Gunho Jo

Large-scale patterned multi-layer graphene films as transparent conducting electrodes for GaN light-emitting diodes

This work demonstrates a large-scale batch fabrication of GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with patterned multi-layer graphene (MLG) as transparent conducting electrodes. MLG films were synthesized using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique on nickel films and showed typical CVD-synthesized MLG film properties, possessing a sheet resistance of [Formula: see text] with a transparency of more than 85% in the 400-800 nm wavelength range. The MLG was applied as the transparent conducting electrodes of GaN-based blue LEDs, and the light output performance was compared to that of conventional GaN LEDs with indium tin oxide electrodes. Our results present a potential development toward future practical application of graphene electrodes in optoelectronic devices.

The application of graphene as electrodes in electrical and optical devices

Graphene is a promising next-generation conducting material with the potential to replace traditional electrode materials such as indium tin oxide in electrical and optical devices. It combines several advantageous characteristics including low sheet resistance, high optical transparency and excellent mechanical properties. Recent research has coincided with increased interest in the application of graphene as an electrode material in transistors, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and flexible devices. However, for more practical applications, the performance of devices should be further improved by the engineering of graphene films, such as through their synthesis, transfer and doping. This article reviews several applications of graphene films as electrodes in electrical and optical devices and discusses the essential requirements for applications of graphene films as electrodes.

Tunable electronic transport characteristics of surface-architecture-controlled ZnO nanowire field effect transistors.

Surface-architecture-controlled ZnO nanowires were grown using a vapor transport method on various ZnO buffer film coated c-plane sapphire substrates with or without Au catalysts. The ZnO nanowires that were grown showed two different types of geometric properties: corrugated ZnO nanowires having a relatively smaller diameter and a strong deep-level emission photoluminescence (PL) peak and smooth ZnO nanowires having a relatively larger diameter and a weak deep-level emission PL peak. The surface morphology and size-dependent tunable electronic transport properties of the ZnO nanowires were characterized using a nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device structure. The FETs made from smooth ZnO nanowires with a larger diameter exhibited negative threshold voltages, indicating n-channel depletion-mode behavior, whereas those made from corrugated ZnO nanowires with a smaller diameter had positive threshold voltages, indicating n-channel enhancement-mode behavior.

Enhanced Charge Injection in Pentacene Field‐Effect Transistors with Graphene Electrodes

S. Lee , G. Jo , S.-J. Kang , G. Wang , M. Choe , W Park , . Prof. D.-Y. Kim , H. Dr. . Y Kahng , Prof. Lee . TDepartment of Nanobio Materials and Electronics Department of Materials Science and Engineering Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Gwangju 500–712, Korea E-mail: yhkahng@gist.ac.kr; tlee@gist.ac.kr Dr. Y. H. KahngResearch Institute for Solar and Sustainable Energies Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Gwangju 500–712, Korea

Tuning of a graphene-electrode work function to enhance the efficiency of organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells with an inverted structure

We demonstrate the fabrication of inverted-structure organic solar cells (OSCs) with graphene cathodes. The graphene film used in this work was work-function-engineered with an interfacial dipole layer to reduce the work function of graphene, which resulted in an increase in the built-in potential and enhancement of the charge extraction, thereby enhancing the overall device performance. Our demonstration of inverted-structure OSCs with work-function-engineering of graphene electrodes will foster the fabrication of more advanced structure OSCs with higher efficiency.

Novel nonvolatile memory with multibit storage based on a ZnO nanowire transistor.

We demonstrate a room temperature processed ferroelectric (FE) nonvolatile memory based on a ZnO nanowire (NW) FET where the NW channel is coated with FE nanoparticles. A single device exhibits excellent memory characteristics with the large modulation in channel conductance between ON and OFF states exceeding 10(4), a long retention time of over 4 × 10(4) s, and multibit memory storage ability. Our findings provide a viable way to create new functional high-density nonvolatile memory devices compatible with simple processing techniques at low temperature for flexible devices made on plastic substrates.

Enhancement of Field Emission Transport by Molecular Tilt Configuration in Metal−Molecule−Metal Junctions

We studied the molecular configuration-dependent charge transport of alkyl metal-molecule-metal junctions using conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM). The inflection point (or transition voltage V(T)) on the plot of ln(I/V(2)) versus 1/V shifted to a lower voltage with increasing CAFM tip-loading force and decreasing molecular length. Our results indicate that the reduction of gap distance by molecular tilt configuration enhances the transition of the electronic transport mechanism from direct tunneling to field emission transport through molecules. The obtained results are consistent with a barrier height decrease, as affected by the enhancement of the intermolecular chain-to-chain tunneling as molecular tilt, predicted by a multibarrier tunneling model.

Transient reverse current phenomenon in a p-n heterojunction comprised of poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):poly(styrene-sulfonate) and ZnO nanowall

We report the characteristics of a p-n heterojunction diode comprised of a poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene):poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the hole-conducting p-type polymer and n-type ZnO nanowall networks. ZnO nanowall networks were synthesized on a GaN/sapphire substrate without metal catalyst using hot-wall type metal organic chemical vapor deposition. The p-n heterojunction diodes of PEDOT:PSS/ZnO nanowall exhibited a space charge limited current phenomena at forward bias and a transient reverse current recovery when a sudden reverse bias was applied from the forward bias condition. The minority carrier lifetime was estimated to be ∼2.5 μs.

Realization of highly reproducible ZnO nanowire field effect transistors with n-channel depletion and enhancement modes

The authors demonstrate the highly reproducible fabrication of n-channel depletion-mode (D-mode) and enhancement-mode (E-mode) field effect transistors (FETs) created from ZnO nanowires (NWs). ZnO NWs were grown by the vapor transport method on two different types of substrates. It was determined that the FETs created from ZnO NWs grown on an Au-coated sapphire substrate exhibited an n-channel D mode, whereas the FETs of ZnO NWs grown on an Au-catalyst-free ZnO film exhibited an n-channel E mode. This controlled fabrication of the two operation modes of ZnO NW-FETs is important for the wide application of NW-FETs in logic circuits.

Tuning of the Electronic Characteristics of ZnO Nanowire Field Effect Transistors by Proton Irradiation

We demonstrated a controllable tuning of the electronic characteristics of ZnO nanowire field effect transistors (FETs) using a high-energy proton beam. After a short proton irradiation time, the threshold voltage shifted to the negative gate bias direction with an increase in the electrical conductance, whereas the threshold voltage shifted to the positive gate bias direction with a decrease in the electrical conductance after a long proton irradiation time. The electrical characteristics of two different types of ZnO nanowires FET device structures in which the ZnO nanowires are placed on the substrate or suspended above the substrate and photoluminescence (PL) studies of the ZnO nanowires provide substantial evidence that the experimental observations result from the irradiation-induced charges in the bulk SiO(2) and at the SiO(2)/ZnO nanowire interface, which can be explained by a surface-band-bending model in terms of gate electric field modulation. Our study on the proton-irradiation-mediated functionalization can be potentially interesting not only for understanding the proton irradiation effects on nanoscale devices, but also for creating the property-tailored nanoscale devices.