• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Recently, various types of flexible devices such as flexible displays, batteries, e-skins and solar cell panels have been reported. Most of the researches focus on the development of high performance flexible device. However, to realize these flexible devices, the long-term reliability should be guaranteed during the repeated deformations of flexible devices because the direct mechanical stress would be applied on the electronic devices unlike the rigid Si-based devices. Among various materials consisting electronics devices, metal electrode is one of the weakest parts against mechanical deformation because the mechanical and electrical properties of metal films degrade gradually due to fatigue damage during repeated deformations. This article reviews the researches of fatigue behavior of thin metal film, and introduces the methods to enhance the reliability of metal electrode for flexible device.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.394.2-394.2
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• 2014

We fabricated highly transparent and flexible Ti doped In2O3 (TIO)/Ag nanowire(NW)/TIO (TAT) multilayer electrodes by linear facing target sputtering (LFTS) and brush-painting for used as flexible for anode organic solar cells(FOSCs). The characteristics of TAT transparent anode as a function of number of brush-painting cycles was also investigated. At optimized conditions we achieved highly flexible TAT multilayer electrodes with a low sheet resistance of $9.01{\Omega}/square$ and a high diffusive transmittance more than 80% in visible region as well as superior mechanical stability. The effective embedment of the Ag NW network between top and bottom TIO films led to a metallic conductivity, high transparency. Based on FE-SEM HRTEM, and XRD analysis, we can find that the Ag NW network was effectively embedded between top and bottom TIO layers due to good flexibility of Ag NW, the TAT multilayer showed superior flexibility than single TIO layer. Successful operation of FOSCs with high power conversion efficiency of 3.01% indicates that TAT hybrid electrode is a promising alternative to conventional ITO electrode for high performance FOSCs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.36-36
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• 2010

Currently, there are several newly developed energy resources for the future to replace petroleum resources such as hydrogen fuel cell, solar cell, wind power, and etc. Among them, solar cell has attracted a worldwide concern, because it has an enormous amount of resources. In general, a study of solar cells can be classified in to an area of bulk type and thin-film type. Inorganic solar cells based on silicon have been tremendously developed in technology and efficiency. However, since there are many lithographic steps, high processing temperature approximately $1000^{\circ}C$, and expensive raw materials, a manufacturing cost of device are nearly reaching a limit. Contrary to those disadvantages, organic solar cells can be manufactured at room temperature. Also, it has many advantages such as a low cost, easy fabrication of thin film, and possible manufacture to a large size. Because it can be made to be flexible, research and development on solar cells are actively in progress for the next generation. ever though an efficiency of the organic solar cell is low compared to that of inorganic one, a continuous study is needed. In this paper, we report optimal device structure obtained by a program simulation for design and development of highly efficient organic photovoltaic cells. we have also compared simulated results to experimental ones.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.3.2-3.2
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• 2011

In recent years, inkjet printing technology has received significant attention as a micro/nanofabrication technique for flexible printing of electronic circuits and solar cells, as well for biomaterial patterning. It eliminates the need for physical masks, causes fewer environment problems, lowers fabrication costs, and offers good layer-to-layer registration. To fulfill the requirements for use in the above applications, however, the inkjet system must meet certain criteria such as high frequency jetting, uniform droplet size, high density nozzle array, etc. Existing inkjet devices are either based on thermal bubbles or piezoelectric pumping; they have several drawbacks for flexible printing. For instance, thermal bubble jetting has limitations in terms of size and density of the nozzle array as well as the ejection frequency. Piezoelectric based devices suffer from poor pumping energy in addition to inadequate ejection frequency. Recently, an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing technique has been suggested and proposed as an alternative to thermal bubble or piezoelectric devices. In EHD jetting, a liquid (ink) is pumped through a nozzle and a strong electric field is applied between the nozzle and an extractor plate, which induce charges at the surfaces of the liquid meniscus. This electric field creates an electric stress that stretches the meniscus in the direction of the electric field. Once the electric field force is larger than the surface tension force, a liquid droplet is formed. An EHD inkjet head can produce droplets smaller than the size of the nozzle that produce them. Furthermore, the EHD nano-inkjet can eject high viscosity liquid through the nozzle forming tiny structures. These unique features distinguish EHD printing from conventional methods for sub-micron resolution printing. In this presentation, I will introduce the recent research results regarding the EHD nano-inkjet and the printing system, which has been applied to solar cell or thin film transistor applications.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

Recently flexible electronic devices have attracted a great deal of attention because of new application possibilities including flexible display, flexible memory, flexible solar cell and flexible sensor. In particular, development of flexible memory is essential to complete the flexible integrated systems such as flexible smart phone and wearable computer. Research of flexible memory has primarily focused on organic-based materials. However, organic flexible memory has still several disadvantages, including lower electrical performance and long-term reliability. Therefore, emerging research in flexible electronics seeks to develop flexible and stretchable technologies that offer the high performance of conventional wafer-based devices as well as superior flexibility. Development of flexible memory with inorganic silicon materials is based on the design principle that any material, in sufficiently thin form, is flexible and bendable since the bending strain is directly proportional to thickness. This article reviews progress in recent technologies for flexible memory and flexible electronics with inorganic silicon materials, including transfer printing technology, wavy or serpentine interconnection structure for reducing strain, and wafer thinning technology.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2023

