• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2020

Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) protect circuits and devices from transient overvoltages in electric power systems. However, a MOV continuously deteriorates owing to manufacturing defects or repetitive protective operations from transient overvoltages. A deteriorated MOV may result in a short circuit or a line-ground accident. Previous studies focused on the analysis of deterioration mechanisms and condition diagnosis techniques for MOVs owing to their recent growth of use. An accelerated deterioration experiment under the same conditions in which a MOV operates is essential. In this study, we designed and fabricated a surge generator that can apply a surge current to a MOV connected to AC mains. The coupling network operates at a low impedance against the surge current from the surge generator and transfers the surge current to the MOV under test. It also acts as a high impedance against AC mains for the AC voltage not to be applied to the surge generator. The decoupling network operates at a high impedance against the surge current and blocks the surge current from AC mains. It also acts as a low impedance against AC mains for the AC voltage to be applied to the MOV under test. The prototype surge generator can apply the 8/20 us up to 15 kA on AC voltages in the approximate range of 110~450 V, and it fully operates on a LabVIEW-based program.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.54.2-54.2
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• 2010

최근까지는 주로 비정질 실리콘이 디스플레이의 채널층으로 상용화 되어왔다. 비정질 실리콘 기반의 박막 트랜지스터는 제작의 경제성 및 균일성을 가지고 있어서 널리 상용화되고 있다. 하지만 비정질 실리콘의 구조적인 문제인 낮은 전자 이동도(< $1\;cm^2/Vs$)로 인하여 디스플레이의 대면적화에 부적합하며, 광학적으로 불투명한 특성을 갖기 때문에 차세대 디스플레이의 응용에 불리한 점이 있다. 이런 문제점의 대안으로 현재 국내외 여러 연구 그룹에서 산화물 기반의 반도체를 박막 트랜지스터의 채널층으로 사용하려는 연구가 진행중이다. 산화물 기반의 반도체는 밴드갭이 넓어서 광학적으로 투명하고, 상온에서 증착이 가능하며, 비정질 실리콘에 비해 월등히 우수한 이동도를 가짐으로 디스플레이의 대면적화에 유리하다. 특히 Zinc Oxide의 경우, band gap이 3.4eV로써, transparent conductors, varistors, surface acoustic waves, gas sensors, piezoelectric transducers 그리고 UV detectors 등의 많은 응용에 쓰이고 있다. 또한, a-Si TFTs에 비해 ZnO-based TFTs의 경우 우수한 소자 성능과 신뢰성을 나타내며, 대면적 제조시 우수한 균일성 및 낮은 생산비용이 장점이다. 그러나 ZnO-baesd TFTs의 경우 일정한 bias 아래에서 threshold voltage가 이동하는 문제점이 displays의 소자로 적용하는데 매우 중요하고 문제점으로 여겨진다. 특히 gate insulator와 channel layer사이의 interface에서의 defect에 의한 charge trapping이 이러한 문제점들을 야기한다고 보고되어진다. 본 연구에서는 Zinc Oxide 기반의 박막 트랜지스터를 DC magnetron sputtering을 이용하여 상온에서 제작을 하였다. 또한, $Si_3N_4$ 기판 위에 electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) $O_2$ plasma 처리와 plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)를 통하여 $SiO_2$ 를 10nm 증착을 하여 interface의 개선을 시도하였다. 그리고 TFTs 소자의 출력 특성 및 전이 특성을 평가를 하였고, 소자의 field effect mobility의 값이 향상을 하였다. 또한 Temperature, Bias Temperature stability의 조건에서 안정성을 평가를 하였다. 이러한 interface treatment는 안정성의 향상을 시킴으로써 대면적 디스플레의 적용에 비정질 실리콘을 대체할 유력한 물질이라고 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.502-508
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• 2020

This paper focuses on the electrical properties and stability against DC accelerated aging stress of ZnO-V₂O₅-MnO₂-Nb₂O₅-Bi₂O₃-Co₃O₄-Dy₂O₃ (ZVMNBCD) varistor ceramics sintered at 850 - 925 ℃. With the increase of sintering temperature, the average grain size increases from 4.4 to 11.8 mm, and the density of the sintered pellets decreases from 5.53 to 5.40 g/㎤ due to the volatility of V₂O₅, which has a low melting point. The breakdown field abruptly decreases from 8016 to 1,715 V/cm with the increase of the sintering temperature. The maximum non-ohmic coefficient (59) is obtained when the sample is sintered at 875 ℃. The samples sintered at below 900 ℃ exhibit a relatively low leakage current, less than 60 mA/㎠. The apparent dielectric constant increases due to the increase of the average grain size with the increase of the sintering temperature. The change tendency of dissipation factor at 1 kHz according to the sintering temperature coincides with the tendency of the leakage current. In terms of stability, the samples sintered at 900 ℃ exhibit both high non-ohmic coefficient (45) and excellent stability, 0.8% in 𝚫E_B/E_B and -0.7 % in 𝚫α/α after application of DC accelerated aging stress (0.85 E_B/85 ℃/24 h).

