Article
Chemistry, Physical
Muhammad Zahir Iqbal, Nayyab Amjad, Rashid Ali, Muhammad Waqas Khan, Salma Siddique, Sikandar Aftab, Saikh Mohammad Wabaidur
Summary: In this study, WS2/MoS2 samples with different film thickness were prepared by magnetron sputtering technique, and the surface and structural morphology were analyzed. WS2/MoS2 showed the best performance in a three electrode assembly with a maximum specific capacity of 306.6 C g-1. A hybrid battery-supercapacitor device using WS2/MoS2 and activated carbon as electrodes demonstrated good specific capacity with energy and power densities of 32 Wh kg-1 and 51,00 W kg-1, respectively. The hybrid nature of the device was confirmed by computing b-values using power's law. Sputtered WS2/MoS2 shows promise as an electrode for battery-supercapacitor devices.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenxue Zhang, Mikdat Gurtaran, Xiaoying Li, Hio-Ieng Un, Yi Qin, Hanshan Dong
Summary: In this study, N-type and P-type BiTe-based thin films were deposited on silicon, glass, and Kapton HN polyimide foil using magnetron sputtering technique. The morphology, microstructure, and phase constituents of the thin films were characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, and TEM. The electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient were measured by an advanced in-plane test system. The power output (open-circuit voltage and electric current) of the thin films was measured at different temperature gradients using a custom-built apparatus. The impact of deposition parameters and the dimensions of the thin films on the power output were investigated to optimize the thin-film flexible TE device for thermal energy harvesting.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dongmei Zeng, Dong Guo, Xu Ren
Summary: In this study, different morphologies of CdZnTe films were prepared and characterized. The pebble-like grain film showed randomly arranged CdZnTe crystal cells and higher resistivity. The worm-like grain film had the lowest absorption coefficient in visible light range, while the hexagonal grain film had the largest particle size, best crystallinity, and lowest resistivity. The conductive mechanism of CdZnTe films with different morphologies was also discussed.
Article
Crystallography
He Gao, Shijian Wang, Da Xu, Xueshen Wang, Qing Zhong, Yuan Zhong, Jinjin Li, Wenhui Cao
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the properties of DC magnetron sputtered Nb films fabricated with constant power at the National Institute of Metrology (China). The results showed that the stress and other parameters of the films can maintain a relatively stable state under constant power and Ar pressure.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
C. Doroody, K. S. Rahman, H. N. Rosly, M. N. Harif, M. Isah, Y. B. Kar, S. K. Tiong, N. Amin
Summary: This study explores the characteristics of cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films grown on ultra-thin glass substrates through RF magnetron sputtering and chemical bath deposition (CBD). The XRD analysis reveals a stable hexagonal wurtzite structure with (002) preferential orientation for both deposition methods. Optical analysis shows band gaps of 2.40 eV and 2.32 eV for sputtering and CBD methods, respectively. Overall, the experimental results suggest that CdS thin films grown by sputtering may be favorable as the window layer for solar cell applications.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yanfang Zhao, Wei Ding, Yuanbin Xiao, Ping Yang
Summary: The effects of sputtering power on the structure, morphology, electrical and optical properties of AZO films were investigated. The results showed that the film with a sputtering power of 120 W had the smallest FHWH value and the largest grain size, and exhibited the best conductivity. The carrier concentration and hall mobility increased with the increase of sputtering power, which was directly related to the improvement of crystal quality. The average transmittance of all samples was above 80%, and the band gaps showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. This work implies the potential application of controllable growth AZO transparent conductive film in photovoltaic devices.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei Wu, Yongliang Tang, Bo Li, Xia Xiang, Chunming Liu, Xiaotao Zu
Summary: PbSe nanocrystalline films were prepared using magnetron sputtering with different parameters, showing improved crystallization quality and Pb/Se atomic ratio with increasing sputtering power and deposition time. The morphology of PbSe particles changed with deposition time, affecting the optical band gap and luminescence performance. Adjusting sputtering power and deposition time can optimize the properties of PbSe films.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Yuxin Ju, Ling Ai, Xiaopeng Qi, Jia Li, Weijie Song
