering materials for Au-Ag-In alloys. Color difference analysis also revealed that all the Au-Ag-In alloys showed a color difference of less than 6.51 with respect to 14K white gold, which implied a white metallic color. A 72-h salt-spray test confirmed that the Au-AgIn alloys showed better corrosion resistance than 14K white gold alloys. All Au-Ag-In alloys showed wetting angle similar to that of 14K white gold alloys. It was observed that the 10.0 wt% In alloy had a very small wetting angle, further confirming it as a good soldering material for white metals. Our results show that white 5K Au-Ag-In alloys with appropriate properties might be successful substitutes for 14K white gold alloys.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2018

The properties of 18 K red gold solder alloys were investigated by changing the content of In up to 10.0 wt% in order to replace the hazardous Cd element. Cupellation and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to check the composition of each alloy, and FE-SEM and UV-VIS-NIR-Colormeter were employed for microstructure and color characterization. The melting temperature, hardness, and wetting angle of the samples were determined by TGA-DTA, the Vickers hardness tester, and the Wetting angle tester. The cupellation result confirmed that all the samples had 18K above 75.0wt%-Au. EDS results showed that Cu and In elements were alloyed with the intended composition without segregation. The microstructure results showed that the amount of In increased, and the grain size became smaller. The color analysis revealed that the proposed solders up to 10.0 wt% In showed a color similar to the reference 18 K substrate like the 10.0 wt% Cd solder with a color difference of less than 7.50. TGA-DTA results confirmed that when more than 5.0 wt% of In was added, the melting temperature decreased enough for the soldering process. The Vickers hardness result revealed that more than 5.0 wt% In solder alloys had greater hardness than 10.0 wt% Cd solder, which suggested that it was more favorable in making a wire type solder. Moreover, all the In solders showed a lower wetting angle than the 10.0 wt% Cd solder. Our results suggested that the In alloyed 18 K red gold solders might replace the conventional 10.0 wt% Cd solder with appropriate properties for red gold jewelry soldering.