• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.417-421
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• 2016

We improve the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by preparing a working electrode (WE) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by inducing Au thin films with thickness of 0.0 to 5.0 nm, deposited via sputtering. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the microstructure of the blocking layer (BL) of the Au thin films. Micro-Raman measurement was employed to confirm the LSPR effect, and a solar simulator and potentiostat were used to evaluate the photovoltaic properties, including the impedance and the I-V of the DSSC of the Au thin films. The results of the microstructural analysis confirmed that nano-sized Au agglomerates were present at certain thicknesses. The photovoltaic results show that the ECE reached a value of 5.34% with a 1-nm thick-Au thin film compared to the value of 5.15 % without the Au thin film. This improvement was a result of the increase in the LSPR of the $TiO_2$ layer that resulted from the Au thin film coating. Our results imply that the ECE of a DSSC may be improved by coating with a proper thickness of Au thin film on the BL.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2018

In order to increase the efficiency of the sputtering method widely used in thin film fabrication, a dc sputtering apparatus which supplies both high frequency and magnetic field from the outside was fabricated, and cobalt thin film was fabricated using this apparatus. The apparatus can independently control the applied voltage, the target-substrate distance, and the target current, which are important parameters in the sputtering method, so that a stable glow discharge is obtained even at a low gas pressure of $10^{-3}$ Torr. The fabrication conditions using the sputtering method were mainly performed in $Ar+O_2$ mixed gas containing about 0.6 % oxygen gas under various Ar gas pressures of 1 to 30 mTorr. The microstructure of Co thin films deposited using this apparatus was examined by electron diffraction pattern and X-ray techniques. The magnetic properties were investigated by measuring the magnetization curves. The microstructure and magnetic properties of Co thin films depend on the discharge gas pressure. The thin film fabricated at high gas pressure showed a columnar structure containing a large amount of the third phase in the boundary region and the thin film formed at low gas pressure showed little or no columnar structure. The coercivity in the plane was slightly larger than that in the latter case.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.383-390
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• 1992

We investigated the effect of substrate on the properties of the Ni-Zn-Cu ferrite thin films deposited on SiO2 (1000∼3000${\AA}$) / Si (100) substrate at various conditions by rf magnetron sputtering. A disktype Ni-Zn-Cu ferrite sintered by conventional ceramic process and argon gas were used as a target and a sputtering gas, repectively. The compositions of the thin films measured by EPMA were similar to target composition (Fe: 65.8 at%, Ni: 12.7 at%, Cu: 6.7 at%, Zn: 14.8 at%) irrespective of substrate temperature. Amorphous thin films were deposited when substrate was not intentionally heated, but the films came to crystallize with increasing substrate temperature, and crystalline thin films were deposited at substrate temperature above 200$^{\circ}C$. Below 250$^{\circ}C$ saturation magnetization (Ms), remanence (Mr) and coercivity (Hc) of the ferrite thin film increased with the substrate temperature due to the increase of grain size and the improvement of crystallinity. And above 250$^{\circ}C$, Ms, Mr increased slightly, but Hc of the amorphous thin films increased due to crystallization, whereas that of the crystalline thin films decreased because of grain growth and stress release.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.274-277
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• 2007

In this study, liquid crystal(LC) aligning capabilities for homeotropic alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation method were investigated. Also, the control of pretilt angles and thermal stabilities of the nematic liquid crystal(NLC) treated on $SiO_x$ thin film were investigated. A high pretilt angle of about $86.5^{\circ}$ was obtained, and also the suitable pretilt angle of the NLC on the $SiO_x$ thin film at $10{\sim}50nm$ thickness with e-beam evaporation can be achieved. The uniform LC alignment and good thermal stabilities on the $SiO_x$ thin film surfaces with electron beam evaporation can be achieved. It is considered that the LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation is attributed to elastic interaction between LC molecules and micro-grooves at the $SiO_x$ thin film surface created by evaporation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.289-293
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• 2013

We have studied structural, optical, and electrical properties of the Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films being usable in transparent conducting oxides. The GZO thin films were deposited on the corning 1737 glass plate by the RF magnetron sputtering system. To find optimal properties of GZO for transparent conducting oxides, the Ar gas in sputtering process was varied as 40, 60, 80 and 100 sccm, respectively. As reaction gas decreased, the crystallinity of GZO thin film was increased, the optical bandgap of GZO thin film increased. The transmittance of the film was over 80% in the visible light range regardless of the changes in reaction gas. The measurement of Hall effect characterizes the whole thin film as n-type, and the electrical property was improved with decreasing reaction gas. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the GZO thin films were affected by Ga dopant content in GZO thin film.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.1349_1350
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• 2009

