Electrodeposition of Nanostructure Materials

We are conducting a multi-disciplinary research work that involves development of nanostructured thin films of semiconductors for different applications. Nanotechnology is widely considered to constitute the basis of the next technological revolution, following on from the first Industrial Revolution, which began around 1750 with the introduction of the steam engine and steelmaking. Nanotechnology is defined as the design, characterization, production, and application of materials, devices and systems by controlling shape and size of the nanoscale. The nanoscale itself is at present considered to cover the range from 1 to 100 nm. All samples prepared in thin film forms and the characterization revealed their nanostructure. The major exploitation of thin films has been in microelectronics, there are numerous and growing applications in communications, optical electronics, coatings of all kinds, and in energy generation. A great many sophisticated analytical instruments and techniques, largely developed to characterize thin films, have already become indispensable in virtually every scientific endeavor irrespective of discipline. Among all these techniques, electrodeposition is the most suitable technique for nanostructured thin films from aqueous solution served as samples under investigation. The electrodeposition of metallic layers from aqueous solution is based on the discharge of metal ions present in the electrolyte at a cathodic surface (the substrate or component.) The metal ions accept an electron from the electrically conducting material at the solid- electrolyte interface and then deposit as metal atoms onto the surface. The electrons necessary for this to occur are either supplied from an externally applied potential source or are surrendered by a reducing agent present in solution (electroless reduction). The metal ions themselves derive either from metal salts added to solution, or by the anodic dissolution of the so-called sacrificial anodes, made of the same metal that is to be deposited at the cathode

Fabrication and characterization of CNT/ZnO thin film junction for photovoltaic application

Concern about energy supply and climate change has been brought into the essential discussion. There is a clear need to make energy cheap, readily accessible and green. The Photovoltaic cell (PV) is the energy source in the development of solar cell technology that can deliver low cost electricity generation. Therefore, this research work is conducted on the fabrication and characterization of CNT/ZnO thin films junction for photovoltaic application. The preparation procedure includes two parts: deposition of ZnO by the electrodeposition technique and coating of CNTs by the doctor-blade technique. Effect of different deposition temperatures at 60°C, 75°C and 90°C on the structural and morphological ZnO films was studied and the optimum deposition conditions have been outlined. XRD shows that the product presents a good crystallinity. The characterization of structural and morphological of CNT films were studied by using XRD and FESEM. The XRD results showed the crystalline size of CNTs in nano size. CNTs have been used as the component devices to help the charge conduction, improve electrode flexibility and in some cases as active light absorbing materials. The ultimate goal is to gain deeper understanding of the cathodic processes involved and to facilitate the optimization of operating conditions

Mechanical properties of gracilaria lichenoides reinforced bioplastic film

In this study, the mechanical properties of gracilaria lichenoides with additional of plasticizer and filler were evaluated. For samples with the addition of 5.5% of plasticizer, produced low tensile strength and this results is vice versa with elongation at break results. The tensile strength of the bioplastic continuously decreases from 14.8 to 2.7MPa as the plasticizer increases up from 1.5% to 5.5%. This phenomenon was analyses under scanning electron microscope (SEM), it shows that, the formation of pores and crystal agglomeration at sample with 5.5% glycerin. To alter these flaws, squid bone is introduce as filler to the bioplastic. Based on the analysis, additional of 6% filler content did alter the tensile strength up to 8 MPa with 3% of the elongation at break

Semiconductor/Polymer/Semiconductor double junction thin film for photovoltaic application

