• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.703-703
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• 2001

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.145-150
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• 2016

During the chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process, slurry that comprises abrasive particles can directly affect the CMP performance and quality. Mainly, the large particles in the slurry can generate the defects on the wafer. Thus, many kinds of filters have been used in the CMP process to remove unwanted over-sized particles. Among these filters, the point-of-use (POU) filter is used just before the slurry is supplied onto the CMP pad. In the CMP research field, analysis of the POU filter has been relatively exceptional, and previous studies have not focused on the standardized filtration efficiency (FE) or filter performance. Furthermore, conventional evaluation methods of filter performance are not appropriate for POU filters, as the POU filter is not a membrane type, but is instead a depth type roll filter. In order to accurately evaluate the POU filter, slurry FE according to particle size was measured in this study. Additionally, a CMP experiment was conducted with filtered slurry to demonstrate the effects of filtered slurry on CMP performance. Depending on the flow rate and the filter retention size, the FE according to particle size was different. When the small and large particles have different FEs, the total filtration efficiency (TFE) can still have a similar value. For this reason, there is a need to measure the FE with respect to the particle size to verify the effects of the POU filter on the CMP process.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.707-713
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• 2001

As the integrated circuit device shrinks to smaller dimensions, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process was requirdfo the global planarization of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer with free-defect. However, as the IMD layer gest thinner, micro-scratches are becoming as major defects. However, as the IMD layer gets thinner, micro-scratches are becoming as major defects. Micro-scratches are generated by agglomerated slurry, solidified and attached slurry in pipe line of slurry supply system. To prevent agglomerated slurry particle from inflow, we installed 0.5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ point of use (POU) filter, which is depth-type filter and has 80% filtering efficiency for the 1.0${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ size particle. In this paper, we studied the relationship between defect generation and polished wafer counts to understand the exact efficiency fo the slurry filteration, and to find out the appropriate pad usage. Our experimental results showed that it sis impossible to prevent defect-causing particles perfectly through the depth-type filter. Thus, we suggest that it is necessary to optimize the slurry flow rate, and to install the high spray bar of de-ionized water (DIW) with high pressure, to overcome the weak-point of depth type filter.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.261-269
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• 2013

The chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is widely used in semiconductor manufacturing process for planarization of various materials and structures. Point-of-use (POU) filters are used in most of the CMP processes in order to reduce the unwanted micro-scratches which may result in defects. The performance of the POU filter is depends on type and size of the abrasives used during cleaning process. For this reason, there is a need to evaluate POU filters for their filtration efficiency (FE) with different types of abrasives. In this study, we developed filter test system to evaluate the FE of POU using ceria and silica abrasives (slurry). The POU filter is roll type capsule filter with retention size of 0.2 ${\mu}m$. Two POU filters of different make are evaluated for FE. We observed that both POU filters show similar filtration efficiency for silica and ceria slurry. Results reveal that the ceria slurry and the colloidal silica particle are removed not only by mechanical way but also hydrodynamic and electrostatic interaction way.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.132-135
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• 2003

Endotoxin concentrations were measured from 69 point-of-use(POU) water treatment system(WTS) by using Limulus amebocyte lysate(LAL) assay, and the results were compared to heterotrophic bacterial data. Endotoxin concentrations in all POU WTS water samples and tap waters varied within the range 0.8-79.1EU mL$\^$-1/ and 0.1-3.4EU mL$\^$-1/, respectively, The correlations between endotoxin concentration and HPC bacteria from the water samples showed not significant(r=0.18).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2018

POU (point of use) scrubbers were applied for the treatment of waste gases including PFCs (perfluorocompounds) exhausted from the CVD (chemical vapor deposition), etching, and cleaning processes of semiconductor and display manufacturing plant. The GWP (global warming potential) and atmosphere lifetime of PFCs are known to be a few thousands higher than that of $CO_2$, and extremely high temperature more than 3,000 K is required to thermally decompose PFCs. Therefore, POU gas scrubbers based on the thermal plasma technology were developed for the effective control of PFCs and industrial application of the technology. The thermal plasma technology encompasses the generation of powerful plasma via the optimization of the plasma torch, a highly stable power supply, and the matching technique between two components. In addition, the effective mixture of the high temperature plasma and waste gases was also necessary for the highly efficient abatement of PFCs. The purpose of this paper was to provide not only a useful technical information of the post-treatment process for the waste gas scrubbing but also a short perspective on R&D of POU plasma gas scrubbers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.05b
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• pp.34-37
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• 2001

