Characterization and Optimization of The Tco/a-Si:H(,B) Interface for Solar Cells by In-Situ Ellipsometry and Sims/XPS Depth Profiling

1994 ◽  
Vol 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.N. Wanka ◽  
E. Lotter ◽  
M.B. Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Hydrogen Plasma ◽  
Depth Profiling ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Hydrogen Plasmas ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
20 Nm

ABSTRACTThe chemical reactions at the surface of transparent conductive oxides (SnO2, ITO and ZnO) have been studied in silane and hydrogen plasmas by in-situ ellipsometry and by SIMS as well as XPS depth profiling. SIMS and XPS of the interface reveal an increasing amount of metallic phases upon lowering a-Si:H growth rates (controlled by plasma power), indicating that the ion and radical impact is more than compensated by protecting the surface by a rapidly growing a-Si:H film. Hence, optical transmission of TCO films as well as the efficiency of solar cells can be improved if the first few nanometers of the p-layer are grown at higher rates. Comparing a-Si:H deposition on top of different TCOs, reduction effects on ITO and SnO2 have been detected whereas ZnO appeared to be chemically stable. Therefore an additional shielding of the SnO2 surface by a thin ZnO layer has been investigated in greater detail. Small amounts of H are detected close to the ZnO surface by SIMS after hydrogen plasma treatment, but no significant changes occur to the optical and electrical properties. In-situ ellipsometry indicates that a ZnO layer as thin as 20 nm completely protects SnO2 from being reduced to metallic phases. This provides for shielding of textured TCOs, and hence rising solar cell efficiencies, too. Regarding light trapping efficiency we additionally investigated the smoothing of initial TCO texture when growing a-Si:H on top by combining atomic force microscopy and spectroscopie ellipsometry.

Light Trapping by Periodically Structured TCO in the Submicrometer Range

2000 ◽  
Vol 609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Eisele ◽  
Christoph E. Nebel ◽  
Martin Stutzmann
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Total Internal Reflection ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Diffraction Order ◽  
Hydrogenated Silicon ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Amorphous Hydrogenated Silicon ◽  
Aluminum Doped Zinc Oxide

ABSTRACTAmorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells need efficient light trapping structures to achieve high efficiency. To this end, aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) as a transparent front contact was periodically structured. Solar cells with grating periods between 390 and 980 nm were realized. The structures were characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and optical reflection. A simple formula for the wavelength where total internal reflection starts is deduced for each diffraction order. Solar cells with a periodic grating show a significant reduction in the overall reflectance which is comparable to cells with an optimized statistical texture.

Hybrid Nanoparticles Prepared by In-situ and Post-synthetic Surface Modification of Lanthanide-Based Nanoparticles with Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

2007 ◽  
Vol 1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Rill ◽  
Sorin Ivanovici ◽  
Guido Kickelbick
Keyword(s):  
Surface Modification ◽  
Phosphonic Acid ◽  
Hybrid Nanoparticles ◽  
Phosphonic Acids ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Separate Step ◽  
20 Nm

ABSTRACTThe use of various phosphonic acid derivatives – some of which contain polymerizable groups – as surface modifying agents for nanoparticles was studied both in-situ during the synthesis of lanthanide-based (Ln = Nd, Eu, Yb) nanoparticles at room temperature as well as in a separate step after the particle preparation by a hydrothermal method. In the single-pot in-situ method the phosphonic acid esters served as growth-limiting agent during particle formation leading to small nanoparticles with a size of only a few nanometers as determined by dynamic light scattering as well as transmission electron and atomic force microscopy. Free phosphonic acids as well as their silyl esters were used to modify the hydrothermally prepared neodymium hydroxide nanorods which had diameters of approx. 20 nm and a length ranging up to a few micrometers. The surface modification was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.

