• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.83-88
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• 2020

The evolution of smartphones has led to numerous researches in the mechanical behavior of flexible devices. Due to the nano-size of the thin flexible film, nanoindentation is widely used to evaluate its mechanical behaviors, such as elastic modulus, and hardness. However, the commonly used Oliver-Pharr method is not suited for analyzing the indentation force-depth curves of hard films on soft substrates, as the effects of soft substrate is not considered theoretically. In this study, the elastic modulus of the thin film was evaluated with references to other reported models which include the substrate effect, and with calibration of the indentation depth for the pile-ups between the indenter and test surface. We fabricated test samples by deposition of amorphous metal film on polyimide and silicon wafers for verification of modified models.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.489.2-489.2
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• 2014

The planar type flexible piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH) based on PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (PZT) thin films on the flexible substrates are demonstrated to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The planar type energy harvesters have been realized, which have an electrode pair on the PZT thin films. The PZT thin films were deposited on double side polished sapphire substrates using conventional RF-magnetron sputtering. The PZT thin films on the sapphire substrates were transferred by PDMS stamp with laser lift-off (LLO) process. KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248nm) were used for the LLO process. The PDMS stamp was attached to the top of the PZT thin films and the excimer laser induced onto back side of the sapphire substrate to detach the thin films. The detached thin films on the PDMS stamp transferred to adhesive layer coated on the flexible polyimide substrate. Structural properties of the PZT thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To measure piezoelectric power generation characteristics, Au/Cr inter digital electrode (IDE) was formed on the PZT thin films using the e-beam evaporation. The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were measured by a ferroelectric test system (Precision Premier-II) and piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM), respectively. The output signals of the flexible PEHs were evaluated by electrometer (6517A, Keithley). In the result, the transferred PZT thin films showed the ferroelectric and piezoelectric characteristics without electrical degradation and the fabricated flexible PEHs generated an AC-type output power electrical energy during periodically bending and releasing motion. We expect that the flexible PEHs based on laser transferred PZT thin film is able to be applied on self-powered electronic devices in wireless sensor networks technologies. Also, it has a lot of potential for high performance flexible piezoelectric energy harvester.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.341-341
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• 2012

Recently, oxide semi-conductor materials have been investigated as promising candidates replacing a-Si:H and poly-Si semiconductor because they have some advantages of a room-temperature process, low-cost, high performance and various applications in flexible and transparent electronics. Particularly, amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) is an interesting semiconductor material for use in flexible thin film transistor (TFT) fabrication due to the high carrier mobility and low deposition temperatures. In this work, we demonstrated improvement of flexibility in IGZO TFTs, which were fabricated on polyimide (PI) substrate. At first, a thin poly-4vinyl phenol (PVP) layer was spin coated on PI substrate for making a smooth surface up to 0.3 nm, which was required to form high quality active layer. Then, Ni gate electrode of 100 nm was deposited on the bare PVP layer by e-beam evaporator using a shadow mask. The PVP and $Al_2O_3$ layers with different thicknesses were used for organic/inorganic multi gate dielectric, which were formed by spin coater and atomic layer deposition (ALD), respectively, at $200^{\circ}C$. 70 nm IGZO semiconductor layer and 70 nm Al source/drain electrodes were respectively deposited by RF magnetron sputter and thermal evaporator using shadow masks. Then, IGZO layer was annealed on a hotplate at $200^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. Standard electrical characteristics of transistors were measured by a semiconductor parameter analyzer at room temperature in the dark and performance of devices then was also evaluated under static and dynamic mechanical deformation. The IGZO TFTs incorporating hybrid gate dielectrics showed a high flexibility compared to the device with single structural gate dielectrics. The effects of mechanical deformation on the TFT characteristics will be discussed in detail.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.154-154
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• 2012