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.477-486
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• 2000

This paper presents Pspice modeling methods for spark gaps and ZnO varistors and describes the application for the two-stage surge suppression circuit which was composed of the nonlinear components. The simulation modelings of nonlinear components were conducted on the basis of the voltage and current curves measured by the impulse current with the time-to-crest of $1~50 \mus$ and the impulse voltage with the rate of the time-to-crest of 10, 100 and 1000 V/\mus$. The firing voltages of the spark gap increased with increasing the rate of the time-to-crest of impulse voltage and the measured data were in good agreement with the simulated data. The I-V curves of the ZnO varistor were measured by applying the impulse currents of which time-to-crests range from 1 to $50 \mus$ and peak amplitudes from 10 A to 2 kA. The simulation modeling was based on the I-V curves replotted by taking away the inductive effects of the test circuit and leads. The meximum difference between the measured and calculated data was of the order of 3%. Also the two-stage surge suppression circuit made of the spark gap and the ZnO varistor was investigated with the impulse voltage of $10/1000\mus$$mutextrm{s}$ wave shape. The overall agreement between the theoretical and experimental results seems to be acceptable. As a consequence, it was known that the proposed simulation techniques could effectively be used to design the surge suppression circuits combined with nonlinear components.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2008

ZnO-based varistors have been widely used for voltage stabilization or transient surge suppression in electric power systems and electronic circuits. Recently, It has reported that the varistor behavior with nonlinear coefficient of 6~17 in Mn-doped ZnO. In this study we have chosen the composition of ZnO-$TeO_2-Mn_3O_4$ (ZTM) system to the purpose of whether varistor behavior appeared in doped ZnO by the solid state sintering or not. We investigated the sintering and electric properties of 0.5~3.0 at% Mn doped ZnO-1.0 at% $TeO_2$ system. Electrical properties, such as current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V), and impedance spectroscopy were conducted. $TeO_2$ itself melts at $732^{\circ}C$ in air but forms the $ZnTeO_3$ phase with ZnO as increasing temperature and therefore retards the densification of ZnO to $1000^{\circ}C$. The average grain size of sintered samples was at about $3{\mu}m$ and decreased with increasing Mn contents. It was found that a good varistor characteristics were developed in ZTM system sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ (nonlinear coefficient $\alpha$ ~ 60). The results of C-V characteristics such as barrier height ($\Theta$), donor density ($N_d$), depletion layer (W), and interface state density ($N_t$) in ZTM ceramics were $4\times10^{17}cm^{-3}$, 0.7 V, 40 nm, and $1.6\times10^{12}cm^{-2}$, respectively. It will be discussed about the stability and homogeneity of grain boundaries using distribution parameter ($\alpha$) simulated with the Z(T)"-logf plots in ZTM system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2009

We investigated the sintering and electric properties of ZnO-1.0 at% $TeO_2$ (ZT1) and 1.0 at% Mn-doped ZT1(ZT1M1) system. $TeO_2$ itself melts at $732^{\circ}C$ in air but forms the $ZnTeO_3$ or $Zn_2Te_3O_8$ phase with ZnO as increasing temperature and therefore retards the densification of ZnO to $1000^{\circ}C$. In ZT1M1 system, also, the densification of ZnO was retarded up to $1000^{\circ}C$ and then reached > 90% of theoretical density above $1100^{\circ}C$. It was found that a good varistor characteristics(nonlinear coefficient $a{\sim}60$) were developed in ZT1M1 system sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ due to Mn which known as improving the nonlinearity of ZnO varistors. The results of C-V characteristics such as barrier height (${\Phi}_b$), donor density ($N_D$), depletion layer (W), and interface state density ($N_t$) in ZT1M1 ceramics were $1.8{\times}10^{17}cm^{-3}$, 1.6 V, 93 nm, and $1.7{\times}10^{12}cm^{-2}$, respectively. Also we measured the resistance and capacitance of grain boundaries with temperature using impedance and electric modulus spectroscopy. It will be discussed about the stability and homogeneity of grain boundaries using distribution parameter ($\alpha$) simulated with the Z(T)"-logf plots.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.336-337
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• 2005