Recent advances in photovoltaic technology have made materials (other than silicon) in combination attractive for the design of solar cells. Designers layer semiconductor materials with differing band gap energies to result in higher conversion efficiencies. In this work multijunction cells consist of multiple thin films produced using electrochemical deposition technique on ITO glass substrates have been fabricated and characterized. Each cell configured as, ZnSe/polymer/ZnO and the polymer in this work is a blend of 50 wt% Chitosan and 50 wt% polyethylene oxide (PEO). To provide I-/I3- redox couple, ammonium iodide NH4I and some iodine crystals were added to the polymer blend solution. The polymer electrolyte film that showed highest room temperature ionic conductivity of 1.18 x 10-5 S cm-1 was sandwiched between the ZnSe and ZnO semiconductors. The I–V characteristics for the determination of open circuit voltage, Voc and short-circuit current, Isc were carried out in the dark and under illumination. The cell was illuminated with a GE EDYSON neon lamp and the effective area was 1.0 cm2

Photovoltaic materials

Solar Cell, Photovoltaic Cell & photovoltaics A solar cell: is a device that converts the energy of sunlight directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Sometimes the term solar cell is reserved for devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight, while the term photovoltaic cell is used when the light source is unspecified. Photovoltaics is the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells in producing electricity for practical use

Photovoltaic activity in a ZnTe/PEO–chitosan blend electrolyte junction for Solar Cells Application

Light to electrical Marketability energy conversion is made possible by photovoltaic technology and solar cells. The injection of electrons from a photoexcited state into the conduction band of the semiconductor upon absorption of light forms the basis for electricity generation in the solar cell. solar cells based on liquid electrolytes are widely used, but there are still problems to be solved. Such as electrolyte leakage, solvent evaporation, and high-temperature instability are among the many problems. To solve these problems, solid polymer electrolyte has been used as replacement. A ZnTe/solid polymer junction has been fabricated. The polymer is a blend of 50wt% chitosan and 50wt% polyethylene oxide (PEO). The ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte is 1.18x10-5 S cm-1 at room temperature. ZnTe was electrodeposited on ITO conducting glass by electrodeposition technique. The polymer film was casted and sandwiched between the ZnTe semiconductor and an ITO glass to form a ZnTe/polymer electrolyte/ITO photovoltaic cell

Holly Qur'an: the key reference of materials

The article basically focuses on some materials of different kinds that have been highlighted in the Holy Qur’an, particularly the Iron. Iron was the only kind of metal mentioned by name as sent down, in the Qur’an and has a whole sura entitled THE IRON or Al-Hadid, (57:25). Modern astronomical findings have disclosed that the iron found in our world has come from giant stars in outer space. By comparing those scientific findings to the Qur’anic verse (57:25), surat-lhadid, (The Iron), we noticed that the divine text and the scientific findings were conformed each other. And that the holy Qur’an has informed us earlier to the recent scientific discoveries. By that time no research was possible when the Holy Qur’an was revealed

Controlled potential electrodeposition and characterization of ZNTE thin films on indium tin oxides

Electrodeposition of ZnTe thin films by controlled potential method from aqueous solutions on ITO were done to investigate characteristics suitable as a window material in solar cells technology. The influence of bath temperature and deposition potential towards the Zn:Se ratio and the crystallinity are discussed. The electrodeposited films were investigated by using X-Ray Diffraction, Energy Dispersive Analysis of x-ray, Scanning Electron Microscopy and UV spectroscopy. Optical measurements were done on these samples and show a good agreement with reported results

A light material for wind turbine blades

Nowadays, people have built mega-watt scales of wind turbines to generate electricity from wind energy. These big scales of wind turbine blade need lighter materials in order to optimize the generation of electricity. Due to this issue, purpose of this paper is to find a light material which is suitable to be used in making wind turbine blades. The use of natural fiber as a reinforcement agent in composite seems to have a big potential as natural fibers show desired characteristic needed for wind turbine blades' material. In this research, rice straw fiber was used as reinforced agent in composite with polypropylene as matrix. The composite produced was then characterized by mechanical testing which include tensile, flexural and impact as well as density measurement, dynamic mechanical testing (DMA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). From the result obtained, it is found that the introduction of rice straw fiber to polypropylene matrix able improve the mechanical properties of the composite. The results of the composite obtained were then compared with current materials used