As the integrated circuit device shrinks to smaller dimensions, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process was required for the global planarization of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer with free-defect. However, as the inter-metal dielectrics (IMD) layer gets thinner, micro-scratches are becoming as major defects. Micro-scratches are generated by agglomerated slurry, solidified and attached slurry in pipe line of slurry supply system. To prevent agglomerated slurry particle from inflow, we installed 0.5${\mu}m$ POU (point of use) filter, which is depth-type filter and has 80% filtering efficiency for the $1.0{\mu}m$ size particle. In this paper, we studied the relationship between defect generation and pad count to understand the exact efficiency of the slurry filtration, and to find out the appropriate pad usage. Our preliminary results showed that it is impossible to prevent defect-causing particles perfectly through the depth-type filter. Thus, we suggest that it is necessary to optimize the flow rate of slurry to overcome depth type filters weak-point, and to install the high spray of de-ionized Water (DIW) with high pressure.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.191-195
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• 2002

Chemical mechanical Polishing (CMP) process is widely used for the global planarization of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer and inter-layer dielectric (ILD) for deep sub-micron technology. However, as the IMD and ILD layer gets thinner, defects such as micro-scratch lead to severe circuit failure, which affect yield. In this paper, for the improvement of CMP process, deionized water (DIW) pressure, purified $N_2$ ($PN_2$) gas, point of use (POU) slurry filler and high spray bar (HSB) were installed. Our experimental results show that DW pressure and P$N_2$ gas factors were not related with removal rate, but edge hot-spot of patterned wafer had a serious relation. Also, the filter installation in CMP polisher could reduce defects after CMP process, it is shown that slurry filter plays an important role in determining consumable pad lifetime. The filter lifetime is dominated by the defects. However, the slurry filter is impossible to prevent defect-causing particles perfectly. Thus, we suggest that it is necessary to install the high spray bar of de-ionized water (DIW) with high pressure, to overcome the weak-point of slurry filter Finally, we could expect the improvements of throughput, yield and stability in the ULSI fabrication process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.202-206
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• 2004

The objectives of this study are to investigate the relationship between the silver ion concentrations released from the point-of-use(POU) water purification devices installed silver impregnated activated carbon filters and the antibacterial activities against HPC bacteria. Total of 68 POU devices were tested. The concentrations of the eluted silver ion from the silver impregnated activated carbon filter showed the range from $4\;{\mu}g/L$ to $386\;{\mu}g/L$, and the HPC bacteria were found to diversely grow within the range 0-5,200 cfu/mL. The average silver concentrations released from UF units system and RO units system were $30\;{\mu}g/L$ and $73\;{\mu}g/L$, respectively. And the number of colonies were reduced significantly as the elution levels of silver exceeded $100\;{\mu}g/L$, however silver ions below the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/L$ were not particularly effective for eradicating HPC bacteria from water.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.111-124
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• 2014

Decentralized water supply systems, treating the water in users'vicinity, cutting down the distribution system, utilizing the alternative water resources(rainwater harvesting, water reclamation and reuse and so on.) and saving energy and other resources, could be categorized into POU(Point-Of-Use), POE(Point-Of-Entry) and community small scale system. From the literature review, we could thought that decentralized water supply system and hybrid system(integrating centralized and decentralized water supply system within urban water management) might have strengthening comparative advantages to centralized system with respect to: (1) water security, (2) sustainability, (3) economical affordability. Even though it is difficult to derive and quantify direct benefit advantages from decentralized and hybrid system in comparison with centralized system, (1) operational cost reduction, (2) assurance for safe and stability water supply and (3) greenhouse gas reduction can be expected from successful establishment of the former.