ZnO varistor ceramics were fabricated as a function of the amount of $Y_2O_3$ addition and sintered at $1250^{\circ}C$ for 2 hour. The average grain size was decreased from 14.2 ${\mu}m$ to 8.3 ${\mu}m$ with the amount of $Y_2O_3$ addition, and varistor voltage was increased from 433 V to 563 V with $Y_2O_3$ addition. Nonlinear coefficient a of all specimens were increased with the amount of $Y_2O_3$ more than 67, in case of $Y_2O_3$ 0.01wt% addition showed the excellent results of 87. And leakage current was less than $1{\mu}A$ at 82% of varistor voltage. The clamping voltage ratio of the specimens added 0.01wt% $Y_2O_3$ was 1.41 at 25A [8/20${\mu}s$]. At the specimen 0.01wt% $Y_2O_3$ addition. endurance of surge current and deviation of varistor voltage were 5700A/$cm^2$ and $\Delta$-2.86%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.1158-1161
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• 2004

This paper presents structural characteristics of station class lightning arresters and electrical characteristics of manufactured ZnO varistor blocks which are usable in those arresters. Three types of station class lightning arresters were investigated and those are a ceramic arrester, a FRP tube type polymer arrester, and a FRP rod type polymer arrester. Each arrester has merits and demerits with structural characteristics. In general, polymer arresters were made of silicon rubber for housing materials, FRP tube or rod for mechanical strength, ZnO blocks for electrical characteristics, and metal parts for electrical contact and the silicon rubber, the housing materials, was directly injected to the arrester module which was assembly composed of electrodes, ZnO blocks and FRP tube or rod, and to prevent the nonlinear electric fields distribution on upper parts of arresters, the grade ring was adopted to the upper electrodes. The reference voltage, nonlinear coefficient, residual voltage, and voltage ratio of manufactured ZnO varistors are 4.90kV, 50, 9.54kV, 1.94, respectively. Compared to designed electrical characteristics, the reference voltage was low for 600v and the voltage ratio was slightly high. However, the characteristics of discharge withstand was so excellent that the mechanical destruction does not occur at the impulse current of $8/20{\mu}s$ 10kA for 100 times.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.645-650
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• 2003

The microstructure and electrical characteristics of $Pr_{6}$ $O_{11}$ -based ZnO varistor ceramics composed of $ZnO-Pr_{6}$ $O_{ 11}$/$-CoO-Cr_2$$O_3$-$Dy_2$$O_3$-based ceramics were investigated with $Dy_2$$O_3$content in the range of 0.0∼2.0 mol%. As $Dy_2$$O_3$content was increased, the average grain size was decreased in the range of 18.6∼4.7 $\mu\textrm{m}$ and the density of the ceramic was decreased in the range of 5.53∼4.34 g/㎤. While, the varistor voltage was increased in the range of 39.4∼436.6 V/mm and the nonlinear exponent was in the range of 4.5∼66.6 with increasing $Dy_2$$O_3$content. The addition of $Dy_2$$O_3$highly enhanced the nonlinear properties of varistors, compared with the varistor without $Dy_2$$O_3$. In particular, the varistor with $Dy_2$$O_3$ content of 0.5 mol% exhibited the highest nonlinearity, in which the nonlinear exponent is 66.6 and the leakage current is 1.2 $\mu\textrm{A}$. The donor concentration and the density of interface states were decreased in the range of $(4.19∼0.33) ${\times}$10^{18}$ //㎤ and $(5.38∼1.74) ${\times}$10^{12}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$, respectively, with increasing $Dy_2$$O_3$content. The minimum dissipation factor of 0.0302 was obtained from 0.5mol% $Dy_2$$O_3$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.586-591
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• 2019

This study describes the doping effect of $Yb_2O_3$ on microstructure, electrical and dielectric properties of $ZnO-V_2O_5-MnO_2-Nb_2O_5$ (ZVMN) ceramic semiconductors sintered at a temperature as low as $900^{\circ}C$. As the doping content of $Yb_2O_3$ increases, the ceramic density slightly increases from 5.50 to $5.54g/cm^3$; also, the average ZnO grain size is in the range of $5.3-5.6{\mu}m$. The switching voltage increases from 4,874 to 5,494 V/cm when the doping content of $Yb_2O_3$ is less than 0.1 mol%, whereas further doping decreases this value. The ZVMN ceramic semiconductors doped with 0.1 mol% $Yb_2O_3$ reveal an excellent nonohmic coefficient as high as 70. The donor density of ZnO gain increases in the range of $2.46-7.41{\times}10^{17}cm^{-3}$ with increasing doping content of $Yb_2O_3$ and the potential barrier height and surface state density at the grain boundaries exhibits a maximum value (1.25 eV) at 0.1 mol%. The dielectric constant (at 1 kHz) decreases from 592.7 to 501.4 until the doping content of $Yb_2O_3$ reaches 0.1 mol%, whereas further doping increases it. The value of $tan{\delta}$ increases from 0.209 to 0.268 with the doping content of $Yb_2O_3$.