In this work, we investigated the thickness of Ag precursor layer to improve the performance of flexible CIGSe solar cells grown on stainless steel (STS) substrates through three-stage co-evaporation with Ga grading followed by alkali treatments. The small amount of incorporated Ag in CIGSe films showed enhancement in the grain size and device efficiency. With an optimal 6 nm-thick Ag layer, the best cell on the STS substrate yielded more than 16%, which is comparable to the soda-lime glass (SLG) substrate. Thus, the addition of controlled Ag combined with alkali post-deposition treatment (PDT) led to increased open-circuit voltage (VOC), accompanied by the increased built-in potential as confirmed by capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. It is related to a reduction of charge recombination at the depletion region. The results suggest that Ag alloying and alkali PDT are essential for producing highly efficient flexible CIGSe solar cells.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.125.1-125.1
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• 2011

빛 에너지를 전기에너지로 변환하는 발전소자인 태양전지는 청정 재생 에너지원으로 최근 Si 박막 태양전지의 고 효율화를 위해 여러 기술적인 면에서 개발되어지고 있다. 현재 박막형 태양전지는 실리콘계가 주류를 이루고 있으며, 유리 혹은 유연성기판(금속 or 고분자)에 비정질 실리콘 박막을 형성시킨 태양전지와 실리콘웨이퍼의 양면에 태양전지를 형성함으로써 효율을 극대화시킨 이종접합태양전지 등이 연구되고 있다. 특히 flexible 태양전지는 hard 기판에 비해 비교적 저가인 플라스틱 필름과 금속 foil을 기판으로 이용함으로서 저가화가 용이하며, 가볍고 유연성을 갖추고 있어 휴대와 시공에 있어 매우 우수한 장점을 가지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 flexible 기판(stainless steel)을 이용하여 태양전지 내 반사막 층이 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 AZO/Ag 이중구조 박막의 특성을 연구하였다. RF magnetron sputtering system을 이용하였으며, 상온에서 Ag/AZO 이중구조 박막을 제조하였다. stainless steel 기판 위에 Ag층을 25nm 두께로 증착하였으며 연속공정으로 AZO 박막을 100~500nm의 두께경사를 가지도록 성장시켰다. 이 때의 AZO/Ag 이중구조 박막의 표면 morphology는 AFM 분석결과 7nm~3nm의 값을 나타내었으며, AZO 박막의 두께가 증가할수록 rms 값이 감소하는 경향을 보여주었다. 본 발표에서는 flexible 기판 상에 성장된 AZO/Ag 이중구조 박막의 전기적, 광학적 특성 등에 관하여 추가적으로 토론한 후 태양전지 효율 중 흡수층 내 반사막 층이 미치는 역할을 알아보겠다.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.59-72
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• 2014

This study provides the structural design for commercialization of outdoor breathable waterproof jackets for men merged with solar cells to enable emergency communications, utilizing wearable devices to develop smart clothing and extend convenience in everyday life. The most popular waterproof jacket with two-layer and three-layer moisture-permeable waterproof fabric was selected, based on previous studies of functional outdoor jackets and style with affinity to fashion. Flexible solar films suitable for clothing were embedded in the lining of the sleeve area and hood visor, and printed film was developed to balance weight and design. High performance smart solar jackets have application to expanding the use of smart phones for everyday and emergency communication, and leisure and outdoor sports activities, as well as day-to-day functions as a waterproof breathable outdoor jacket for men. It is also eco-friendly. Satisfying both the aesthetic and practical, a solar cell jacket with smart features, is an innovative tool for use in a variety of outdoor activities, and a fashion-forward commercialized product.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.103-109
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• 2014

Highly efficient hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin-film solar cells were prepared on flexible stainless steel substrates using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. To enhance the performance of solar cells, material properties of back reflectors, n-doped seed layers and wide bandgap nc-SiC:H window layers were optimized. The light scattering efficiency of Ag back reflectors was improved by increasing the surface roughness of the films deposited at elevated substrate temperatures. Using the n-doped seed layers with high crystallinity, the initial crystal growth of intrinsic nc-Si:H absorber layers was improved, resulting in the elimination of the defect-dense amorphous regions at the n/i interfaces. The nc-SiC:H window layers with high bandgap over 2.2 eV were deposited under high hydrogen dilution conditions. The vertical current flow of the films was enhanced by the formation of Si nanocrystallites in the amorphous SiC:H matrix. Under optimized conditions, a high conversion efficiency of 9.13% ($V_{oc}=0.52$, $J_{sc}=25.45mA/cm^2$, FF = 0.69) was achieved for the flexible nc-Si:H thin-film solar cells.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.116.2-116.2
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• 2011

연성 CIGS 태양전지를 제작하기 위해서는 휘어지는 연성 기판재의 적용이 반드시 필요하다. 상용되는 연성 기판재로는 플라스틱, 폴리이미드, 금속재가 있다. 그러나 플라스틱과 폴리이미드는 고효율의 CIGS 흡수층을 제조하기 위한 $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$의 공정에 접합하지 못하다. 금속 기판재의 경우는 몰리브데늄, 알루미늄, 티타늄, 크롬강, 스테인레스강, 합금재 등이 있다. 이러한 금속 기판재 중에서 Fe-Ni 합금재는 Ni 함량의 변화에 따라 기계적, 자기적, 열팽창 특성이 다르게 나타나는 것으로 알려져 있다. 선행 연구에서 CIGS 태양전지의 기판재로 열팽창 계수가 박막층과 유사한 SUS400번 계열과 Fe-52Ni이 적합하다는 것을 확인 하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 유한요소해석(Finite element analysis) 프로그램인 Algor를 이용하여 CIGS solar cell을 설계하고 Fe-52Ni 기판재와 절연층인 SiO2, 흡수층인 CIGS의 두께에 따른 Cell의 잔류응력을 해석하였다.