Flexible complementary inverters based on thin-film transistors (TFTs) are important because they have low power consumption and high voltage gain compared to single type circuits. We have manufactured flexible complementary inverters using pentacene and amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) for the p-channel and n-channel, respectively. The circuits were fabricated on polyimide (PI) substrate. Firstly, a thin poly-4-vinyl phenol (PVP) layer was spin coated on PI substrate to make a smooth surface with rms surface roughness of 0.3 nm, which was required to grow high quality IGZO layers. Then, Ni gate electrode was deposited on the PVP layer by e-beam evaporator. 400-nm-thick PVP and 20-nm-thick ALD Al2O3 dielectric was deposited in sequence as a double gate dielectric layer for high flexibility and low leakage current. Then, IGZO and pentacene semiconductor layers were deposited by rf sputter and thermal evaporator, respectively, using shadow masks. Finally, Al and Au source/drain electrodes of 70 nm were respectively deposited on each semiconductor layer using shadow masks by thermal evaporator. The characteristics of TFTs and inverters were evaluated at different bending radii. The applied strain led to change in voltage transfer characteristics of complementary inverters as well as source-drain saturation current, field effect mobility and threshold voltage of TFTs. The switching threshold voltage of fabricated inverters was decreased with increasing bending radius, which is related to change in parameters of TFTs. Throughout the bending experiments, relationship between circuit performance and TFT characteristics under mechanical deformation could be elucidated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.479-479
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• 2011

Flexible inverters based on complementary thin-film transistor (CTFTs) are important because they have low power consumption and other advantages over single type TFT inverters. In addition, integrated CTFTs in flexible electronic circuits on low-cost, large area and mechanically flexible substrates have potentials in various applications such as radio-frequency identification tags (RFIDs), sensors, and backplanes for flexible displays. In this work, we introduce flexible complementary inverters using pentacene and amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) for the p-channel and n-channel, respectively. The CTFTs were fabricated on polyimide (PI) substrate. Firstly, a thin poly-4-vinyl phenol (PVP) layer was spin coated on PI substrate to make a smooth surface with rms surface roughness of 0.3 nm, which was required to grow high quality IGZO layers. Then, Ni gate electrode was deposited on the PVP layer by e-beam evaporator. 400-nm-thick PVP and 20-nm-thick ALD Al2O3 dielectric was deposited in sequence as a double gate dielectric layer for high flexibility and low leakage current. Then, IGZO and pentacene semiconductor layers were deposited by rf sputter and thermal evaporator, respectively, using shadow masks. Finally, Al and Au source/drain electrodes of 70 nm were respectively deposited on each semiconductor layer using shadow masks by thermal evaporator. Basic electrical characteristics of individual transistors and the whole CTFTs were measured by a semiconductor parameter analyzer (HP4145B, Agilent Technologies) at room temperature in the dark. Performance of those devices then was measured under static and dynamic mechanical deformation. Effects of cyclic bending were also examined. The voltage transfer characteristics (Vout- Vin) and voltage gain (-dVout/dVin) of flexible inverter circuit were analyzed and the effects of mechanical bending will be discussed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2017

Metamaterials composed of split cut wire (SCW) on grounded polyimide film substrate have been investigated for the aim of electromagnetic wave absorbers operated in THz frequency band. Reflection loss and current density distributions are numerically simulated with variations of the SCW geometries using the commercial software. The minimum reflection loss lower than -20 dB has been identified at 5.5~6.5 THz. The simulated resonance frequency and reflection loss can be explained on the basis of the circuit theory of an inductance-capacitance (L-C) resonator. Dual-band absorption can be obtained by arrangement of two SCWs of different length on the top layer of the grounded substrate, which is due to multiple magnetic resonances by scaling of SCWs. With increasing the side spacing between SCWs, a more enhanced absorption peak is observed at the first resonance frequency that is shifted to a lower frequency.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.420-426
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• 2024

This study proposes an innovative methodology for developing flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) capable of conforming to three-dimensional shapes, meeting the increasing demand for electronic circuits in diverse and complex product designs. By integrating a traditional flat plate-based fabrication process with a subsequent three-dimensional thermal deformation technique, we have successfully demonstrated an FPCB that maintains stable electrical characteristics despite significant shape deformations. Using a modified polyimide substrate along with Ag flake-based conductive ink, we identified optimized process variables that enable substrate thermal deformation at lower temperatures (~130℃) and enhance the stretchability of the conductive ink (ε ~30%). The application of this novel FPCB in a prototype 3D-shaped sensor device, incorporating photosensors and temperature sensors, illustrates its potential for creating multifunctional, shape-adaptable electronic devices. The sensor can detect external light sources and measure ambient temperature, demonstrating stable operation even after transitioning from a planar to a three-dimensional configuration. This research lays the foundation for next-generation FPCBs that can be seamlessly integrated into various products, ushering in a new era of electronic device design and functionality.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.154-158
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• 2007