HgCdTe Surface Cleanup and Etch Using a Remote Hydrogen Plasma

1994 ◽  
Vol 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Vapor Deposition ◽  
Hydrogen Plasma ◽  
Chemical Vapor ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Dielectric Interface ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Device Structures

AbstractDry passivation of HgCdTe with ZnS or CdTe using physical or chemical vapor deposition can be improved by incorporating an in situ plasma cleanup of the HgCdTe surface prior to the deposition. Contamination at the HgCdTe/ dielectric interface from ambient oxide and hydrocarbon residues may lead to fixed charge in capacitor or diode device structures. In addition, the oxides of HgCdTe are known to be thermally unstable. Removal of the surface contamination layer is advantageous for producing a consistent and electrically reliable interface. We describe the interaction of a remotely generated H2 or H2/Ar plasma (2.45 GHz, 600W) with HgCdTe, using ex-situ and in-situ ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy. This work represents the first effort to characterize a low damage HgCdTe surface cleanup process which is compatible with vacuum in-situ passivation.

scholarly journals Ultrafine metal-polymer catalysts based on polyconjugated systems for Fisher–Tropsch synthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 977-984
Author(s):  
Mayya V. Kulikova ◽  
Albert B. Kulikov ◽  
Alexey E. Kuz’min ◽  
Anton L. Maximov
Keyword(s):  
Tropsch Synthesis ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Fischer Tropsch ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Composite Catalysts ◽  
Fe Catalyst ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
And Function ◽  
Metal Polymer

AbstractFor previously studied Fischer–Tropsch nanosized Fe catalyst slurries, polymer compounds with or without polyconjugating structures are used as precursors to form the catalyst nanomatrix in situ, and several catalytic experiments and X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements are performed. The important and different roles of the paraffin molecules in the slurry medium in the formation and function of composite catalysts with the two types of aforementioned polymer matrices are revealed. In the case of the polyconjugated polymers, the alkanes in the medium are “weakly” coordinated with the metal-polymer composites, which does not affect the effectiveness of the polyconjugated polymers. Otherwise, alkane molecules form a “tight” surface layer around the composite particles, which create transport complications for the reagents and products of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and, in some cases, can change the course of the in situ catalyst formation.

Atomic force microscopy of in situ deformed nickel thin films

1999 ◽  
Vol 353 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Coupeau ◽  
J.F. Naud ◽  
F. Cleymand ◽  
P. Goudeau ◽  
J. Grilhé
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Nickel Thin Films ◽  
Atomic Force

scholarly journals Degradation Mechanism of Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks by In Situ Atomic Force Microscopy

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 722
Author(s):  
Ioanna Christodoulou ◽  
Tom Bourguignon ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Gilles Patriarche ◽  
Christian Serre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Degradation Mechanism ◽  
Metal Organic Frameworks ◽  
Porous Metal ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
The Media ◽  
Ph Conditions

In recent years, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a growing interest for biomedical applications. The design of MOFs should take into consideration the subtle balance between stability and biodegradability. However, only few studies have focused on the MOFs’ stability in physiological media and their degradation mechanism. Here, we investigate the degradation of mesoporous iron (III) carboxylate MOFs, which are among the most employed MOFs for drug delivery, by a set of complementary methods. In situ AFM allowed monitoring with nanoscale resolution the morphological, dimensional, and mechanical properties of a series of MOFs in phosphate buffer saline and in real time. Depending on the synthetic route, the external surface presented either well-defined crystalline planes or initial defects, which influenced the degradation mechanism of the particles. Moreover, MOF stability was investigated under different pH conditions, from acidic to neutral. Interestingly, despite pronounced erosion, especially at neutral pH, the dimensions of the crystals were unchanged. It was revealed that the external surfaces of MOF crystals rapidly respond to in situ changes of the composition of the media they are in contact with. These observations are of a crucial importance for the design of nanosized MOFs for drug delivery applications.

In Situ Characterization of the Mechanical Behavior of Gecko's Spatulae by Atomic Force Microscopy

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 85-93
Author(s):  
Shuang Yi Liu ◽  
Min Min Tang ◽  
Ai Kah Soh ◽  
Liang Hong
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Behavior ◽  
Hierarchical Level ◽  
Intrinsic Properties ◽  
In Situ Characterization ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Multi Mode

In-situ characterization of the mechanical behavior of geckos spatula has been carried out in detail using multi-mode AFM system. Combining successful application of a novel AFM mode, i.e. Harmonix microscopy, the more detail elastic properties of spatula is brought to light. The results obtained show the variation of the mechanical properties on the hierarchical level of a seta, even for the different locations, pad and stalk of the spatula. A model, which has been validated using the existing experimental data and phenomena as well as theoretical predictions for geckos adhesion, crawling and self-cleaning of spatulae, is proposed in this paper. Through contrast of adhesive and craw ability of the gecko on the surfaces with different surface roughness, and measurement of the surface adhesive behaviors of Teflon, the most effective adhesion of the gecko is more dependent on the intrinsic properties of the surface which is adhered.

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