For heat exchanger applications, 2-ply clad materials were fabricated by rolling of aluminum (Al) and mild steel sheets. Effects of annealing temperature on interface properties, especially on inter-layer formation and softening of strain hardened mild-steel, for Al/mild steel clad materials, were investigated. To obtain optimum annealing conditions for the Al/mild steel clad materials, annealing temperature was varied from room temperature to 600˚C. At the annealing temperature about 450˚C, an inter-layer was formed in an island-shape at the interface of the Al/mild steel clad materials; this island expanded along the interface at higher temperature. By analyzing the X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks and the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results, it was determined that the exact chemical stoichiometry for the inter-layer was that of Fe2Al5. In some samples, an X-layer was formed between the Al and the inter-layer of Fe2Al5 at high annealing temperature of around 550˚C. The existence of an X-layer enhanced the growth of the inter-layer, which resulted in the delamination of the Al/mild-steel clad materials. Hardness tests were also performed to examine the influence of the annealing temperature on the cold deformability, which is a very important property for the deep drawing process of clad materials. The hardness value of mild steel gradually decreased with increasing annealing temperature. Especially, the value of hardness sharply decreased in the temperature range between 525˚C and 550˚C. From these results, we can conclude that the optimum annealing temperature is around 550˚C under condition of there being no X-layer creation.

Ag pastes added to Bi-oxide frits have been applied to the electrode material of Si solar cells. It has been reported that frits induce contacts between the Ag electrodes and the Si wafer after firing. During firing, the control of interfaces among Ag, the glass layer, and Si is one of the key factors for improving cell performance. Specifically, the thermo-physical properties of frits considerably influence Ag-Si contact. Therefore, the thermal properties of frits should be carefully controlled to enhance the efficiency of cells. In this study, the interface structures among Ag electrodes, glass layers, and recrystallites on an n+ emitter were carefully analyzed with the thermal properties of lead-free frits. First, a cross-section of the area between the Ag electrodes and the Si wafer was studied in order to understand the interface structures in light of the thermal properties of the frits. The depth and area of the pits formed in the Si wafer were quantitatively calculated with the thermal properties of frits. The area of the glass layers between the Ag electrodes and Si, and the distribution of recrystallites on the n+ emitter, were measured from a macroscopic point of view with the characteristics of the frits. Our studies suggest that the thermophysical properties should be controlled for the optimal performance of Si solar cells; our studies also show why cell performance deteriorated due to the high viscosity of frits in Ag pastes.

In this study, we inserted a Zn buffer layer into a AZO/p-type a-si:H layer interface in order to lower the contact resistance of the interface. For the Zn layer, the deposition was conducted at 5 nm, 7 nm and 10 nm using the rf-magnetron sputtering method. The results were compared to that of the AZO film to discuss the possibility of the Zn layer being used as a transparent conductive oxide thin film for application in the silicon heterojunction solar cell. We used the rf-magnetron sputtering method to fabricate Al 2 wt.% of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) film as a transparent conductive oxide (TCO). We analyzed the electro-optical properties of the ZnO as well as the interface properties of the AZO/p-type a-Si:H layer. After inserting a buffer layer into the AZO/p-type a-Si:H layers to enhance the interface properties, we measured the contact resistance of the layers using a CTLM (circular transmission line model) pattern, the depth profile of the layers using AES (auger electron spectroscopy), and the changes in the properties of the AZO thin film through heat treatment. We investigated the effects of the interface properties of the AZO/p-type a-Si:H layer on the characteristics of silicon heterojunction solar cells and the way to improve the interface properties. When depositing AZO thin film on a-Si layer, oxygen atoms are diffused from the AZO thin film towards the a-Si layer. Thus, the characteristics of the solar cells deteriorate due to the created oxide film. While a diffusion of Zn occurs toward the a-Si in the case of AZO used as TCO, the diffusion of In occurs toward a-Si in the case of ITO used as TCO.

Metal-Ferroelectric-Metal(MFM) 구조의 개퍼시터에서 Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT)-전극 계면층이 PZT 박막 특성에 기여하는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 Pt/PZT/계면층/Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si 구조의 캐퍼시터를 제작하였다. 계면층으로 사용될 물질들 중에서 PbTiO3(PT) 층을 sol-gel 방법으로 형성하였으며, PbO, ZrO2, TiO2 층들을 reactive sputtering 방법으로 형성하였다. PZT박막을 구성하는 원소들로 이루어진 단순 산화물들의 특성을 평가하기 위하여 PbO, ZrO2, TiO2를 계면층으로 사용하여 600˚C에서 열처리를 실시하였고, 이 경우에는 TiO2가 가장 우수하게 PZT의 결정립 크기를 미세하게 하는 효과를 보였으나, 두께가 증가함에 따라 표면 거칠기가 증가하고 anatase 상으로 남기 때문에 강유전특성이 열화되었다. 반면에 PT 박막을 계면층으로 사용한 경우에는 결정립 크기의 감소와 더불어 전기적인 특성도 향상되었다. 또한 PZT의 핵생성 위치를 판단하기 위하여 PT 삽입층의 위치를 변화하며, 실험한 결과, 하부전극과 PZT 박막의 계면에 PT 삽입층을 형성하였을 경우에 가장 효과적인 seed로서의 역할을 하였다.

Sputter Cu(1-4.5at.%Mg) alloy를 100mTorr이하의 산소압력에서 온도를 증가시키며 열처리하였을 때 표연과 계면에서 형성된 MgO의 확산방지막 특성을 살펴보았다 먼저, Cu(Mg)/SiO2/Si 구조의 샘플을 열처리했을 때 계면에서는 2Mg+SiO2→2MgO+Si의 화학반응에 의해 MgO가 형성되는데 이 MgO충에 의해 Cu가 SiO2로 확산되는 것이 현저하게 감소하였다. TiN/Si 기판 위에서도 Cu(Mg)과 TiN 계면에 MgO가 형성되어 Cu(4.5at.%Mg)의 경우 800˚C까지 Cu와 Si의 확산을 방지할 수 있었다. 표면에 형성된 MgO위에 Si을 증착하여 Si/MgO(150 Å)/Cu(Mg)/SiO2/Si구조로 만든 후 열처리했을 때 150 Å의 MgO는 700˚C까지 Si과 Cu의 확산을 방지할 수 있었다. 표면에 형성된 MgO(150 Å)의 누설전류특성은 break down 5V, 누설전류 10-7A/cm2의 값을 나타냈다. 또한 Si3N4/MgO 이중구조에서는 매우 낮은 누설전류밀도를 나타냈으며 MgO에 의해 Si3N4 증착시 안정적인 계면이 형성됨을 확인하였다.