For the application of flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), electroplated copper is required to have low surface roughness and residual stress. In the paper, the effects of surface roughness and residual stress of electroplated copper as thick as $8{\mu}m$ were studied on organic additives such as inhibitor, leveler and accelerator. Polyimide film coated with sputtered copper was used as a substrate. Surface roughness and surface morphology were measured by 3D-laser surface analysis and FESEM, respectively. Residual stress was calculated by Stoney's equation after measuring radius curvature of specimen. The addition of additives except high concentration of accelerator in the electrolyte decreased surface roughness of electroplated copper film. Such a tendency was explained by the function of additives among which the inhibitor and the leveler inhibit electroplating on a whole surface and prolusions, respectively. The accelerator plays a role in accelerating the electroplating in valley parts. The inhibitors and the leveler increased residual stress, whereas the accelerator decreased it. It was thought to be related with entrapped additives on electroplated copper film rather than the preferred orientation of electroplated copper film. The reason why additives lead to residual stress remains for the future work.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.318-318
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• 2012

A graphene layer is most important materials in resent year to enhance the electrical properties of semiconductor device due to high mobility, flexibility, strong mechanical resistance and transparency[1,2]. The resistance switching memory with the graphene layer have been reported for next generation nonvolatile memory device[3,4]. Also, the graphene layer is able to improve the electrical properties of memory device because of the high mobility and current density. In this study, the resistance switching memory device with metal-oxide nano-particles embedded in polyimide layer on the graphene mono-layer were fabricated. At first, the graphene layer was deposited $SiO_2$/Si substrate by using chemical vapor deposition. Then, a biphenyl-tetracarboxylic dianhydride-phenylene diamine poly-amic-acid was spin coated on the deposited metal layer on the graphene mono-layer. Then the samples were cured at $400^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour in $N_2$ atmosphere after drying at $135^{\circ}C$ for 30 min through rapid thermal annealing. The deposition of aluminum layer with thickness of 200 nm was done by a thermal evaporator. The electrical properties of device were measured at room temperature using an HP4156a precision semiconductor parameter analyzer and an Agilent 81101A pulse generator. We will discuss the switching mechanism of memory device with metal-oxide nano-particles on the graphene mono-layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.148-148
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• 2016

디스플레이 시장이 rigid에서 flexible로 변화하기 시작하면서 유연 투명전극 소재에 대한 수요가 증가하고 있다. 투명전극으로 대표되는 Indium Tin Oxide(ITO)는 고투과 저저항의 장점을 가지지만 유연성이 떨어져 이를 대체 할 투명전극 소재로 Metal mesh, Ag nano-wire, CNT, Graphene, Conductive polymer 등에 대한 응용 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 Metal mesh 용 Cu thin film 형성을 위해 플라즈마 표면처리 기술로 플라스틱 기판과 Cu 박막 사이의 밀착력을 향상시키고자 공정 연구를 수행하였다. 고품질의 Cu thin film 제작을 위해 양산용 roll to roll 장비를 이용하였고, 선형이온소스를 적용하여 플라즈마 표면처리를 수행하였다. 이후 마그네트론 스퍼터링을 통해 Ni buffer layer 및 Cu 박막 증착 공정을 in-situ로 진행하였다. 이러한 공정을 통해 제작한 Cu thin film의 밀착력을 평가하기 위해 cross cut test(ASTM D3359)를 수행하였다. 그 결과 플라스틱 기판과 Cu 금속 박막 사이의 밀착력이 0B에서 5B까지 향상된 것을 확인하였고, 플라즈마 표면처리 공정을 통해서 저항 또한 감소되는 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해 polyethylene terephthalate(PET)뿐만 아니라 polyimide(PI) 기판 상에서도 플라즈마 표면처리를 통해 금속 박막의 밀착력이 향상되는 결과를 확인하였으며, flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL) 같은 유연 정보 소자 분야에 응용 가능할 것으로 기대된다.