Thin films of pp(ST-Co-VA) were fabricated by plasma deposition polymerization (PVDPM) technique. Properties of the plasma polymerized pp(ST-Co-VA) thin films were investigated for application to semiconductor device as insulator. Thickness, dielectric property, composition of the pp(ST-Co-VA) thin films were investigated considering the relationship with preparation condition such as gas pressure and deposition time. In order to verify the possibility of application to organic thin film transistor, a pentacene thin film was deposited on the pp(ST-Co-VA) insulator by vacuum thermal evaporation technique. Crystalline property of the pentacene thin film was investigated by XRD and SEM, FT-IR. Surface properties at the pp(ST-Co-VA)/pentacene interface was investigated by contact angle measurement. The pp(ST-Co-VA) thin film showed a high-k (k=4.6) and good interface characteristic with pentacene semiconducting layer, which indicates that it would be a promising material for organic thin film transistor (OTFT) application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.07a
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• pp.186.1-189
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• 2001

Ferroelectric $Bi_{4-x}$La$_{x}$Ti$_3$O$_{12}$ (BLT)thin films with various compositions(x=0.65, 0.70, 0.75) were prepared on Pt//Ti/SiO$_2$/Si(100) substrate by metal-organic deposition. The electrical and structural characteristics of BLT thin films were investigated to develop ferroelectric thin films for capacitor layers of FRAM. After spin coating, thin films were annealed at $650^{\circ}C$ for 1hour in oxygen atomosphere. Scanning electron micrographs showed uniform surfaces composed of rod-like grains. The $Bi_{4-x}$La$_{x}$Ti$_3$O$_{12}$ (x=0.70) thin film capacitors with a Pt top electrode showed better ferroelectric properties than other films. At the applied voltage of 5V, the dielectric constant($\varepsilon$$_{r}$), dissipation factor(tan$\delta$),remanent polarization(2Pr), and coercive field(2Ec) of the $Bi_{4-x}$La$_{x}$Ti$_3$O$_{12}$ (x=0.70)thin films were about 272.54, 0.059, 32.4 $\mu$C/cm$^2$, 2Ec=119.9kV/cm. Also the capacitor did not show any significant fatigue up to 4.8$\times$10$^{10}$ read/write switching cycles.hing cycles.s.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.861-864
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• 2002

Ferroelectric $Bi_{4-x}Nd_xTi_3O_{12}$(BNdT) thin films with the composition(x=0.75) were prepared on pt/Ti/$SiO_2$/Si(100) substrate by metal-organic deposition. The electrical and structural characteristics of BNdT thin films were investigated to develop ferroelectric thin films for capacitor layers of FRAM. After spin coating, thin films were annealed at $650^{\circ}C$ for 1hour in oxygen atmosphere. Scanning electron micrographs showed uniform surfaces composed of rod-like grains. The $Bi_{4-x}Nd_xTi_3O_{12}$(X=0.75) thin film capacitors with a Pt top electrode showed better ferroelectric properties. At the applied voltage of 5V, the dielectric constant$(\varepsilon_r)$, dissipation factor$(tan{\delta})$, remanent polarization(2Pr) and nonvolatile swiching charge of the $Bi_{4-x}Nd_xTi_3O_{12}$(x=0.75)thin films were about 346.7, 0.095, $56{\mu}C/cm^2$ and $38{\mu}C/cm^2$ respectively. Also the capacitor did not show any significant fatigue up to $8{\times}10^{10}$ read/write switching cycles at a frequency of 1MHz.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.609-612
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• 2002

In this study, the electrical properties were investigated for the deposited Ba,Sr)(Nb,Ti)$O_3$[BSNT] thin films grown on $Pt/TiO_2/SiO_2/Si$ substrate by RF sputtering method. The structural properties of the BSNT thin films affected by the $Ar/O_2$ rates were investigated. In the case of the BSNT thin films deposited with condition of 60/40$(Ar/O_2)$ ratio, the $BaTiO_3$, $SrTiO_3$ and $BaNbO_3$ phases were showed. The composition ratio of Nb and Ti in the BSNT thin films were nearly equivalent. Also, in the BSNT thin films deposited with condition of 60/40 and 80/20$(Ar/O_2)$ ratios, the composition of Ba, Sr, Nb and Ti were relatively uniform. The Ba, Sr, Nb and Ti in the BSTN thin films were not diffused into the Pt layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.145-146
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• 2006

The most Important research topic in the development of ZnO LED and LD is the production of p-type ZnO thin film that has minimal stress with outstanding stoichiometric ratio. In this study, Phosphorus diffused into the undoped ZnO thin films using the ampoule-tube method for the production of p-type znO thin films. The undoped ZnO thin films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering system on $GaAs_{0.6}P_{0.4}$/GaP and Si wafers. 4N Phosphorus (P) was diffused into the undoped ZnO thin films in ampoule-tube which was performed and $630^{\circ}C$ during 3hr. We found the diffusion condition of the conductive ZnO films which had p-type properties with the highest mobility of above 532 $cm^2$/Vs compared with other studies PL spectra measured at 10K for the purpose of analyzing optical properties of p-type ZnO thin film showed strong PL intensity in the UV emission band around 365nm ~ 415nm and 365nm ~ 385nm.