Monolithic InP/Ga0.47In0.53As tandem solar cells for space

A review is provided of progress made in the development of InP/Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As monolithic tandem solar cells since the last SPRAT conference. Improved one-sun, three terminal tandem designs have resulted in Air Mass Zero (AM0) efficiencies as high as 23.9 pct. at 25 C. Additionally, high efficiency concentrator versions of the three terminal device were developed. The best concentrator tandem has a peak AM0 efficiency of 28.8 pct. under 40.3 suns at 25 C. For the concentrator tandems, the subcell performance parameter temperature coefficients are reported as a function of the concentration ratio. Results from a computer modeling study are presented which provide a clear direction for improving the efficiency of the concentrator tandem. The prospects for fabricating high efficiency, series connected (i.e., two terminal) InP/Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As monolithic tandem cells are also discussed

Analysis of Moisture and CO(2) Uptake in Anhydrous CdCl(2) Powders Used for Vapor CdCl(2) Treatment of CdS/CdTe PV Devices

Water and CO(2) uptake in CdCl(2) powder precursors was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA/FTIR). Exposure of powders under ambient conditions shows that a steady-state hydration level near 9% (by weight) is achieved after brief exposure to room air

Copper in Contacts to CdTe

Cu from the back contact of a polycrystalline CdS/CdTe solar cell does more than assist in forming a low-resistance contact

High-Transparency Sputtered In2O3 and ITO Films Containing Zirconium

Our recent investigations have identified a method to produce ITO-like films that are less sensitive to variations in the oxygen-containing deposition ambient. Specifically, we are studying the effect of adding small amounts of Zr to both In2O3 and ITO ceramic sputtering targets

Determination of Cu Concentrations in CdTe/CdS Devices by High Mass Resolution Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

We have used secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to quantitatively determine the concentration of Cu in CdTe/CdS devices. Empirical standards were fabricated by ion implantation of Cu into single-crystal and polycrystalline CdTe and single-crystal CdS

Human-computer collaboration for skin cancer recognition

The rapid increase in telemedicine coupled with recent advances in diagnostic artificial intelligence (AI) create the imperative to consider the opportunities and risks of inserting AI-based support into new paradigms of care. Here we build on recent achievements in the accuracy of image-based AI for skin cancer diagnosis to address the effects of varied representations of AI-based support across different levels of clinical expertise and multiple clinical workflows. We find that good quality AI-based support of clinical decision-making improves diagnostic accuracy over that of either AI or physicians alone, and that the least experienced clinicians gain the most from AI-based support. We further find that AI-based multiclass probabilities outperformed content-based image retrieval (CBIR) representations of AI in the mobile technology environment, and AI-based support had utility in simulations of second opinions and of telemedicine triage. In addition to demonstrating the potential benefits associated with good quality AI in the hands of non-expert clinicians, we find that faulty AI can mislead the entire spectrum of clinicians, including experts. Lastly, we show that insights derived from AI class-activation maps can inform improvements in human diagnosis. Together, our approach and findings offer a framework for future studies across the spectrum of image-based diagnostics to improve human-computer collaboration in clinical practice

Cross-Sectional Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy of CdTe/CdS Solar Cells: Effects of Etching and Back-Contact Processes; Preprint

We investigated the effects of the etching processes using bromine and nitric-phosphoric acid solutions, as well as of Cu, in the bulk electrical conductivity of CdTe/CdS solar cells using conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). Although the etching process can create a conductive layer on the surface of the CdTe, the layer is very shallow. In contrast, the addition of a thin layer of Cu to the surface creates a conductive layer inside the CdTe that is not uniform in depth, is concentrated at grains boundaries, and may short circuit the device if the CdTe is too thin. The etching process facilitates the Cu diffusion and results in thicker conductive layers. The existence of this inhomogeneous conductive layer directly affects the current transport and is probably the reason for needing thick CdTe in these devices

Mutation of pescadillo Disrupts Oligodendrocyte Formation in Zebrafish

Background: In vertebrates, the myelin sheath is essential for efficient propagation of action potentials along the axon shaft. Oligodendrocytes are the cells of the central nervous system that create myelin sheaths. During embryogenesis, ventral neural tube precursors give rise to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, which divide and migrate throughout the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate mechanisms that regulate oligodendrocyte progenitor cell formation. Methodology/Principal Findings: By conducting a mutagenesis screen in transgenic zebrafish, we identified a mutation, designated vu166, by an apparent reduction in the number of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the dorsal spinal cord. We subsequently determined that vu166 is an allele of pescadillo, a gene known to play a role in ribosome biogenesis and cell proliferation. We found that pescadillo function is required for both the proper number of oligodendrocyte progenitors to form, by regulating cell cycle progression, and for normal levels of myelin gene expression. Conclusions/Significance: Our data provide evidence that neural precursors require pes function to progress through th