Summary: This review comprehensively examines the scalable and highly reproducible nature of magnetron sputtering for depositing hydrophobic thin films. It outlines the fundamental mechanism of hydrophobicity and summarizes recent advances in the preparation, characteristics, and applications of thin films derived from oxides, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and diamond-like carbon (DLC). The review also discusses the future applications, current challenges, and development of hydrophobic thin films, providing a brief perspective on future research directions.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ning Liu, Hongsen Zhang, Qi Liu, Jiahui Zhu, Rongrong Chen, Jing Yu, Ying Li, Rumin Li, Jun Wang
Summary: In this paper, TiO2/FTO films were prepared using magnetron sputtering on the surface of FTO to achieve efficient extraction and desalination of U(VI) from seawater. The films demonstrated high extraction ratio and sterilization efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
N. Ziani, E. Aubry, N. Martin, L. Hirsinger, A. Billard, P. Briois, M. S. Belkaid, M. Arab Pour Yazdi
Summary: Delafossite CuFeO2 films were synthesized by reactive magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures ranging from 380 to 550 degrees C. The films exhibited a rhombohedral structure and showed partial dissociation of the delafossite phase into FCC Cu and Fe3O4 magnetite phases at the highest temperature, as well as changes in preferential orientation and optical properties with temperature.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qiang Li, Cheng Chen, Mingge Wang, Yaohui Lv, Yulu Mao, Manzhang Xu, Yingnan Wang, Xuewen Wang, Zhiyong Zhang, Shouguo Wang, Wu Zhao, Johan Stiens
Summary: SiCN thin films were prepared by radio frequency reactive magnetron sputtering method under different conditions, and their microstructure, morphology, optical, and field emission properties were studied. It was found that the high-quality SiCN thin films can be tailored by the preparation conditions, showing potential for optoelectronic device development.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. A. Serdobintsev, V. V. Galushka, L. D. Volkovoynova, I. O. Kozhevnikov, E. S. Prikhozhdenko, D. I. Artyukhov, N. V. Gorshkov, A. M. Pavlov, A. V. Starodubov
Summary: This study reports on the effects of aluminum and silicon segregation in mu m-thick magnetron co-deposited Si-Al films. It was found that an increase in aluminum content leads to the segregation of a separate crystalline phase, accompanied by the emergence of the c-Si phase. Silicon crystallization process is controlled by the redistribution of components in the film, which can be attributed to aluminum-induced crystallization process. The redistribution of aluminum and silicon phases in the amorphous matrix can be utilized to customize the electrophysical properties of the resulting coatings for applications in mm-band RF devices.
Article
Electrochemistry
Haonan Li, Yuechan Li, Xiuxiu Li, An Xie, Dongya Sun, Yi Wang
Summary: This paper investigated the microstructure and electrochromic properties of nickel oxide films deposited on ITO-coated glass substrates at different sputtering pressures, finding that the films showed the best surface morphology and outstanding electrochromic performances at 2.4 Pa.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Samira Dorri, Justinas Palisaitis, Grzegorz Greczynski, Ivan Petrov, Jens Birch, Lars Hultman, Babak Bakhit
Summary: We studied the oxidation properties of sputter-deposited TiB2.5 coatings at different temperatures. The results showed that at 600 degrees Celsius, the coating exhibited protective oxidation behavior, and the structure of the oxide layer also changed. Moreover, decreasing the heating rate had a noticeable impact on the oxidation process.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stefano Caporali, Stefano Mauro Martinuzzi, Lapo Gabellini, Nicola Calisi
Summary: In this study, a novel method of depositing lead-free all-inorganic Cs3Bi2I9 perovskite film from the vapor phase is presented. By optimizing the composition of the target and conducting thermal treatments, high-quality films with desirable crystallinity and optical properties were obtained.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jing Wang, Fabiana Lisco, David A. Hutt, Lewis C. R. Jones, Jake W. Bowers, Patrick J. M. Isherwood, Zhaoxia Zhou, Paul P. Conway
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2020)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sona Ulicna, Liam M. Welch, Ali Abbas, Mustafa Togay, Vincent Tsai, Tom R. Betts, Andrei Malkov, John M. Walls, Jake W. Bowers
Summary: This study discusses a novel strategy for Na-doping in CIGS absorbers through thermal evaporation of NaCl, leading to enhanced grain growth and improved efficiency of solution-processed solar cells. The effect of Na on device performance is mainly attributed to morphological changes and carrier collection improvements, showcasing the potential of Na as a dopant in CIGS absorbers.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Michael J. Watts, Peter Hatton, Roger Smith, Tom Fiducia, Ali Abbas, Rachael Greenhalgh, John M. Walls, Pooja Goddard
Summary: Cadmium telluride is a key material in second generation thin-film photovoltaic technology, with a high solar cell conversion efficiency achieved through activation treatment with CdCl2. Chlorine atoms concentrated at grain boundaries after treatment, and density functional theory calculations show their stabilization compared to bulk CdTe. These findings suggest that the passivation of single-particle levels by halogens is the primary cause of the efficiency enhancement in chlorine treatment.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stefano Dicorato, Yael Gutierrez, Maria M. Giangregorio, Fabio Palumbo, Giuseppe Bianco, Maria Losurdo
Summary: In this study, GaS samples of various thicknesses were obtained and the interplay between structural, morphological, optical, and photoresponsivity properties as a function of thickness was investigated. The results showed that the photoresponsivity of GaS increases with thickness and remains stable over multiple on/off cycles.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
G. Parada, F. Korsos, A. Bojtor, J-W G. Bos, E. Don, J. W. Bowers, M. Togay
Summary: Hall mobility measurements of samples with high carrier density are challenging, but can be improved by modulating the magnetic field or drive current. In this study, a bi-modulation method combining magnetic field modulation and alternating polarity drive current significantly reduced noise and proved to be effective for measuring materials with high carrier density.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fabiana Lisco, Farwah Bukhari, Luke O. Jones, Adam Michael Law, John Mike Walls, Christophe Ballif
Summary: Glass-free, lightweight, photovoltaic modules have the potential to enable new uses of solar in building integrated and vehicle integrated applications. ETFE is a suitable candidate to replace glass as the front cover sheet material in module fabrication. This article reports on its properties and durability under environmental stress tests, as well as its abrasion resistance.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mustafa Togay, Rachael C. C. Greenhalgh, Thomas A. A. Fiducia, Tushar Shimpi, Walajabad Sampath, Kurt L. L. Barth, John M. M. Walls, Jake W. W. Bowers
Summary: Metastable behavior has been observed in highly efficient MZO/CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells, and different preconditioning procedures have been studied to recover device performance. The presence of recombination centers and defect levels at the MZO/absorber interface have been identified through temperature-dependent J-V and capacitance measurements. Oxygen diffusion from the MZO layer to the CdSeTe region after CdCl2 treatments suggests that MZO can function as a buffer layer due to the formation of oxygen vacancies.
IEEE JOURNAL OF PHOTOVOLTAICS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Mustafa Togay, Rachael Greenhalgh, Tushar Shimpi, Sampath S. Walajabad, Kurt L. Barth, J. Michael Walls, Jake W. Bowers
Summary: Metastability effects were studied in high efficiency MZO/CdSeTe/CdTe solar cells, with different preconditioning procedures temporarily recovering device performance. However, this recovery lasted only 3 days under vacuum in the dark. Temperature dependent J-V and capacitance measurements revealed recombination centers and defect levels at the MZO/absorber interface. Previous studies have shown MZO degradation when exposed to atmosphere, while Hall effect measurements on MZO films showed no significant changes after preconditioning or CdCl2 treatment.
2021 IEEE 48TH PHOTOVOLTAIC SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE (PVSC)
(2021)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Vladislav Kornienko, Stuart Robertson, Ryan Maclachlan, Tushar Shimpi, Walajabad Sampath, Kurt L. Barth, Thomas Fiducia, Ali Abbas, Yau Yau Tse, Jake Bowers, Michael Walls
Summary: 3D electron backscatter diffraction (3D EBSD) was conducted on CdTe thin film solar cells with a graded CdSeTe (CST) layer, revealing changes in texture and grain size when transitioning from CdTe to CST. The CST layer showed near-random texture with weak (001) texture and a lower frequency of Sigma 3 grain boundaries compared to other types of grain boundaries. This reduction was found to be 15-22% from the CdTe to the CST layer.
2021 IEEE 48TH PHOTOVOLTAIC SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE (PVSC)
(2021)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Kerrie M. Morris, Rachael C. Greenhalgh, Vladislav Kornienko, Christos Potamialis, Jake W. Bowers, John M. Walls
2020 47TH IEEE PHOTOVOLTAIC SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE (PVSC)
(2020)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
R. C. Greenhalgh, V Kornienko, K. Morris, A. Abbas, J. W. Bowers, J. M. Walls
2020 47TH IEEE PHOTOVOLTAIC SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE (PVSC)
(2020)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jamie C. Lowe, Lewis D. Wright, Dmitry B. Eremin, Julia V. Burykina, Jonathan Martens, Felix Plasser, Valentine P. Ananikov, Jake W. Bowers, Andrei V. Malkov
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2020)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Liam M. Welch, Sona Ulicna, Mustafa Togay, Vincent Tsai, Andrei V. Malkov, Tom Betts, John M. Walls, Jake W. Bowers
2019 IEEE 46TH PHOTOVOLTAIC SPECIALISTS CONFERENCE (PVSC)
(2019)
